About us
Two cultures, one community: the story and the people behind the Chinese-German Center.
From an idea at TU Dresden to a piece of Dresden
Our story begins in 1996, when our founder and current chairwoman Hongfeng Yang came from China to study computer science at TU Dresden – at the time one of very few international students in the city. Private invitations to fellow students, shared celebrations and growing curiosity about each other's cultures gave rise to the wish to put Chinese-German exchange on a firm footing.
In 2003 she founded the Chinese-German Center – in Chinese 華德中心 (Hua De Zhongxin) – together with her husband and German fellow students. What began with monthly gatherings, celebrations of Chinese festivals and cultural talks grew over the years into a registered association with its own club room, weekly training and educational programs at Dresden schools.
Today the association is a trusted point of contact for many Dresden institutions on all things Chinese culture – from translations and tea culture to martial arts. Since 2018 it has been a sports club and integration hub (Integrations-Stützpunkt) within the Stadtsportbund Dresden e. V. (Dresden city sports federation), the Landessportbund Sachsen e. V. (Saxony state sports federation) and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB); since 2023 it has also been a member of the Stadtjugendring Dresden e.V. (Dresden youth council).
“Honesty, Compassion, Tolerance”
The Chinesisch-Deutsches Zentrum e.V. is dedicated to preserving the values of honesty, compassion and tolerance found in traditional Chinese culture, and to fostering exchange between Chinese-speaking people and German society. What matters most to us are the personal experiences of people from both countries, which we bring together in our many activities.
Working with and for children plays a central role, because their experiences will shape the future. As a Chinese proverb says: 「不登高山，不顯平地。」 – “Only those who climb the high mountains know the plains.” In this spirit, we want to widen the view of how the world's different cultures are connected.
How we bring culture to life
Martial arts & archery
Wu Shu in several traditional styles and Chinese thumb-draw archery – twice a week in regular training sessions.
Learn moreCalligraphy & language
The art of writing Chinese characters beautifully, combined with idioms and language history.
Learn moreQi Gong
Traditional exercises for relaxation, health and inner balance – a counterweight to everyday stress.
Learn moreEducation
All-day “Chinese Culture” programs at Dresden schools and diverse collaborations with kindergartens.
Learn moreAdvice & support
Support for international first-year students, translations, tea ceremony and cultural mediation.
Learn moreCuisine
Chinese cooking to make at home: tried-and-tested recipes from our cooking classes, carefully edited.
Learn moreThe people behind the association
Hongfeng Yang
Chairwoman
Computer scientist (TU Dresden), China consultant, Wu Shu and archery instructor, certified tea ceremony master (trained in Taiwan). Co-founder of the association in 2003. Her guiding motto: “Honesty, compassion, tolerance – close to my heart.”
Cao Si
Managing director
Responsible for the management of the association and the organisation of its day-to-day operations.
Andreas Opfermann
Media & public relations
Co-founder of the association, responsible for media and public relations. Trained in Taiwan in the traditional tea ceremony and classical sword-smithing.
More than 20 years of history
- 1996Hongfeng Yang comes to TU Dresden to study computer science – first Chinese-German celebrations among students.
- 2003Founding of the Chinese-German Center 華德中心 with German fellow students. First press coverage, including MDR television reporting on the Spring Festival.
- 2005New Year festival for the Year of the Rooster at Dresden City Hall – covered by Sächsische Zeitung and Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten. In autumn: an afternoon of song for the Moon Festival at the Kulturrathaus.
- 2008Participation in the Day of Saxony in Grimma – presenting Chinese culture to an audience from all over Saxony.
- 2003–2012Regular New Year and Moon festivals with continuous coverage in the Dresden press.
- 2018Joining organised sport: the association becomes a sports club and integration hub (Integrations-Stützpunkt) within the Stadtsportbund Dresden e. V., the Landessportbund Sachsen e. V. and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) – placing Wu Shu, archery and Qi Gong on the footing of organised sport.
- 2021Our own 3D archery tournament, the “CDZ Chinese Imperial Hunt”.
- 2023Joining the Stadtjugendring Dresden e.V. – strengthening our educational work for children and young people.
- 2026The association welcomes the Year of the Horse – with training, classes and all-day programs at three Dresden schools.
Come and meet us
The best way to get to know our association is to drop by – at a training session, the calligraphy class or one of our festivals.
The Chinese-German Center is a registered association (e.V.). Registration details can be found in the imprint.
Impressions of club life
Moments from festivals, cooking and good company – artistically illustrated.
