Chinese Insights Talks 2025–2026: Exploring Contemporary China through Culture, Innovation and Everyday Life

Mandarin Tutors of the Cardiff Confucius Institute at Cardiff University delivered a vibrant series of six Chinese Insights Talks during the 2025–2026 academic year, engaging students, staff and members of the public with contemporary and traditional aspects of Chinese culture, society, technology and wellbeing.

Running from October 2025 to April 2026, the programme offered accessible, interactive talks designed to deepen cultural understanding and spark curiosity about China through lived experience, hands‑on activities and expert insights from the Institute’s Mandarin Tutors.

A Winter Wonderland of Culture and Art

The series opened on 30 October 2025 with Discover the Ice & Snow Wonderland of Northeast China, presented by Mandarin Tutor Xi Li. The talk transported audiences to Harbin’s world‑famous Ice and Snow Festival, combining striking visuals with cultural and historical context. Attendees explored the cuisine, traditions and heritage of China’s northeast, gaining insight into how winter shapes local identity and artistic expression.

Innovation on the Road: China’s Electric Vehicle Revolution

On 18 November 2025, Mandarin Tutor Lei Zhang delivered A Brief Introduction to Chinese Electric Vehicles, offering a timely overview of China’s New Energy Vehicle (NEV) sector. The session traced the industry’s growth from early 2000s low‑carbon policies to global leadership today, highlighting major brands such as BYD, NIO and XPeng. Participants learned how AI‑enabled smart driving, emotional interaction technology, affordability and environmental benefits are reshaping everyday mobility and supporting China’s carbon‑reduction goals.

Playing Together: Air Volleyball from China

The 4 December 2025 talk, Air/Light Volleyball – A Team Sport Originating in China, presented by Mandarin Tutor Shaorong Lin, introduced one of China’s newest and fastest‑growing sports. Originating in the 1980s among Chinese retirees, air volleyball features a lighter, softer ball and a smaller court, making it inclusive for all ages. Alongside exploring the sport’s cultural background and rules, attendees had the opportunity to try the light volleyball themselves, experiencing first‑hand how the sport promotes health, teamwork and social connection.

Life in Chengdu: From Tea Houses to Street Food

After the winter break, the series resumed on 18 March 2026 with The Culture and Everyday Life of Chengdu, presented by Mandarin Tutor Kezhi Pu. The talk offered a vivid portrait of life in one of China’s most beloved cities, taking audiences from misty mountain landscapes to relaxed tea‑house culture and Chengdu’s renowned street food scene. The session highlighted how history, geography and lifestyle combine to shape the city’s distinctive rhythm of life.

East Meets West: The Guzheng and the Piano

On 21 April 2026, The Guzheng and the Piano, delivered by Mandarin Tutor Zi Ye, compared two iconic musical instruments from Chinese and Western traditions. The talk explored performance techniques, emotional expression and the cultural meanings embedded in each instrument. In an interactive element, attendees downloaded the GarageBand app and experimented with creating music using a digital guzheng, bridging traditional culture and modern technology.

Health, Harmony and Tradition: Chinese Medicine

The programme concluded on 28 April 2026 with The Culture of Chinese Medicine, presented by Mandarin Tutor Huan Xia. The session introduced Traditional Chinese Medicine as a holistic system with thousands of years of history, integrating philosophy, natural science and clinical practice. Participants actively engaged by practising movements based on the five animal forms—an early foundation of Tai Chi—and experiencing finger gua sha techniques designed to stimulate vital energy pathways.

Building Cultural Understanding through Engagement

Across the academic year, the Chinese Insights Talks series showcased the breadth of Chinese culture—from cutting‑edge technology and modern sport to ancient medicine and musical tradition—while maintaining a strong focus on interaction and accessibility.

The Cardiff Confucius Institute at Cardiff University continues to foster cultural exchange and global awareness through events that invite the university community and wider public to engage directly with China’s past, present and future.

For information about future events and language programmes, please visit the Cardiff Confucius Institute website event page.