Chinese New Year
If you are looking for activities to do with your classes this Spring Festival, then check out our range of videos created by Cardiff Confucius Institute tutors.
Resources for schools
For key stages 1 and 2, the videos include discovering customs & traditions specific to Chinese New Year, the Chinese zodiac, storytelling, and hands-on arts & crafts sessions such as painting and making paper fireworks.
Key stage 3 and 4 are treated to our range of Life in China videos and accompanying resources, tailored to young people’s interests.
Key stages 1 & 2
Celebrate the Lunar New Year with sessions by Cardiff Confucius Institute's tutors, recorded live at their Chinese New Year festivals.
Introduction to Chinese New Year
Find introductions to the Spring Festival for 2024 and 2025 – key stage 1 and key stage 2.
Please note that as each new year is associated with a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac, then this is referred to in the videos.
Arts & crafts
- Making lanterns
- Choose from three paper-cutting sessions from and 2025, 2022 and 2021
- Make Chinese New Year paper firecrackers - key stage 1 and key stage 2
Chinese characters & calligraphy
Food
- Learn about New Year’s Eve Dinner from 2022 and 2021
- Find out how to cook Chinese cuisine (scrambled eggs with tomatoes)
- Discover food for traditional Chinese festivals
Storytelling
Learn how to tell this story to others by following steps in video 1, video 2, video 3, video 4 and video 5, and using this activity sheet.
The Chinese Zodiac
Discover the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac from 2025, 2024 and 2023.
Other videos
Key stages 3 & 4
Our tutors at Cardiff Confucius Institute have designed a range of videos to give older children and young people a real taste of Life in China. They include topics such as:
- making ‘Biangbiang Mian noodles’ using lasagne
- peeking inside a real Chinese teahouse
- discovering youth culture
- finding out how technology is used in China
- learning makeup techniques from a real-life Chinese opera star
