At YCIS Qingdao, Chinese New Year is not simply marked on the calendar — it is felt across the campus.

On 12 February, the school was filled with the colours, sounds, and rhythms of Spring Festival. Students and teachers from many nationalities came together to celebrate a tradition rooted in Chinese culture, while embracing the spirit of an international community learning and growing side by side.

In Primary, classrooms became places of discovery.

Students moved freely between rooms, each one offering a different cultural encounter — from traditional customs to festive activities inspired by the New Year.

Laughter echoed down the corridors as children explored, asked questions, and learned from one another. For many, it was their first hands-on experience of Spring Festival traditions; for others, a chance to share something familiar and meaningful with friends from around the world.

Culture, in these moments, was not taught — it was experienced.

The Secondary School welcomed the New Year with a relaxed tea gathering.

Through games and guided conversations, students and teachers stepped out of their usual routines and connected in a more personal way.

It was unhurried and genuine — the kind of atmosphere where relationships deepen naturally, where conversations flow, and where the New Year feels less like an event and more like a shared pause to reflect, reconnect, and look ahead.

As the day unfolded, the gym transformed into a lively New Year market and performance space.

Red decorations set the scene as students took the stage with confidence and creativity.

Traditional Chinese performances shared the spotlight with music and dance influenced by other cultures, creating a programme that felt both rooted and contemporary. The result was a celebration that belonged to everyone — familiar yet new, festive yet personal.

The Lunar New Year is a time for renewal — a moment to let go of the old and welcome what lies ahead with hope and warmth.

As the celebrations drew to a close, what lingered was a sense of togetherness: a community strengthened by shared experiences, open exchange, and mutual respect.

From all of us at YCIS Qingdao, we wish our students and families a year filled with peace, happiness, and new beginnings.

Happy Chinese New Year — may the season of spring bring light, luck, and joy to you all.