On May 10, the 2026 "Chinese Bridge" Global Chinese Language Competition – Storytelling Competition Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai Preliminaries was successfully held at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. More than 130 contestants from 40 countries gathered in Shanghai, sharing their stories by Siyuan Lake.
The competition was hosted by SJTU international students Grigoryan Erik (Armenia) and Aksara Regmi (Nepal). The judging panel included Professor Zhang Yanli, Party Secretary of the School of Chinese Studies and Exchange at Shanghai International Studies University; Sun Gang, former Vice Chairman of the Labor Union of Fudan University and Vice President of the Shanghai Folk Culture Society; and Professor Zhou Yuena from Zhejiang University of Media and Communications.
During the contest, participants from various countries demonstrated proficient Chinese language skills and superb storytelling abilities. Their sincere personal narratives were particularly moving. Sofia, a Russian contestant from SJTU, developed a curiosity for Chinese characters because of the character "Yuan" on her grandmother’s ink-painted fan. Thai contestant Kusol Chittanan made a promise with her grandfather to visit the Great Wall while watching Chinese TV dramas.
Many contestants also shared heartwarming memories of celebrating festivals in China. Polina Averkieva from Belarus recounted her unforgettable experience of making zongzi, drinking sour plum soup, and listening to stories of Qu Yuan during the Dragon Boat Festival. Polly Amelia Akehurst from the UK shared her experience of spending the Spring Festival alone in a rural Shandong village, where a reunion dinner table and a few words of local dialect enveloped her in genuine warmth. Festivals turned a foreign land into a home; these rituals rooted in Chinese life helped them find a sense of belonging deep within the culture.
On stage, talent and passion blossomed together. Feruh Bairov from Kyrgyzstan took the stage with kuaiban, their crisp sounds creating a lively rhythm. Russian contestant Gubaidullina Shakhnaz performed a powerful Changquan routine, showcasing the balance of strength and grace. Egyptian contestant Mohamed Roaa Mohamed Hashim Saad danced gracefully in a red dress, filling the stage with the passion of Xinjiang dance.
After a day of intense competition, Sofiya Don (Russia), Vuka Federico (Italy), Kusol Chittanan (Thailand), Elise Lovett (Australia), and Mohamed Roaa Mohamed Hashim Saad (Egypt) stood out, earning direct passes to the 2026 "Chinese Bridge" Storytelling Semifinals. They will represent the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region in the subsequent rounds.
Aside from contests, people also enjoyed rich cultural interactions. The cultural fair offered hands-on activities like lantern crafting, tea tasting and paper cutting, drawing crowds of visitors. The nearby open-mic stage became a space for Chinese and international friends to sing and dance freely.
This competition was organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education, co-hosted by Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Wuzhou Hanfeng Education Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and supported by the Xinhua News Agency Exhibition Channel. Shanghai Jiao Tong University will continue to host the global finals of this event in July this year, consistently supporting the development of international Chinese language education and the global dissemination of outstanding Chinese culture.
Written by: Zhao Shuangxiao, Wang Jun
Photography by: Zhao Shuangxiao
