1990 Zhang Yimou film Ju Dou (菊豆) in Pittsburgh, November 10 and 11.

The 1990 Zhang Yimou film Ju Dou (菊豆) will play in Pittsburgh on November 10 and 11, part of the Harris Theater's occasional International Art House Classics series.

The film that put director Zhang Yimou and star Gong Li on the international cinema map follows beautiful young Ju Dou as she is married off to an egregiously cruel, and also impotent, owner of a dye mill in the Chinese countryside in the early 20th century. When the boss’ nephew arrives on the scene they fall for each other with lustful abandon. Their impassioned affair soon leads to a son. After the clandestine couple convinces the despotic husband that he is the father, the boy is raised as his long-awaited heir. However the myriad complications of infidelity lead to a visceral and psychological melee between the lovers and their ruler with explosively dramatic turns. With its stunning mise en scène and sumptuous use of color, Ju Dou was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards® and has earned a reputation as one of the greatest Chinese films ever made.

Restoration effected at Hiventy Laboratory (Paris) by IMPEX Films with the support of ARTE, France.

Tickets are available online. The Harris Theater is located in downtown's Cultural District (map).

“Teaching East Asian Languages in the Era of AI," October 29 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures and the Robert Henderson Language Media Center will present “Teaching East Asian Languages in the Era of AI” on October 29.

How are instructors reshaping East Asian language classes with technology-enhanced pedagogy—from GenAI and video journals to collaborative tools like Padlet? This special EALL colloquium also showcases how East Asian languages are taught at Pitt including our classroom practices, tools, and design choices across Chinese, Korean, and Japanese. Open to students, grad students, and language teachers.

The schedule includes opening remarks from Department Chair Elizabeth Oyler at 2:00 pm, followed by: 

• Fan Fan - "Integrating AI and Creativity in Chinese Language Learning" (2:10 - 2:30)
• Bei Cheng - "Using AI as a Tutor for Chinese: Enhancing Student Writing through GenAI-Assisted Error Correction" (2:30 - 2:50)
• Hyunju Ha and Shun Maruyama - "Out of the Box, On Camera: Reimagining Speaking Practice through Video Journals in Korean and Japanese Classrooms" (2:50 - 3:20)
• Wanching Hsieh-Meyers - "Showcasing Learning with Padlet" (3:20 - 3:40)

The event concludes with closing remarks from Na-Rae Han, Director of the Robert Henderson Language Media Center.

The event is free and open to the public. The Robert Henderson Language Media Center is located on the ground floor of the Cathedral of Learning.

"LitFest 2025: Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang," October 19 with City of Asylum.

City of Asylum will present "Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang" on October 19, part of LitFest 2025.

Publishers, book clubs, and bookstores alike are abuzz with rave reviews for one of the season’s hottest books: Yueran Zhang’s Women, Seated. The riveting story shines a spotlight on a powerful Chinese family’s fall from grace, detailing a world of luxury, wealth, and around-the-clock service, with secrets hidden in every shadow. Full of drama and intrigue most American audiences are chomping at the bit for, one could almost forget that this bestseller likely wouldn’t have made it to a front-of-store display without the work of editor Han Zhang and translator Jeremy Tiang. 

Opal Buffet & Bar coming to the Waterfront, bringing all-you-can-eat sushi, Brazilian steak, and pan-Asian cuisine.

Open Buffet & Bar, from the team behind Pittsburgh's Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, has announced on social media it will be opening in the former Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery spot (map). The menu will feature all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse, sushi, and pan-Asian cuisine for $43. More details will be emerging soon.

Opal Buffet & Bar coming to _____.

Open Buffet & Bar, from the team behind Pittsburgh's Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings, will be opening somewhere in Pittsburgh. Details haven't been announced because they are running a "guess where?" promotion on Instagram. The restaurant is eyeing a 2026 opening.

Lao Sze Chuan aims to soft open its first Pittsburgh-area location in Cranberry later in October.

Ownership has shared new photos of the first Pittsburgh-area Lao Sze Chuan, a chain of Szechuan restaurants set to open locally in Cranberry, announcing it aims to soft open in October.

The very first Lao Sze Chuan opened in 1998 in Chicago’s Chinatown and has since become one of the most beloved Chinese restaurants nationwide. The brainchild of Sichuan-born Chef Tony Hu, Lao Sze Chuan prides itself on providing traditional Sichuan cuisine with high-quality ingredients. In 1999, Lao Sze Chuan was recognized by the Chicago Tribune as “One of the Best,” receiving a “three fork” rating that was considered a prominent accomplishment for Chinese restaurants at that time.

Although Lao Sze Chuan has flourished since humble beginnings, our mission to offer, elevate, and promote gourmet authentic Chinese cuisine and provide exceptional customer service has never wavered. Our Grade A chefs are skillfully trained in Sichuan cuisine to provide the most authentic flavors at all locations. To this day, Lao Sze Chuan lives by the mantra “One Style For One Dish, A Hundred Dishes Have A Hundred Different Tastes,” a saying that keeps our most frequent customers coming back for more.

It will be located at 936 Sheraton Dr. in Mars, in what was most recently Max & Erma's (map). Work began on the spot in November 2024. This location is coming to the area by the restauranteur behind Wild Ninja Asian Grill in Oakland (2021-2022) and Dagu Rice Noodle in Squirrel Hill (2020-2025), in addition to Lao Sze Chuan, KyuRamen, Shinto, and Dagu Rice Noodle locations in Ohio.

"LitFest 2025: Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang," October 19 with City of Asylum.

City of Asylum will present "Bringing Chinese Literature to America with Editor Han Zhang (Riverhead Books) & Translator Jeremy Tiang" on October 19, part of LitFest 2025.

Publishers, book clubs, and bookstores alike are abuzz with rave reviews for one of the season’s hottest books: Yueran Zhang’s Women, Seated. The riveting story shines a spotlight on a powerful Chinese family’s fall from grace, detailing a world of luxury, wealth, and around-the-clock service, with secrets hidden in every shadow. Full of drama and intrigue most American audiences are chomping at the bit for, one could almost forget that this bestseller likely wouldn’t have made it to a front-of-store display without the work of editor Han Zhang and translator Jeremy Tiang. 

Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration at Pitt, October 3.

The University of Pittsburgh's Asian Studies Center and Global Hub will host a Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration on October 3 from 12:00 pm.

中秋快乐!
추석 잘 보내세요!
Chúc Mừng Tết Trung thu!
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Come celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with the Asian Studies Center! Enjoy snacks and crafts during this cultural holiday. Event is open to the Pitt community and the public.

It will be held at the Global Hub, located on the 1st floor of Posvar Hall (map).

Next monthly Chinese & English Storytime for kids at Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel, October 4.

The monthly Chinese-English Storytime continues at the Cooper-Siegel Library in Fox Chapel will hold its next session on October 4.

Explore the Chinese language through bilingual songs, books, and playful experiences. This program is designed for kids in grades preschool - 2nd grade with their caregivers. This program occurs on the first Saturday of the month. Please register for all dates you plan to attend.

The event runs from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the Verne C. Koch Program Room. Future sessions are scheduled for November 1, December 6, January 3, and beyond.  (There are also Chinese-English Storytimes scheduled for October 18, November 15, December 20, January 17, and beyond, from 10:30 to 11:30 am, at the Sharpsburg Community Library.) Registration is required and can be completed online for each session. The Cooper-Siegel Community Library is located at 403 Fox Chapel Rd. (map).

2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival, September 27 at North Park.

The 2025 Pittsburgh Dragon Boat Festival will be held on September 27 at North Park. The event runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm on North Park Lake (map), and in addition to the races that support breast cancer survivors, there will be a lion dance, food trucks, vendors, and activitiy tables including the Chinese Heritage Room (from the Pitt Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Program), OCA, the Pittsburgh Chinese School, and the Pittsburgh Taoist Tai Chi Society. The eye dotting ceremony begins at 8:20 am with Allen Peng of the Organization of Chinese Americans and first race begins at 9:10 am. The event is free for spectators.

2025 Chinese film The Botanist (植物学家) at University of Pittsburgh, September 26, part of SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2025 Chinese film The Botanist (植物学家) will play in Pittsburgh on September 26, part of the SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In a village in a remote valley on the northern border of Xinjiang, China, a lonely Kazakh boy named Arsin (Jahseleh Yesi) nurses fading memories of his family. He finds solace in the company of plants. The arrival of Meiyu (Ren Zihan), a Han Chinese girl, is like the discovery of a plant he has never seen before, bringing him comfort and a strange sense of wonder. Together, they grow like two distinct species, rooted in a shared corner of the world, imagining the valley as an endless ocean. But one day, Arsin learns that Meiyu will be moving to Shanghai, which is 4,792 kilometers away – a distance he struggles to comprehend. She is headed to a city where the ocean actually exists. Arsin is left alone to grapple with the quiet shifts in their small, fragile world.

The show starts at 1:00 pm in G24 Cathedral of Learning. Tickets are available online, and remain free for those with a Pitt ID.

"Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival" at Carnegie Mellon University, October 1.

The Department of Languages, Cultures & Applied Linguistics’ Chinese Studies program at Carnegie Mellon University and Pittsburgh’s Organization of Chinese Americans will present the 2025 Chinese Mid-Autumn and Global Food Festival on October 1.

Celebrate the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival and explore culinary traditions from around the world at this vibrant cultural event!

Free and open to the public, attendees will enjoy live performances that showcase music, dance and storytelling from East Asian cultures. Sample delicious global cuisine, connect with the greater-CMU community and take part in a joyful evening of community, culture and conversation. All are welcome — come hungry and curious!

The event runs from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Cohon University Center's Rangos Ballroom on the Carnegie Mellon campus in Oakland (map), and is free and open to the public.

New designs for Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba, set to open in new Shadyside complex in March 2026.

New renderings show the design for a joint Sushi Atarashi, Wushiland Boba space in The Meridian, a residential and retail space under construction in Shadyside. The combined sushi and bubble tea space was announced in Summer 2024, and will join Giant Eagle Market District, Shake Shack, Cava, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and Meridian Nail Bar, along with 231 apartments at the corner of Shady and Penn Avenues (map).

“Against the Odds: The Professional Struggles of U.S. K–12 Chinese Teachers in a Constrained System," September 24 at Pitt.

The University of Pittsburgh's Department of East Asian Languages & Literatures will host “Against the Odds: The Professional Struggles of U.S. K–12 Chinese Teachers in a Constrained System” on September 24 as its first colloquium of the year.

Dr. [Yi] Xu will share insights from her study of over 200 Chinese language educators across the U.S., exploring the systemic and professional challenges they face and offering recommendations for support.

The talk runs from 12:00 to 1:00 pm in 501 Cathedral of Learning.

2024 film Blue Sun Palace (蓝色太阳宫) in Pittsburgh September 21, part of 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

The 2024 film Blue Sun Palace (蓝色太阳宫) will play in Pittsburgh on September 21 as part of the 2025 SCREENSHOT: Asia Film Festival.

In Blue Sun Palace’s Chinese-speaking Queens, Cheung is a migrant laborer and Didi works at a massage parlor with other Chinese immigrants. Among them is Amy (Ke-Xi Wu), a gifted cook who dreams of opening her own restaurant. When Didi is tragically killed, Cheung and Amy form an unexpected bond as they navigate their grief and search for connection. Blue Sun Palace offers a quiet, realistic portrayal of immigrant life in New York, where English is rarely spoken and interactions with non-immigrant Americans are largely commodified. While there are daily indignities foisted upon the immigrants, Blue Sun Palace is no misery showcase. Intimacy and warmth co-exist with economic anxieties and deep grief that are articulated with uncommon intelligence and understanding of how adults endure any given day. Director Constance Tsang gives us confident direction in her debut feature, bringing a fresh exploration to how American newcomers might find comfort and solace in one another in an otherwise alienating land.

Content warning: Violence, sexual scenarios

Tickets are free to everyone with a PITT ID, $5 for all other students, and $11 for General Admission. To purchase or reserve tickets, click buy now on the front page next to the film, or click here.

The movie plays in room 343 Alumni Hall on the University of Pittsburgh campus (map) from 1:30 pm and tickets are available online.

Pocha by Kye-won named Best Korean restaurant in 2025's Pittsburgh City-Paper reader's poll.

Pocha by Kye-won, located in Saxonburg, was named Best Korean restaurant by the 2025 Pittsburgh City-Paper reader's poll. From the official restaurant of the place that opened in February:

We're so excited to bring a brand-new spot in Sprankles grocery store in Saxonburg to share authentic Korean food paired with amazing Grist House beer. Everything we serve is handmade, and we're the only place offering an authentic Korean BBQ experience, if you don't know what this is, see our Korean BBQ section! Whether you're a vegetarian or meat lover, we have something for everyone on our menu that's sure to make you feel right in Korea!

Other winners relevant to PennsylvAsia include Chengdu Gourmet for Best Chinese, Little Tokyo for Best Japanese and Best Sushi, Pho Van for Best Pho, Ramen Bar for Best Ramen, Tram's for Best Vietnamese, Lotus for Best Asian Grocer, and Panda Supermarket for Best International Grocery Store. These lists were for a long time notorious for their uninspired winners at the expense of smaller or more authentic restaurants, but in recent years have expanded beyond the small list of usual suspects.

Running Dish now called Bombing Pot, coming eventually to Waterfront.

Bombing Pot is the new name of the all-you-can-eat revolving sushi, CHinese-style hot pot, and Korean-style BBQ coming eventually to the Waterfront. When it was announced for the area in September 2024 it was known as Running Dish, a concept with a Sterling, VA location from the team behind Sushi Bomb in Robinson. According to the directory, it will go into the spot across from Starbucks formerly occupied by Versona, Charming Charlie, and American Eagle.

Moochi & You, a new dessert place featuring mochi donuts, corndogs, and boba, to hold Grand Opening on September 15.

Moochi & You, an Asian dessert place featuring mochi donuts, corndogs, and boba, is set to hold its Grand Opening on September 15. It is located at 601 Lincoln Ave. (map), in what was most recently Valkyrie Doughnuts, and started its soft open on August 15. From a Tribune-Review profile last month:

The shop, located in the heart of the neighborhood, will feature donuts as well as Korean corn hot dogs. Also on the menu will be classic boba, also known as bubble tea, a popular Asian drink that often consists of a milky sweet tea and tapioca pearl balls.

Moochi & You will offer a variety of flavors.

Moochi & You uses Ghirardelli chocolates and top the donuts with pistachios, Oreos and other goodies. The hot dogs are all beef and they have spicy options.

Also on the menu will be coffee and different tea flavors. All of the tea is brewed fresh. The fresh milk tea is made with organic whole milk.

Signage went up earlier this summer. The Moochi & You owner was one of the co-founders of China Star in the North Hills, which expanded to a second location in Squirrel Hill that eventually rebranded to become Sichuan Gourmet.

Chinese & English Storytime, September 20 at Cooper-Siegel Community Library in Sharpsburg.

The next installment of the Cooper-Siegel Community Library's Chinese & English Storytime will be held on September 20 at the Sharpsburg branch.

Explore the Chinese language with native speaker Ms. JJ through bilingual songs, books, and playful experiences! This monthly program on the 3rd Saturday of the month is designed for kids in preschool - 2nd grade with their caregivers.

This volunteer-led program is FREE - donations appreciated. All supplies provided.

Library parking is limited. If the library lot is full, we recommend parking at the 13th Street municipal lot. We're also conveniently located on the 91 and 1 bus routes.

The event runs from 10:30 to 11:30 in the Community Room. Registration is required. The library is located at 1212 Main St. in Sharpsburg (map).

Tasty Noodle (西安面馆) opens in Squirrel Hill.

A new Chinese restaurant, Tasty Noodle (西安面馆), has recently opened in Squirrel Hill. According to its Instagram page, it officially opened August 1. It's located at 5824 Forbes Ave. Lower Level (map), a spot that has held a number of Chinese restaurants over the years including Jian's Kitchen, Northeastern Kitchen, and Lucky Nine.