Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA) is all set to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival by hosting the China Night event after a break of four years, Sunday, Sept. 24, at the Volstorff Ballroom located in the Student Union.
First held in 1990, the event aims to showcase Chinese culture among students at SDSU and the Brookings community through dance, vocal talent, traditional outfits and delicacies prepared by Chinese students and faculty on campus in collaboration with the Brookings Chinese Association, a nonprofit organization.
“China Night is a great opportunity to experience China culture including the holiday traditions, the food and the performances,” said Jiahui Yuan, president of the CSSA. “China Night’s purpose is to introduce Chinese culture to the campus community as well as the broader community like Brookings and neighboring towns.”
This year, China Night will coincide with the Mid-Autumn festival, a traditional holiday to celebrate successful harvest by Chinese all over the world on Sept. 29.
“Just for scheduling purpose, it happens to be Mid-Autumn festival during the Chinese Lunar Calendar, where a full moon is observed,” said Wenfeng An, faculty adviser for the CSSA. “It is one of the most prominent holidays ad the time of the year where harvest is celebrated by Chinese families all over the world.”
CSSA, along with the Chinese community in Brookings, look forward to put on a memorable event this year especially with a traditional lion dance, chorus singing and all-time favorite meals that have been specifically chosen to delight the audience.
“It was kind of a challenging task to narrow down to a few dishes that represent the cuisine,” An said. “As organizers, we made a decision to decrease the student ticket prices to the minimum as we did not want it to be a barrier but instead as a message that we want them to be here to experience the traditions and the food experience.”
Last held in 2019, this will be the first China Night since the COVID-19 pandemic which has allowed time for the new committee to settle in. CSSA committee looks forward to accommodating around 450 to 500 guests and participants this year.
“I recall it was a full house in 2019 and I guess we are cautiously optimistic this time too for a full house as well,” An said. “In the past, like India Night, China Night and even Nepal Night have witnessed a good amount of seating too.”
China Night is hailed as one of the most anticipated international events held on campus by the CSSA committee. Timing and preparation for the event take place weeks before hosting an event like this.
“We make sure to work together,” Yuan said. “The Chinese in Brookings have shown us much support and helped us with preparing the menu along with more than 10 performances that have been put in place.”
CSSA committee awaits to host China Night through funds raised at concessions during game days. Besides fundraising, the BCA has joined CSSA to assist during this event. The Office of International Affairs and Chinese restaurants in Brookings also play a major role as sponsors of China Night.
Looking back at China Night 2019, An reminisces about the excitement of attendees throughout the event.
“People were excited about the performances, the traditional outfits showcased onstage, the dances and instrumental pieces performed,” An said. “I could also tell that people enjoyed the dinner offered during the event.”
Tickets for China Night are priced at $10 for SDSU students and $17 for faculty and non-SDSU members. Tickets for attendees ages 18 and younger are priced at $10. Additionally, CSSA offers both platinum and gold tickets priced at $50 and $30 respectively. Platinum and gold tickets are aimed as sponsor level tickets to support the CSSA committee and would enjoy priority seating and a special souvenir.
China Night commences Sunday, Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. while doors open at 5 p.m.
Additional information on tickets, menu and schedule for the event can be found on the CSSA website.
