Rhythm of Ink ,Aroma of Tea: UWC Confucius Institute Celebrates International Chinese Language Day

On April 17, 2025, in celebration of the International Chinese Language Day, the Confucius Institute of Chinese Medicine at the University of the Western Cape held a grand cultural event titled “Savor Chinese Tea, Write Chinese Characters” at the historic Groot Constantia Wine Estate, which has a 340-year history. Using immersive experiences as a medium, the event vividly showcased the essence of Chinese culture and created a new platform for dialogue between Chinese and South African civilizations. More than 200 local participants attended with great enthusiasm, and the event was extensively covered by several mainstream South African media outlets.

Mr. Tang Chang’ an, Deputy Consul General of the Chinese Consulate General in Cape Town, and Dr. Bongani Ndhlovu, Director of the Iziko South African Museum, attended the opening ceremony together. The event gathered prominent figures from political, business, and academic circles, including representatives from Cape Town’s tourism department, the provincial parliament, international offices of local universities, as well as teachers and students from the Confucius Institute, all joining together to witness this cultural celebration.

In the Tea Culture Exhibition Area, participants engaged in an immersive tea-tasting experience. The freshness of green tea, the floral aroma of jasmine, the gentle warmth of yellow tea, the elegant purity of white tea, the rich fragrance of oolong, the sweetness of black tea, and the deep, earthy character of pu’er—seven varieties of tea revealed the grace and charm of a thousand years of Eastern tea culture. While tasting the different teas, participants also gained insight into the Eastern wisdom of “tea and Zen as one.”

In the Calligraphy Zone, Confucius Institute teachers guided attendees in experiencing the beauty of Chinese characters through traditional brush calligraphy. Many South African participants held a brush for the first time, leaving their mark on rice paper and having their first direct interaction with Chinese culture.

Through an interactive design that was “tangible, experiential, and take-home,” the event brought Chinese culture out of textbooks and into the daily lives of the South African people. Participants not only received their own handwritten calligraphy works and small tea samples, but also, more importantly, developed a deeper understanding of Chinese culture in a subtle and engaging way.

Associate Professor Sun Haofeng, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, stated: “We are currently planning to integrate calligraphy and tea ceremony with local South African art, launching innovative projects such as ‘Chinese Character Painting.’” As guests commented, “Today’s event has shown us that when Chinese tea meets the South African sun, and when the brush and ink touch the passion of Africa, a new chapter in the story of civilizational exchange is bound to be written.”