The "Chinese Bridge" finals in progress in Xiamen. [Photo/Chinese Bridge]

The 25th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign college students concluded with its global finals and award ceremony in Xiamen, Fujian province, on Aug 23. Levi Benjamin Petersen of Germany took the top honor.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of "Chinese Bridge". The competition has reached over 160 countries and regions, attracting more than 1.8 million overseas youth contestants since its inception.

Over the past 25 years, "Chinese Bridge" has become a leading global platform for cultural exchange — building bridges through language, empowering young people, and fostering mutual understanding among civilizations.

Overseas preliminaries for this year's competition began in February, drawing more than 50,000 university students from over 140 countries. For the global finals, 157 contestants and 131 observers from 139 countries came to China.

From Aug 5 to 23, they visited Beijing, Pingtan, Fuzhou, Zhangzhou, and Xiamen — taking part in language contests and cultural activities that offered a glimpse into both China's ancient heritage and its modern energy.

In addition, 25 former contestants returned to the finals stage to revisit their competition memories and share stories of their personal growth since taking part. Traveling alongside this year's contestants, their journeys served as vivid footnotes to the 25-year history of "Chinese Bridge" and offered a powerful testament to the brand's lasting legacy.