On April 20, the University of Crete joins institutions worldwide in celebrating International Chinese Language Day, an occasion dedicated to one of the world’s oldest and most influential linguistic traditions.

At the Welcome Office, we marked the day with two short videos featuring our Chinese language instructors, who teach across both university campuses in Crete: Voutes Campus in Heraklion and Gallos Campus in Rethymno.

In the first video, Ms. Yanyu Ding, Chinese language instructor at Voutes Campus (Heraklion), introduces viewers to basic phrases in Mandarin Chinese, the most widely spoken variety of Chinese globally, used by over a billion people.

In the second video, Ms. Gao Ying, Chinese language instructor at Gallos Campus (Rethymno), shares some fascinating insights into the history of the Chinese language. While Chinese is not “the oldest language” in a strict linguistic sense, it is still one of the world’s oldest continuously used writing systems with a history spanning over 3,000 to 6,000 years. Alongside Greek, another language with an exceptionally long and well documented history, it represents a living bridge between ancient civilizations and the modern world.

Despite their geographical distance, Greek and Chinese linguistic and cultural traditions share remarkable depth, continuity, and global significance. Both have shaped philosophy, science, literature, and identity across centuries, and both remain vital, evolving means of expression today.

Think learning Chinese is difficult? It may be more accessible than you expect.

The University of Crete offers Chinese language courses free of charge in both campuses, open to students and the wider community. The next cycle is expected to begin in September 2026.

Curious to learn more? Get in touch with the Welcome Office and take your first step into one of the world’s most fascinating languages!