On May 30, four international students representing NPU competed at two prestigious competitions: the Central China Regional Competition of the 2026 “Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe---Storytelling Contest”, and the Xi’an Regional Competition of the Second International Chinese-English Bilingual Speech Contest. Drawing on their solid command of Mandarin, vibrant artistic performances, and deep engagement with Chinese culture, they brought their personal China stories to life on stage, collectively winning one Outstanding Style Award in the Chinese Bridge competition, one " Best Demeanor Award" and two " Merit Awards" in the bilingual speech competition.
Part 01 Chinese as a Bridge: Performing Qinqiang Opera on the World Stage
On May 30, the Central China Regional Competition of the 2026 Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe – Storytelling Contest organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, was held at Central South University. More than 160 contestants from 41 countries gathered to engage in a cross-cultural dialogue, with the Chinese language as their common bridge.
Representing NPU, Indonesian student Zhang Yicheng (TEDDY PERWIRA DIRJA) shared with an international audience the story of his enduring bond with Qinqiang, the traditional opera of China's northwest. "Qinqiang embodies the temperament of the northwest," he said, " and reflects the cultural confidence of the Chinese people." During his performance, a resonant Qinqiang aria delivered alongside a spirited display of the Chinese flower-tipped spear captivated the audience and earned enthusiastic applause. and He received Outstanding Style Award in the competition.
Part 02 Bilingual Competition: A Platform for Cross-Cultural Exchange
That same day, an equally compelling contest was unfolding in Xi'an. The He received Outstanding Style Award in the competition., co-organised by Xinghe Xingsui Education Technology and Continental Hanfeng Network Technology (Beijing), offered an innovative format in which each speech comprised“50% Chinese + 50% English”, creating a shared stage for young participants from China and abroad to compete and connect. The competition spanned 13 regional heats across cities including Wuhan, Xi'an, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Guangzhou, and Kunming. The preliminary selection round drew 6,671 entrants from 141 countries and regions, with 1,847 advancing to the first-round stage.
Mu Ruobai (MUHAMMAD AREEB), Pakistani international student from NPU opened his performance with a passage of song before delivering a fluid bilingual address titled "Qinqiang and Me: A Pakistani Student's Cultural Journey in China." His presentation earned him Best Demeanor Award.
Russian international student Dingzi (ZIIAUDINOV ZIIAUDIN) spoke on the theme "The Distance Between Languages," reflecting on how language serves as a vehicle for cultural exchange and mutual understanding, and received Merit Award.
Bangladeshi international student Long Qi (MD SHAKIB HOSSEN) delivered a speech entitled "Bridging Traditions: A Bangladeshi Student's Life in China," offering a multi-faceted portrait of China as seen through the eyes of an international student, and also received Merit Award.
Competition experience fosters growth; cultural immersion yields lasting achievement. This series of appearances not only demonstrated the academic and linguistic progress of our international students, but also gave new vitality to the ongoing dialogue between Chinese and international cultures. Going forward, the college will continue to leverage competition as a catalyst for learning and culture as a means of education, deepening its commitment to international student programmes and nurturing the bonds of friendship between young people across the globe.
(Photos: The Officials of the Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe – Storytelling Contest and International Chinese-English Bilingual Speech Contest
Copywriter: Li Dan
Editor: Wang Xinyue
Initial Review: Ma Lihong
Second Review: Shi Wei
Final Review: Li Ziwei
Translators：Yang Runze; Mei Leyun)
