News

As every year, and also this year in 16th May, the annual Chinese Bridge Cultural Competition was held. It is gratifying that our great students and gymnasium students did not escape the unusual conditions of the competition and decided to participate remotely (from home). Not only the students of Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies of Vilnius University, but also a great group of gymnasium students from our partner gymnasiums participated: VGTU Engineering Lyceum, Vilnius Užupis Gymnasium, Kaunas Jesuit Gymnasium, Klaipėda Ąžuolyno gymnasium, Švenčionėliai Mindaugo gymnasium.

The competition focused on Chinese language and cultural knowledge, and the ability to respond quickly to given Chinese questions. Artistry was appreciated during the talent show. The competition stood out for a variety of performances, from calligraphy, Chinese painting to Chinese songs, and instrumental pieces of art. Probably the most beauteful performer was Dorotėja Sirvydytė, a student of sinology at VU, when she, supporting the guitar, combined a Chinese folk song with a Lithuanian folk song, having the only piece of beauty.

Agnė Burneikytė, a graduate of VGTU Engineering Lyceum (1st place) and Simona Erminaitė (2nd place), a representative of Klaipėda Ąžuolynas Gymnasium, who participated in our competition for the second time, won prizes in the group of gymnasium students.

This year, the 1st place in the group of students was given to Akvile Radauskaitė, a multiple participant of this competition, a third-year sinology student. The 2nd was awarded to the above-mentioned 2nd year sinology student Dorotėja Sirvydyte.

Prize-winning students and high school students are awarded the right to travel to China each year to participate in and observe the International Chinese Language Bridge Competition. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, it is not yet clear whether this competition will take place in China this year. So for now, let’s congratulate and rejoice in our winners and let us wait for the news.

Happy Chinese New Year! 

January 17th VU Confucius Institute organized an educational lecture about China for Vilnius Šeškinės elementary school students. During the visit, school students had an opportunity to improve their knowledge about Chinese culture. After a warm welcome from staff members, Lithuanian director of VU Confucius institute made a short introduction to Chinese culture, highlighting some fun and interesting facts about China.

For three days everyone interested in Chinese culture was invited to visit and participate in activities organized by the VU Confucius Institute.

On November 1st, the final competition and closing ceremony of the 12th Chinese Bridge Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students was held in Zhengzhou.

On September 17th, the Confucius Institute of Vilnius University invited sinology students and anyone interested in Chinese literature to Dr. Honggeng Yuan lecture on the connections between Chinese gong‘an literature and Western detective.

The Mid-Autumn festival was being celebrated at the VU Confucius institute on September 18th. During the celebration the traditions of the festival were presented and the guests were welcomed to taste various snacks and, most importantly, the traditional Mid-Autumn festival snack - the mooncakes.  

On July 19-22th three Lithuanian cities - Vilnius, Kaunas and Alytus - greeted Mengla Huang, one of the most famous Chinese violinists, winner of the N. Paganini competition.

On February 13th, together with Confucius class students of the VGTU Engineering Lyceum, we celebrated Chinese New Year of the Yellow Dog. An event was opened by a concert, students performed popular Chinese songs, played traditional Chinese instruments.

Welcome to the practical seminar ‘‘Introduction to the Massage (tuina) of Traditional Chinese Medicine‘‘.

On the 27^th of May, the celebration of Pentecost was held in M. Dauksa High School. To attend this celebration were invited representatives of VU Confucius Institute - Audrius Beinorius, Zhang Donghui, Vilma Šniukštaitė, Bo Shuyan, Ambassador Liu Zengwen with his wife, vice-director of the Administration of Vilnius Danuta Narbut and the head of the Education Department of the Vilnius Department of Education, Culture, and Sport Džeraldas Dagys.

The nameplate of Confucius class was unveiled on the 24th of February in Vilniaus Mikalojaus Daukšos secondary school. Many important guests attended the ceremony including H.E. Chinese ambassador Liu Zengwen, representatives of Vilnius City Municipality, directors of Vilnius and Kaunas schools, Confucius institute and teachers as well as students of Daukšos school.

On the 5^th of March Ieva Rute’s photography exhibition called “Mountains lost in silver” was opened in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During this exhibition, traveller, photographer and a professor of VU Centre of Oriental Studies and Confucius Institute Ieva Rute, revealed the beauty of the Chinese mountains which she captured from never seen angles. Photos were taken in Chinese Yellow (Huangshan  黄山)  and Lotos （Huashan 华山） mountains in 2010.

 On the 9th of May ', Chinese Bridge' Competition was held in Lithuania for the very first time at Vilnius University. 'Chinese Bridge' is a large-scale Chinese language competition for university students sponsored by Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban).

We are sharing the notice of our friends - Traditional Wushu association of Lithuania - about an upcoming first open traditional wushu and taijiquan championship in Lithuania!

November 28th was the day for the final event of Vilnius University Confucius Institute organized „Chinese Culture Week“. The last time when Peking opera was performed in Lithuania was 15 years ago, therefore this year Peking opera performance received much attention.

September 27th, Saturday, was the day when a celebration dedicated to the founding of Confucius institute worldwide – international Confucius institute day - was held at Vilnius M. Daukša middle school. The celebration also included the opening of Confucius class in M. Daukša middle school.

On July 6 to 21, 17 selected students from Confucius Institute at Vilnius University and affiliated education centers attended a two-week summer camp themed by “Chinese Dream &Liaoning University Impression” in China.

VMU (Vytautas Magnus University) and its students had organized East Asia events which were held at the second and the third weekend of May. These events were organized for all people interested in East Asia countries and these faraway cultures which have been cherished for centuries. During the weekends, everyone had a chance to widen their knowledge of this area.

On the 5-7th of May, Vilnius had an annual event known as Orientalists days (OrDi 2014) which is organized by the VU Centre of Oriental Studies. This 3-day lasting event is always welcomed by the admirers of Far East region. During Orientalists days, everyone has a chance to participate, widen their knowledge and gain skills in the different areas of East Asia such as education, business, diplomacy and culture.