SPRINGFIELD — The Chinese New Year marks the end of winter and beginning of spring, and it represents the desire for a new life.

2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

“The Year of the Rabbit is a year filled with peace and hope,” said Dr. Weirong Yan-Schaefer, senior instructor of Chinese and Japanese in the world languages and cultures department at Missouri State University. “The year begins Jan. 22 and ends Feb. 9, 2024.”

Missouri State will celebrate the Chinese New Year Jan. 31 with an in-person experience. It is sponsored by the MSU department of world languages and cultures in collaboration with the MSU office of China programs.

Learn more about Chinese New Year 

Celebrate on campus 

The celebration, which is free and open to the public, begins at 9:30 a.m. Jan. 31 at Siceluff Hall, Room 124. Experience Chinese culture through various activities.  

9:30 a.m. 

Lion dance and Kungfu performances by Fu Hok Studio. 

10:30 a.m. 

Chinese painting with Taiji movements by Springfield local artist Hing Wah Hatch. 

11 a.m. 

Tea ceremony by Sean Gong, China programs specialist in MSU’s College of Business. 

12 p.m. 

Chinese New Year cultural elements by Yan-Schaefer. 

1 p.m. 

Traditional Chinese musical instrument demonstration by Dr. John Prescott, head of MSU’s music department. 

2 p.m. 

Guzheng music performance by Xinyao Wang, MSU’s student from China. 

2:30 p.m. 

Chinese painting workshop by Springfield local artist Hing Wah Hatch. 

3 p.m. 

Chinese dumpling workshop by Chinese visiting professors Danyu Tao, Yanxia Qiao, Qiang Fan and Yuping Cheng. 

Attend the celebration