New Year in Liverpool: Our graduates’ celebration memories

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Group of University students sit down for a meal to celebrate New Year 1980

As we welcome in the New Year, we’ve asked our graduates to share their memories of celebrating the occasion in Liverpool! Here’s a few of our graduates’ memories:

Jason Lau (BSc Marketing 2015)

Group of people stood in front of an arch

Jason recalls celebrating the first day of New Year 2014 with friends in Liverpool’s vibrant Chinatown. Fast forward ten years, he returned to Liverpool to celebrate New Year 2024. On this occasion, Jason fulfilled his long-time wish of visiting iconic spots including Liverpool FC’s stadium, Anfield, the Royal Albert Dock and Big Noodle Bowl for some food.

Person at a football ground

A waterfront with colour lights and lanterns on the trees

Restaurant with people queuing outside

Jason also shared memories from 2013, when he hosted a New Year gathering in student accommodation, cooking several dishes for him and his friends.

Group of students sit down for a meal in 2014

Mia Meng Wang (Operations & Supply Chain Management)

Archway in Liverpool

In 2020, Mia enjoyed celebrations in Liverpool instead of returning home to China. Though that year’s celebrations were quieter, Mia and her friends made it special by making dumplings and other traditional dishes. She recalls Liverpool feeling like a home away from home during the celebrations.

A table full of food

Image of dumplings in a bowl

Mengxian He (Music Industry Studies 2014)

Group of people pose in front of a table filled with bedding decorations

Mengxian remembers enjoying delicious food in Liverpool for New Year a decade ago. In 2014, she invited a group of friends to her apartment to "fry the kitchen" – which included making a spicy hot pot! Her friends also showed their culinary skills, making dumplings, four-happiness meatballs and braised beef.

This year, she will welcome the New Year in Canada, where she is studying ethnomusicology at the University of Alberta. She plans to celebrate with her mentor, classmates and new friends by taking a trip to the famous local tea restaurant on the first day of the New Year to eat shrimp dumplings and taste Pu'er tea.

Lawrence Wong (Civil Engineering 1980)

Group of University students sit down for a meal to celebrate New Year 1980

Lawrence Wong took us back even further to New Year 1980 when he celebrated as a student in Liverpool with friends over a meal. As part of the celebrations, Lawrence shared a photo of the Liverpool Chinese Society celebrations from 1979.

Group of people on stage

May the year ahead bring you new opportunities and good fortune – Happy New Year #TeamLivUni!