Confucius Institute at the University of the Republic of San Marino Holds “Night of Chinese Lantern” and “Open Day”

On the evening of September 9th, 2017, local time, over a hundred Chinese lanterns hung up in the air in the Confucius Institute at the University of the Republic of San Marino, lighting the sky. Over 200 people including Mimma Zavoli and Vanessa D’Ambrosio, the Captains Regent of San Marino and Giacomo, the mayor of Montegiardino, and local residents attended the event.

Over a hundred Chinese lanterns at the scene

Accompanied by Foreign Director Katia and Chinese Director Zhao Jun of the Confucius Institute, Mimma Zavoli and Vanessa D’Ambrosio visited the institute, fully affirming the teaching achievements made by it. After visiting the Tongrentang Traditional Chinese Medicine Museum, Mimma Zavoli said that Chinese culture is great and profound, and thanked the institute for providing the local people with a platform to understand the traditional Chinese medicine culture.

Mimma Zavoli (third from right) and Vanessa D’Ambrosio (second from right), the Captain Regent of San Marino taking photos with Foreign Director and Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute

The event was brilliant. Teachers taught Chinese paper-cutting on the spot. Visitors took scissors and paper with great interest. Soon, they made various exquisite patterns like lantern, rabbit, butterfly, and window decoration. In the calligraphy experience zone, visitors held a writing brush to write Chinese character to feel its profoundness. During the Tai Chi experience, many seniors followed the teachers and imitated every gesture and motion. The exquisite Peking Opera costumes also attracted visitors to take photos.

Visitors experiencing the Chinese paper-cut art

A Chinese artist singing Chinese songs

In addition, the institute also invited artists of China and San Marino to give a joint performance. Folk artists of the host country brought handicrafts with local traditional features such as textile crafts, bandhnu crafts, straw plaited articles, print works, and porcelain. Amid euphonious Chinese classical music, guests were enjoying the delicious food while appreciating pictures of the two countries. The whole event was fraught with songs and laughter. After the event, many visitors expressed their wishes to learn Chinese language and Chinese culture at the Confucius Institute.