Day of fun: Ouyang throwing arrows into a container during a round of the traditional pitch-pot game at the Chinese Embassy’s open day in Kuala Lumpur. — LEONG WAI YEE/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Laughter, traditional Chinese music and the aroma of freshly steamed dumplings filled the Chinese Embassy here as it opened its doors for a Spring Festival open day celebrating culture, exchange and friendship.
Some 200 guests, including government officials and students from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia, International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) and Universiti Putra Malaysia were invited to tour the embassy grounds and participate in hands-on activities showcasing Chinese traditions.
Visitors were first introduced to the embassy’s work and China’s development journey through videos highlighting the country’s achievements and future aspirations.
They then took part in cultural workshops and interactive sessions.
Under the supervision of embassy staff, guests crafted wind chimes, assembled mini wooden rattle drums and produced brass rubbing on paper, a traditional technique used to preserve ancient inscriptions and artwork.
The participants also rolled up their sleeves for dumpling-making sessions and festive games such as the prosperity toss and pitch-pot, winning attractive prizes.
One of the most popular attractions was the hanfu experience, where students queued to try on traditional Chinese attire and capture the moment on their phones.
In his address, Chinese Ambassador to Malaysia Ouyang Yujing said the open day was held at a meaningful time, as the Lunar New Year draws near.
Cultural crafts: Syarafana Elissa Sabirin (left) and Nor Amalia Saupi from Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia admiring wind chimes they made during the open day.
“The Spring Festival symbolises reunion, joy and renewal,” he said, adding that it is not only the most important traditional festival in Chinese culture but also an increasingly global celebration.
Striking a personal note, Ouyang said the upcoming Year of the Horse would be his sixth Spring Festival in Malaysia.
“Every year at this time, the streets of Kuala Lumpur are filled with a strong festive atmosphere. It makes me feel very close to home,” he said, adding that the celebration reflects Malaysia’s multicultural openness and the deep people-to-people bonds between the two countries.
Taking the opportunity to extend early Chinese New Year greetings, he wished everyone success and good fortune in the Year of the Horse.
Touching on bilateral ties, Ouyang said 2025 marked a milestone year in Malaysia-China relations, with high-level exchanges strengthening political trust, practical cooperation and people-to-people engagement.
Looking ahead, he said: “The future belongs to the younger generation. I hope you will seize the opportunities of your time and work together with young people from other countries, including China, to build a more peaceful, prosperous and inclusive world.”
Among those present were Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia’s Military Training Camp commandant Brig-Jen Datuk Mohamad Norlizam Shamsuddin, deputy commandant Kol Zam Azhari Zainudin and other officials.
IIUM student representative Waffi Izzuddin, 22, said the visit was the first time many students had entered a foreign embassy.
A total of 70 IIUM students attended the open day, most of whom are political science undergraduates.
“As political science students, this experience is very beneficial for us, especially in understanding regional geopolitics,” he said, adding that the embassy’s approach was open and engaging.
“We hope there will be more engagement in the future, such as forums or dialogue sessions, where we can ask more questions.”
