Annual Events
China Day
According to statistics from a Princeton University study, the State of Minnesota ranks fifth in the number of public and private K-12 students studying the Chinese language (1998-2001 enrollments). In 2002, the China Center introduced China Day to encourage local area students to continue studying Mandarin. It is now an annual event that highlights opportunities for such study at the University and provides them with a broader understanding of Chinese culture and many ideas of how they might incorporate Chinese language into their careers and futures.
The program generally features a keynote talk, a panel session, a series of skits, or other activities. Over the last several years, more than 700 students from Breck, Minneapolis South, Minnetonka, St. Paul Central, and Highland Park high schools and nearly 100 University students, faculty, and staff participated in the half-day activities at the Twin Cities campus.
Past China Days have included speakers from the business community and
education; a visit to the Science Museum of Minnesota to explore
the Chinasaurs exhibit; and a live videoconference with a popular
cultural television program in Beijing, Meet China, and the students
and faculty from the Beijing Royal School.
China Day 2008
On April 18th, China Center successfully hosted the 6th annual China Day at the Northrop Auditorium. 850 Chinese learning students from 9 high schools in the Twin Cities attended the event.
The theme for this year’s China Day is the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Meredith McQuaid, vice president of the International Programs at the University of Minnesota, and Dr Yongwei Zhang, director of China Center started the event with welcome remarks and brief speeches. Chris Isett, and Doug Hartman, professors of History and Sociology at the University of Minnesota, presented the keynote speech on Beijing Olympics and answered students’ questions. Forty student players from all schools went on stage and participated in a bilingual jeopardy game on the Beijing Olympics. Professor Joe Allen, dean of the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures, gave a short talk. After box lunch prizes were drawn and nearly a hundred students received Beijing Olympics T shirts and other prizes. Finally representative speakers from each school introduced their Chinese programs and received Olympics gifts from China Center.
The annual China Day is aimed at encouraging the Chinese language learning and promoting interest in the Chinese culture among high schools students in the Twin Cities.
中国日
4月18 日，明尼苏达大学中国中心在Northrop礼堂成功举办了第六届中国日。来自双城9所高中的850名学习中文的学生参加了这项活动。
本届中国日的主题是2008年北京奥运会。明尼苏达大学国际项目副主任Meredith McQuaid和中国中心主任张永维分别发表了简短的欢迎讲话。明尼苏达大学历史系和社会学系的教授Chris Isett和Doug Hartman做了主题演讲并回答了学生问题。来自各学校的学生代表上台参与了有关奥运会的中英文知识问答（jeopardy game）。明大亚洲语言文化系主任Joe Allen做了简短讲话。午餐后中国中心组织了抽奖活动，近百名学生得到了北京奥运T恤衫等奖品。最后各校学生代表用中文介绍了自己的学校和中文课程并得到了中国中心赠送的奥运礼品。
每年一届的中国日旨在在双城中学范围内鼓励中文学习，及提高对中国文化的兴趣。
(Students in Northrop Auditorium)