On a crisp November evening, dozens of high school students from Leonardtown High School filled the Chinatown Community Cultural Center in Washington, D.C., for the latest instalment of the Touch of China in Chinatown series. Organized by local Chinese schools and community groups, the event offered hands-on workshops in traditional arts, crafts and cultural exchange.
Under the guidance of artist Zhang Longze, students molded clay into playful pandas, their laughter echoing through the hall. Afterward, they moved through interactive stations featuring knot-making, calligraphy brushwork and ink-rubbing techniques that have been passed down for centuries.
Some attendees even slipped into colorful traditional costumes, striking poses and admiring each other’s attire. Senior Kinsey Albin, who has studied Chinese for four years, proudly displayed her handcrafted clay panda and traced her passion for the language back to a friend’s recommendation. “It started in class, and now it’s grown into a love for cultural exchange,” she said.
Lily Jiang, a nine-year veteran of Chinese studies, said her travels to China with family deepened her connection to the culture and its people. “This culture has become part of who I am,” she explained. Classmates Drake Hozier and Evan Dearden, both in their second year of Chinese, shared hopes to explore China firsthand in the near future.
Lead teacher Chen Si, now in her eighth year at Leonardtown High, watched proudly as students immersed themselves in each activity. She believes that early exposure to Chinese culture and language helps young learners develop open-minded perspectives and genuine understanding of global diversity.
Events like this reflect a growing trend among young global citizens to engage directly with cultures beyond their own, using art and language as bridges in an interconnected world.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
