Vilnius University Confucius Institute Children's Summer Day Camp has become a wonderful tradition. Here, summer begins with an introduction to Chinese culture and the most commonly used Chinese phrases. We are especially happy to welcome returning participants—some children have attended our camp for several consecutive years.
On May 28, during an online lecture, sinologist and translator Indrė Balčikonytė-Huang introduced the life and career of one of China's most renowned writers, Yu Hua.
On April 8, 2026, the Adomas Mickevičius Public Library of Vilnius County hosted a lecture dedicated to the origins, philosophy, and modern relevance of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The event was jointly organized by the Vilnius University Confucius Institute and the library.
In the lecture on Chinese humor held on May 20, we explored whether the Chinese have a sense of humor at all and why such a question might arise. We also examined the differences between Chinese and Western humor, discussed Chinese attitudes toward humor, its characteristics and forms, as well as the culture of internet memes.
On 20 April 2026, to celebrate International Chinese Language Day, our institute organized two events: an online lecture delivered by Dr. Lu Xiaohong, Associate Professor at our partner institution, East China Normal University (ECNU), and a tea tasting led by the long-time tea expert Maksas Roiko.
On April 10–12, 2026, a series of traditional Chinese landscape painting (*shān shuǐ*, 山水 – “mountains and water”) workshops took place at the Confucius Institute of Vilnius University, bringing together art enthusiasts and those interested in Chinese culture.
On March 19, 2026, an insightful lecture was held at Vilnius University, offering a unique perspective on Chinese history by approaching it as a study of leadership and management.
On March 12, we organized a relevant health lecture titled “How to Prepare the Body for Spring According to Traditional Chinese Medicine,” delivered by Prof. D. Sekmokienė.
The 2026 Lunar New Year began on February 17th, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, a rare and energetic 60-year cycle associated with passion, rapid progress, and intense, volatile changes.
On February 4th, we organized a lecture on Chinese cosmology for the first time and sought to understand how to grasp the quite complex Bazi system and the Five Elements for us Westerners.
On December 17, we broadcasted a lecture on Chinese avant-garde literature, presented by Indrė Balčikonytė-Huang, a translator of avant-garde writers Yu Hua and Can Xue, as well as a researcher of modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
On the cozy evening of December 3rd with a light winter chill, we dedicated our time to meditation. In the lecture "Meditation – A Step Toward Freedom," Dr. Dainius Butvilas, a medical science doctor and acupuncture specialist, spoke to us about meditation and its importance in traditional Chinese medicine.
Based on our audience's preferences, in October, 22nd we organized an online lecture on health topics and presented how to prepare the body for winter using principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and holistic living. The lecture was delivered by Professor Dalia Sekmokienė.
This wonderful autumn, from October 17th to 19th, we once again welcomed perhaps our most anticipated guest – Qi Xiaoting [Chi Shaoting], a Chinese-born Ukrainian artist, who conducted four Chinese painting and one Chinese calligraphy workshop at the institute.
We began the new 2025 academic year with engaging lectures on Chinese culture, one of which on 10th September was held at the A. Mickevičius Library. Attendees listened to a lecture titled "Garments, Accessories, and Body in Chinese Culture," delivered by Marta Logvyn, an art historian and exhibition curator at the National Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko Art Museum in Kyiv.
Amidst the variety of autumn events, special attention was given to the lecture "Free Will, Luck, and Meaning: Chinese Philosophical Perspectives on Making Sense of our Lives" delivered by Professor Dr. Paul J. D'Ambrosio, a professor of Chinese philosophy that was held on September 11th.
On September 9th, our institute hosted a guest from Ukraine, Marta Logvyn, who is a leading research fellow at the Bohdan and Varvara Khanenko National Museum of Art. She delivered two lectures, one of which focused on the concept of wealth in Chinese culture and its connections to spirituality.
It has become a lovely tradition in our institute to conclude the academic year with the Children's Chinese Language and Culture Summer Camp and this year the camp was open from June 30 to July 4.
Chinese traditions are closely tied to the seasons, each of which is unique in colors, sounds, and aromas. In Chinese culture, the beginning of summer is considered one of the most joyful, productive, and energetic periods. On June 13, we invited guests to come and welcome summer with the doors of the Confucius Institute wide open.
On 27th May, we listened to Dr. Loreta Poškaitė's lecture titled "Contemporary Chinese Youth and Its Subcultures" in a virtual setting. The lecture is relevant to individuals interested in modern Chinese society, particularly those studying sociology, cultural studies, or Asian studies. It addressed the multifaceted nature of youth identities, including conflicts with traditional values, governmental policies, and global influences.
