The 2026 “Tribute to the Classics” Global Youth Chinese Poetry Recitation concluded on Tuesday morning in Hong Kong, wrapping up a four-day event that brought together over 100 young people from China and overseas to promote cultural exchange and appreciation of Chinese classics.

The event, part of the 2026 “Youth Pulse” series, was hosted by 21st Century Media and Education, co-organized by China Daily Hong Kong Ltd, with support from the Academy of Chinese Studies, a strategic partnership with Xueersi Online School and a partnership with Regala Skycity Hotel. It ran from Oct 3 to 6 in Hong Kong and Macao, extending the recitation showcase into authentic urban cultural settings.

Addressing the opening ceremony on Saturday evening, Amy Tan Yan, deputy general manager of China Daily Hong Kong, welcomed the participants and said the event aims to “inherit culture, promote China, and foster mutual learning among civilizations”. She encouraged young people to explore classics, understand different cultures, and make new friends with an open mind.

Tan noted that the event uses Chinese and English in recitations of classical Chinese poetry as a bond to build a bridge between Chinese and Western cultures. “Culture becomes colorful through exchange, and civilizations become rich through mutual learning,” she said.

Tan expressed her hope that participants would gain from feeling the beauty of classics through recitation, learning through exchange, and experiencing diverse charms through study tours.

Zhang Xiaoqing, president of the International Language Art Exchange Association and chairman of the Oriental Education Alliance, delivered a keynote speech in which she emphasized that to go global, culture must first keep its roots and then tell stories in a way others can empathize with, and encouraged young people to be confident “messengers of beauty” concerning Chinese culture.

Li Hongtao, vice-chairman of the Performing Arts Committee of China Cultural Management Association and an extracurricular graduate supervisor at Fudan University, shared poetry recitation techniques and encouraged students to practice diligently and fall in love with classics.

Over the past few days, over 100 young people have presented classic pieces in Chinese and English. On Monday, they continued their cultural exploration of Hong Kong and Macao through three specially designed routes, which took them to Hong Kong Disneyland; the Hong Kong Palace Museum and Ming Pao (for media study); and a deep cultural study tour in Macao covering the University of Macau, the Ruins of St. Paul’s, and MGM Museum.

One of the student participants, Jing Xintong, said that combining Chinese culture with English is novel, and that it was a great honor to showcase the charm of Chinese culture to the audience. She also expressed her hope of being able to help overseas teenagers understand Chinese culture more easily.

Zhuang Shuyuan, 12-year-old from East China's Jiangsu province, said the event had enriched her knowledge, and that she had gained a deeper understanding of these classic literary works during preparation.

Zhuang’s mother, surnamed Zhu, said the event exposed children to innovative ideas from young people around the world while also giving them a platform to present Chinese culture, with the main goal being to strengthen their spiritual roots and encourage exchange and interaction with other cultures.

“Young people should inherit and carry forward Chinese culture,” Zhu said. “By revisiting and reflecting on classics, they can deepen their understanding of their own culture and further engage with global ideas, while broader exposure to other cultures will also help them better present the depth of Chinese culture in their recitations.”

Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com