First World Chinese Essay Competition Awards Ceremony & Cultural Study Tour

It is said that writing conveys truth, and travel broadens the mind. The First World Chinese Essay Competition celebrates the talent of young people worldwide while continuing the lineage of Chinese civilisation. With awards now announced and shining brightly, we warmly invite students from across the globe to gather in Central China as the summer solstice approaches—to visit landmarks across the land and reflect on its 5,000-year literary heritage. This is not merely sightseeing; it is foundational work for nurturing the spirit of youth.

I. A Brilliant Competition, A Journey of Learning

The competition attracted over 30 countries across five continents. Primary pupils wrote on the theme “My Chinese Name” to express their heartfelt connection; junior secondary students explored “Key Words of China” to portray the essence of Chinese culture; and senior secondary students imagined “Ten Years From Now” to sketch visions of the future. Five thousand essays revealed youthful critical thinking; ten thousand lines of prose demonstrated cultural responsibility. The award ceremony and cultural study tour extend the competition’s mission—integrating observation, study, creation and reflection. Students will recite classical poetry before the red walls of the Forbidden City, examine oracle bone inscriptions at the Yinxu Ruins, and appreciate craftsmanship beside the Longmen Grottoes. This is no ordinary tour—it is measuring the depth of civilisation with one’s feet, and connecting ancient and modern thought through writing.

II. Why Central China? Because It Is the Cradle of Chinese Civilisation

Why must participants travel to Henan Province? Because Central China is the heartland of Chinese civilisation. Here, the Duke of Zhou established rites and music; Shang kings inscribed records on oracle bones; Shaolin Temple harmonised Chan Buddhism and martial arts; and the Songyang Academy sustained scholarly tradition for centuries. At the Kaifeng Prefecture Museum, visitors encounter the integrity of upright officials; at the Qingming Riverside Landscape Garden, they experience the elegance of Song-dynasty culture; and at BYD’s Di Space, they witness the fusion of technology and humanities. Every step taken, every sight seen, is a living history book. Henan is a microcosm of China: studying Yinxu reveals the origin of Chinese characters; climbing Mount Song reveals the vastness of heaven and earth; standing by the Yellow River reveals the enduring flow of civilisation. Only by visiting can one grasp that “China” is no abstract concept—it is a magnificent chapter carved into mountains and rivers, forged by time itself.

III. When Youth Travels, the World Understands

An ancient saying goes: “Read ten thousand books, travel ten thousand miles.” Today’s youth wield pens capable of depicting the world—and feet able to measure the universe. When students from five continents walk together through the Forbidden City, exchanging thoughts in Chinese, this is more than linguistic exchange—it is dialogue between civilisations. When scholars of traditional Chinese learning accompany them, bringing oracle bone script “to life” and enabling the Vairocana Buddha at Longmen “to speak”, this is more than knowledge transfer—it is cultural inheritance. When youth grow stronger, the world grows stronger; when youth see further, civilisation expands further. A holistic study tour—engaging both body and mind—can help students grasp the weight of family and nation beneath the red walls, feel the soul of writing among stone steles, and understand the value of inclusivity among international peers. Such profound growth cannot be achieved through lectures alone—it is formative, unforgettable.

IV. Travelling With Civilisation, Resonating With the Times (Conclusion)

Friends! Heaven and earth are our textbooks; rivers and mountains compose our preface. As the award ceremony and cultural study tour draw near, we sincerely invite prize-winning students to join us with pen in hand—and those who did not compete to come inspired by the call. Upon stepping onto the fertile soil of Central China, you will find that Chinese civilisation is neither distant nor intangible, but tangible and immediate; that the beauty of Chinese characters lies not only in ancient texts, but also in their power to bridge past and present. May this journey attune young hearts to the rhythm of the world—and ensure that China’s millennia-old cultural legacy endures through new generations.

Go forth! Fulfil this cultural appointment—and make it a lifelong memory.

Global Association of Cultural and Educational ExchangeMiddle School Students' Study Paper

June 202519