[中文版本]

My favorite plant is the sunflower. Each day, I gaze at pictures of sunflowers and dream of standing in a vast sea of golden blooms. I love their bright yellow hue—a color bursting with energy and life.

I still remember when I was six years old, my family and friends visited a giant sunflower field. Tens of thousands of sunflowers stretched as far as the eye could see, their faces glowing with vibrant yellow light. My eyes were soaked in that lively color, and for a moment, I felt like a sunflower myself. The field attracted many visitors—and countless busy bees gathering nectar from bloom to bloom. After the flowers fade, they leave behind seeds, arranged in perfect circles, each resting in its own tiny chamber—a marvel of nature. Those seeds are not only delicious but also full of nutrition, a perfect little snack.

What amazes me most is how sunflowers always turn their faces toward the sun, following its path across the sky—always reaching for the light. That’s why they are called “flowers that face the sun.”

I love sunflowers, and I love how they grow, always facing the sun.

By

陈骙钰 翻译 (Translation) 2025-08-04

  [中文版本]

My grandmother loves growing all kinds of flowers and herbs. Different kinds of plants grow all around our house; different flowers bloom during every season of the four—winter jasmine, peonies, roses, orchids, chrysanthemums, lilies, roses, dahlias, zinnias. Among them, my favorite flower is the peony.

Peonies come in a rainbow of colors—red, white, purple, yellow, and more. The row of peonies my grandmother planted in front of the house are pink. Whenever spring arrives, the peonies always radiate the brilliance of the season. The blooming flowers have layer upon layer of petals, thin and delicate in pink, wrapping around a pale, tender yellow pistil in the center. The pistil is plump like a kernel of corn, and the leaves are emerald green, sometimes still carrying dewdrops. When bathed in the morning light, the entire flower sparkles, dazzlingly bright and utterly enchanting. Breathing in the peony’s unique fragrance fills my heart with delight—it’s truly breathtaking!

Because of my grandmother’s love for gardening, whenever I have free time, I join her working in the yard, digging soil, pulling weeds, pruning branches, and watering plants—busy but full of joy. Gradually, I’ve learned a lot about flowers. Grandma told me: "The peony is China’s national flower, holding special meanings for the Chinese people. During the Tang Dynasty, peonies symbolized wealth, prosperity, and love. Many scholars wrote about their beauty, calling them 'the national beauty and heavenly fragrance' and 'the king of flowers'! Even today, Chinese people deeply admire the peony, seeing it as a noble and magnificent flower. During festive occasions, many people buy peonies as gifts for family and friends, as they symbolize wealth, peace, happiness, and good fortune—making them a beloved and cherished treasure."

After hearing Grandma’s words, I loved peonies even more. Not only for their noble beauty but also because they embody happiness and joy, bringing me endless delight. I cherish and enjoy the time spent working alongside Grandma. The days when the peonies bloom are the happiest days for our whole family. I love our peonies; they bloom not only in our garden but also in the hearts of everyone in our family.

By

杨善谊 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

For my birthday last year, I got a little robot. It can't run or jump, but it can do a lot of things. As soon as I got the robot, I started playing with it. I really like my little robot!

My little robot is gold. Its mouth is big and round. Its head is also square, with two big round yellow eyes, and a small ball on top of its head. If you press that yellow ball, the robot will say something. It might say, "Hello, it’s nice to meet you. My name is Cyber." It might also say, "Alert! Alert! Intruders are coming in!"

Its body is also square, with a big badge in the middle that says “CYBER”—that’s my robot’s name. It has ten arms, which are thin and black. In its hand, it holds a big golden sword.

Its long legs have many black stripes. Its feet are like its head—square and big.

My little robot is my favorite companion!

By

曹昀翰 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

 [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

By

载道 翻译 (Translation) 2025-07-24

  [中文版本]

Five years ago, when I was still in school, my teacher gave a small prize to students who answered questions correctly. When it was my turn, I stood up and gave my answer. The teacher said I got it right and invited me up to the front of the class to claim my prize — a little “panda.”

The moment I saw it, I thought it was so adorable! Its hands and feet are tiny and black. You could say, “It has small, black hands and feet.” It also has big, brown eyes. Even though it can’t blink, it always looks at me with such warmth. It’s always smiling and never seems sad.

Real pandas are actually huge. They spend their days eating bamboo and lounging around. Their round bodies are very heavy — adult pandas weigh between 220 and 254 pounds. But my “little panda” is nothing like that. It’s not lazy at all. No matter what I’m doing — playing, studying, eating, or sleeping — it’s always by my side, smiling.

I chose to write about this “little panda” because it has been with me since I was a child. It’s my best friend, and it’s incredibly cute. Every day when I come home, it’s there waiting patiently for me. When I’m feeling down, it’s there to comfort me. Some people might think it’s just a toy, but to me, it’s a very special friend.

I hope it can stay with me forever, because we’ve shared so many wonderful memories together.

By

李思哲 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

This year, when I went to China for a trip, my uncle bought me a capybara. It’s a stuffed animal, and when we found it, it was hiding in a corner, as if it were sleeping.

The capybara is really cute. Its head is soft and fuzzy to the touch—so comfortable, and I love it so much. It wears a blue shirt decorated with tropical summer elements, like tall coconut trees, big ocean waves, and white flowers that represent summer. Looking at it makes me want to go to the beach every day! My capybara has tiny little feet—if you don’t look closely, you might not even notice them.

In the summer, I would go to my uncle’s shop and play video games with my capybara. I’d put it on my lap to sit steadily, and even placed a bubble tea straw by its mouth so it could “drink” too. While I played games and my capybara “drank tea,” we had so much fun together.

When it was time to return to the U.S., I brought my capybara on the plane with me, all the way from Beijing back home.

By

刘彭予轩 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

I love swimming—the swimming pool is my little world.

On regular days, being in the pool makes me happy and relaxed. I can swim slowly or quickly. However, during swim competitions, I have to give my best effort to improve my performance, and swimming becomes exhausting.

One of the reasons I love swimming is that most of my friends are there. Sometimes, I feel frustrated, but once I start swimming and spend time with my swimming friends, I feel happy again. Sometimes, we have breakfast together, and other times, we gather for fun events.

The swimming pool is my happy place.

By

陈恩恒 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-06

  [中文版本]

Today, the teacher introduced us to a "little leopard." It's a plush toy that the teacher placed on the desk.

It’s super cute. It has a round head and a pair of big ears, as if it’s carefully listening for its prey. It has big, round, adorable eyes that seem to be watching the students during class. It also has a chubby and fluffy body. Its belly is snow-white, covered with many big spots, which could help it camouflage in the tall grasses of the African plains. It crouches on the desk,  grading homework with. I really want to ask: is it fun sitting here every day?

It must have been in this classroom for a long time, but with the teacher’s company, it must be very happy.

By

朱瑞皓 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

  [中文版本]

There is a Christmas tree in my house. Every year on Christmas Eve, my dad sets up the Christmas tree because it’s an artificial one. Our Christmas tree is very tall—taller than my mom! It’s twelve years old—older than me! Its trunk is black and smooth, with lots of branches growing from it. On the smaller branches, there are green and pointy leaves.

My dad hangs lights on the Christmas tree. Then, my sister and I hang decorations on it. Among our decorations, some are made of paper, some of plastic, and some of glass. Some of the decorations look like stars, some like balls, some like Santa Claus, some like animals, and some like snowmen. After that, we place a small paper Christmas tree and paper presents under the big Christmas tree. Finally, we put a paper star on top of the tree. We put glitter glue on the star, so it looks shiny, but it can’t actually light up.

This is the Christmas tree that my dad, mom, sister, and I decorate together every year.

By

何芳菲 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-05

 [中文版本]

Kentlands is the place where I grew up. I love Kentlands because living here is comfortable, and life is very convenient.

My favorite place is Kentlands. I have lived here since I was three years old. When I was five, I started elementary school here. In second grade, I met a girl named Annie, who also lives in Kentlands. Since then, we have become best friends. Now I am in sixth grade, and she is still my best friend.

There are many advantages to living in Kentlands：There is a school nearby, so I don’t have to travel far for my education；There is a river where people can take walks along the water；Daily life is convenient, with a large shopping plaza that has all kinds of supermarkets.There are restaurants from different countries and even a farmers' market. Every Saturday, farmers bring fresh vegetables and fruits to the shopping plaza to sell.

I love living here because I have many friends, and I feel at home in this community.

By

黄君婻 翻译 (Translation) 2025-06-06