Traditional martial arts, musical instruments and lion dance dress were on displays as students were able to experience Chinese culture first hand to help understand the customs from a different country and develop a multi-cultural perspective.

Stawell Secondary College head of the Chinese faculty Ling Zhao said she hoped the day would encourage students to study the language further and help inspire them learn more about other cultures.

"We want students to experience the culture," she said.

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"We want them to experience the culture, to appreciate the different cultures and open up their vision and understand there are exciting things beyond Stawell.

"That is part of the reason students should do another language as well because culture is important.

"It doesn't matter if you are not able to speak fluent Chinese, not everyone is able to get to that level, but at least you have cultural perspective and you understand how to communicate with people if you know the culture and global competency is an essential skill in the 21st century."

Students from Year Seven and those in Year Nine and Ten studying Chinese were involved in the incursion as instructors from Bendigo's Asia Riya Aaron Hall and Nita Kahia took students through classes involving bookmark making/lantern riddles Wushu and Kung Fu fan dance, Chinese drum and percussion and lion dance and Chinese ink painting.

Ms Zhao said the school held a similar event four years ago and was hoping to grow the event with other schools in the future.

"This year it is a bit different and we weren't sure, so hopefully next year we will be able to involve more students in primary schools," she said.

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"It is very important for a rural school because they are not exposed to a multi-cultural environment like Melbourne students, so that's why we try to provide students these opportunities.

"We had two China trips a few years ago, and all the students who went gave us great feedback and we are hoping students will continue to study Chinese into VCE because language skills are so important for their careers and opening opportunities for them.

"I am very proud for what we have achieved with our students and with a day like today we hoping to bring some more excitement and colour to the students."

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