Over 100 Attendees Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival at the University of Leeds

The Business Confucius Institute (BCI) welcomed more than 100 staff, students and members of the local community to its Mid-Autumn Festival celebration on Thursday 24 September, with all places fully booked ahead of the event.

Led by BCI Headteacher Tao Li, the event brought together attendees from across the University and beyond to celebrate one of the most important festivals in the Chinese calendar. We were also delighted to welcome Professor Julia Bennell, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business, who joined guests in marking the occasion.

The afternoon began with a traditional guzheng performance by BCI teacher Shihan Wang, who performed Pipa Qu (琵琶曲). The elegant performance provided a fitting introduction to the celebrations and showcased the beauty of one of China's most treasured traditional instruments.

Guests then enjoyed a presentation exploring the history, legends and customs of the Mid-Autumn Festival. Attendees learned about the festival's origins, the story of Chang'e, the Moon Goddess, and the traditions of family reunion, gratitude and celebrating the harvest under the full moon.

No Mid-Autumn Festival celebration would be complete without mooncakes, and participants were invited to sample a selection of these traditional pastries. The mooncake tasting proved popular with attendees, many of whom were trying this iconic festival food for the first time.

Throughout the afternoon, guests also took part in a range of interactive moon-themed activities, including cultural quizzes, traditional poetry challenges and games inspired by Mid-Autumn Festival customs. These activities provided an engaging way for attendees to learn more about Chinese culture while enjoying the festive atmosphere.

A special surprise performance brought the event to a memorable close. University of Leeds PhD student Lijun Zhang performed on the guzheng alongside BCI teacher Jiyang Cui, who sang Dan Yuan Ren Chang Jiu (但愿人长久). The cherished song is adapted from the famous Song Dynasty poem Shui Diao Ge Tou: Ming Yue Ji Shi You (《水调歌头·明月几时有》) by the renowned poet Su Shi. Reflecting themes of reunion, longing and wishing loved ones happiness across great distances, the performance perfectly captured the spirit of the Mid-Autumn Festival and received warm applause from attendees.

The event highlighted the continued enthusiasm for learning about Chinese culture within the University and wider community. Through music, food, storytelling and shared experiences, attendees gained a deeper understanding of the traditions and values that make the Mid-Autumn Festival such a significant celebration across the Chinese-speaking world.

The BCI would like to thank everyone who attended and helped make the event such a success. We look forward to welcoming participants to future cultural events throughout the academic year.