On 3 July, the Westlake Boys Auditorium opened its doors to an enthusiastic, capacity crowd of students, families, and community members for the annual Westlake Chinese Night. As one of the most anticipated events of the year, Westlake Chinese Night brought people together to celebrate, honour, and experience the richness of Chinese culture through an unforgettable evening of performances, food, and art.

The evening commenced with the thunderous beat of the traditional Lion Dance. This was an energetic and vibrant opening that instantly brought the auditorium to life. The atmosphere then softened into elegance with a Guzheng performance accompanied by traditional Chinese dance, and then followed by a high-energy routine from the modern dance group. A stand-out moment was Kuaiban (快板), a storytelling performance, making its debut at Westlake Chinese Night this year. This brand-new addition was exceptionally well received, and the performer (Zachary Jia – Westlake Boys High School student), delivered it with impressive skill and charisma. Closing off the first half of performances our live band delivered an electrifying set that left the crowd buzzing.

During intermission, the foyer was filled with glow-in-the-dark headbands as well as a beautifully decorated Polaroid photo wall where attendees could capture and display their memories from the night. Outside the auditorium, a variety of food stalls were available, offering a wide selection of delicious options including; bubble tea, fried chicken, dumplings, bao buns, tanghulu (candied fruit skewers), desserts and pastries.

The second half reignited with a traditional-modern fusion dance. It was a stunning blend of Chinese-style aesthetics and contemporary dance. Next, a dazzling diabolo (Chinese yo-yo) group displayed skill and coordination that amazed the audience. The stage then blossomed with the traditional group who performed in their hanfu 汉服 (traditional Chinese clothing). Their performance featured beautifully crafted Chinese-style props such as folding fans and round silk fans (团扇). Finally, the finale band then brought the audience together through a magnificent performance, wrapping up Westlake Chinese Night 2026.

Beyond the incredible artistry of the night, the spirit of the event extended back into the community. Our proceeds and funds raised were proudly donated back to both respective schools; Westlake Boys’ and Westlake Girls’ High School, as well as the Committee’s chosen charity, KidsCan to support youth across the nation.

An event of this scale requires immense effort and dedication. A sincere, heartfelt thank you goes out to all our incredible performers, our generous sponsors, our amazing teachers, as well as the students and staff who gave up their time on the night. We are immensely grateful to our tireless committee and leaders working behind the scenes, and also our supportive audience who brought this event to life. This truly would not have been possible without everyone’s devotion, so thank you for making Westlake Chinese Night another unforgettable success – we look forward to seeing you all next year!

Felicia Cao & Tiffany Ma  (Westlake Chinese Night Committee 2026)