On the afternoon of December 25, the final round of the inaugural “Huayun Cup” Chinese Speech Contest was held at the School of International Education, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST). The event was organized by the university's Center for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (CTCFL).

Vice Dean He Gang, Director Yu Zheng of the Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, and Chinese language teachers attended the contest. It attracted 51 participants from 14 countries. After the preliminary round, 15 finalists advanced, delivering fluent speeches on the theme “Me and China,” in which they shared personal stories of encountering, understanding, and integrating into life in China.

During the final, contestants reflected on how their first Chinese words became keys to cultural insight, or how their time at HUST transformed their outlook. One student gave a lively bamboo-clapper performance celebrating Wuhan's local cuisine. Their sincere expressions demonstrated notable linguistic ability and cross-cultural awareness, winning warm applause from the audience.

NGUYEN UYEN QUAN from Vietnam ultimately won the first prize for her outstanding performance. The contest also awarded three second prizes, five third prizes, and several honorary awards. As a practice-oriented platform initiated by the CTCFL, the “Huayun Cup” embodies the teaching principle of “learning through application and integrating through practice.”

From “a word” to “a shared feeling,” from “learning Chinese” to “understanding China,” the contest served not only as a display of language proficiency but also as a meaningful cross-cultural dialogue. The CTCFL will continue to develop diverse platforms, offering international students more opportunities to express themselves and deepen mutual understanding, thereby fostering greater intercultural connection through Chinese language education.