By Diana Ding, CEO of Ding Ding TV

A meaningful afternoon at the CHCP “Double Happiness” Celebration at History Park San José, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Chinese American Historical Museum and the 5th anniversary of the City of San José’s Resolution of Apology to the Chinese community.

Visiting the historic Ng Shing Gung and its beautiful 1888 altar was a powerful reminder of the struggles, resilience, and contributions of the early Chinese pioneers who helped build this valley.

It was wonderful to see so many community and civic leaders gathered together, including Congressman Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee, State Assembly member Patrick Ahrens, Saratoga City Council [member] and former Mayor Yan Zhao, San José Council member Bien Doan, California State Senator Dave Cortese’s representative Phuong Nguyen and many others.

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Congratulations to Gerrye [Wong] and the entire CHCP family on this important milestone!

By Connie Young Yu, CHCP Advisory Board Member/Historian

What's memorable [were] the featured speeches which were so engaging and meaningful.  Mayor Mahan had surprising points to make and a nice story to tell. What should be broadcast are Congress member Sam Liccardo's brilliant remarks hitting all the right notes, from history to activism. ... The former Mayor, who read every clause of the Apology until he was hoarse five years ago, brought it up to date - and made us all very proud. 

So what is important is that the Double Happiness Celebration lived up to its name. CHCP [with] all the dedicated, hard-working volunteers delivered!  The program was illuminating and entertainment was fantastic. The CAHM [Chinese American Historical Museum] was a big, beautiful draw. The Cantonese food so tasty. Hospitality was glowing. Everyone had a great time.

The Chinese Historical and Cultural Project (CHCP) joins Asian Pacific America with Robert Handa to talk about the Chinese American Historical Museum's 35th anniversary celebration Sept 19th at History Park. Co-founder Gerrye Wong and Anniversary Chair Anita Wong Kwock also discuss the City of San Jose's ‘apology’ for historic discrimination.

CHCP President Kimberly Eng Lee and CHCP Director Kan Wong joined CHCP Advisory Board Member Lee Liu Chin and Chinatown History and Culture Association (CHCA) Co-Founder George Chin at the Hungry Ghost Festival (aka Da Jui) in San Francisco. The evening concluded with a parade and lighting of the Fire Dragon.

The following are excerpts from the 09/05/26 SF Chronicle:

By Warren Pederson

An ancient Asian tradition took on new life Saturday in San Francisco's Chinatown with the Hungry Ghost Festival, a rousing celebration of heritage in which the living feed the souls of their ancestors.

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A signature event of the festival was the Ghost King Parade through Chinatown, led by a 14-foot effigy made of paper and bamboo and imported from China. The event was capped by the lighting of the fire dragon, with 10,000 sticks of burning incense meant to drive away sickness and bad luck as it bestowed blessings on the crowd.

For more information: Read the full 09/05/26 SF Chronicle article.

View the recording of the press conference held by U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin with the Save Our National Archives (SONA) organization, announcing efforts to stop the planned closure of the National Archives at San Francisco facility (NARA-SF) located in San Bruno, Calif.

Demonstrators opposing the closure of the National Archives at San Francisco facility listen to a speaker during a news conference on Aug. 24, 2026, where U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA.-15) announced efforts to stop the planned closure of the facility located in San Bruno, Calif. (Dai Sugano/Bay Area News Group)

More than 100 rousing community members showed up waving protest signs, and displayed images of family photographs, historic documents, and heirlooms housed at NARA-SF, materials related to community-regional history documenting immigration, military, tribal, statehood, and citizenship experiences.

CHCP Treasurer Elizabeth Lee and CHCP Member Sue Lee were among the demonstrators attending the press conference, showing their support to keep the National Archives open and for historical records to remain available to the public.

For more information and to sign the petition: Save Our National Archives

On August 10, 2026, Professor Selia Tan, from Wuyi University in China, gave a fascinating lecture entitled “Echoes Across the Ocean” at the Chinatown Branch Library in Los Angeles. Dr. Tan is a leading expert on the history and impact of Cantonese migrants – on their home villages.

Dr. Tan explains that the Cantonese pioneers not only built the American railroads and developed agriculture and commerce in California, they also impacted the development of Southern China. The remittances migrants sent back not only eased family and regional poverty, it also helped modernize China and fund the War of Resistance against Japan (1931-45). Dr. Tan shows several slides of huge high schools (or translated as “middle school” 中学) built in Guangdong in the early 20th century. Dr. Tan claims that Kaiping alone built 17 libraries. There were also newspapers, aviation, road systems, and other modernization made possible by the surge of funds from overseas Chinese. Dr. Tan insists that ¾ of the funds for the War of Resistance came from overseas Chinese. In Kaiping, a collection of some 50,000 qiaopi (remittance letters) show a tangible trail of the impact of Chinese Americans on their home villages. These letters that date back to 1883 have been recognized by UNESCO Memory of the World Register.