The Confucius Institute In Sofia Have Taken Part In the Rose Festival In Kazanlak

On June 8th, 2025, the 122nd edition of the Rose Festival celebrations have been conducted in the Rose Valley in Kazanlak. To take part in the 2025 Kazanlak Rose Festival, esteemed public persons such as the vice-President of Bulgaria Mrs Iliana Yotova, and the Spokesperson of the Bulgaria’s National Assembly Mrs Natalia Kisselova, as well as a number of municipal officials, ambassadors and envoys in Bulgaria, local citizens and tourists from all over the world have taken part.
The Confucius Institute in Sofia have been invited by the organizers to participate in the Rose Festival Parade. The procession has been led by Prof. Chen Ying – the Chinese director of the CIS. Some of the teachers have been wearing traditional costumes such as qipaos. Most of the teachers have been wearing Chinese red shirts bearing the Confucius Institute in Sofia logo to show the audience how Chinese teachers look like. Students from the Confucius Classroom at the Maxim Gorky Secondary School in Stara Zagora under the Confucius Institute in Sofia, have performed the Dragon dance, injecting a distinctly Chinese cultural element into the parade.
Being an important traditional festival in Bulgaria, the Rose Festival is held on the first Sunday of June every year in Kazanlak. The celebrations include the ‘Queen of Roses’ beauty contest, the Rose Festival Parade, rose picking activities etc., which reflect the respect for nature and labour the Bulgarian people have. The Confucius Institute in Sofia have been participating in this event for many years, allowing the audience to experience the unique charm of the oriental culture amidst the fragrance of roses.

The Confucius Institute in Sofia
Text: Ding Chen
Photos: Huang Jun
Editors: Prof. Chen Ying, Aksiniya Koleva, Chen Chen
English translation: Maya Kostadinova

Picture 1. The Confucius Institute in Sofia participating in the parade

Picture 2. The procession of the teachers from the Confucius Institute in Sofia

Picture 3. Confucius classroom students performing the Dragon Dance

Picture 4. A group photo at the venue.