Global students are set to gather for the 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, with the finals taking place in Pingtan. Pingtan, a coastal city in Fujian Province, is the Chinese mainland's closest point to the island of Taiwan.

On the evening of September 2, 2024, the global finals and award ceremony of the 23rd "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students unfolded in Pingtan, Fujian. (File photo)

As China's second international tourism island, following Hainan, Pingtan will be a central location for the three-week event, which runs from August 4 to 26, 2025. The competition will also have events in Beijing and other cities within Fujian Province.

The 24th "Chinese Bridge," organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation under China's Ministry of Education, will host approximately 160 contestants and 140 observers from over 130 countries and regions. The theme for the event is "One World, One Family," with the sub-theme "Cultural China: Chasing Dreams Along the Maritime Silk Road". Participants will have the opportunity to delve into Chinese culture through visits to iconic sites and hands-on experiences.

The itinerary combines cultural immersion with scenic exploration. In Beijing, students will visit the Central Axis, a historic part of the city. In Fujian, they will cruise the Nine-Bend Stream in Wuyi Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and participate in over 20 intangible cultural heritage (ICH) activities, including traditional crafts and local performances. Stops in Quanzhou, a significant Maritime Silk Road port, and Fuzhou will further deepen their connection to China's cultural and historical heritage.

Beyond hosting the finals, Pingtan offers unique experiences such as exploring Austronesian cultural relics, visiting coastal wind power facilities, and kitesurfing.

The competition features multiple rounds, culminating in the selection of five continental winners, one global champion, and several individual award recipients.

That very day-September 2, 2024-this spectacular event reached its climax in Pingtan, where He Jieming, a talented contestant from Belgium, claimed the coveted title of global champion, marking a brilliant highlight in the competition's history. (File photo)

Launched in 2002, the "Chinese Bridge" has become known as the "Olympics of the Chinese Language". It has engaged over 1.7 million young people from more than 160 countries and regions throughout its history. The competition is establishing itself as a vital platform for global youth to connect through language and culture.