Zhengzhou Hosts Chinese Essay Competition Carnival, Study Tour Closing Ceremony

Autumn’s gentle charm filled Zhengzhou in September. On the 27th, the First World Chinese Essay Competition Carnival and closing ceremony of the second phase of the International Study Tour were solemnly held in Zhengzhou. The event, co-organised by the Middle School Students' Study Paper and the Global Association of Cultural and Educational Exchange (GACEE), marked a new high point for both initiatives.

The ceremony was dignified yet vibrant. Li Kaizhen, Party Secretary, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of the Middle School Students' Study Paper, and Lan Jianmin, Vice President of GACEE, attended and delivered speeches. In his address, Li Kaizhen noted that the ‘Walking China, Sustaining the Cultural Thread’ Study Tour aligns with the call to ‘strengthen cultural confidence’, bringing classrooms into historic cities, museums, science-and-technology innovation bases and nationally branded enterprises. Through on-site visits, international teenagers engage directly with the historical roots and contemporary vitality of Chinese civilisation — an innovative practice in promoting Chinese-language education globally, and a key initiative for telling China’s story well under the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity. Lan Jianmin stressed that Central China — as a cradle of Chinese civilisation — boasts abundant cultural and scientific resources. Going forward, GACEE will continue using ‘high-end study tours’ as a bridge, enabling more international teenagers to understand Chinese spirit, values and strength through the lens of Central China.

The award presentation — the ceremony’s first highlight — saw organisers present certificates and prizes to winners of the First World Chinese Essay Competition, and confer the title ‘Young Ambassador of World Civilisations’ upon outstanding participants of the study tour. Under the spotlight, awardees held their certificates and prizes aloft, beaming with pride. This honour not only recognises individual achievement in Chinese writing and study-tour engagement, but also symbolises how fine traditional Chinese culture is taking root among international youth — injecting youthful energy into inter-civilisational dialogue.

Next, participant representatives took the stage to share reflections, drawing on the specially produced *Study Tour Special Issue*. ‘At Henan Museum, the Jiahu bone flute’s melody helped me grasp China’s wisdom 8,000 years ago; at BYD’s Di Space, new-energy technologies revealed China’s pace of innovation.’ ‘Mi Xue Bing Cheng’s national-chic design showed me how traditional culture can speak to the world in a youthful voice…’ With sincerity and vivid visuals, participants recounted what they had seen, heard and felt — transforming the depth and dynamism of Central China’s culture, and the achievements and warmth of China’s development, into emotional resonance across linguistic boundaries — earning sustained applause.

‘My motherland and I, inseparable for even a moment…’ As the familiar melody swelled, all participants joined in singing ‘My Motherland and I’. Its stirring notes echoed throughout the venue — expressing participants’ heartfelt sentiments, and embodying the core value of the ‘Walking China, Sustaining the Cultural Thread’ brand: using culture as a bridge to foster emotional affinity among international youth.

In the ceremony’s finale, organisers officially launched two new international study-tour routes: ‘Beijing–Henan–Shaanxi’ and ‘Fujian–Guangdong’. Both retain the core model of ‘on-site exploration + immersive experience’: the Beijing–Henan–Shaanxi route links Beijing’s capital-city culture, Henan’s origins of Central Plain civilisation and Shaanxi’s Silk Road relics — enabling participants to trace China’s civilisational continuity over millennia; the Fujian–Guangdong route highlights Fujian’s maritime heritage and Guangdong’s pioneering role in reform and opening-up — showcasing the dynamic fusion of tradition and modernity in southern China.

The launch expands the geographical and thematic scope of the ‘Walking China, Sustaining the Cultural Thread’ brand, precisely aligning with national policy to ‘promote high-quality integration of culture and tourism’. It represents a concrete step toward establishing premium study tours as a vital vehicle for international dissemination of Chinese culture — offering international youth high-quality platforms to deeply experience China’s cultural diversity and developmental vitality.

Since its inception, the ‘Walking China, Sustaining the Cultural Thread’ international study-tour brand has prioritised high-quality content, employing a tripartite approach of ‘localised experience, international expression and advanced curriculum’ — ensuring fine traditional Chinese culture resonates in harmony with contemporary China’s achievements.

The Zhengzhou closing ceremony marks not only the successful conclusion of the second-phase international study tour, but also a firm step forward for the brand in advancing inter-civilisational dialogue and supporting China’s cultural development strategy. Moving ahead, the newspaper and GACEE will continue integrating top-tier national resources to develop further premium study-tour routes — positioning ‘Walking China, Sustaining the Cultural Thread’ as a ‘cultural calling card’ for the world to understand China, and contributing cultural strength to building a community with a shared future for humanity.

(Correspondent: Li Na)

Li Kaizhen