Chinese Culture Shines in Newcastle
4 March 2026
Confucius Institute Celebrates Chinese New Year with the City
Standfirst
The Confucius Institute at Newcastle University played a leading role in the 2026 Newcastle Chinatown Chinese New Year celebration, presenting Chinese culture through a vibrant programme of parade participation, stage hosting, cultural performances, and interactive workshops that engaged thousands of local residents.
Key Highlights
Confucius Institute contributes to four major parts of the city celebration: parade, stage hosting, performances, and cultural workshops
Hanfu procession led by Acting British Director Dr Andrew Law draws strong public interest
Professor Yuxiao Su and NUCI student Jack Pringle host the main stage programme before thousands of spectators
More than 500 visitors participate in Confucius Institute cultural experience activities
Distinguished guests include representatives from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester and local city leadership
On 22 February 2026, the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University (NUCI) played a prominent role in the annual Newcastle Chinatown Chinese New Year celebration, showcasing the richness of Chinese culture to the local community through a wide range of performances and public activities.
The Institute contributed to four key elements of the celebration — the city parade, stage hosting, cultural performances, and interactive cultural workshops — becoming one of the highlights of the day’s festivities.
The celebration began at 11:00 a.m. with a lively parade through Newcastle city centre. A Hanfu procession led by Dr Andrew Law, Acting British Director of the Confucius Institute, set off from the landmark Grey’s Monument and proceeded to the Chinatown Arch.
The group, composed of Confucius Institute students and Newcastle University student volunteers, wore elegant traditional Chinese Hanfu garments while carrying the Institute’s banner. Their graceful appearance drew enthusiastic applause from spectators along the route, with many residents stopping to photograph the procession and express interest in traditional Chinese clothing.
A major highlight of the celebration was the main stage hosting programme, jointly presented by Professor Yuxiao Su, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, and NUCI student Jack Pringle. Addressing thousands of spectators gathered around the Chinatown Arch, the two hosts introduced the traditions and cultural significance of the Chinese Spring Festival, which was inscribed in 2024 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
They also shared the history of Newcastle Chinatown, one of the four major Chinatowns in the United Kingdom, and acknowledged the longstanding support that Newcastle City Council has provided to the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations for over two decades.
Drawing on both Chinese and Western cultural traditions, the hosts explored the symbolism of the Year of the Fire Horse. Professor Su referred to Li Bai’s classical poem Song of the Heavenly Horse, while also highlighting the winged horse Pegasus from Greek mythology. The presentation further connected these ideas to Newcastle’s own maritime heritage through the twelve seahorse sculptures atop the tower of the city’s Civic Centre, symbolising the city’s historical ties to the sea. Through these examples, the hosts illustrated how the image of the horse resonates across cultures as a symbol of imagination, vitality, and aspiration.
Jack Pringle’s fluent Mandarin Chinese particularly impressed both guests and audience members. As a student actively involved in Confucius Institute programmes, he has participated in numerous language and cultural activities while developing his intercultural communication skills. Aspiring to pursue a career in diplomacy, his role as co-host for the large public celebration provided valuable experience for his future ambitions.
The celebration was attended by a distinguished group of guests, including the Education Counsellor from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, the Mayor of Gateshead, and other civic representatives. Their presence reflected the strong support that local government and community partners continue to show for Chinese cultural exchange.
Under the Chinatown Arch, the Confucius Institute presented five cultural performances highlighting traditional Chinese arts and physical culture. The programme opened with a Baduanjin (Eight-Section Brocade) performance led by Mr Li Rensong, Associate Professor from the Department of Physical Education at Xiamen University and martial arts instructor at the Confucius Institute. Thirty participants from local libraries, community organisations, and Newcastle University Tai Chi classes demonstrated the graceful movements and philosophical balance of this traditional exercise.
This was followed by a Kung Fu fan performance by Mr Li Rensong together with Confucius Institute volunteer teacher Chen Yuanyuan and guest performer Li Yidan, from Ulster University， Northern Ireland, combining strength and elegance in a dynamic martial arts display.
A special musical performance featuring the guqin, flute, guzheng, and Chinese drum was presented by Ms Kang Wenjing, Chinese Director of the Scottish Confucius Institute for Business and Communication, who attended the event as both a distinguished guest and guest performer. She was joined by Wang Ziyi, a Newcastle University alumnus, together with two student performers. The elegant sounds of the traditional string instruments blended with powerful drum rhythms, creating a rich atmosphere of Chinese classical music.
The performances concluded with another Confucius Institute guest performet Luo Jiani, whose lively rendition of the festive song “New Year’s Greetings” brought the celebration to an enthusiastic close.
Alongside the stage programme, the Confucius Institute organised six interactive cultural experience booths, featuring activities such as movable-type printing, New Year rubbing art, lacquer fan making, the traditional game of pitch-pot (touhu), table tennis, and Tai Chi fan demonstrations. Designed around a creative “collect-a-stamp” activity format, the workshops attracted strong public interest, with over 500 visitors participating throughout the day.
The Education Counsellor from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester, Mr Liang Yan, also visited the Confucius Institute exhibition area and enthusiastically joined the pitch-pot activity, praising the Institute’s efforts in promoting Chinese culture and strengthening mutual understanding between China and the United Kingdom.
The success of the event reflected the dedication and teamwork of the Confucius Institute staff and volunteers. Under the leadership of Professor Yuxiao Su, a team of four Chinese language teachers, one martial arts instructor, two volunteer teachers, and nearly fifteen student volunteers worked together for several weeks to prepare the performances, workshops, and event organisation.
The Newcastle Chinatown Chinese New Year celebration not only brought a vibrant festival experience to local residents but also further enhanced the visibility and reputation of the Confucius Institute at Newcastle University. Through its active participation in the parade, stage hosting, cultural performances, and interactive activities, the Institute once again demonstrated its commitment to promoting Chinese language and culture while strengthening cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and the United Kingdom.
