China Institute facts for kids

The China Institute in America is a special place in New York City that focuses on education and culture. It's a nonprofit organization, which means it works to help people rather than make money. Its main goal is to teach everyone about Chinese culture and history. They do this through interesting talks, business programs, language classes, and art shows in their gallery. The China Institute also works with a university in China to offer a Confucius Institute, which helps people learn the Chinese language and culture.

A Look Back: The China Institute's Story

The China Institute was started a long time ago, in 1926. It was founded by a group of smart people from America and China. One of them was John Dewey, a famous teacher from Columbia University. Another important founder was Hu Shih, a Chinese educator who later became the president of Beijing University and China's ambassador to the U.S.

Many people believe the China Institute is the oldest group in America focused only on Chinese culture. Over almost 100 years, more than a million visitors have learned something new there! After 1949, when the People's Republic of China was formed, the Institute's connections to mainland China changed.

In 2015, the China Institute announced it would move to a new, bigger home. This new location, at 100 Washington Street in Lower Manhattan, opened in November 2016. This was also a special year because it marked 50 years since the Institute's art gallery first opened!