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We are delighted to invite you to Imagining Futures Together: Chinese–Scottish Science Fiction in Conversation, to be held at Abden House, Confucius Institute for Scotland, on the afternoon of 17 August 2026 at 3pm, as part of the 20th anniversary celebrations of the Confucius Institute for Scotland.

Part of our ongoing efforts to promote literary exchange between China and Scotland, this event offers a relaxed and inspiring forum for writers, literary professionals and readers to come together, share ideas, and deepen their understanding of one another’s literary cultures and practices.
The event will feature Mr Lu Ban and Dr Lorraine Wilson in conversation, moderated by Esther Tyldesley, noted translator and teacher of translation and Chinese at the University of Edinburgh. Lu Ban is an acclaimed Chinese science fiction writer whose short story The White Cliff was shortlisted for the 2023 Hugo Award for Best Short Story. Lorraine Wilson is a Scottish writer whose recent science fantasies include We Are All Ghosts in the Forest and The Salt Oracle; a winner of two British Fantasy Awards and the Society of Authors ADCI Literary Prize, her work has also been shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award.

We hope the event will spark genuine exchange and meaningful conversation between writers and readers in China and Scotland.

All welcome, no registration required. Light refreshments will be provided.

We offer a diverse programme of Chinese language classes open to all. Our broad range of Autumn 2026 courses will start from the week beginning 5th October, and registration is now open. Each of our courses is listed and can be booked directly on the University of Edinburgh’s Short Courses website, or you can view the timetable below and click the course title to book the course of your choice.

Location:

We continue to offer most of our evening language classes online, and we also offer some levels in-person. We have set a maximum capacity per class to optimise the learning experience, so spaces are limited.

All of our in-person classes take place on our Confucius Institute for Scotland campus which is based within the Pollock Estate, close to the Royal Commonwealth Pool.

Booking Deadline

Booking is available until 23:59 the day before the course is due to start, unless the course is full or cancelled.

Which Level am I?

An absolute beginner can join us at the start of each term. If you have some previous learning experiences and have not started classes with us, please contact us by email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk to arrange a language assessment with one of our teachers.

Learning Materials

Detailed information on learning materials can be found on each of the course pages. Please note the course fee does not cover your course materials.

Textbooks can be purchased directly from Cypress Books online bookshop, other book sellers are also available.

Autumn 2026 Timetable

Our course names reflect the Common European Framework for Modern Languages. The table below gives the previous names of courses in second position.

Click on the class you are interested in for more information and to book.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Visit the FAQ page HERE for questions about enrolment, booking, and on-course support. We offer a range of discounts for students, staff and alumni of the University of Edinburgh. Please contact us for more information on this prior to booking your course with us.

If you need further assistance, please get in touch with us by email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk

Our five-week language course – the Chinese Conversational classes will resume from 25th May, 2026. These courses are for those who want to spend dedicated time practising their Chinese oral skills and consolidating their conversational skills. It will help students with different language levels develop well-balanced speaking and listening competence by learning and applying Chinese communicative skills in a specific professional or cultural context.

Please register by completing the Registration Form here.

Key Information

Online Conversational Chinese – Elementary level (Lunch time)

Teacher: Wu Jiarui

Date: Mondays, 25th May – 22nd June

Time: 12noon – 13:30

Duration: 5 weeks, 5 sessions (1.5 hour each session)

Class size: maximum of six students

Price: £50/£40

Location: Online via Teams

Online Conversational Chinese – Intermediate level (Lunch time)

Teacher: Wang Yining

Date: Mondays, 25th May – 22nd June

Time: 12noon – 13:30

Duration: 5 weeks, 5 sessions (1.5 hour each session)

Class size: maximum of six students

Price: £50/£40

Location: Online via Teams

In-person Conversational Chinese – Elementary level (Evening)

Teacher: Lu Yifei

Date: Wednesdays, 27th May – 24th June

Time: 6:00pm-7.30pm

Duration: 5 weeks, 5 sessions (1.5 hour each session)

Class size: maximum of six students

Price: £50/£40

Location: Room G03, No. 81 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AL

In-person Conversational Chinese – Intermediate level (Evening)

Teacher: Zou Rongfeng

Date: Wednesdays, 27th May – 24th June

Time: 6:00pm-7.30pm

Duration: 5 weeks, 5 sessions (1.5 hour each session)

Class size: maximum of six students

Price: £50/£40

Location: Room G02, No. 81 Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AL

 

From Rejection to Greatness

 

 

Over a century ago, University of Edinburgh alumnus Eric Henry Liddell, Olympic gold medallist born in Tianjin, China, carried that spirit of excellence and resilience onto the world stage. Today, in that enduring tradition, we welcome one of the greatest champions in the history of sport.

Dr Deng will share her remarkable journey from early rejection to four Olympic gold medals and eighteen world championship titles, reflecting on resilience, high performance, women in sport, and the transformative power of sport in international understanding. She will be joined in conversation by Professor Grant Jarvie, Chair of Sport, and Mark Munro, Director of Sport and Active Health, both of the University of Edinburgh.

The event will conclude with a short audience question session, followed by a reception.

Biography

Dr Deng Yaping is one of the greatest table tennis players in history. Over her 14-year career, she captured four Olympic gold medals and 18 world championship titles, achieving the sport’s Grand Slam, and held the world No. 1 ranking for eight consecutive years, the longest such reign in women’s table tennis history.

Following her retirement, she earned a bachelor’s degree from Tsinghua University, a master’s degree from the University of Nottingham, and a doctorate from the University of Cambridge.

She served on the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes, Sports and Environment, and Ethics Commissions from 1997 to 2010, was the only athlete representative and ambassador for Beijing’s Olympic bids in 1993 and 2001, and served as Deputy Minister of the Olympic Village at the Beijing Games.

Key Information:

Date and time: Monday, 27th April, 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm

Venue: South Hall, South Hall Complex, The University of Edinburgh, Pollock Halls of Residence, 18 Holyrood Park Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5AR

The event is free, but booking is required. Please reserve your place via Eventbrite HERE