Cultural centers: Bringing real China to global audience

　　China has so far established 31 cultural centers in the world. [Infographic/Chinaculture.org]

　　Almost three decades since the first China Cultural Center was opened in Mauritius in 1988, China has established 31 centers around the world - 12 in Europe, 10 in Asia, five in Africa, three in Australia and Oceania, and one in Latin America. More than 4,000 cultural activities have been held in these places, reaching over 3 million people across the globe.

　　Through a series of cultural events – such as exhibitions, lectures, performances and trainings – the centers offer a close look at authentic Chinese culture, as well as boost exchanges and cooperation between China and the rest of the world.

　　Zheng Hao, an official with the Bureau for External Cultural Relations under the Chinese Ministry of Culture, said China will have more than 50 cultural centers abroad by 2020.

　　A Chinese man dresses up as the Monkey King - a mythological figure in the Chinese fantasy novel Journey to the West- at a Chinese New Year parade in New York, Feb 6, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　The 'Happy Chinese New Year' program

　　"Happy Chinese New Year" is a project under the Chinese Culture Ministry to promote the culture of the 400-year-old Spring Festival, or lunar New Year.

　　Since 2001, the program has helped bring hundreds of cultural events - exhibitions, expos and performances - to countries around the world.

　　These activities not only help pass down festival traditions to younger generations of Chinese immigrants living abroad, but also help people understand and resonate with the festival's spirit: no matter if it's family cohesion, or more broadly, world peace.

　　A show of the Kunqu Opera is staged at the Intangible Heritage Week in Berlin, Germany, in June 2017. Kunqu Opera is one of the oldest forms of opera in China, with its origins dating back to the Song dynasty (960-1279). [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Inheritance and Innovation: China's intangible cultural heritages

　　Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), the CPC Central Committee has highlighted the importance of carrying forward the essence of traditional Chinese culture.

　　In June 2017, various events under the program of Inheritance and Innovation: Chinese Intangible Cultural Heritage Weekwere held in 29 Chinese cultural centers overseas.

　　Chinese folk dancers perform at the first China Day in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2015. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Knowing all about China via 'China Day'

　　Activities in China Days include performances of folk music and dances, demonstrations of traditional art, as well as tasting genuine Chinese food.

　　Sinologists, Chinese lecturers and artists exchange ideas at a cultural talk on Peking Opera in Moscow, Nov 25, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Understanding China through cultural talks

　　Chinese Culture Talk is a series of lectures on Chinese philosophy, religion, literature, cuisine, medicine and other traditional-culture-related subjects. It's sponsored by the Bureau for External Cultural Relations of the Chinese Ministry of Culture.

　　Every year, the Culture Ministry selects three to four groups of outstanding scholars to give lectures in Chinese embassies, consulates, cultural centers or local agencies.

　　Mauritians take selfies at an event to pay tribute to Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu and English poet and playwright William Shakespeare at the China Cultural Center in Mauritius, Dec 4, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Appreciating art through dialogues between East and West

　　To facilitate understanding between different art forms and cultures, the Chinese Culture Ministry also hosts events in its cultural centers to bridge dialogues between works of Chinese art legends and their counterparts in foreign countries.

　　In 2016, for example, an array of cultural events, including seminars, forums and performances, were held across the world to mark the 400th death anniversary of celebrated Chinese playwright Tang Xianzu (1550-1616) and English poet and playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

　　The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) playwright, hailed by his followers as "China's William Shakespeare", composed more than 2,000 poems and essays in his lifetime. He is particularly remembered for four plays - The Peony Pavilion, The Purple Hairpin, Record of the Southern Bough, and Record of Handan.

　　The idea of commemorating the two late masters came from a speech by President Xi Jinping. When Xi visited Britain in 2016, he called on both countries to "celebrate the legacy of these two literary giants, in order to promote interpersonal exchanges and deepen mutual understanding".

　　Students visit the Song Ching Ling International Experience Center in August 2017 to learn about Chinese tea culture, traditional textile processes, and techniques for making blue and white porcelains. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Experiencing China through trainings and tours around China

　　The China Cultural Centers provide language and cultural trainings with long and short-term courses. The most outstanding students are sent to China every year under the program titled Experience China – China Cultural Center Students Award Tour.

　　In August this year, 65 students from from 23 countries visited China. They stepped into the country's most famous scenic spots, historical sites, museums and theaters in Beijing, and tried traditional Chinese art and crafts, such as painting, weaving, dyeing and potteries.

　　Russian audience members listen to talks on Peking Opera at the China Cultural Center in Moscow, Nov 25, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　A young Chinese artist paints Peking Opera make-up onto the face of a local audience member at a cultural event in Moscow, on Nov 25, 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　Students experience traditions of China's age-old Spring Festival at the China Cultural Center in Sydney, Australia, in February 2016. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]

　　An Australian man participates in a Spring Festival celebration with people from the China Cultural Center in New Zealand during the Chinese New Year parade in Wellington in February 2017. [Photo/Chinaculture.org]