On March 22nd, the "Dreaming in Zhejiang, Singing into the Future" -- 2025 Zhejiang Province Foreign Students Chinese Song Singing Competition, jointly organized by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education, the Provincial Press Office of the People's Government, the Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and the Zhejiang Provincial Radio and Television Group, was grandly held at Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics. Foreign students from 44 universities across the province, totaling 236 students and 90 accompanying teachers, gathered from all directions to convey culture through song and connect hearts with music, jointly writing a new chapter in Sino-foreign cultural exchanges. Our school's 8 groups of 14 international students from Morocco, Russia, Uzbekistan, and other countries, with a passion for Chinese songs, actively participated in this competition.

At the final, contestants showcased their skills in a fierce competition. Our student Hannah, dressed in a distinctive ethnic costume, deeply sang "The Night of Ulan Bator" and ultimately won the third prize, showcasing the outstanding style of our international students.

"The Night of Ulan Bator" is set against the backdrop of the grassland city of Ulan Bator, delicately depicting the tranquility and vastness of the night, and expressing deep longing for hometown, family, and the distant land. The lyrics "The night of Ulan Bator, so quiet, so quiet, the singer occasionally sheds tears" are filled with love for the grasslands, the starry sky, and nature. The melody is melodious and graceful, with a strong Mongolian musical characteristic, where the distant sound of the horse head fiddle and the deep recitation of the long tune are intertwined. Hannah's singing, through simple language and touching melody, brings the audience into a world full of poetry and warmth, as if they are immersed in the vast grasslands and feel the tranquility of the night and the peace of the soul.

Our school attaches great importance to this competition and made full preparations before it. The teachers carefully selected performance costumes suitable for each song, patiently corrected the Chinese pronunciation of each international student, and arranged dances or formations for the songs. Under the careful guidance of the teachers, each student gained a lot, not only improving their Chinese language level and singing skills but also deepening their understanding and love for Chinese culture.

This competition provided our international students with a platform to showcase their achievements in Chinese learning and cultural exchange, enhancing friendship and understanding between different countries and regions. In the future, the school will continue to create more opportunities for international students to showcase themselves, encourage them to actively participate in various cultural exchange activities, and promote the integration, exchange, and development of Chinese and foreign cultures.