On May 24, the Northeast China preliminary round of the 2026 “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners Across the Globe: Storytelling Contest was held at the auditorium of Liaoning University. A total of 132 contestants from 46 countries took part in the event.
This year’s contest introduced new and creative competition formats, encouraging participants to share stories about their experiences studying and living in China, as well as their understanding of and affection for the country, through speeches, stand-up comedy, kuaiban performances, situational skits and other forms of artistic expression. The contest consists of three stages: preliminaries, semi-finals and finals.
At the venue, international students studying in Northeast China gathered for what was not only a competition, but also a vibrant cultural exchange event. Contestants presented vivid stories in fresh and engaging ways, leaving the audience deeply impressed. Russian student Mukashaeva Aizhana performed a kuaiban routine highlighting the beauty of Chinese characters. Senegalese student Niane Fatou shared how Chinese engineers helped build bridges in her hometown. Vietnamese student Le Thi Thuong vividly depicted the lively atmosphere of Shenyang’s Xiaoheyan Morning Market through poetic storytelling.
The Storytelling Contest not only provides overseas Chinese-language learners with a platform to demonstrate their language skills, but also gives them an opportunity to make friends with like-minded peers from around the world, deepening their appreciation for the Chinese language and culture. “This is my first time participating in the ‘Chinese Bridge’ Competition, and I’m truly excited,” said Iranian student Sobhan Tanhaei. “I’ve also had the chance to meet friends from many different countries, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”
Le Thi Thuong said that during her years studying and living in Shenyang, she has not only experienced the charm of the Chinese language, but has also been deeply drawn to Chinese culture. She expressed her hope of continuing to tell China’s stories to the world in Chinese, also a wish shared by many of the contestants. Through “Chinese Bridge”, a bridge of friendship and mutual learning has been built between young people from China and around the world, further promoting cultural exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations.
