Connecting cultures through creativity: Pupils across Wales celebrate Chinese Language Day

In celebration of International Chinese Language Day, pupils from schools across Wales took part in a competition, producing posters and reciting poetry around the theme of Connecting Cultures through the Bridge of Mutual Learning.

A call for creative young learners

Organised by Cardiff Confucius Institute, the competition attracted entries from 437 children from Key Stages 2 and 3.

Participants could submit either a poster featuring a Chinese character alongside an illustration that represented its meaning, or record themselves reciting a poem in Mandarin Chinese. Tutors then shortlisted entries from each school, and a final judging panel selected the winners based on creativity, language use, and presentation.

Celebrating imagination and cultural connection

This year's entries reflected the pupils’ enthusiasm and curiosity for the Chinese language and culture. A massive 366 children drew thoughtful cultural comparisons for the Poster Creation category, and an impressive 71 pupils demonstrated their Mandarin skills in Chinese poetry recitation.

Watch the winner of the Key Stage 4 Poetry Recitation competition

Prize Winners

Key Stage 2 prize-winners for the Poster Creation and Poetry Recitation categories came from Stacey Primary School in Cardiff, and Ysgol Garth Olwg and Maes-Y-Coed Primary School in Pontypridd. The champions of Key Stage 3 were pupils from Brynteg Comprehensive School in Bridgend, St Cenydd Community School in Caerphilly, Ysgol Aberconwy in Conwy and Ysgol Eirias in Colwyn Bay.

Highly Commended certificates were also awarded to children from Ysgol Gynradd Abercerdin Primary School in Porth and Ysgol Gyfun Cwm Rhymni, Gellihaf campus.

Winners have been receiving certificates, gift vouchers, and calligraphy sets, and the Cardiff Confucius Institute would like to extend its thanks to all pupils, tutors, and schools for building cultural bridges through creativity and language learning.

Prizewinning work on display at the School of Modern Languages

To mark the occasion, the School of Modern Languages at Cardiff University has been hosting a special exhibition showcasing the winning entries during May. The exhibition celebrates the remarkable creativity of pupils across Wales, offering visitors a chance to engage with the cross-cultural messages captured in the students' work and honouring the role of language learning in fostering global understanding.

The exhibition highlighted the impact of Mandarin teaching in Welsh schools and attracted attention from staff, students and visitors alike. The exhibition will now travel to participating schools during June and July.