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南安普顿大学孔子学院Confucius Institute, University of Southampton

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南安普顿大学孔子学院Confucius Institute, University of Southampton

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The Confucius Institute at University of Southampton was set up by the University of Southampton in association with Xiamen University in 2011.

We are committed to making the Chinese language and culture teaching resources and services available

07/10/2026

Mid-Autumn Magic: Poetry and Fan Dance Bring Chinese Culture to Life at Barton Peveril

Students at Barton Peveril Sixth Form College enjoyed an immersive celebration of Chinese culture on 2 October 2026, when the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton delivered a special Mid-Autumn Festival workshop for its teaching site.

Led by Chinese teacher Hanyou Li and volunteer teachers Ziyi Zhao and Jingwen Zhang, the workshop introduced students to the history, traditions and cultural significance of one of China’s most widely celebrated festivals.

The session began with an illustrated presentation exploring the origins of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the legend of Chang’e, and traditional customs including moon-gazing and mooncake tasting.

Students then discovered the beauty of classical Chinese poetry through Su Shi’s celebrated poem Prelude to Water Melody. With guidance from the teachers, they read and chanted the poem along with music, experiencing its heartfelt message of longing, togetherness and good wishes beneath the full moon.

The workshop continued with a lively fan dance activity. The volunteer teachers first performed an elegant dance with red folding fans to the melody of the poem before introducing students to basic fan movements and formations. Students enthusiastically joined in, practising the movements and experiencing the rhythm and grace of traditional Chinese dance.

The event concluded with students taking photos with the teachers and volunteers dressed in ‘Hanfu’, traditional Chinese clothing. Students gave positive feedback and expressed their enthusiasm for taking part in future cultural activities.

23/09/2026

🖌️ Discover Chinese art and culture with our FREE six-week beginner courses at Avenue Campus!

Chinese Calligraphy starts on 29 September, and Chinese Painting starts on 1 October. No previous experience or knowledge of Chinese is needed!

📧 Book your place: [email protected]
Places are limited—first come, first served. See the posters for full details!

20/09/2026

Confucius Institute Hosts Calligraphy Workshops at Lifelong Learning Open Day

On 12 September 2026, the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton hosted two Chinese calligraphy workshops at Avenue Campus as part of the university’s Lifelong Learning Open Day.

Led by volunteer instructor Yue Gao, the workshops introduced participants to the basics of Chinese calligraphy, including brush-holding techniques and the connections between Chinese character forms and their meanings. Beginning with simple characters such as “mountain” (山) and “moon” (月), participants explored different calligraphy styles while learning about the cultural traditions associated with the Mid-Autumn Festival, including moon-gazing and family reunion.

After practising basic strokes, participants had the opportunity to create their own calligraphy artworks on traditional red speckled paper. The hands-on sessions provided visitors with an enjoyable
introduction to Chinese calligraphy while offering insights into Chinese language and culture.

26/05/2026

HSK and YCT Exams Successfully Held by the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton

On 16 and 24 May, the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton organised the HSK Chinese Proficiency Test and the YCT Youth Chinese Test at Avenue Campus. Both examinations ran smoothly and concluded successfully.

The HSK exam held on 16 May included three sessions for HSK Levels 1, 2 and 3. The YCT exam held on 24 May included two sessions for YCT Levels 1 and 2.

After the exams, our invigilators presented each candidate with a Chinese ink painting postcard featuring the handwritten bilingual message “Live up to your efforts, and succeed in the exam”, together with information leaflets about our courses, to congratulate them on completing their exams.

Congratulations to all candidates on completing their exams. We wish you continued success in your Chinese learning journey.

The next HSK and YCT exams will take place on Saturday, 17 October 2026. Registration closes on 20 September 2026.

07/05/2026

A Chinese Bridge Connecting Passion and Growth

Congratulations to students from Bohunt schools, supported by the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton, on their outstanding achievements at the ‘Chinese Bridge’ Mandarin Speaking Competition 2026 UK Final in London.

This year, seven students from Bohunt School reached the national final, marking a new milestone for the school. In the Group Beginner Category, Scarlett Bainton, Eliza Duchesne, Violet Parker, Alexander Lindsay and James Watson were named National Champions for their creative and engaging Chinese drama performance. The script, written by James Watson and Alexander Lindsay, reflected the students’ creativity, teamwork and genuine passion for Chinese language and culture.

In the individual categories, Year 12 student Miroslava Lindsay received Second Prize in the Advanced Category, marking her fourth time placing in the national top three since the competition resumed in 2022. From beginner levels to the Advanced Category, her consistent achievements reflect the confidence, dedication and strong language ability she has developed through years of Chinese learning.

Year 8 student Luca Surmacz, taking part for the first time, achieved Second Prize in the Beginner+ Category, showing great potential as a young Mandarin learner.

Students from other Bohunt schools also gave memorable performances on the national stage. Year 10 student Mea from Bohunt Horsham School shared her personal connection with Chinese language and culture through her speech, “I Want to Say Hello to the World”.

From Bohunt School Worthing, Lenny received Second Prize in the Intermediate Plus Category, while Anna also impressed the audience with her performance. The Head of Chinese at Bohunt School Worthing shared that the achievement was a proud moment for the school, reflecting the students’ dedication as well as the school’s commitment to multicultural education and global learning.

Behind these achievements were many hours of preparation, practice and encouragement. The preparation was coordinated by Mrs Miki Carter, a previous recipient of the competition’s Best Tutor Award. Confucius Institute volunteer teachers Yuan Gao, Tingting Deng and Yifei Jia also provided dedicated guidance and support throughout the preparation process. Together with school staff, they supported the students throughout this memorable Chinese Bridge journey.

The Chinese Bridge is more than a language competition. It is a platform where young people build confidence, share stories and connect with Chinese culture through language. It also offers a meaningful bridge for cultural exchange, friendship and mutual understanding.

Congratulations to all students, teachers and supporters involved in this wonderful achievement! 🌟

01/05/2026

Where Brush Meets Spring, and Ink Lingers on Fans

On 30 April 2026, the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton held a calligraphy and fan-painting event at Avenue Campus, bringing our UN Chinese Language Day celebrations to a graceful close.

Brushes, ink and plain round fans were gently laid out, inviting visitors to pause, create and experience the quiet beauty of Chinese art.

Some visitors were drawn to the elegance of Chinese calligraphy, while others painted lotus flowers, morning glories and pandas onto their fans. Guided by our teachers and volunteers, each participant created a unique artwork filled with colour, brushwork and personal meaning.

The red seals stamped onto the fans added a poetic finishing touch, carrying warm wishes of joy, peace and happiness in everyday life.

Throughout April, the Confucius Institute worked with our teaching sites to present a rich series of Chinese language and culture activities, including dough Chinese character-making, movable type printing, a Chinatown study trip and Grain Rain-themed performances.

From colourful dough characters to brush and ink on round fans, each activity brought Chinese language and culture to life through creativity, hands-on learning and shared enjoyment.

28/04/2026

Singing into Spring: Weston Park Marks International Chinese Language Day

On 24 April 2026, Weston Park Primary School celebrated International Chinese Language Day with a lively “Sing Chinese Songs” activity for Year 4 pupils, organised by teachers from the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton, blending language learning with the freshness and energy of spring.

The event centred on the cheerful song “Where Is Spring?”, creating a bright and engaging atmosphere. To deepen their understanding, pupils took part in an immersive performance, wearing themed headpieces—red flowers, green grass, and little orioles—which brought the lyrics to life and sparked enthusiasm for learning Chinese.

Through singing and movement, the children vividly expressed the imagery of spring, combining rhythm, curiosity, and creativity in their performances. The activity also introduced Grain Rain, the final solar term of spring, symbolising growth and renewal in traditional Chinese culture.

By integrating music, culture, and performance, the event not only enriched pupils’ Chinese learning experience but also fostered a deeper appreciation of seasonal traditions. Filled with energy and smiles, the celebration was a joyful and memorable occasion for all involved.

27/04/2026

MEP Students Explore London’s Chinatown to Mark International Chinese Language Day

On 21 April, to mark International Chinese Language Day, students from Bohunt School Worthing’s Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) took part in an immersive cultural visit to London’s Chinatown. Bohunt School Worthing hosts a Confucius Classroom supported by the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton.

During the visit, students brought their Mandarin beyond the classroom and into real-life contexts. From tasting Chinese food and practising ordering in Mandarin to taking part in a “Chinatown Shopping Challenge”, they used Chinese in meaningful everyday situations while experiencing the richness of Chinese culture firsthand.

As they explored local restaurants, supermarkets and gift shops, students asked about prices, read product labels and communicated with shopkeepers in Chinese. These authentic interactions helped strengthen their confidence in using Mandarin and deepened their understanding of Chinese culture.

The visit offered more than a day out. It was a memorable opportunity to connect language learning with cultural experience and cross-cultural exchange, showing how Chinese can come alive beyond the classroom.

24/04/2026

Students Explore Ancient Chinese Printing on International Chinese Language Day

On 23 April 2026, students at Bohunt Liphook School took part in a cultural workshop celebrating International Chinese Language Day.

Organised by teachers from the Confucius Institute at the University of Southampton, the event introduced 15 Year 8 students to traditional Chinese printing and its historical significance.

The session began with an interactive quiz about the meaning of 20 April. While some students offered light-hearted answers, others correctly identified the international celebration of the Chinese language. This led to a discussion about the global importance of Chinese, sparking curiosity and active participation.

Students then explored how texts were produced in ancient China. Through videos and guided explanation, they learned about key innovations including woodblock printing and movable-type printing (printing with separate, reusable characters assembled into pages). These techniques were brought to life in an accessible and engaging way.

A hands-on activity followed, where students created their own prints by shaping Chinese characters from clay, applying ink, and transferring them onto paper. The process encouraged experimentation and creativity, with laughter over reversed prints and excitement at successful results.

At the end of the session, students shared their work and reflected on the experience. Many described it as both new and rewarding, noting it was their first encounter with traditional Chinese printing.

By combining language learning with cultural practice, the workshop offered a vivid and memorable introduction to Chinese heritage, making learning both interactive and meaningful.

23/04/2026

📣 Xiamen University International Admissions Online Info Session 2026

The Institute of Creativity and Innovation (ICI) at Xiamen University will hold an online information session for prospective international students.

Date: Friday, 24 April 2026
Time: 15:30 (UTC+8)
Medium of Instruction: English

Majors:
• Visual Communication Design
• Environmental Design
• Digital Media Art

Please refer to the poster for the Meeting ID, WeChat group QR code and further information.

Address

Southampton
SO171BJ

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+442380595000

Website

http://www.southampton.ac.uk/ci/index.page

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