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Go featured in Chicago museum exhibit

"I was invited to the opening ceremony of a new exhibition at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago," writes Xinming (Simon) Guo. The exhibition, “The Chinese Helped Build the Railroad – The Railroad Helped Build America,” features the history of the 12,000 plus Chinese workers who contributed in the building of the world’s first Transcontinental Railway in United States in mid-19th century.

"I was so astonished when I found a Weiqi game in the exhibition," says Guo. The introduction says that these Chinese railroad builders worked in inhospitable environment of the American West and gathered to play fan-tan (a gambling game) or Weiqi after more than 10 hours of back-breaking work each day. This exhibition will last for one year "and it is a perfect opportunity to promote Weiqi (Chinese for Go). I have been working with the museum for many years. We have organized Weiqi workshops, Weiqi courses, and Weiqi culture stations in the museum several times. With the help from local go community, we will work together to start a new add-on service -- providing on-site hands-on Weiqi workshop for students visiting the museum on school field trips."