Introduction to UCLG ASPAC:

United Cites and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) is the largest Regional Section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the world organization of local government association. UCLG ASPAC promotes and stimulates cooperation between sub-National governments and within the wider international communities in the region. Its works focus on advocacy, capacity building, policy and research, programs and projects, and decentralized cooperation. It is also the key knowledge management hub on local governments issues in the Asia-Pacific region.

About Our City:

Xi'an, known as Chang'an in ancient times, located in the middle of the Guanzhong Plain of Northwest China, is the capital city of Shaanxi province and the 9th National Central City designated by China's central government. Xi'an is one of the birthplaces of the Chinese nation and oriental civilization. With a history of more than 3,100 years as a city and a history of more than 1,100 years as a national capital, Xi'an is recognized as the great ancient and most influential capital in the history of China. Over the past years, Xi'an has expanded its friendly ties with foreign cities, totaling 38 international sister cities and 63 friendly exchange cities. In 2019, Xi'an was successfully elected to be the co-presidency of the United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG). In the support of UCLG, Xi'an is committed to strengthening international communication and cooperation, increasing exchanges and mutual learning, and promoting common prosperity and development of international communities.

About Our Academy:

Founded in 2017, Xi'an Hantang Culture Online Academy is one of the major projects undertaken by The Open University of Xi'an (OUX) in the development plan of the Xi'an Municipal People's Government under "the Belt & Road" initiative. As one of OUX's secondary schools, the Academy seizes the opportunity of achieving the "great development of Xi'an", and sets the goal of building a glamorous Xi'an with "rich culture and lasting appeal" to inherit and develop the Xi'an-centered culture of the Han and Tang dynasties based on the "Internet Plus" education concept. At the same time, rich online Chinese learning resources are provided to Chinese learners globally in order to continuously promote broader, higher-level, and deeper people-to-people exchange between people from countries and regions along "the Belt and Road".

About Our Training

The program is established to meet the needs of Chinese language learners in the Asian-Pacific region and to improve their Chinese language proficiency and their understandings to Chinese culture, With the authorization of the Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Xi'an Municipal Government, this program is operated based on the teaching resources and advantages of the Hantang Culture Online Academy of OUX.

The potential learners of the program are aimed at the civil servants in government organizations of UCLG ASPAC member cities, and those who are interested in Chinese culture and willing to improve Chinese language proficiency or learn about the business culture in China. We will offer our learners comprehensive, high-quality, and practical digital resources for Chinese language learning. 

Curriculum: 

1. Basic Chinese Language: This course is aimed at zero basic language learners. While summarizing the basic knowledge of Chinese pronunciation and Chinese characters, it selects a number of life-oriented topics to learn basic knowledge points such as pronunciation, Chinese characters, vocabulary, dialogue and grammar. Through learning, students can deepen the systematic learning of the basic knowledge of Chinese language, and strengthen the training of basic skills of listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation, so as to further improve their Chinese language ability.

Duration：6 lectures, 20-25 mins per lecture, 145 mins total.

2. Speak Chinese in Real Scenario: This course is aimed at adult Chinese learners who are beginners or have learned Pinyin and have a little Chinese language foundation. By watching video with real photos in daily life, learners will learn more than 300 common vocabulary and authentic Chinese expressions in Chinese communication. Based on outline of HSK level 1 to HSK level 3, this course selects most popular scenarios and language points, combined with real corpus, to train learners' ability to "look at photos and speak Chinese". The Q&A session will train learners’ ability of self-question , self-answer and description, and help learners learn authentic Chinese faster and better. Each class lasts about 10 minutes in English.. Each episode is divided into three parts: new words learning, new words review and question and answer.

Duration: 31 units, 10 mins per unit, 310 mins total.

3. Understanding China: This course covers a comprehensive knowledge of China's geography and history, politics and economy, philosophy and religion, literature and art, science , technology and education, sports and medical treatment, cultural food, folk heritage and so on. The course describes the Chinese characteristics and development concepts in  the new era from an objective perspective, presents the learners with a comprehensive picture of China through the most intuitive and vivid video images, and introduces the basic knowledge of China and Chinese culture. Through course learning, learners can have a basic understanding of China's humanistic and social development, and cultivate learners' interests in deeply understanding and studying China.

Duration: Optional chapters are provided for the learners in this course, but they need to complete at least 30 videos.

4. Charm of Xi’an: This course selects 20 cultural elements or landmark buildings that reflect Xi'an's history, modern style, food culture, and local customs. By telling and explaining these elements and landmark buildings, learners can not only appreciate the profound historical and cultural heritage, but also experience the city’s charm through the folk food culture in Xi'an. At the same time, learners are able to feel the rapid development and full sense of modernity of Xi'an as a leading city in the Northwest of China.

Duration: 20 units, 5 mins per unit, 100mins total.