On June 18, 2016, the Nanjing Preliminary of “Chinese Bridge”·2016 Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreigners across the Globe was successfully held in Nanjing Xiaozhuang University. This competition attracted 14 groups of competitors from colleges and universities in Jiangsu province and some other Chinese provinces, including Fudan University, Shanghai University, Donghua University, Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu University, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing Xiaozhuang University etc. Near 40 overseas students from more than 20 countries, including the US, Russia, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand etc showed their Chinese proficiency on the stage.

This competition comprises a written examination and an interview that further contains a speech, a poetry or prose recitation, a talent show and questions from the panelists which combine to examine their overall Chinese knowledge and skills. Through dancing, reciting, and singing, the overseas students did a good show of diverse programs full of Chinese characteristics.

The delegation on the behalf of Jiangsu University consisted of 9 formal competitors and 4 assistants. When the time for talent show came, the competitors played fantastic programs to the audience by exhibiting their peculiar feats. The poetry recitation done by Park Chun-hye from South Korea titled F acing the sea in a blooming spring received a unanimous good write-up from the panelists.

The song called “I Can not Help It” sang by Tianle (Chinese name), a versatile big boy from Thailand, accompanied on the ukulele, and the sign language exercises called “ Ice Flower” done by the boy with 4 of his Indian schoolmates brought the competition to a climax.

The unique skill of “Diabolo Shaking” performed by Zhan Enhao, a Malaysian boy played won loud applause from the audience. The song of “The Story of a Small Town” was sung by an Indonesia girl called Liu Xiaoling with deep affection; Shi Lanxi (Chinese name), a Ghana boy demonstrated his skill of Chinese calligraphy accompanied by his singing of the song called “Dragon Writing”; Zhu Yin, a girl from Indonesia adept at dancing presented her calligraphy with a joyful dance called “Song Flying over the World”; the Cameroon girl Evra performed a beautiful song called “Where did the Time Go”; Kongfu boy Zach from Turkey gave a powerful Kongfu show of “cudgel play” that excited all the audience; Muhabati, a vigorous girl from Turkmenistan performed Peking Opera called “Su San Being Sent under Escort”, which won the acclaim of all panelists with its everlasting appeal. All the contestants’ performances were so excellent that they were nothing short of professional. They won the burst of applause through their fluent Chinese speech and colorful talent shows.

Finally, Park Chun-hye from South Korea, Tianle from Thailand, Zhan Enhao from Malaysia, and Liu Xiaoling from Indonesia won 4 of the 10 ultimate quotas. It is reported that they would contend for the 6 quotas for the final contest in Beijing together with the 5 contestants selected via the network preliminary. We are looking forward to good news from them!