Rappahannock Community College Educational Foundation’s Rappahannock Institute for Lifelong Learning (RILL) will kick off its spring 2013 lineup of courses with "A Taste of China." The course will be taught by Professor Liping Zhu of Yunnan Art University in Kunming, China.

The three-part lecture series will take place on Feb. 5 and 12 (Tuesdays), and Feb. 20 (Wednesday), from 1-3 p.m., at the main branch of the Gloucester Public Library.

The lectures will provide a sense of the Chinese culture, and are intended to spark students’ interest in learning the language and perhaps visiting China.

The first session will offer an overview of Chinese culture, including traditional festivals and foods related to each one; arts and crafts; and major religions and philosophy. The second is a short tour of ethnic minorities in the southwestern province of Yunnan, with a description of each group’s traditions and customs. The final session will contrast ways of thinking, f...