On January 19, more than 50 outstanding participants of the “Chinese Bridge” competition from 33 countries, including the United States, Zimbabwe, Russia and Vietnam, gathered in Kunming to take part in a Spring Festival cultural exchange program themed “Global Spring Festival: Chinese Connects the World”. The event coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Chinese Bridge competition and the first anniversary of the Chinese Spring Festival’s inclusion on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. As a cross-cultural New Year celebration, the program used the Chinese language as a bridge to promote people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, conveying the warmth of Kunming amid a festive atmosphere.

A Traditional Chinese-Style Garden Tour Meets a Rural “Village Gala”: An Immersive Chinese New Year Experience

A Group Photo at Kunming’s Daguan Pavilion

On the first day of the event, the contestants visited Kunming’s Daguan Park and Damoyu Village, where traditional culture and rural life converged, offering an immersive experience of the cultural appeal of the Chinese Spring Festival. In the morning, a festive atmosphere filled Daguan Park as the contestants wrote the character “fu” (good fortune), tried their hand at paper-cutting, made Chinese knots, and experienced sugar painting and lacquer fan crafting. They also took part in lantern riddle guessing and poetry recitation, exploring the rhythm and musicality of the Chinese language. In the afternoon, the group traveled to Damoyu Village in Tuanjie Subdistrict of Xishan District, where they joined local villagers for a traditional long-table banquet, where villagers and guests dine together. While sampling local Yunnan dishes, they exchanged stories about Spring Festival traditions from their respective hometowns.

Contestants showcase handmade crafts such as sugar paintings, paper cuttings, and Chinese knots.

The Long-Table Banquet at Damoyu Village

As evening fell, a lively rural “village gala” began amid the sound of gongs and drums. Local villagers opened the performance with the song Beautiful Tuanjie Welcomes You, extending a warm welcome to the guests. Contestants from different countries then took turns on stage. Contestants from Russia, Vietnam and Thailand presented a song medley, while contestants from Indonesia performed the graceful Dai ethnic dance. Mongolian contestants showcased a bold Mongolian dance, and contestants from the United States staged a long-bench lion dance. Participants from Malaysia and Ghana jointly performed a crosstalk skit titled Finding Beauty Through the “Bridge” of Chinese. Interactive segments, including Sichuan Opera face-changing, ethnic group dances and dialect-learning activities, further energized the audience and sent the atmosphere to a peak. As bonfires were lit, young people from China and abroad joined hands to sing and dance together, bringing the first day of activities to a warm and joyful close.

Crosstalk skit Finding Beauty Through the “Bridge” of Chinese

An American contestant performs a long-bench lion dance

Kunming Through Foreign Eyes: A City of Warmth and Familiarity

Jack, a 16th-generation inheritor of the Wudang Sanfeng lineage, from the United States

During the Spring Festival-themed cultural tour, Kunming’s local customs, as well as its warm and inclusive atmosphere, left a deep impression on the international participants. Jack, a 16th-generation inheritor of the Wudang Sanfeng lineage from the United States, said that although it was his first visit to Kunming, he felt an immediate sense of familiarity with the city. “Kunming combines the vitality of a modern metropolis with a strong sense of tradition,” he said. “I saw many people practicing Tai Chi on the streets, which reminded me of the calm, wellness-oriented atmosphere I’ve experienced at Mount Wutai. The climate here is also particularly pleasant.” Jack also sampled the iconic Yunnan dish, crossing-the-bridge rice noodles, calling it an unforgettable experience. The culinary delight further strengthened his interest in Yunnan culture, and he expressed hopes of returning in the future to explore the region more deeply.

Yang Jing, a Zimbabwean student at Kunming Medical University

As a Zimbabwean postgraduate student at Kunming Medical University, contestant Yang Jing has lived in Kunming for a year and developed a strong attachment to the city. “Kunming’s relaxed pace of life suits me very well,” Yang said with a smile. “The climate here is quite similar to that of my hometown, which helped me adapt quickly.” He added that he has already become a big fan of rice noodles, enjoying them two or three times a week, with the authentic flavors now part of his daily routine. Looking ahead, Yang said he hopes to bring his family to Kunming in the future so that they, too, can experience the city’s warmth and vibrant everyday life.

Dailuke, a Belgian blogger living in China

Dailuke, a Belgian blogger and the global champion of the 19th Chinese Bridge World University Chinese Competition, embarked on his first trip to Yunnan. The province’s diverse yet harmonious ethnic cultures left a deep impression on him. “Members of the Yi, Bai and Lisu ethnic groups live together in the same village and celebrate festivals side by side,” he said. “Their traditional attire, songs and cuisines are each distinctive, yet deeply intertwined. This atmosphere of diversity and coexistence is truly fascinating.” What particularly appealed to Dailuke was the village’s vibrant everyday life. While folk performances were in full swing, local villagers continued selling mountain produce at nearby stalls. He purchased some medicinal herbs he had never seen before and chatted casually with the vendors, describing the experience as both relaxing and enjoyable. “Festive celebrations and daily life blend naturally here, and that sense of authenticity feels especially comforting,” he said. Dailuke added that he has already made plans to return to Kunming with his family and friends in the future for a more in-depth visit, hoping to revisit the city’s familiar sense of inclusiveness and ease.

Chinese as a Bridge: Spring Festival as a Shared Way of Life

A rural “village gala” in Damoyu Village

From poetry recitations beneath Daguan Pavilion to the clinking of bowls and chopsticks at the long-table banquet, and from joyful singing on the rural “village gala” stage, the Chinese language, spoken by young people from around the world, was no longer just something learned in classrooms. It became a living medium for conveying emotions and sharing joy. Through activities such as writing the character “fu”, paper-cutting, sampling local cuisine and performing ethnic dances, the Spring Festival was transformed from a traditional holiday into a shared, participatory way of life.

Young people from different countries dressed in hanfu

In Kunming, young people from different countries don traditional Hanfu to write Spring Festival couplets and perform dances from their own cultures. They communicate fluently in Chinese, each carrying their own stories and accents.On this bridge built through the Chinese language, young people from around the world give vivid expression to the idea of the profound meaning of “harmony in diversity” through sincere interaction. Kunming, the Spring City, stands out for its openness, inclusiveness and warm, livable character.

Click here to view the Chinese report

(Editors: Doe, Rachel)