The Chinese New Year is one of the most important traditional festivals of the Chinese nation, signifying reunion and happiness.

This year’s celebration organized by China Cultural Center Den Haag is scheduled to take place on February 1, 2022, both offline and online, we are very excited to share the cultural feast of the Chinese New Year of the Tiger with Chinese and Dutch friends across the country. In this edition, we present a preview of some of the exciting events, so follow us to get a sneak peek!

 

Part I
Off-line Activities | The Twelve Chinese Zodiacs: An Art Installation in the Year of the Tiger

This year, China Cultural Center Den Haag, in collaboration with Stichting China Festivals Rotterdam (RCNY), invites Dutch Chinese artist and founder of Space 101, Hu Fenmei, and installation studio Studio Maky to present an installation art exhibition of the 12 Chinese zodiac, featuring the traditional Chinese papercut style, in multiple locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Sketch for the exhibition at Markthal

 

Zodiac Installations in the making by Studio Maky

On 1 February, the exhibition will be officially opened at Markthal, one of the landmarks in Rotterdam, and will be on display until 13 February. Twelve Chinese zodiac installations in the style of traditional papercutting will be placed in different areas of the market, adding to the fun of the visitors' experience. On Saturday February 5th from 12 PM, the final and most important statue of this year, the tiger, will be painted live in the Markthal. Studio Maky will paint one side of the statue in their colorful and modern style. The other side of the statue will be painted by Sofie Xie in traditional Chinese style. Visitors can watch the ladies live at work.

The zodiac exhibition can be visited for free in the Markthal from February 1st - 13th, and in the Timmerhuis from February 14th – 23rd.

Notably, from 1 February, the China Cultural Centre Den Haag will unveil a special pop-up exhibition for the Chinese New Year at Rotterdam Centraal Station, which will be designed and decorated by Dutch Chinese artist Fenmei Hu. Throughout the month of February, visitors to Rotterdam Station will be able to get to know the story of the 12 Chinese zodiac signs and experience the Chinese New Year atmosphere.

After the exhibition, the zodiac installations will return to The Hague as a permanent exhibition at China Cultural Centre Den Haag.

Part II
"2022 Happy Chinese New Year" online event
 

This year's celebration will also present online events where audience from afar could enjoy the "cloud" performances, online exhibitions, short videos and interactive experiences, such as the Spring Festival Photo Exhibition, The Spring Festival Concert, Online programs by China Shanghai International Arts Festival, and many more.

1 Feb | Photo exhibition: Dragon Dance in China

The Spring Festival is the grandest traditional fete of the Chinese people, and an important holiday for family reunion and pleasure sharing. Dragon dance, a lively and jubilant traditional custom, is among the most occasional activities during the Spring Festival.
 

4 Feb | Blooms of Springs-Chinese New Year Concert

 
Everything renews year after year. As a good start of the whole year, spring comes back with hope and happiness. Well-known for the name “Spring Festival”, the Chinese New Year is regarded as one of the most important traditional festivals for Chinese people. In this period of blossom, Jiangsu Women's National Orchestra, reputed as “the Jasmine of Chinese traditional music” will present a high-quality concert “Blooms of Spring” highlighting the prosperity and romance of the season.

5 Feb | Charm of Chinese New Year
Children's Animated Short Video Shows

The program presents eleven short videos in the forms of 2D animation, stop-motion animation, etc. targeting at children and themed on Chinese New Year, which of draw inspiration from Spring Festival culture, traditional customs, and the Twelve Zodiac Animals culture and combines them with elements from traditional Chinese operas and the Winter Olympics. All animated short videos were created by young animators from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts and convey good wishes for family reunion, harmony and health.

8 Feb | Taijiquan Therapy

 

This video series adopts the forms like Taijiquan Therapy, Taijiquan Fitness Microclass and Chinese Medical Culture Microclass to showcase fundamental health preserving knowledge and practical application with Chinese characteristics. By integrating entertainment into education, this series spreads a peaceful, auspicious, healthy and joyful Spring Festival sensation to all the people around the world.

10 Feb | Online Performances & Exhibitions by the Center of China Shanghai International Arts Festival


 

The "2022 Happy Chinese New Year Online Performances & Exhibitions by the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival" will include works by Zide Guqin studio, Modern Dance Disappear by Hou Ying Dance TheatreClassical Dance Bo Ya Cut the Strings by Hunan Performing Arts Centre etc, It will extend the festive and merry atmosphere of the traditional Chinese New Year to the virtual space, and allow the worldwide spectators who love Chinese culture to appreciate the beauty of China.
 

12 Feb | A Journey of Taste in Sichuan


 

The series of short videos showcases the unique charm of Chengdu - the world's culinary capital, Zigong - the salt capital and Langzhong - the home of Chinese New Year culture, led by Sichuan's cultural and tourism mascot, the giant panda "An Yi".

14 Feb | The Spring Festival Celebration Concert
 

The Spring Festival Celebration Concert pools the performing arts resources from institutions such as the National Ballet of China, the China National Traditional Orchestra, and the China National Opera & Dance Drama Theater, and incorporates elements of Spring Festival and Winter Olympics. In the form of short videos, the concert presents to the audience the representative ballet “Celebrating the Spring Festival”, the folk music The Great Wall, Traditional Chinese Music and I and Meet with Ice and Snow―Beijing Winter Olympics Symphonic Suites. Those works combine traditional folk music and modern music and aim to convey the concepts of harmony and reunion to overseas audiences.
 

15 Feb | "Tea • Pot" Jiangsu Tea Culture and Yixing Zisha Exhibition
 

 

Tea drinking, a 4,700-year-old habit for the Chinese people, has become a deep spiritual existence with deep cultural connotations. Jiangsu has been a sacred place for tea production since ancient times, and its tea-drinking fashion is outstanding. On the last day of the celebration, we invite you to have a look at this exhibition over Pot and Tea from Yixing, Jiangsu.