On January 31 the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Wooden Horse, began. According to Chinese tradition, it is a favourable time for travelling, adventures and bold actions. The traditional festivities have been organised by the Confucius Institute in Krakow and consist of two major events

Chinese New Year Celebrations

On January 31 the Chinese New Year, the Year of the Wooden Horse, began. According to Chinese tradition, it is a favourable time for travelling, adventures and bold actions. The traditional festivities have been organised by the Confucius Institute in Krakow and consist of two major events. The first of them took place on January 25 in the Jagiellonian University Auditorium Maximum, whereas the second one, a Chinese music concert, is to be held on February 3 in the premises of the Institute.

The performance by the Zhengzhou artistic ensemble from Henan province was the climax of the event in the JU Auditorium Maximum. It featured, inter alia, a programme prepared by kung-fu adepts from Shaolin, entitled "The Capture of Monastery Gate"  and a dance from the Han dynasty period, named "The Lotus Pond". The evening New Year's Gala  was preceded by lectures, workshops, children's games and other attractions at the Confucius Institute in Krakow.

The Gala was led by Mao Rui, a lector at the Confucius Institute. Other persons present included the Cultural Counselor at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Warsaw, Ms Wu Guang, the Vice Dean of the JU Faculty of International and Political Studies, Prof. dr hab. Andrzej Dudek, and the Head of the JU Institute of the Middle and Far East, Rev. Prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Kościelniak.