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[中文版本]
1. General Information
The Washington Chinese Cultural Festival has been successfully held for 22 years and is one of the most influential cultural exchange events in the Chinese American community. Since 2023, TheZ载道 (http://thez.us/) has organized two successful junior essay competitions. The 2025 competition officially launched in June.
This is a great opportunity for young writers to showcase their talent and express their love for Chinese culture. Whether you are a Chinese American, an international student studying in the U.S. or China, or a non-Chinese youth passionate about Chinese culture — we warmly welcome your submission!
The essay competition, as a key brand activity of the festival, has attracted widespread attention and enthusiastic participation from youth. It has become a vital bridge for promoting Chinese culture and fostering China-U.S. youth exchanges. At an award ceremony, Chinese Embassy Consul General Zhu Di noted: “The Washington Chinese Cultural Festival is an important platform for China-U.S. cultural exchange, and the essay competition provides youth with the opportunity to showcase talent and express cultural identity.”
Founded in 2021 by Chinese American youth, TheZ（载道） is a bilingual platform dedicated to encouraging Chinese American youth to write in Chinese as a means of promoting cultural heritage. Its mission is: “Using writing to carry values, make friends through words, pass on culture with ink, and connect the world through text.” The platform has more than 10 editors and youth reporters, has received over 400 submissions, and published more than 700 Chinese and English works. Website: http://thez.us/
2. Theme
Title: A Bridge of Culture Connecting You and Me
Participants may choose from these sub-themes:
• My experience of the Chinese Cultural Festival
• My Story of Learning Chinese
• The Impact of Chinese Culture on My Growth
Theme Description:
In 2025, China-U.S. cultural exchanges continue to deepen, and the cultural bridge extends further. We invite youth worldwide to write about their treasured memories related to Chinese culture — whether an unforgettable festival experience, funny or challenging moments learning Chinese, warm memories of traditional holidays, a delicious Chinese dish, or wise words passed down through generations. Let’s use writing to build bridges, share true experiences, heartfelt reflections, and sincere love for Chinese culture with the world.
3. Organizers
• Organizer: Washington Chinese Cultural Festival Committee
• Advisor: Chinese School Association in the United States
• Host: TheZ.us (http://thez.us/)
4. Participants and Groups
Eligibility:
Youth aged 6–24 worldwide who love Chinese culture and care about China-U.S. relations, with good writing and expression skills.
Groups:
• Elementary school group
• Middle school group
• High school group
• International student group (in U.S. for 5 years or less)
• English group (entries in English; Chinese students must submit in English)
5. Submission Requirements
• Original title, clear theme, authentic content
• Well-organized, fluent writing
• Values original thought. AI-generated writing is strictly forbidden.
• 300–2000 words (fewer words allowed for younger groups)
• Maximum one Chinese and one English submission per participant (no duplication of content)
6. Process
To address AI writing concerns, the competition consists of preliminary and on-site final rounds.
• Preliminary: Open submission, expert judges select finalists
• Final: On-site in Greater Washington area with live topic assignment, writing, and judging
• Award Ceremony: All participants invited to Washington DC for the event
Qualified works will be published on TheZ.us and awarded certificates. Outstanding works will also be featured online for public voting for the Popularity Award. Teachers recommending students may earn a Talent Scout Award based on number and quality of submissions. All works will be compiled into a publication.
7. Submission & Timeline
Method:
Submit online by scanning the QR code, completing the form, and uploading Word or PDF file.https://forms.gle/7ka8e5n7oj5aRhsN7
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Ms. Li: 703-344-4172
Mr. Wang: 301-250-0119
Details: http://thez.us/
Timeline:
• Submission deadline: September 21, 2025
• Preliminary results: October 18, 2025
• Final & award ceremony: November 2, 2025
8. Festival On-Site Activities
TheZ students will participate in the festival, promote the competition at a booth, and organize an upgraded version of the “How Much Do You Know About Chinese Culture” challenge. All youth are welcome to join on-site activities.
9. Award Ceremony
This year’s competition features a new on-site final in Greater Washington. Finalists will write on-site with live topic assignment and judging. The award ceremony will be independently organized by TheZ（载道）.
We warmly welcome youth to participate, showcase their brilliance, and join in passing on and sharing the beauty of Chinese culture at the festival!
To view the award results of the previous two essay competitions, please visit The Z website at:
http://thez.us/index.php/essay-competition
