On the first day of Chinese Lunar New Year (January 31, 2014), the master’s degree candidates from all over the world were invited to attend the Chinese Spring Festival celebration held by the Confucius Institute at Gath’s Common Room. Over 40 international students from different parts around the globe participated in the merriment. They were the youth from Ireland, Italy, Britain, Poland, China, Colombia, U.S.A., India, and Chinese Hong Kong. That special occasion was delightfully dubbed “quadriathlon” by Prof. Zhang Liying. The first competition was eating dumplings. Because none of the contestants gobbled the food by using chopsticks, so there was no winner in this round. The second was guessing lantern riddles. There was a lively atmosphere in it, and students merrily participated in the game. Those who figured out the right answer got a prize for it. The third game was stepping on balloons. The banging of the crashed balloons replaced the sound of firecrackers for the Chinese New Year. Each participant had three balloons tied on his/her one leg. According to the rules, they were supposed to try to pop the balloons of others by stepping on them while trying to protect their own from being trodden by their adversaries. In the end, an Italian student, Cya Lanes, emerged as the winner for the men’s group and a Colombian student Monica crowned among the female players. And the forth game was playing musical chairs. Two male and two female students were selected to attend that recreation. Females soon ran out of strength compared with their masculine counterparts. In the end, an American student won the first prize in this round. Dorm supervisor Mona Lisa also managed to find time to attend the festivity. It lasted until late at night. Chinese student Zheng Chenhao actively assisted Prof. Zhang’s preparations. He helped acquire almost everything needed for that joyous get-together such as food, prizes, riddles and highlighted it online. Other international students were all very pleased to have the opportunity to celebrate the Year of the Horse with Chinese students at Bangor University. In addition, students from Hong Kong also deeply felt the powerful support from their prosperous motherland.

On January 31, 2014, candidates for master's degree attended the Chinese New Year celebration held by the Confucius Institute at Gath's Common Room. They were from dffierent parts of the world, such as Ireland, Italy, Britain, Poland, China, Colombia, U.S.A., India, and Chinese Hong Kong.

Chinese student Zheng Chenhao helped Prof. Zhang to carry out all the preparatory work for that get-together.

Foreign students enthusiastically participated in guessing riddles.

The jubilant and interesting game of stepping on balloons

In the end, an Italian lad crowned in the men’s group of stepping on balloons.

The eye-catching mixed gender musical chairs competition

A cheerful dorm supervisor Mona Lisa on the spot

The celebration concluded smoothly in an atmosphere of happiness and joy. And thanks go to Chinese student Cao Di’er and Zhang Shuge (Hong Kong) for doing the photography for that special occasion.