Radar: Chinese Culture Week Returns to the Fringe – Powered by Women, Fuelled by Stories

Chinese Culture Week Is Back

Earlier this spring, on one of those slow, breezy afternoons that Edinburgh does so well, I found myself settled into a sofa in Winnie’s living room. Her dog, TT, had claimed the space next to me, the air was rich with the earthy scent of pu’erh tea as she poured it into a delicate porcelain cup. The kind of moment that stretches time.

“I’ve got a venue,” she said, eyes shining with glee. “King’s Hall. 1st to 10th of August. All ours!”

My heart did a little flutter. Chinese Culture Week is back – for the third time!

The story

Winnie Wen, the founder and creative spark behind Chinese Culture Week (CCW) and director of the Intercultural Connections Initiative (ICI), has made a life out of moving between cultures. Born in Beijing and raised in Edinburgh, she’s the kind of person who feels most at home in airports, festivals, and cultural in-betweens. But no matter where she lands, one thing stays steady: her desire to build bridges through art and culture.

“I feel like a brick, you know?” she once told me. “My life’s dream is to find where I fit, to help build a platform that connects cultures.”

“Is CCW that platform?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said. No hesitation. No need to explain further.

Bigger. Bolder. Louder.

This year, that platform gets a serious upgrade. King’s Hall, with its gothic arches and vaulted ceilings, is a Fringe gem. But what really stands out is the ambition.

Under the poetic banner Echoes of Time | 时之回响, CCW 2025 is going full spectrum. The theme makes me think of footsteps echoing in an ancestral hall. Or a Chinese folk song from the 80s, half remembered, still echoing. But looking at the programme, I don’t just see tradition and nostalgia. I see energy, experimentation, and a kind of cultural confidence that says: we belong here, and we’re not holding back.

The programme: what to expect

Over 60 events packed into 10 days: Performances, exhibitions, workshops, talks, markets, and surprise pop-ups. Whether you’re planning a full day or just wandering in, there’s always something to catch your eye and always something unexpected to stumble into.

Here’s a snapshot of the spaces you’ll explore:

• Main Hall: A grand stage with gallery seating, perfect for headline performances, ceremonies, and larger workshops.
• Small Hall: A more intimate and flexible space for exhibitions, rehearsals, and creative gatherings.
• The Garden: An outdoor hub full of life, street food, handmade goods, demos, and casual performances under the open sky.

And the programme? A rich blend of tradition, innovation, and cultural conversation:

• Heritage Revival: Experience Chinese intangible cultural heritage in motion, from calligraphy to martial arts, traditional crafts to music. These hands-on workshops and live demonstrations bring the past into the present.
• Cultural Market: Think local maker vibes with an East Asian twist. The market spills into the garden with curated crafts, artisanal goods, street food, and spontaneous performances.
• Stage & Performance: A vibrant mix of classical and contemporary, from theatre and dance to cross-cultural collaborations that experiment, blend, and surprise.
• Talks & Dialogues: Panels, artist talks, and interactive discussions where cultures, generations, and disciplines meet. It’s also where the IC Award comes to life, celebrating work that performs, connects, and provokes.

The IC award

Mid-July. One of those indecisive Edinburgh afternoons where the sky can’t decide between sun and drizzle. But on screen, five women beamed with energy, young, fierce, and full of ideas. Their voices bounced between Mandarin and English, bursting with laughter and momentum. I was the oldest in the meeting, in my 40s, but found myself quietly proud, watching them shape something bigger than an award.

This wasn’t just a planning session. It felt like a movement in motion.

That energy is what ICI runs on. It’s powered by an international team of cultural producers, artists, educators and strategists, people who live and create between worlds. It’s built on care, exchange, and shared authorship.

The IC Award is one way that spirit takes form. With four categories: Personal Award, Best Production, IC Pioneer, and Future Generation, it celebrates creativity that crosses cultures and opens doors for new voices.

And right at the centre? Women’s voices. Young voices. Interconnected, underrepresented, boundary-pushing voices. The ones redefining culture, not as a relic, but as a living, breathing practice.

A cup of tea, together

To me, this year’s CCW isn’t just a programme. It’s a gathering. Not a showcase, but a shared table with friends.

And King’s Hall will be that table this August. Come for the art. Stay for the dumplings. Try your hand at calligraphy. Buy handmade crafts. Watch children perform poetry about memory and time. Sit in on a talk about identity, culture, and belonging. And if you’re lucky, you might even spot TT the dog sniffing around the food table.

Because really, Chinese Culture Week is a bit like joining an old friend for a cup of tea. Warm, generous, unhurried; an invitation to slow down, share stories, and feel at home.

Chinese Culture Week
1–10 August, King’s Hall, Edinburgh
Google Maps
chinesecultureweek.com
Tickets on Eventbrite

Let’s drink tea and make culture together!

Written by: Liwei Teng (@liweiteng_art)

Liwei Teng is an Edinburgh-based interdisciplinary artist whose practice explores the intersections of contemporary art, philosophy, neurology, and social issues. She is a passionate advocate for mothers, parent-carers, and underrepresented voices. In addition to her visual work, she writes poetry and literature in both Chinese and English. Writing reviews for Edinburgh Reviews is one of her favourite creative pastimes.