“Tea for Harmony” Cultural Salon Successfully Held at UCD Confucius Institute in Ireland

On June 11, 2024, the “Tea for Harmony” cultural salon was successfully held at the UCD Confucius Institute building in Dublin, Ireland. The event was organized by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Embassy in Ireland, and hosted by the Changxin International College of Art at Yunnan University and UCD Confucius Institute. It aimed to promote Chinese tea culture, strengthen the friendship between the peoples of China and Ireland, and celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The event included an opening ceremony, tea culture promotion activities, and a tea culture lecture. It attracted more than one hundred Chinese and Irish guests and the public to attend. Distinguished guests in attendance included the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Mr. He Xiangdong; Professor Zhou Changxin, Dean of the Changxin International College of Art at Yunnan University; Aisling McDermott, Manager for Middle East & Asia from Tourism Ireland; John Kennedy, Principal Officer of Cultural Schemes at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; Professor Liming Wang, Director of the UCD Confucius Institute and the UCD Irish Institute for Chinese Studies; Professor Jiangnan Xie, Chinese Director of the UCD Confucius Institute; and Mr. Xiang Ji, Chairperson of the King of Puer Tea Group and certified senior tea taster.

During the tea culture promotion and demonstration, tea masters in traditional Chinese attire showcased the tea-making process and protocol, including warming the cups, adding the tea leaves, pouring water, and serving the tea. Accompanied by the melodious sounds of the guzheng, the audience enjoyed the tea and experienced the charm of Chinese tea culture firsthand. In the tea culture lecture, Professor Zhou Changxin provided an insightful introduction to the essence and significance of Chinese tea culture, as well as the exchanges and integration between Chinese and Western tea cultures. The lecture was well-received, with the audience actively participating in the discussion.

The event provided a platform for the peoples of China and Ireland to exchange and understand each other’s cultures, enhancing friendship, mutual respect and understanding.