Competition for young people from across the globe opens a world of opportunity, Li Yingxue reports.

Amonth after her return to Venezuela, Ana Karina Rivas Nunez excitedly reflects on her journey to China where memories of lush tea fields, the martial arts of the Southern Shaolin Temple and unique culinary experiences linger vividly in her mind.

Despite the arduous two-day journey home, it was the ancient village concert in Xiadang township, Shouning county, Ningde, East China's Fujian province, that left the deepest impression.

There, young people from across the globe gathered, each adorned in traditional attire to celebrate through music and dance. This vibrant gathering transcended borders; at that time, they communicated effortlessly in a shared language — Mandarin.

Wearing a dress that echoed the colors of her national flag of yellow, blue and red, Rivas performed a spirited Venezuelan dance, embodying the spirit of cultural exchange.

"That night was extraordinary," she recalls. "It felt like a true celebration of diversity, allowing us to embrace different cultures while reveling in songs and dances from around the world."

This summer, she represented Venezuela as the regional champion in the global finals of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. Her journey culminated in winning the Americas championship and securing a coveted spot in the global top five.

"The best part about this competition was the chance to meet people from various countries, learn about their cultures and make lasting friendships," she says. "I communicated with them in Mandarin, since our native languages are different."

The annual competition, often described as the "Olympics of Chinese", has attracted more than 1.7 million young language enthusiasts from around the world since its inception in 2002. This event not only fosters friendships among participants, but also serves as a vibrant platform for cultural exchange.

Participants explored China's beautiful landscapes and immersed themselves in its rich cultural tapestry, with many aspiring to become cultural ambassadors. They expressed a desire to facilitate mutual understanding and exchange between their countries and China, bridging diverse traditions through Chinese culture and language.

The competition, which commenced in February, held its global finals this September in Pingtan, Fujian province.

Following several rounds of competitions, the event was guided by China's Ministry of Education and the Fujian provincial government, with the Center for Language Education and Cooperation orchestrating the final gathering of 147 contestants from 130 countries and regions, all united by their passion for Chinese culture.

Among the standout participants were continental champions from Kazakhstan, Egypt, Venezuela, Belgium and New Zealand, with Belgian contestant Benjamin Herman emerging as the global champion.

"It's amazing. This competition offers a good opportunity to make friends and learn from one another," Herman, 24, says. "All the continental champions are talented, so I knew it would be tough. I'm thrilled to have won first place and will continue to work hard."

Herman, who has studied Chinese for three years, expressed pride in his achievement.

The finals comprised four rounds, showcasing elements of Fujian's fu culture (fu meaning happiness and blessings), maritime history and international exchanges. Contestants from various continents presented performances that artfully fused their native cultural elements with traditional Chinese culture, offering audiences a glimpse into the rich tapestry of aesthetic traditions.

Discovering Fujian

This year's competition featured a distinctive highlight: Contestants embarked on an immersive cultural journey through Fujian. They explored places, such as Nanping, Ningde, Quanzhou, Fuzhou and Pingtan, delving into the region's rich history, cultural heritage, local characteristics and modern developments.

In Quanzhou, participants visited the Quanzhou Maritime Museum, where they gained insights into the city's UNESCO World Heritage Sites through the exhibition Quanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan China, which highlighted 22 heritage sites that connected Quanzhou's city, port and hinterland during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, showcasing the city's allure as a World Heritage Site.

For Rivas, a graduate in international trade, the museum visit was enlightening. "I didn't realize that each ship had unique features," she says. "I learned so much about the history of the Maritime Silk Road."

She found herself captivated by Wuyi Mountains during her travels. "Coming from an island, I haven't seen mountain landscapes like this before," she says. "I also experienced tea culture. Back home, we drink a lot of coffee, but immersing myself in the Chinese tea culture was fascinating."

After observing the tea-making process and sampling local varieties, she discovered a new favorite — Dahongpao oolong tea. "I fell in love with it after the first sip," she says, adding that she brought some back for her mother, who also enjoyed it.

She was also impressed by Fujian's culinary offerings. Although her hometown is coastal as well, she notes that the seafood preparation techniques in Fujian are different from what she is accustomed to.

As the contestants concluded their visit to Quanzhou, they boarded the Fuxing high-speed train to Fuzhou, a cutting-edge model developed in China with full intellectual property rights.

"We gained a deep understanding of Chinese culture by visiting many places in Fujian, like Wuyi Mountains, where we experienced its tea culture," says Yasmine Sayed Mohamad Hamed Osman, the African champion of the competition. "It was a good opportunity to learn more about China."

Cultural ambassador

Herman, the overall champion of this year's competition, is set to embark on a three-month exchange program at Liaoning University, where he aims to refine his Chinese language skills.

Many contestants echoed similar aspirations, expressing hopes of studying in China and transitioning from language learners to cultural ambassadors, a transformation that numerous previous participants have successfully navigated.

Rivas reflected on her childhood, recalling how her mother encouraged her to learn Chinese. However, she was hesitant, viewing it as an almost impossible endeavor. It wasn't until 2020 when she discovered the Chinese drama Meteor Garden (2018), starring Wang Hedi, that her interest in the language blossomed.

The more she watched, the more captivated she became, ultimately deciding to embark on her journey to learn Chinese. Currently employed at a local oil company, she frequently engages with Chinese business partners, which further enhances her language skills.

This year, encouraged by her teacher, Rivas participated in the competition. "I saw this as an opportunity to experience authentic Chinese culture, so I worked hard to prepare," she says. "This competition allowed me to improve my Chinese proficiency and make friends from around the world. It also provided a good opportunity for my Chinese friends to learn about Venezuela, our culture and the warmth of our people.

"My first dream is to visit China and my second dream is to pursue a master's degree there," she adds, expressing her aspirations to study at a university in China next year.

Osman says that China feels like her second home and she hopes to pursue a master's degree in the country, too. She says she plans to visit a list of cities, including Kunming in Yunnan province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province and Xi'an in Shaanxi province, to explore their unique cultures.

Upon her return to Egypt after the competition, Osman was met with a warm surprise from her family and friends, who celebrated her achievement with a specially prepared cake.

Having recently graduated from university, she is searching for a job. Osman aspires to become a Chinese language teacher to introduce her Egyptian students to the language and the richness of Chinese culture, fostering greater understanding between her country and China.

"I also want to share Egypt's rich history and culture with Chinese people, helping them understand what true Egypt is like," she says. "I hope to serve as a bridge connecting these two ancient civilizations."

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn