Leeds University's Confucius Institute stages Culture Month

As the opening event of the "Culture Month", the Business Confucius Institute at the UK's University of Leeds brings together the works of Consul Wang Ying from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester and Professor Konstantin Novoselov for a Chinese watercolour painting exhibition.Provided to China Daily

The Business Confucius Institute at the UK's University of Leeds launched a Culture Month from late September to late October to mark the 2015 China-UK Year of Cultural Exchange.

"We have arranged a diverse cultural events programme or 'Culture Month,' to promote Chinese language and culture on a regional and national level," Ellen Wang, operation manager at the institute told China Daily.

The activities took various forms such as a performance entitled "China Kaleidoscope: Beauty of KungFu and Dance ", "Leeds Light Night Event: Spotlight on Fashion Fusion – East Meets West", "Chinese Tea Ceremony Experience", "William Shakespeare and Tang Xianzu: Celebrating a 400 year legacy", art exhibitions and lectures about the topics of business.

This year marks a milestone for China-UK relations with the first ever bilaterally agreed UK-China Year of Cultural Exchange, showcasing the very best of UK culture in China and of Chinese culture in the UK.

As the opening event of the "Culture Month", the institute brought together the works of Consul Wang Ying from the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester and Professor Konstantin Novoselov for a Chinese watercolour painting exhibition.

Entitled "Britain through the eyes of a Chinese Diplomat and Chinese Bamboo by a Nobel Laureate", the exhibition at Parkinson Court in the University of Leeds attracted lots of people.

"They show Sino-British culture basing on the different backgrounds and unique asthetic and culture perspective," Wang said.

Wang Ying's drawings have been inspired by the overwhelming beauty of the plants and landscapes in the UK and professor Novoselov's style focuses on the classic theme of bamboo in Chinese painting, which he loved when visiting Xiamen in Southern China, Wang added.

Another highlight and breakthrough is a fashion show called "Leeds Light Night Event: Spotlight on Fashion Fusion – East Meets West", Wang said. Public can view the exhibited garments at their leisure, enjoy traditional Chinese music and tea ceremonies in Leeds Civic Hall, she added.

"What's more, the institute will collaborate with the University of Leeds Film Festival to organize a variety of cultural activities in 2016," Wang said, adding that in the future it will create different ways to further show Chinese culture and developing cultural exchanges between China and Britain.

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