Mauritian Contestant, Lara Wong Hee, awarded the 2nd prize in the 16th Chinese Bridge Global Competition for Secondary Schools

On October 30^th, the 16^th Chinese Bridge Global Competition for Secondary School Students concluded with great success in the city of Kunming, China. Mauritian contestant Lara Wong Hee was awarded second prize and a one-year scholarship to study Chinese in China.

The global competition started on the 16^th October and consisted of three key rounds: the Preliminary Contest, the Continental Championships, and the Grand Final. The Preliminary Contest featured four segments which include a written test, a speech competition, a talent show, and a cultural experience challenge. These segments comprehensively assessed participants in their Chinese language proficiency, cultural knowledge, spoken Chinese skills, and their ability to showcase Chinese talents. Lara Wong Hee's impressive performance in these segments led her to the global top 30, and she represented Africa in the Continental Championship.

The Africa Continental Championship took place on October 27^th at the Yunnan Wild Animal Park in Kunming, China. This unique competition format combined real-life learning, interactive experiences, and Chinese language assessments, allowing contestants to explore Chinese language and culture through engaging educational activities. The Continental Championship challenged contestants with entertaining Chinese trivia, assessing their comprehensive mastery of the language and cultural knowledge. Lara Wong Hee's outstanding performance secured her third place in the African region, and ultimately securing second prize in the 16^th Chinese Bridge Global Competition for Secondary School Students.

Photo gallery of Lara Wong Hee at the competition venue

Group photo of officials, artists and participants

Photo gallery of Lara Wong Hee outside the competition venue

The 16^th Chinese Bridge Global Competition for Secondary School Students, spanning over 15 days from 16^th to 30^th October, attracted 110 contestants from 93 countries. The competition emphasized the theme of "Fly high with Chinese" and revolved around the main theme of "Perceive China, Understand Yunnan”. It blended the elements of competition and cultural exploration, allowing the contestants to showcase their Chinese language skills, cultural understanding, and youthful spirit through various language and cultural exchange activities. It is expected that these young contestants will continue to foster international exchanges and become cultural ambassadors, thus promoting mutual understanding between China and other nations.