On November 14th, 2012, the “Chinese Culture Day Celebrations” were held in International Education Week 2012 at San Francisco State University. Launched in 2000 as a joint initiative of the U.S. Departments of State and Education, International Education Week is an annual worldwide celebration of international education and intercultural understanding. Its primary focus is to emphasize the importance of increasing knowledge and awareness of the world’s cultures. It also highlights the vital role that exchange programs and international education play in promoting world peace.

The celebrations this year were held in two parts. The indoor part was the exhibition of Chinese painting and calligraphy. The famous artists in the San Francisco Bay Area Zhou Aiqinand Duan Shaonan were invited. SF State Gallery DirectorMark D Johnson delivered a warm speech at the opening ceremony. He said that American people knowmany artists from Europe, but how many of them know any Chinese artists of the 20th century? And it is really a pity that many artists in the 20th century like Zhang Daqian used to work in the United States yet seldom known by Americans. And he said he would devote most of his lifetime to introduce and popularize the Chinese art and try to make San Francisco the center for promotion of Chinese culture in the United States. A lot of interested individuals came to the events, including the senior in wheelchair and kids from elementary schools, all came here to feel the atmosphere of the Chinese culture.

The outdoor events featured the lion dance, Chinese folk music, folk dances and Shaolin Kung Fu show. All distinguished guests including Mr. XuYongji, Chief Consul for Education at Chinese Consulate in San Francisco, Mrs. Margaret Chiu, Assistant Superintendent of the San Francisco Unified School District, artists from Bay Area, and senior administrators from SF State attended the opening ceremony and conveyed their congratulations. Mrs. Margaret Chiu appreciated the worthwhile contributions made by Confucius Institute at SFState. Chief ConsulXu appreciated contributions to promotion of Chinese Language and culture made by Director JiaxinXie and his team of the Confucius Institute. Mr. Jay C. Ward, Associate Director of Office of International Programs, thanked the Confucius Institute for organizing such a wonderfully successful “Chinese Culture Day”. When the young dancers presented their Silk Dance, their beautiful movements and the elegant silk were too overwhelming for the eyes to take in. The focus expression on the little actors met with universal applause from time to time. The sound of gongs and drums led Shaolin Kung Fu show to the climax ofthe atmosphere. The masters with unique skills, their snake and crane- style boxing, and all movements attracted audiences who enthusiastically interacted with those masters before the end of the performance.

More than a thousand audiences participated in those cultural events. Many media such as Xinhua News Agency, China Daily, and Phoenix TV came to report. At last, we would like to use Chief ConsulXuYongji’ s words as a conclusion for theChinese Culture Day Celebrations, “I firmly believe that cultureactivities like ‘Chinese Culture Day’ will enhance understanding between the Chinese and American people” , which exactly represent the vision of the Confucius Institute at SF State.

Splashing ink with a brush;

Chinese Kung Fu