The first Chinese Culture Week will be held in northeast United States during the 2011 Chinese Spring Festival, the Sino-American Friendship Association (SAFA) said at a press conference in New York on Wednesday.

Zhang Jinping, SAFA Chairman and organizer of the culture week, told Xinhua that the culture week will attract young people in the United States and residents in local communities.

During the culture week, at least eight renowned middle schools in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New York will formally launch their "Chinese Culture Clubs." SAFA will present publications on Chinese culture as gifts to those clubs.

Zhang said there are many American kids studying Chinese in those schools and they love Chinese culture. SAFA is helping organize trips to China for those American students.

A performance called An Evening of Chinese Culture that had attracted thousands of audience in the past two years will continue to be on stage in Prudential Center -- NBA team New Jersey Net's home stadium.

The main performance for the Culture Week will kick off on Feb. 9, 2011, when New Jersey Nets is set to take on the New Orleans Hornets. It will tour around in local schools and communities in the following week.

An Evening of Chinese Culture will be the third one in a row held in New Jersey Nets home stadium, where there is a large Chinese community. The event has already become a culture pageant for overseas Chinese to celebrate the Chinese new year.

Wang Yansheng, culture counselor of Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in New York and also member of the organizing committee, said at the press conference that this year's events go deep into local communities and schools where American "grassroots" can also enjoy and learn Chinese culture.

"It would be more meaningful if we can use this chance to extend the Chinese Culture Week to local communities and students on campus," said Wang.

Zhang Xinhong, director of the China National Tourist Office in New York, said it would be a great opportunity for the Chinese, local residents and NBA fans to celebrate the Chinese new year together.

"The Chinese Culture Week will be an good opportunity to promote Chinese culture and tourism. The NBA fans and overseas Chinese are always welcomed to visit and travel in China," she said.