Her favorite festival is Lunar New Year, because it's when people bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new year and have family reunions. The school organizes a grand event at that time every year, when all students are dressed up in exquisite costumes to perform dragon and lion dances, sing songs and join other activities.

"I like Peking roast duck and dumplings very much," she says. "I hope I have the opportunity to taste more delicious Chinese dishes."

Another candidate Perovic Ksenija, 19, who's from Montenegro, fell in love with the Chinese language and culture when she took her first Chinese class in 2018.

"I was amazed by its long history and traditional culture," says Ksenija, the winner of the 2022 Chinese Bridge competition for secondary school students. It's challenging yet fulfilling for her to master the different tones of Chinese, so she practices a lot for improvement.

"I've not only broadened my knowledge horizon, but also made good friends when learning Chinese. I also get to learn calligraphy, play guzheng (Chinese zither) and enjoy the tea culture, which all have greatly enriched my life."

For the program's director, Zhang Wei, and his team, it's their first time getting in touch with foreign primary and middle school students for the contest.

"All the candidates have greatly impressed me," Zhang says.