A total of 146 foreign college students from 108 countries arrive in Beijing for their “Chinese Bridge” competitions

Today, 146 foreign college students from 108 countries arrived in Beijing to participate in the one-month semifinals and finals of the 15th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. These contestants are all college students who stand out from fierce competition in over 140 overseas regional preliminaries held in more than 110 countries.

With “Dreams Enlighten the Future” as its theme, the 15th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students is jointly hosted by Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the People’s Government of Hunan’s Province. This year’s competition will focus more on testing contestants’ knowledge of language and culture through more innovative competition rules and forms of presentation. It will also invite outstanding Chinese youth groups to join in the competition and conduct in-depth exchanges, interaction and competition with foreign contestants, so as to fully showcase the unique charm of communication among diverse cultures.

Contestants experiencing Chinese culture at Confucius Institute Headquarters——costumes of traditional Chinese operas

Contestants experiencing Chinese culture at Confucius Institute Headquarters——Chime bells

Contestants experiencing Chinese culture at Confucius Institute Headquarters——straw weaving

Contestants experiencing Chinese culture at Confucius Institute Headquarters——Guqin

Contestants experiencing Chinese culture at Confucius Institute Headquarters——paper cutting

What makes this year’s competitions even more exciting is that this year marks the 15th anniversary of the “Chinese Bridge” competitions, and at the grand finals to be held in Changsha, some outstanding contestants over the past 15 years will be invited to return to this grand stage for foreign youths to showcase the charm of the Chinese language and culture, where they will share with everyone how learning the Chinese language benefits their lives and their unforgettable experience and splendid stories at the competitions.

A group photo of contestants at Confucius Institute Headquarters

A group photo of contestants at Confucius Institute Headquarters

Since 2002, the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese proficiency competitions have attracted over one million youths in more than 110 countries. Being hailed as “a bridge of culture, friendship and mind” connecting the world, the competitions have evolved into an important brand in the field of international cultural and people-to-people exchanges and become the “Olympics” for Chinese language with worldwide attention.

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