Pingtan, Fujian, China--(Newsfile Corp. - August 9, 2026) - The opening ceremony of the 25th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students and its Summer Camp was held on August 8 in Pingtan, Fujian Province. Liu Jianqing, Deputy Director of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under the Ministry of Education; Wu Weiping, First-Level Inspector of the Fujian Provincial Department of Education; Xiu Xinggao, Chairman of the Fujian Tourism Development Group; Yang Guohe, Vice Chairman of Fujian Media Group; Xiao Shaoping, Deputy General Manager of the Fujian Tourism Development Group; and Chen Xunming, Deputy Director of the Administrative Committee of the Pingtan Comprehensive Pilot Zone attended the ceremony, together with 157 contestants from 137 countries and regions around the world.

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In his remarks, Liu Jianqing noted that 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Bridge program. Over the past 25 years, generations of Chinese language learners and enthusiasts have come together through Chinese Bridge to connect, exchange ideas and grow. He expressed the hope that contestants from around the world would become not only competitors on the stage, but also firsthand observers of China. Through learning journeys in Beijing, Fujian and other parts of China, they can turn the Chinese language they have learned from textbooks into vivid cultural experiences, improve their language skills, showcase their talents, make new friends through exchanges, gain a deeper understanding of a real and vibrant China, and share their experiences with more people around the world.

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Yang Guohe said that 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of Chinese Bridge. Since 2024, the program has been hosted in Fujian for three consecutive years. Under this year’s theme, "Explore Fujian, Explore China, Explore the Future," contestants will visit five cities — Beijing, Pingtan, Fuzhou, Zhangzhou and Xiamen — and take part in a variety of activities, including intangible cultural heritage experiences, World Heritage site visits, technology tours and youth exchanges. Through these immersive experiences, young people from around the world will discover the charm of Chinese culture and the vitality of contemporary China, while building friendship and understanding through interaction and dialogue.

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Chen Xunming said that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the development of Pingtan as an International Tourism Island, while the connection between Chinese Bridge and Pingtan has entered its third year. Leveraging its unique geographical and cultural advantages as a gateway connecting China and the world, Pingtan aims to use language as a bridge for communication and communication as a pathway to mutual understanding. Through distinctive cultural resources such as the Keqiutou archaeological site and the underwater archaeological sites of the Haitan Strait, Pingtan will offer young people from around the world opportunities to experience Chinese culture, explore its natural beauty and deepen exchanges through mutual learning.

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During the launch ceremony, guests and contestant representatives poured blue water symbolizing the five continents into a launch device. The words “Chinese as a Bridge, One World, One Family” appeared, officially marking the start of the 25th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. The contestants then planted 25 friendship trees and five trees symbolizing homesickness and connection, commemorating the 25-year journey of Chinese Bridge and expressing their shared hopes for friendship and a better future across the five continents.

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On the same day, the first scoring round of this year’s competition — "Learning from the Past and Understanding the Present" — was held. The written test included three sections — listening, multiple-choice questions and writing — covering topics ranging from Chinese culture and geography to history, economics and more.

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Source: Global News