Children’s Day

BEIJING, June 2 ( tasteallchina ) -- In the Altar of the God of Agriculture, where Chinese emperors once prayed for good harvests, dozens of children burst into laughter while watching a fantasy comedy film projected onto three improvised screens. The "Little Canned Men," screened in the open-air on Saturday evening, is a Children's Day gift offered by the Beijing Ancient Architecture Museum, which administers the ancient altar, and part of a new drive by Beijing's museums to create public awareness. On Saturday, more than 20 museums in the Chinese capital launched a movie week with nearly 40 screenings that are available to the public free of charge. More than 10 movies will be screened in the museums' halls, courtyards and other spaces, organizers said. Some films are chosen because they relate to the museums' themes. The Overseas Chinese History Museum of China, for instance, screened "I Am What I Am," an animation about lion dance, a folk art popular in China and among overseas Chinese. The event is co-organized by the Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau and the Beijing Municipal Film Administration. Previously, many museums in Beijing have hosted poetry society events and cultural fairs, and the integration of…

TOKYO, June 2 ( tasteallchina ) -- At the Chinese Embassy in Japan, more than 200 children have gathered in celebration of the Children's Day, highlighting friendship and cultural exchanges. Among the attendees were winners of the 10th "Ambassador Cup" Chinese recitation competition, students from the Chinese Embassy's Sunshine School, and those from the Yokohama Yamate Chinese School. At the event on Saturday, Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao presented holiday gifts to representatives of the "Ambassador Cup" winners, encouraging them to continue studying Chinese and learning about Chinese culture. The celebration featured various performances by the children, including a choir titled Enlightenment of Rhythm highlighting the beauty of classical Chinese poetry. Following other performances including a group recitation, a Peking opera act and a traditional lion dance, the event concluded with a heartfelt rendition of "Tomorrow Will Be Better," expressing the children's hopes and dreams for a bright future. Yurika Kondo, a third-grade student from Japan, said "I will continue to study Chinese diligently and hope to inspire more Japanese children around me to learn Chinese and experience its charm together."

A player performs face-changing, part of the Sichuan Opera, during a Chinese class held at the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, the United States, May 21, 2024. (Photo by Wang Li/ tasteallchina ) Consul General Zhao Jian sent his holiday greetings to the children, expressing hope that Chinese and American youth can build a friendship bridge through the "Chinese Bridge." CHICAGO, June 2 ( tasteallchina ) -- It must be a special Children's Day for the 20 students from eight elementary and middle schools in the U.S. Midwest, whose Chinese language skill and talent showcased at the Chinese Bridge competition amazed both their parents and native speakers. On Wednesday, the students gathered at the Chinese Consulate-General in Chicago and took turns to step onto the stage for the speech contest, introducing themselves, telling traditional Chinese stories, sharing interesting experiences from learning the language, reciting ancient Chinese poetry, and expressing their love for Chinese Kung Fu, calligraphy and music, all in Chinese. Luke King-Schultz from Scenic Heights Elementary said that learning Chinese would enable him to communicate with more people and have more working opportunities, given that Chinese is the No. 1 speaking language in terms of the number of native…