"Junior Cultural Ambassadors" savor Chinese culture, co-create a scroll of friendship

In 2025, 33 teenagers from 19 countries around the world gathered around the theme "My Favorite Chinese Food", a topic filled with the warmth of daily life. As the 2025 China Soong Ching Ling Foundation "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" , they embarked on a cultural exploration journey in Beijing and Shanxi, experiencing China through their taste buds and dialoguing with the time-honored civilization through with their hearts.

Immersive Experience

In Beijing, the “Junior Cultural Ambassadors” immersed themselves in the singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts of Peking Opera; the flowing strokes of Chinese calligraphy; the expressive spirit of traditional Chinese painting; the magical transformations of tie-dye; and the purity and reverence of the tea ceremony. "We wrote the characters '爱' (love) and '福' (happiness and luck in your life)... It was an amazing experience," shared Remamy from Madagascar.

From the solemnity of the Forbidden City to the magnificence of the Great Wall, and from the Yungang Grottoes to the Huayan Temple, the profundity of history and the brilliance of civilization left them in awe. "I was really in awe of the Great Wall... As I see the Great Wall, I can feel that China is indestructible," remarked Xiang Yunxi from China.  

During visits to iFLYTEK and the University of International Business and Economics, they felt the strong pulse of contemporary China's innovative development. Amidst the convergence of the ancient and the modern, they experienced a China that is both profound and vibrant, deep yet open.

In-depth Dialogue

Dialogue deepens understanding. Vasileuskaya and Paliakova from Belarus, with their fluent Chinese and elegant conversation, the topics of which ranging from food to city life, demonstrated excellent cross-cultural communication skills. Remamy from Madagascar, a champion of the "Chinese Bridge" competition, not only spoke passionately about her love for Chinese food but also sang "Jasmine Flower" a cappella on the spot. "I finally saw the China from my books, and I am so happy!" Dmitrii from Russia, also a global champion of "Chinese Bridge", shared his favorite Chinese flavors and spontaneously demonstrated Chinese martial arts moves. Clementina from the USA emotionally recounted her family's century-long connection with China, expressing her love for Chinese flavors and her hope to visit again.

Whether it was the German friends’ fondness for Peking Duck, the Tanzanian and Spanish friends’ enthusiasm for hot pot, or the Belarusian friends' description of Chinese cities as "modern yet historical", different languages expressed the same aspiration. They sincerely stated their willingness to share Chinese food and culture with more friends, serving as youthful ambassadors for cultural exchange.

Growing Friendship

The moments shared throughout the journey wove an emotional bond that transcends national borders. A helping hand on the Great Wall, the encouraging words "He who has not been to the Great Wall is not a true man," and the simple promise, "We added each other on WeChat, so we will keep in touch"—all allowed friendship to quietly blossom through shared experience.

"I hope the friendship between Tanzania and China will get better and better!"  

"I hope that for the next hundred years, thousand years, ten thousand years, China and Russia will always be good friends."

"I wish more New Zealand children get to come to China..."

"I hope the friendship between China and Switzerland lasts forever."

"I hope the United States and China can be friends. We can still have a connection."

Civilizations become richer and more colorful through exchange and mutual learning. Since its launch in 2021, the "Junior Cultural Ambassadors" event has continuously built a platform for sincere dialogue and heartfelt connections among teenagers from China and abroad. These young bridges of friendship and cultural ambassadors, with their pure hearts, curious eyes, and sincere sharing, are allowing the seeds of mutual learning among civilizations to take root and sprout in the soil of youth. Together, they are painting a warm scroll of "beauty shared by all and universal harmony", providing youthful vitality for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Presented by: China Soong Ching Ling Foundation

Produced by: China Soong Ching Ling Science & Culture Center for Young People, Guangming Online