D.C.-Beijing Week

This year, the CIUS Center was proud to be involved in celebrating the 35th anniversary of the Beijing/D.C. sister city relationship! Over the past 35 years, Beijing and D.C have continued to learn from each other and help strengthen ties between the U.S. and China.

Guqin Performance at Howard University

On Wednesday, November 20, We partnered with Howard University Ralph J. Bunche International Affairs Center to host Wang Peng, a legendary Guqin performer and master instrument craftsman for a truly special opportunity. He played for students and community members and discussed the cultural legacy, philosophy and reverence he brings to the art of Guqin music as he continues this proud tradition into the modern age. Attendees were also given a lively demonstration in Chinese paper cutting.

Beijing Day 2019 Cultural Festival

Beijing Week

Friday, November 22, We took part in the 2019 Beijing Day Cultural Festival at the Ronald Reagan Building in downtown Washington D.C.. The festival demonstrated various aspects of traditional Chinese culture, including calligraphy, fan-painting, and paper-cutting. It also featured various Chinese dishes and a tea tasting station.

The event was open to the general public, however we especially enjoyed being able to interact with students from the D.C. International Public Charter School and provide an educational passport activity to facilitate their experience of such a wonderful celebration of cultural exchange. We are proud to collaborate with regional Confucius Institutes, Chinese cultural organizations, and the D.C. Mayor’s Office to make this high-level event a success and bring cultural exchange to the local D.C. area.

This year’s celebration also coincided with International Education week, an opportunity for institutions across the country to highlight international students, global education, and the continued mutual exchange between countries around the globe. Celebrations such as the D.C.-Beijing Week are the kinds of opportunities and global education we provide and hope to continue to support.