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Cymraeg

Chinese New Year celebration

30 January 2009

Chinese dancers

The University’s Confucius Institute, working with the Cardiff University Chinese Students and Scholars Association, has put together a spectacular series of events to mark the start of the Year of the Ox.

Highlights included a colourful gala evening of traditional and modern Chinese entertainment, workshops on Chinese culture at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and a film evening.

The Cardiff Chinese Culture and Art Festival was officially launched at the City Hall by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Lloyd. She said: "This is the largest celebration of the Chinese New Year in Wales. Schools and members of the public who visit the museum in the next three days will fascinated by all the activities there."

Singer Jin Li performing at the gala eveningSinger Jin Li performing at the gala evening

The launch was attended by Mr Pinwei Qi, First Secretary at the Chinese Embassy, representatives of the Welsh Assembly Government, International Business Wales, other Welsh universities and partner schools. They were also addressed by Dr Richard Evans, head of the University’s Centre for Lifelong Learning and co-director of the Cardiff Confucius Institute, which promotes the teaching of Chinese culture and language in Wales. He said: "The Institute has only been in place for just over a year and we have made huge strides in that time."

The gala evening, at the Reardon Smith Lecture Theatre, was organised and performed by the University’s Chinese Students and Scholars Association in association with the University. It included the traditional Chinese New Year lion dance, a variety of traditional and modern dance and song, a fashion show and even a stand-up comedy double act.

At Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales, Cardiff Chinese students have been demonstrating Chinese instruments, crafts and music to school parties. The Festival continues on Saturday with a family day at the Museum. Further details of the Festival can be obtained from the Cardiff Confucius Institute at Confucius@cardiff.ac.uk or by contacting 02920 875234. Ticket information and programme information can be found on the Chinese Students Association website www.cssa-cardiff.org.uk or on the museum’s website on www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/whatson/?event_id=3333 .

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