On 11 February, Ren Faqiang, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in Cape Town, paid an official visit to the University of the Western Cape (UWC) at the invitation of the university. He held cordial talks with Professor Robert Balfour, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC, and other members of the university’s leadership, and visited the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at UWC. Consul General Ren noted that UWC is a well-established research university in So

The Chinese New Year Market returns for its 4th year at Central Park, Century City (Cape Town), bringing Cape Town communities together to celebrate the Lunar New Year and welcome the Year of the Horse! Look forward to a vibrant day filled with delicious Chinese food, Chinese arts and crafts, traditional Chinese tea, Chinese acupuncture, and an exciting line-up of performances and entertainment. This year’s highlights include Dragon & Lion Dance, Taichi, and even Zumba! There

On 17 February, the Confucius Institute hosted a Spring Festival Event on campus, welcoming nearly 1,000 staff and students to celebrate the Chinese New Year and experience traditional Chinese culture. The event featured a range of interactive cultural activities, including Chinese calligraphy, pitch-pot , shuttlecock kicking and Chinese tea tasting. Guided by instructors, participants had the opportunity to practise writing Chinese characters and take part in traditional fol

This week, the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape commenced teaching activities for the new semester. Chinese language courses at all levels, together with Traditional Chinese Medicine courses, were launched simultaneously. Focusing on established teaching objectives, instructors provided systematic introductions to course content, study plans, and learning requirements. These briefings helped students clarify their learning goals a

From 3 to 5 February 2026, the University of the Western Cape held a three-day staff orientation programme. Several teachers newly appointed to the Confucius Institute in 2025 participated in the programme. During the orientation, Professor Robert Balfour, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC, and Professor Monwabisi Ralarala, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, delivered keynote presentations on the University’s educational philosophy and governance structure. Heads of

From 2 to 4 February, the University of the Western Cape hosted its orientation programme for new students. The Confucius Institute actively participated in the event by setting up an information booth on campus, where the Institute introduced its Chinese language courses, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) courses, and related cultural experience programmes to incoming students. During the orientation, teachers from the Confucius Institute provided detailed information on Ch

Beginners Chinese This course combines the HSK 1 course with the Experiencing Chinese Textbook content. The Chinese Proficiency Test is the standardized test for assessing Standard Chinese language proficiency in Mainland China among non-native speakers. This test is a requirement for those planning to study in China. HSK currently consists of nine levels, this course focuses on the first level. Completing this level will provide you with a solid foundation for future studies

Please note that online bookings for acupuncture and tea tasting will be temporarily closed from February 2 to February 7 due to staff and student orientation. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your support.

The Confucius Institute will offer Chinese language short courses in the first semester of 2026, as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine related classes.  The registration link is provided below each course description. We also offer Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments as well as Chinese Tea tasting which can be booked online.  To know more about us, please visit us on the second floor of B Block, UWC campus.  TERM 1: 9 February – 26 March TERM 2: 7 April – 13 May Beginne

Six students from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa won Outstanding Work Awards  at the 2025 competition themed “Sing & Learn Chinese — In Tune with Nature”  . Matshediso Lesia, Amahle Zulu, and Den Mari Jacobs formed the Protea  group and performed The Shy Rose Blossoms Silently ,  while Sinethemba Sphiwe Mnisi, Ria Ronewa Ndou, and Alexandria Ruth Gwaidza formed Rainbow Voices  and performed Rainbow . Both groups impressed the judges with their Chinese-lang

Compliments of the season!  As the New Year begins, we extend our warmest wishes to all our partners, colleagues, students, and friends. We are pleased to announce that the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at UWC officially opens today, 5 January. Our website booking system is now live, and reservations for the Tea Tasting will open from 12 January . Reservations for Chinese Medical Acupuncture will officially open between late January and early February . We wish e

On 4 December 2025, Professor Liao Yong’an , President of Xiangtan University and Dean of  China-Africa Research Institute, led a delegation to visit the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa. The delegation was warmly received by Prof. Robert Balfour , Rector and Vice-Chancellor of UWC; Dr. Nita Lawton-Misra , Registrar; and Prof. Jacques De Ville , Dean of the Faculty of Law. Both sides held friendly and constructive discussions. This visit followed the July

Professor Robert Balfour , Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), led the university delegation to attend the  2025 World Chinese Language Conference that took place at the China National Convention Center in Beijing.   The Conference was organized by the Ministry of Education, and was held under the theme “Innovation Leads, AI Empowers: Learning Chinese Without Borders”.   The conference brought together nearly 5,000 participants from over 16

On 18 November 2025, the UWC HR Employee Wellness of the UWC hosted the “Empower Him: Men’s Health & Wellness Event”, offering professional support across a wide range of areas, including health screenings, mental wellness, fitness guidance, and lifestyle improvement. The Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine contributed to the event by dispatching a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) instructor and teachers to lead a Baduanjin wellness session for staff members. With its

Dear subscribers and campus community, Please be informed that the Confucius Institute at UWC will be temporarily closed for the holiday period from 17 November 2025 to 5 January 2026. During this time, we will not be accepting any bookings, including boardroom reservations, tea-tasting sessions, and TCM treatments. We wish you a wonderful and restful holiday season. Confucius Institute University of the Western Cape

The Chinese Government Scholarship 2026/2027  program is now open for applications from South African students .The scholarship is offering undergraduate (Bachelors) studies and postgraduate (Master’s or PhD) studies in various study fields, as well as non-degree Chinese language studies.  For detailed eligibility requirements, available programs, and the application process, please visit the link below: https://www.internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za/index.php/scholarships

The HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test)  in 2026  will be held at UWC on the following dates: March 22 May 17 August 23 October 18 Candidates may choose any  of these exam dates based on their study progress and preparation. We warmly welcome all learners to register and participate in the test to evaluate and improve their Chinese proficiency. Registration only opens a month before the test date . When you register choose Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology  as t

On the morning of October 29, 2025, a delegation from the Zhejiang Chinese Culture Institute visited the Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute at the University of the Western Cape. The two sides held a meeting to conduct in-depth discussions on strengthening cultural and educational exchange and cooperation. During the meeting, both Chinese and South African directors of the Confucius Institute provided a comprehensive introduction to the Confucius Institute’s faculty develop

On the morning of October 27, 2025, a Community Safety and Legal Awareness Forum was held at the Milnerton Library in Cape Town. The event was jointly organized by the Chinese Community Police Cooperation Center in Cape Town, the Western Cape Department of Labour, the Department of Home Affairs, the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications, and the City of Cape Town.Representatives from the Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute at the UWC also attended the Conference.

On the morning of October 25, 2025, the Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute at the University of the Western Cape organized its students to participate in the “Study Beijing & HSK Study in China Online Info Session – South Africa.” The event was initiated by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and featured online presentations from eight leading universities in Beijing, including the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Peking University, Renmin University of Ch