Cultural Encounters and Global Friendship: Lantern Festival Celebration

As a festive conclusion to the first day of International Week, IBA Confucius Institute invited both Danish and international guests to a vibrant celebration of the Chinese Lantern Festival. Held at Asian Restaurant in Kolding, the evening featured music, dance, traditional Chinese cuisine – and a strong sense of community across cultures.

The 174 participants from 30 different countries joined IBA’s lecturers and students in marking the end of the Chinese New Year celebrations, a tradition known as Yuanxiao Jie. Though the festival officially fell earlier in the year, it was celebrated later at the IBA to coincide with the international programmes and welcome guests from across the globe.

From classical Chinese flute performances and elegant Han dynasty dances to riddles and shared laughter at the tables, the event offered a colourful evening where new friendships and cross-cultural understanding lit up the room – just like the lanterns themselves.

See photos from the event here.