On April 19, 2025, the advanced stage provincial final of the "Tell China's Story in English" competition, jointly organized by the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, China Education Television, and New Channel International Education Group, came to a successful conclusion in Guangzhou, the City of Flowers. In this event that brought together the elites from nearly a hundred universities across the province, six students from Shenzhen University advanced to the final and fully displayed the charm of Liyuan Campus. Among them, the Russian international student Nana (USIK ANASTASIA) won the fifth place in the province with her exquisite and story-rich narrative.

This year's competition adheres to the vision of "Spreading Chinese Culture to the World", encouraging contestants to use language as a medium and culture as a soul to tell the profundity and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization. Nana, with the topic of "Modern Chinese Poetry", recited from Lin Huiyin's "You are love, you are warmth, you are hope, you are the April of the world!" to Shu Ting's "I must be a tree of cottonwood beside you, standing as a tree to be with you." She wore a traditional Chinese cheongsam and recited with a gentle tone. The judges highly praised her performance as "poetic and picturesque, with the agility of foreign charm and the serenity of Eastern philosophy."

Shenzhen University, well aware of the saying "Those with shared aspirations are not hindered by mountains or seas," has built a bridge for international students to immerse themselves in Chinese culture. This time, the participating international student team came from over ten countries including Russia, Nigeria, Mexico, and Vietnam. The contestants' performances were as brilliant as stars: Ibrahim Munzali Kabara from Nigeria, under the title "Chinese New Year in Spring Festival Couplets," elaborated on the meaning of "May your life be long and prosperous, and may your home be filled with happiness and blessings." During the talent show, he recited Su Shi's "Water Tune: When Will the Moon Be Bright?" with a deep and resonant voice. The ups and downs of his recitation conveyed the deep sentiment of "May we live long and share the beauty of the moon together, even if we are thousands of miles apart," touching the hearts of the audience. The judges praised him for "transmitting the charm of the East with a foreign body."

Vietnamese student Ung Van Thanh chose Chinese cuisine as her topic and extended the discussion from the harmony of the five flavors - sweet, sour, bitter, spicy and salty - to the concept of moderation in Chinese culture. During the talent show, she delivered a lively performance of the crosstalk "Interesting Stories Behind Chinese Food Names", using authentic Chinese language to deliver a series of witty jokes. From "Ants Climbing a Tree" to "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall", she humorously interpreted the amusing stories behind Chinese food names, drawing continuous laughter and thunderous applause from the audience.

Francisco Arriaga Gomez, a Mexican student, chose calligraphy as his topic and analyzed the learning process and various types of calligraphy. "A horizontal stroke and a vertical stroke represent rules, while a left-falling stroke and a right-falling stroke symbolize freedom," he said. At the end of his speech, he spread out a sheet of rice paper and spontaneously wrote the four characters "Learning has no end" with vigorous brushstrokes and rich ink.

The Kazakhstani contestant Zhumadil Meiirzhan presented a speech titled "The Chinese Wisdom in Chess", drawing an analogy from the rule that "the general and the advisor do not meet" in chess to the traditional Chinese dialectic of "propriety and strategy". He humorously remarked, "From chess, I have perceived the Chinese way of thinking, the Chinese principle of valuing harmony and the golden mean; and also the balance, inclusiveness and wisdom in Chinese culture." During the talent show segment, he delivered a touching recitation with a deep and resonant voice, interwoven with his patriotic sentiments, which moved the audience to tears.

The Burmese student Su Su Thar opened the show with an interesting riddle game, using Burmese jade to introduce the theme of friendly exchanges and cultural mutual learning between China and Myanmar. During her talent show, she wore traditional Chinese clothing and recited the poem "Motherland, My Beloved Motherland". Her voice was as clear as a spring, "I am your brand-new ideal, just freed from the spider web of myth; I am the embryo of the ancient lotus under your snow blanket; I am your smile with tears in your eyes." The words flowed with an emotional resonance that transcended borders. Their performance was not only a deep declaration of love for Chinese culture but also the best proof of Shenzhen University's "cross-cultural integration" training model.

From classroom study to stage performance, international students at Shenzhen University have navigated the journey of cross-cultural communication with language as their vessel and culture as their lighthouse. Their stories embody the spirit of "Distance does not matter in friendship; even a thousand miles apart, we are still neighbors" and the pursuit of "Each cherishes its own beauty, and all beauties are shared together." "The cultural heritage endures through the ages, and the brilliance spreads across the world." Today, international students at Shenzhen University have expressed their feelings through their voices and made friends through their writings, penning a timeless chapter of cross-cultural dialogue on the provincial stage. Tomorrow, this innovative city at the forefront of reform will continue to embrace diversity and cultivate more cultural envoys who understand and love China, allowing the torch of Chinese culture to illuminate the vast expanse of the community with a shared future for mankind.