On Tuesday, the 15th February 2011, the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna invited friends to a Chinese New Year reception, which this year particularly involved a delegation from the Tianjin University.

At 5pm the doors of the “Great Festival Hall” (“Gro?er Festsaal”) and the “Small Festival hall” (“Kleiner Festsaal”) at the University of Vienna opened and guests and friends of the Confucius Institute were invited to visit a folk art exhibition which was prepared by the delegation of the Tianjin University. Exhibits were, amongst others, classical Chinese fans, chopsticks and dragons.

At 6pm, when most of the guests had arrived, Mag. Jing Wang and Dr. Richard Trappl, the heads of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, gave a welcome speech in which they particularly emphasized their gladness about the jubilee of the establishment of the institute at the University of Vienna five years ago.

They were happy to welcome among the guests of honour Mrs. GUO Jinqiu, Counsellor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic China in Austria, Prof. CHEN Hangzhu, head of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in Austria, Mrs. Renate Cs?rgits, Member of Parliament of the Republic of Austria, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Martin Eichtinger, head of the Cultural Policy Section of the Austrian Foreign Ministry, Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Susanne Weigelin-Schwiedrzik, dean of the Faculty of Philological and Cultural Studies of the University of Vienna, Mag. Dr. Lottelis Moser, head of the Department for Research Services and International Relations of the University of Vienna, O. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Walter Schrammel, head of the Department of Labour Law and Law of Social Security of the University of Vienna and Colonel Mag. Bruno Nestler, head of the Language Institute of the Austrian National Defence Academy in Vienna.

The Vice President of Tianjin University, Professor Li Yandan, Counsellor Guo Jinqiu

gave welcome addresses.

Then the student ensemble of the Tianjin University arranged the artistic part of the evening. The artists of the ensemble are bachelor students, master students and PhD candidates of Tianjin University and the ensemble is of high reputation inside and outside China.

The artists gave various performances, including dances and choral singing, in manyfold costumes.

Beginning with a staging of their program called “Qiang qiang cai”, the students presented the dance “Window flower” and several vocals, including “Welcome spring”, a folk song of Tianjin, “Drums of Fengyang” and “Lovesong of Kang Ding”. A composition of various Chinese and international songs represented the finale of the artistic performance.

This charming and diversified program also included the solo vocal “Dragonboat Melody”, which requested the participation of the audience who responded with great enthusiam.

“Guo Feng Ya Yun”, a classical Chinese rhyme, presented the traditional Chinese instruments Erhu and Suona.

The performances not only showed artistic skills, but also enabled a closer insight into the Chinese culture. After the performance of “Prairie feelings”, a composition of Mongolian songs and dances, the audience was invited to enter the stage and try out some of the performance tools, in particular chopsticks, shot glasses and bowls. These props represent very important elements of the Chinese everyday life.

The fan dance “Dan Qing” presented various types of fans including silk fans, fans of sandal-wood and kung fu fans.

After the finale the sounds of a Viennese waltz appeared and thus the artists enthused the audience to dance with them.

Afterwards the guests were invited to a delicious Chinese buffet and a cozy get-together. The Confucius Institute offered Yuanxiao (sweet, filled rice balls), which are obligate to this event.