Before delving into the details of the Chinese New Year event, Ms. Dorothy Wong extended her heartfelt wishes to the entire community.

On the evening of 15 January 2025, as the Year of the Snake approached, the UISG and UISZ campuses once again joined hands to celebrate the Chinese New Year with a beautiful and exciting event for the staff.

The winter is over, and the stars are shining. Standing at the end of one year and the beginning of another, we had navigated many hardships on our way to welcoming this carefully prepared Spring Festival event. Dr. Dan Mullen, the Head of School at UISG, delivered the opening speech, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the staff for their hard work over the past year, as well as his expectations and hopes for the year ahead.

All evening the party was full of highlights and memorable moments. A brand-new Spring was welcomed accompanied by the prayers and blessings of all. A joyful lion dance performance kicked off the show, a flashing spiritual brushstroke, as the gorgeous prelude to the New Year’s party. Local and expatriate staff dressed up in traditional costumes strongly associated with New Year celebrations and played the magnificent Chinese drums. To the melodious tune of ‘You Raise me up’, dancers showed the beauty of their art on the stage with light steps and delicate posture, just like the spring elves.

The ancient rhyme of the zither and the tones of western string instruments intertwined, combining Chinese and Western styles in a quiet and profound musical journey. Afterwards, the guitar solo ‘Perfect’ was sung in low voice, like a babbling brook, telling a story from the depths of the human heart. Its poetic lyrics continued the musical journey. A performance of ‘Both Sides Now’ to the accompaniment of a harmonious pairing of guitar and piano resonated with profound emotion; the familiar romantic classic ‘Can’t Take My Eyes Off You’, instantly roused the audience and charged the atmosphere in the venue. The duet ‘Endless Love’ touched all hearts deeply, with its lyrical melody and enchanting vocals sending the listeners into rapturous applause several times over. The solo performance of “Nara Ekele” added unique flair to the evening.

The modern dance was exquisite as the dancers interpreted emotions and dreams with their body language. The trumpet solo was graceful, the sound of the music like a breeze, carrying the mind flying over mountain ranges and rivers with its melody. The fashion show was vibrant, with every step exuding confidence and a vigorous passion for life. At the dinner, the cultural background was bright and fantastic, a variety of cultural and artistic works were staged one after another, just like a colorful scroll slowly spreading, unfolding to expose a cross-cultural dialogue charming in all its aspects. Finally, the staff of the Guangzhou Campus and the staff of the Zengcheng Campus performed a golden dragon dance together. The golden dragons wound and leapt between heaven and earth, symbolising the joy and blessings of the Chinese New Year and pushed the atmosphere at the party towards its crescendo.

‘The silver serpent is winding its way through the air, and auspicious omens promise sweet years ahead.’. The party came to a successful end with speeches made by the Head of School from the UISZ and UISG. New flowers are blossoming, and verdant growth is endless. Looking forward to the new year, may we join hands and work together again to write a brilliant and glorious new chapter!