Vilnius University Confucius Institute Children's Summer Day Camp has become a wonderful tradition. Here, summer begins with an introduction to Chinese culture and the most commonly used Chinese phrases. We are especially happy to welcome returning participants—some children have attended our camp for several consecutive years.
At the end of the academic year, 13th June we traditionally held the final quiz competition for the Children’s Chinese Language School of the Confucius Institute at Vilnius University. This annual event brings together our students to test their Chinese language knowledge, demonstrate their teamwork skills, and celebrate the end of another successful academic year.
As every spring, when the sun warms the courtyards of the Central Campus of Vilnius University and cherry blossoms bloom across the Lithuanian capital, the dragon of the “ATSIbusk” festival organized by the Institute of Asian and Transcultural Studies (ATSI) of the Faculty of Philosophy at Vilnius University awakens once again, inviting everyone to a series of events dedicated to the cultures of Asia and the Middle East.
On May 28, during an online lecture, sinologist and translator Indrė Balčikonytė-Huang introduced the life and career of one of China's most renowned writers, Yu Hua.
In the lecture on Chinese humor held on May 20, we explored whether the Chinese have a sense of humor at all and why such a question might arise. We also examined the differences between Chinese and Western humor, discussed Chinese attitudes toward humor, its characteristics and forms, as well as the culture of internet memes.
On 19 and 21 May, the Vilnius University Confucius Institute hosted a series of Open Days events for everyone interested in Chinese culture and eager to deepen their knowledge of China’s history, art, and traditions. Visitors were invited not only to attend lectures but also to actively participate in educational activities.
On 8 May, the Vilnius University Cartography Department, in cooperation with the VU Confucius Institute, hosted the public lecture “Mapping Meaning: How Ancient Chinese Maps Drew a World of Culture and Power.” The event attracted students, researchers, and members of the public interested in Chinese history, culture, and the history of cartography.
On 20 April 2026, to celebrate International Chinese Language Day, our institute organized two events: an online lecture delivered by Dr. Lu Xiaohong, Associate Professor at our partner institution, East China Normal University (ECNU), and a tea tasting led by the long-time tea expert Maksas Roiko.
On 16 April 2026, Vytautas Magnus University hosted the Asian Cultures Fair, which brought together university students, school students, and everyone interested in the cultures of East Asia. Throughout the event, visitors were introduced to the traditions, arts, and cultural practices of various Asian countries, with opportunities not only to observe, but also to actively participate in a wide range of activities.
On April 10–12, 2026, a series of traditional Chinese landscape painting (*shān shuǐ*, 山水 – “mountains and water”) workshops took place at the Confucius Institute of Vilnius University, bringing together art enthusiasts and those interested in Chinese culture.
On April 8, 2026, the Adomas Mickevičius Public Library of Vilnius County hosted a lecture dedicated to the origins, philosophy, and modern relevance of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The event was jointly organized by the Vilnius University Confucius Institute and the library.
On the occasion of March 21, the Confucius Institute at Vilnius University celebrated International Tai Chi Day by organizing a lecture entitled “Tai Chi and Healing Qigong – A Path to a Healthier Life”, delivered by Dr. Junli Wang, a staff member of the Confucius Institute, sports instructor, and Wushu master.
On March 19, 2026, an insightful lecture was held at Vilnius University, offering a unique perspective on Chinese history by approaching it as a study of leadership and management.
On March 12, we organized a relevant health lecture titled “How to Prepare the Body for Spring According to Traditional Chinese Medicine,” delivered by Prof. D. Sekmokienė.
The 2026 Lunar New Year began on February 17th, marking the start of the Year of the Fire Horse, a rare and energetic 60-year cycle associated with passion, rapid progress, and intense, volatile changes.
On February 4th, we organized a lecture on Chinese cosmology for the first time and sought to understand how to grasp the quite complex Bazi system and the Five Elements for us Westerners.
On December 17, we broadcasted a lecture on Chinese avant-garde literature, presented by Indrė Balčikonytė-Huang, a translator of avant-garde writers Yu Hua and Can Xue, as well as a researcher of modern and contemporary Chinese literature.
On the cozy evening of December 3rd with a light winter chill, we dedicated our time to meditation. In the lecture "Meditation – A Step Toward Freedom," Dr. Dainius Butvilas, a medical science doctor and acupuncture specialist, spoke to us about meditation and its importance in traditional Chinese medicine.
Based on our audience's preferences, in October, 22nd we organized an online lecture on health topics and presented how to prepare the body for winter using principles from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and holistic living. The lecture was delivered by Professor Dalia Sekmokienė.
This wonderful autumn, from October 17th to 19th, we once again welcomed perhaps our most anticipated guest – Qi Xiaoting [Chi Shaoting], a Chinese-born Ukrainian artist, who conducted four Chinese painting and one Chinese calligraphy workshop at the institute.
