PKUAA-Cambridge Celebrated 2017 Chinese New Year

January 27, 2017 was the Chinese New Year’s Eve, when Chinese people all over the world stayed together with their whole families and welcomed the arrival of the Spring Festival. On this day, many PKU Cambridge alumni enjoyed a very memorable time in a PKUAA-Cambridge Chinese New Year Party, although they did not return to China and were away from their families.

Around 12pm, alumni, along with some of their family members or friends, gathered at a common room of King’s College, Cambridge. They included students and scholars of the University of Cambridge, PKU alumni from other regions of the United Kingdom, foreign visiting students at PKU, students from other universities, families and friends within and outside China. Sitting around the television, people watched CCTV Spring Festival Gala on live, appreciating shows, tasting Chinese snacks and collecting good luck wishes.

At 4pm, as the Year of Fire Rooster arrived, alumni exchanged greetings and sent new year wishes to their families and friends in China. Afterwards, with the melody of the song named Unforgettable Tonight, people started to make dumplings. Some of them cut vegetables, some rolled dumpling skins, some prepared stuffing and some wrapped dumplings. They cooperated with each other as well as entertained themselves. With teamwork, they accomplished more than 200 dumplings. These dumplings had rich flavors and multiple shapes, showing various customs from different regions of China.

When it turned to 6.30pm, dumplings were ready to be served. All the alumni, families and friends up to about 30 people sitting around a big table started to have dinner. Pre-ordered from an outstanding local Chinese restaurant, the dinner courses consist of a series of Chinese cuisines and delicacies. All kinds of the delicious Chinese food not only satisfied people’s stomachs, but also fulfilled their hearts. People talked to each other, shared food together and laughed from time to time, just like brothers and sisters in one big family. After the dinner, people chatted with a couple of friends or played games within groups, sharing a pleasant and wonderful night with joy and peace.

On the occasion of the Spring Festival, PKUAA-Cambridge wish all the PKU alumni a very happy new year! May best luck, successful career and good health be with alumni all the time! May PKU and PKUUK be better and more prosperous in 2017. (By Xiao CHEN)

Hitchin Lavender Farm trip

Lavender is generally most charming in August. The PKUAA-CAMBRIDGE successfully held the Lavender Farm trip in Hitchin on 21st August 2016. Over twenty PKU alumni from Cambridge and London came to Hitchin to attend this event.

Hitchin Lavender is a lavender farm attraction close to both London and Cambridge. It was said that this farm used to be the largest and most famous lavender farm in the UK in the 16th century. It is even named as the town of lavender and there are about 100 miles of lavender field. However, with the development of industry, the farm suffered setbacks and there are only around 25miles of lavender area now.

At about 12:00 noon, PKU alumni and their friends arrived at Hitchin Lavender Farm.  The vast purple lavender fields make for some amazing landscapes with the faint smell of lavender. The fresh air and blue sky after the rain gave us a feeling of exceptional coolness and comfort. There are also sunflowers growing by the lavender area, which look golden and stunning.

PKU alumni had a lovely stroll through the lavender fields and feel the charm of the nature. The graceful girls with nice skirts were pictured by handsome boys. At about 2.00 pm, alumni had a picnic on the grass and shared their own food, such as sandwiches, chips, drinks and fruits, with each other while chatting. The picnic was held in a happy and warm atmosphere, which helped PKU alumni to know each other better.

After the picnic, PKU alumni walked through the lavender rows, picked their fresh flowers with care and took pictures for each other. Everyone kept their own lavender and felt satisfied. At the end, the lavender trip ended in a relax and harmonious atmosphere.

PKUAA ESCP Bicester Challenge

International Luxury Brand Challenge

On 28th July 2016, twelve PKU alumni together with students from ESCP (European Business School) went on a unique insider’s view at Bicester Village, with an exceptional chance to know how Bicester Village was created into the UK’s most successful premium mall, the most visited after Buckingham Palace and a leading UK destination for tourists.

The host for the visit was Desirée Bollier, Chief Executive of Bicester Village, along with members of the Bicester Village team. Desirée presented the corporate strategic overview of the Bicester Village brand and its commitment of improving their retail offering across Europe and China for even greater success in the future.

PKU alumni were invited to experience the Bicester Village first-hand and use analytical skills (SWOT analysis) in a brand challenge to evaluate Bicester Village’s strengths and opportunities for further improvement. The attendees were grouped into four and each focused on one aspect: luxury & clothes, shoes & accessories, fashion, home & children. Representatives from each group were invited to give a 10-min oral presentation after one-hour visit of the village and the ideas received very positive feedback from the members of the Bicester Village team. The team invited all the attendees to come back and visit the village after Bicester Phase II completed next year to see the improvements.

The Bicester PKUAA-UK event achieved a huge success and we look forward to more interactions between PKUAA-UK and Bicester Village Team in the future.

By Jake (Chi) Zhang

PKUAA-UK Cambridge Punting & BBQ Trip

The PKUAA-UK successfully held the “Punting & BBQ” trip in Cambridge on 22nd May 2016. Every year PKU alumni will gather to punt and have BBQ in Cambridge, which has already become the traditional event. Over thirty PKU alumni from many places in UK came to Cambridge to attend this big event. At about 11:00 am, PKU alumni left St. John’s College and St. Edmund’s College and head to Darwin College. All of the PKU alumni who attended this event enjoyed this fantastic punting trip along River Cam, and the beautiful scenery of riverside Colleges. Many PKU alumni also learned how to punt during this interesting punting trip. At about 12:00, all of the four punting boats arrived at the destination, Darwin College, and began the BBQ session on the “First Island”. Many of the alumni were good at barbecue and cook delicious lamb kebab, beef burger, chicken thigh, chicken wings, sausage, pork belly and drumstick etc. After enjoyed the amazing BBQ lunch, PKU alumni continued the punting trip back to St. John’s College, and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine on River Cam. At the end, PKU alumni played the Werewolves game in the combination room of St. John’s College and the half day “Punting & BBQ” trip ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Welcome Event for PKU Alumni in Cambridge Area on 04/10/2015

This year, we have 20 new PKU alumni join our PKUAA family in Cambridge. PKUAA has organized a big event to welcome the new PKU alumni. 25 people attended the lunch party in the Kang Qiao Restaurant. The senior students shared their experience in Cambridge and the new students introduced the latest new in Peking University. After the lunch and the group photo, PKU alumni went for punting on the Cam River. The beautiful scene of colleges, chapels, as well as the laugh ringing over the Cam River left us a good memory.

Peking University and Tsinghua University Dinner Event

PKUAA@Edinburgh has successfully held a dinner event with alumni from Tsinghua University on the 30^th of May. This was the first time that alumni from both Peking University and Tsinghua University gathered together at Edinburgh. We shared our interesting experience of living and studying in Edinburgh as well as chatted about the long-standing relationship between these top two Chinese universities. Everyone attended the event so much enjoyed it, and we happily decided to take turns for organising future gathering events for alumni from both universities. We are expecting a barbeque soon in June if the Scottish weather don’t let us down then!

PKUAA@Edinburgh Celebration Event

On the 4^th of April, PKUAA@Edinburgh organised a celebration event for Dr. Wang Du and Dr. Xie Jinhan who had successfully passed their viva. Many congratulations to them! They very kindly shared their experience of viva with the rest alumni, all Doctor-To-Bes. This event was also a farewell party for those two, as they soon will be leaving UK. We wish them all the best for their future and look forward to next gathering wherever it might be!

PKUAA-UK Cambridge Punting and BBQ

​The PKUAA-UK successfully held the “Punting & BBQ” trip in Cambridge on 24th May 2015. Over thirty PKU alumni from many places in UK came to Cambridge to attend this big event. At about 11:00 am, five boats left St. John’s College and Kings’ College and head to Darwin College. All of the PKU alumni who attended this event enjoyed this fantastic punting trip along River Cam, and the beautiful scenery of riverside Colleges. Many PKU alumni also learned how to punt during this interesting punting trip. At about 12:00, all of the five punting boats arrived at the destination, Darwin College, and began the BBQ session on the “First Island”. Many of the alumni were good at barbecue and cook delicious lamb kebab, beef burger, chicken thigh, chicken wings, sausage, pork belly and drumstick etc. After enjoyed the amazing BBQ lunch, PKU alumni continued the punting trip back to St. John’s College, and enjoyed the afternoon sunshine on River Cam. At the end, PKU alumni played the Frisbee game on the lawn of St. John’s College and the half day “Punting & BBQ” trip ended in a relaxed atmosphere.

The Foundation of Fudan University Alumni Association in UK

On April 26^th 2015, the 110 years birthday of Fudan University, Fudan University Alumni Association in UK was founded at Cruciform Building of UCL in London. As the delegations of PKUAA-UK, general secretary Xiaoming Yu and the ex-general secretary Yifan Liu were invited to join this memorial event with around 70 alumni of Fudan University and delegations from Tsinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, Tongji University and Xiamen University alumni associations. Some VIPs were also present including Jianjiang Kuang, from the education section in Embassy of the PRC in Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Dr. Sheng Shan, the honorary chairman of Zhendan University Alumni Association, Dr. Jian Chen and Dr Jinrong Meng, from the Confucius institute of Nottingham University,  Prof. Zhengxiao Guo, the vice chancellor of UCL, Mr. Huarong Tang, the executive manager of Fuxing Group, Mr. Wenying Qian, the executive manager from Lvdi Investment Group, Prof. Nabil Ayad, the dean in Political Institute of Loughborough University.

Congratulations and wish the best for the Fudan University Alumni Association in UK!

2015.05.03 Sightseeing in Oxford

On the 3rd of May 2015, the PKUAA-UK successfully held the event of Oxford sightseeing and formal dinner for PKU UK alumni. Though there was lots of rain in the afternoon, our alumni’s passion was not influenced. After visiting the Christ Church College, we had coffee and dissert at George & Davis – the best ice cream shop at Oxford, alumni from Oxford introduced the history of the Oxfordshire and the University. Around 5pm, when the weather became less rainy, we went out and kept sightseeing. We visited the Bodlleian Library, All Souls College, Hertford College, the Bridge of Sighs and were all stunned by the magnificence of Oxford. The formal dinner at Exeter College started from 7:30pm as promised. This half-day event ended at an atmosphere of joy and happiness.