To deeply implement the Global Civilization Initiative, foster mutual cultural learning between China and the international community, and contribute to the development of Beijing as both a National Cultural Center and International Exchange Center, the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries plans to collaborate with relevant organizations to jointly host the "ECHOES OF FRIENDSHIP" 2026 Chinese Poetry Recital by International Friends in Beijing.

Organizational Structure

1. Guiding Organization:

• Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality

2. Organizers:

• Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

• Beijing Municipal Education Commission

• China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-council

• Beijing Overseas Talents Center

3. Undertaking Organizations

• Beijing Automotive Group Co., Ltd.

• CICG, Center for International Cultural Communication

• Beijing Language and Culture University

• Beijing Kuaishou Technology Co., Ltd.

4. Co-organizers

• Beijing People's Art Theatre

• Beijing NGO Association for International Exchanges

• Beijing International Chinese College

5. Supporting Organizers

• Universities and Colleges in Beijing

• Foreign Affairs Offices of Beijing Districts

6. Media Partners:

Beijing Daily, Beijing Radio and Television Station, Beijing Branch of Xinhua News Agency, Global Times, CRI Online, International Web Portal of Beijing, Fantastic China, China Headline New Media, etc.

An Organizing Committee has been established for the event, jointly comprising the Guiding Organization, Organizers and Undertaking Organizations. The Office of the Organizing Committee is located at the Beijing People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

Participants

International Friends in Beijing

Reading Content

Recitation of classical Chinese poetry and verse. (Reference texts: 208 Ancient Poems and Prose Pieces Students Must Memorize [Published by Zhonghua Book Company], The Book of Songs, Songs of Chu, Han Yuefu, Three Hundred Tang Poems, Three Hundred Song Ci Poems, Three Hundred Yuan Songs)

Event Content

• Invite international friends residing in Beijing to submit videos of themselves reciting classical Chinese poetry, to be featured in a monthly showcase and selection process.

• Organize thematic recitation events, such as international children's recitations of classical Chinese poetry and a Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering for international friends.

• Host an awards ceremony to showcase outstanding recitation works.

• Participating organizations, districts, universities, foreign-funded enterprises, and other entities are encouraged to host diverse forms of Chinese poetry recitation activities and to submit outstanding entries.

Schedule

Event Announcement: June 2026

Call for Submissions and Monthly Selection: June to September 2026

Final Evaluation of Entries: October 2026

Awards Ceremony: November 2026

Submission Requirements

The recitation must be performed in Standard Mandarin Chinese. Videos should not exceed 5 minutes in duration. Recitations may be performed individually, by a group, or by a family; participation is open to anyone capable of reciting a complete Chinese poem or piece of classical verse.

Encourage entries to reflect the participants' understanding of traditional Chinese poetry.

The video footage must be visually clear and the audio distinct. It may be accompanied by background music or incorporate other artistic forms for creative innovation. Filming may take the form of on-location recitations (recitations at cultural landmarks in Beijing are encouraged) or utilize interactive online and offline formats.

Submission Format: Vertical orientation; minimum resolution of 1920 * 1080 pixels; MP4, MOV, or similar formats.

Submission of Entries

Individual Submission: Participants should scan the QR code to download the "Individual Registration Form." Once completed, please submit the form—along with your recitation video—to the designated event registration email address: shys@ulight1.com. Feedback regarding the review and upload status will be provided via email.

Group Submission: Units submitting entries collectively should scan the QR code to download the "Group Registration Form." Once completed, please send the form—along with the recitation video—to the designated event registration email address: shys@ulight1.com. Feedback regarding the review and upload status will be provided via email.

Showcase: Works that have successfully passed the review process will be uniformly published by the official event Kuaishou account, @四海友声(ECHOES OF FRIENDSHIP), under the official hashtag #四海友声(ECHOES OF FRIENDSHIP) for display. Individuals are encouraged to repost their entries to garner public attention; the metrics regarding reposts, comments, and likes will serve as the basis for selecting the "Monthly Popularity Award" winners.

Registration QR Code

Copyright

• Rights of the Organizing Committee

1. The Organizing Committee holds the copyrights to the submitted works—including the rights of publication, modification, reproduction, distribution, rental, exhibition, performance, screening, broadcasting, communication via information networks, filming, adaptation, compilation, and translation, among others. The Organizing Committee may, either independently or by entrusting a third party, utilize the submitted works for public-interest promotional activities, online dissemination, exhibitions, and displays conducted for the purpose of fostering people-to-people friendship.

2. The Organizing Committee reserves the right to edit, abridge, and compile the works.

• Participant Responsibilities

1. Participants must guarantee that the entry is recited by themselves.

2. Participants shall warrant that their entries do not infringe upon the rights and interests of any third party (including, but not limited to, copyrights, portrait rights, rights of reputation, and privacy rights).

3. Participants must ensure that their entries do not contain controversial content, such as material involving sensitive political issues or racial discrimination.

Evaluation Method

• Evaluation Requirements

1. Evaluation Principles: Fair, impartial, and objective, giving full consideration to diverse national cultural backgrounds, age groups, and the characteristics of various communities.

2. Scoring Criteria: Entries will be evaluated based on a comprehensive assessment of their proficiency in Chinese, artistic expressiveness, innovative presentation, and other relevant aspects.

• Evaluation Format

1. Online Data Reference: Online view counts, as well as data on likes, reposts, and comments for content on the Kuaishou platform, serve as the basis for the monthly online popularity rankings.

2. Expert Evaluation: The Organizing Committee convenes a panel of experts to conduct monthly and final evaluations.

3. Final Evaluation by the Organizing Committee: Personnel designated by the various constituent units of the Organizing Committee shall form a Final Evaluation Committee. Drawing upon online data and expert evaluations, this committee will conduct a comprehensive assessment of the shortlisted entries to determine the award recipients and their respective rankings.

Awards

1. Individual Recitation Awards

Each month, a "Monthly Popularity Award" will be presented to five individuals, accompanied by a reward valued at 1,000 yuan; additionally, 20 "Outstanding Recitation Awards" will be selected, with these winning entries advancing as shortlisted entries to the final round of evaluation.

The final evaluation will result in 20 First-Prize winners, 30 Second-Prize winners, and 50 Third-Prize winners; certificates and prizes will be awarded to the winners, who will also be invited to attend the awards ceremony.

All participants will receive an electronic commemorative certificate issued by the Organizing Committee

2. Outstanding Organization Award

Units with significant participation and high-quality entries will be awarded the Outstanding Organization Award and invited to attend the awards ceremony.

Exhibition Platform

Publishing, reproducing, screening, broadcasting, exhibiting, displaying, and disseminating outstanding works via information networks—including, but not limited to, establishing dedicated activity topic pages and H5 pages on platforms such as Kuaishou, as well as launching special features on platforms such as the Xuexi Qiangguo (学习强国) Beijing Channel and the Beijing Municipal Government Portal Website.

Select outstanding works to be paired with bilingual Chinese-English subtitles, and showcase them through external communication platforms such as CICG, Center for International Cultural Communication and China Headline New Media.

The various supporting media organizations will conduct sustained publicity for the event through a variety of channels.

Contact: Ms. Dong

Phone number: +86-13910903347

Organizing Committee for the "ECHOES OF FRIENDSHIP" 2026 Chinese Poetry Recital by International Friends in Beijing

International friends in Beijing are warmly invited to join the "ECHOES OF FRIENDSHIP" 2026 Chinese Poetry Recital. Through poetry, one can get to know China and fall in love with Beijing!