Walaa Fathy Fawaz Kasem, an Egyption student, writes a Chinese idiom meaning good luck in the Year of the Dragon during a calligraphy competition at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China on Jan 10. [Photo/UNNC]

A group of international students from the Confucius Institute of the University of Nottingham Ningbo China celebrated the New Year with a calligraphy competition on Jan 10.

Under the guidance of a calligraphy teacher, the students expressed their aspirations and wishes for Ningbo by writing the Chinese character "fu" (meaning "good fortune") and auspicious idioms.

Dan Nicolaisen and Anders Eriksen from Denmark recently finished their six-month exchange program in Ningbo and will soon return to their home country.

"These six months of study in Ningbo have been unforgettable. We’ve joined a go-kart club, tasted Ningbo tangyuan, and made many Chinese friends. We hope the city continues to prosper. We'll introduce this historic, culturally rich, and friendly city to our friends and classmates in Denmark."

Since its establishment in 2016, nearly 200 international teachers and students have come to the Nottingham Confucius Institute China Ningbo Branch to learn Chinese. The institute has helped many expats living in the city learn more about China.

Students display their calligraphy works featuring the Chinese character "fu". [Photo/UNNC]