Bulgarian students took part in the international summer camp "Chinese Language Bridge" 2025 in Beijing

From July 30 to August 12, the BFSU Summer Camp "Chinese Language Bridge" was held at Beijing Foreign Studies University. The camp was jointly organized by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (under the Chinese Ministry of Education) and Beijing Foreign Studies University, and the Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press acted as the main host.

The initiative was attended by 154 teachers and students from 15 countries, including the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Austria, South Korea, Malaysia, Spain and Italy. For the first time, students from Bulgaria studying Chinese language, participated in this camp and represented our country in the best way.

The opening ceremony was held on July 31. The event was attended by the Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the University Jia Dezhong and the Deputy Director of the Center for Language Education and Cooperation (under the Chinese Ministry of Education)  Liu Jiangqing, who delivered welcoming speeches. The event was hosted by the Deputy Director of the Confucius Institute Office at BFSU Liu Xiaochen.

The camp program was interesting and diverse. Every day, the students improved their knowledge of Chinese language and got acquainted with different aspects of Chinese culture - through lectures and classes in martial arts, calligraphy, Chinese medicine, Beijing opera, sand painting, and others.

In addition to the educational activities, the hosts organized visits to some of the most significant landmarks of Beijing – the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall of China, the Summer Palace, the National Museum, the Bei Hai Park, etc.

The day dedicated to the culture of the participating countries was particularly impressive. The Bulgarian students presented traditions, customs and personalities from Bulgarian history, which aroused the interest of the other participants. The evening dedicated to sports, games and dances brought all participants together for common entertainment and cultural exchange. The traditional Bulgarian dance horo, in which almost all the campers participated, made a great impression.

The camp provided a unique opportunity for the students to get to know not only the history and culture of China, but also Beijing itself. They toured the small streets with typical restaurants and shops, as well as the large shopping streets Qianmen and Wangfujing, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of the city. Despite the distance of thousands of kilometers, the locals showed hospitality and warmth, which made the stay even more unforgettable.

The closing ceremony was held on August 12. It was a solemn end to the event. Among the official guests at the closing were the director of the Confucius Institute Office of Beijing Foreign Studies ​​University Jin Limin, the deputy secretary of the Party Committee, vice president and editor-in-chief of the FLTRP Liu Jie, the deputy director of the Chinese Language and Culture Publishing House of the FLTRP Wang Lin, as well as the assistant to the editor-in-chief Li Fei. After the official speeches, the students presented songs and dances, which solemnly closed the camp.

The camp became an unforgettable experience for all participants. With many positive emotions, new friends and knowledge, the students went back to their homes, promising to return again to the ancient and modern, peaceful and wise China.

Confucius Institute in Sofia
Text: Biliana Isaeva
Photos: Du Hui, Cai Yi, Biliana Isaeva
Reviewed by:  Chen Ying, Aksinya Koleva, Chen Chen
English translation: Dima Pironkova

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