Gala helps students in the UK feel at home

Performers at The Northeast England Five-University Chinese New Year Gala at Newcastle City Hall on February 4, 2017.  [Photo provided to China Daily]

The Chinese Lunar New Year, the Year of the Rooster, has been welcomed across the United Kingdom, where many communities hosted their largest-ever events.

And the party continued at the weekend with a huge gala at Newcastle City Hall headlined The Northeast England Five-University Chinese New Year Gala.

The event was one of the biggest and best in the UK and attracted more than 2,000 people, many of whom were Chinese students and business people who joined British officials and locals.

Linda Wright, sheriff and deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle City Council, said the city cherishes its close ties with Chinese students.

"It is important that traditional and cultural links are maintained, as history and heritage are significant to us all," she said.

The gala, which was first held in 2008, has increased in size and popularity.

Qu Zhaodan, gala director, said its aim was to "bring homely warmth to overseas students, to show the traditional Chinese culture to British guests, and to illustrate the life and influence of Chinese migrants in the local community".

The event was organized by the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Newcastle University, along with four other universities－Durham, Teesside, Northumbria and Sunderland.

The gala featured singing, dancing and short dramas all performed by Chinese students.

The high point of the night was from children at the local preschool, Oak Field Infant School, who sang Happy New Year in Chinese, under the supervision of teachers from the local Confucius Institute.

Deng Sangyu, 18, a first-year student at Newcastle University, said, with so many friends and happy strangers, she felt the warmth of the festival season and was less homesick.

Young performers present their show at The Northeast England Five-University Chinese New Year Gala at Newcastle City Hall on February 4, 2017.  [Photo provided to China Daily]