On December 19, the 2025 Chinese Language Training Program’s closing art exhibition and ceremony—themed “Colors of the Heart, Cultures in Harmony”—was successfully held at Beijing City University (BCU). The event was attended by Li Xuemeng, Deputy Director of the International Affairs Office; faculty representatives; and 29 international students from Mexico and Uzbekistan.
Li Xuemeng extended her congratulations to the international students on successfully completing their studies, commended their dedication and remarkable progress in both Chinese language learning and deepening their understanding of Chinese culture, and encouraged them to actively serve as cultural bridges in their future endeavors—contributing to youth-to-youth exchanges between China and Mexico, as well as China and Uzbekistan.
Faculty representatives reflected on the past 15 weeks of teaching and affirmed the students’ significant improvement in Chinese proficiency. In particular, the art instructor highlighted the creativity and engagement demonstrated by the students in cultural practice courses such as traditional furniture making and Chinese garden art.
During the closing ceremony, two student representatives delivered heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their unforgettable journey and substantial gains during their time at BCU. Ulises, representing students from Mexico, vividly recounted his remarkable progress—from starting with zero knowledge of Chinese to now confidently communicating and expressing himself in the language. He also shared his genuine insights gained through the process of language acquisition and cultural integration. Nafisa, representing students from Uzbekistan, spoke about how rich cultural experiences and social practice activities embedded in the curriculum deepened her understanding of and emotional connection to Chinese culture. She expressed sincere gratitude to the university for providing a high-quality learning platform and to the faculty for their dedicated guidance and support.
Following the speeches, the results of the international students’ short video competition on “An Introduction to China” were announced on site. A total of 37 video submissions were received, and after professional evaluation, four outstanding works—including “Guizhou: Where Mountains, Waters, and Memories Meet in My Heart” and “A Day as an Explorer in Haidian’s Commercial District”—were selected. These videos vividly reflected the students’ thoughtful observations and reflections on China’s diverse landscapes and modern economic development.
At the same time, the voting results of the Closing Art Exhibition—organized by the faulty members of BCU—were also announced on site. Three students received awards for their outstanding works: Lucia Fabiola Cortes Benavides won the Most Popular Award for “Tianzi Yao”; Michelle Cárdenas Galaviz received the Best Cultural Expression Award for “Water Deity”; Sofia Isasi Valdez was honored with the Best Creativity Award for “Immortal Aifei.”
During the shadow puppetry course, they systematically learned traditional craftsmanship techniques—including cutting, coloring, and assembling shadow figures—and completed the entire creative process from conceptual design to final assembly. Through this hands-on experience, they not only mastered foundational skills of this intangible cultural heritage but also demonstrated a profound understanding of Chinese traditional culture, skillfully integrating color, form, and symbolic meaning into innovative artistic expressions. Following the award ceremony, the university presented graduation certificates to all participants.
In the Chinese Culture Quiz segment, students actively participated, responding swiftly and accurately—a clear testament to the rich cultural knowledge they had accumulated throughout the program.
Additionally, the students delivered vibrant and diverse talent performances, filling the venue with warmth, energy, and a spirit of intercultural harmony.
This closing ceremony showcased the remarkable achievements international students have made over 15 weeks of intensive study—in Chinese language proficiency, cultural understanding, and artistic practice—highlighting Beijing City University’s effective approach to cultivating globally minded talent and promoting cultural exchange.
Moving forward, BCU will continue to build high-quality platforms for Chinese-foreign cultural dialogue, further deepening mutual understanding and collaboration across cultures.
