The 2022 "Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition - Calligraphy and Painting Challenge" is calling for entries from Chinese language lovers worldwide.

The curtain of the first phase – the Mid-Autumn Festival themed competition - came down, while the Spring Festival themed works are being collected now. Submitters may choose to participate in the calligraphy group, the painting group or both. The event's web pages include mini-courses on Chinese calligraphy and painting, meaning even novices can take part in the challenge.

The event is sponsored by the Center for Language Education and Cooperation, co-organized by Chinese Plus and the China Daily Website, and supported by Chinese Testing International Co Ltd and Chinese Bridge Club.

Deadline for submissions: January 6, 2023 at 12:00 noon (Beijing time)

A set of paintings and calligraphy from the Forbidden City will be provided as a prize for the winner. To encourage more participation in calligraphy and painting from Chinese lovers, winners of the Mid-Autumn themed competition will be excluded from the Spring Festival themed competition.

Want to learn Chinese characters, study the Chinese language, meet new friends and show off your artistic skills? Join this year's Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition - Calligraphy and Painting Challenge!

Official Website: bridge.chinese.cn/shz/

I. Who can submit?

All Chinese language enthusiasts from around the world. No age limitation. The submitter must be a non-Chinese speaker, with a non-Chinese nationality. Underage submitters must obtain consent from their guardians. Submitters must use their real names. Participants who use false names to make repeat submissions will be disqualified.

II. What we're looking for

1. Calligraphy

We accept soft pen calligraphy works. Writing styles are not limited.

We would like participants to write something related to Spring Festival in traditional or simplified Chinese. You can write couplets, the Chinese character "fu" (meaning happiness or luck), Chinese New Year greetings, or ancient or modern poems so long as you use authoritative versions.

The content should be positive and express values like truth, goodness and beauty. Please ensure the accuracy, coherence and completeness of your content. If quoting, please credit the original author and note the name of the article.

Participants should obey laws and regulations to ensure no copyright or reputation rights issues are infringed in your written content. Any issues arising from the content or form shall be the sole responsibility of the participant.

2. Painting

No restrictions on painting forms: Chinese paintings, oil paintings, watercolors, gouaches, sketches, acrylic paintings, prints, comics, computer paintings or others.

We recommend original paintings pertaining to "Spring Festival". The content should be festive and positive, and express values like truth, goodness and beauty.

Submitters should obey laws and regulations to ensure no copyright and reputation right issues are infringed in your painting. Any problems arising from your painting shall be the sole responsibility of the author.

3. Calligraphy and painting vlogs

Participants can shoot video to show the intention or meaning of texts, and share stories of his or her painting and calligraphy works.

Length of video: less than 5 minutes

Video format: mainstream formats such as mp4, mov

Video resolution: 1920*1080 or above

Your submission will only be valid if it's submitted with your calligraphy or painting works.

III. How to participate

1. Via email

Send an email to chinesebridge@chineseplus.net

Please send the following content via attachment or online download link:

- Clear scans of your calligraphy or painting works

- Vlog

- Registration form for the calligraphy and painting challenge

2. Via Wechat

Scan the following QR code

Contact: +86 15801002294

IV. What you can win

Calligraphy group:

5 Best Skill awards, 5 Best Presentation awards, 5 Most Creative awards, 5 Most Potential awards, 10 Popularity awards (5 Online Popularity awards, 5 Social Media Popularity awards)

Painting group:

5 Best Skill awards, 5 Best Presentation awards, 5 Most Creative awards, 5 Most Potential awards, 10 Popularity awards (5 Online Popularity awards, 5 Social Media Popularity awards)

About the popularity awards:

1.The five works with the most likes on the event page of the "Chinese Bridge" Calligraphy and Painting Challenge will win the Online Popularity awards.

2.The five works with the most likes on the following platforms will win the Social Media Popularity awards.

Facebook: Post your work on your personal account with the hashtag #ChineseBridgeCalligraphyPaintingChallenge. Follow and tag @chinesebridge2002 (The official page of Chinese Bridge) and @chinacultureorg (China Culture).

Instagram: Post your work on your personal account with the hashtag #ChineseBridgeCalligraphyPaintingChallenge. Follow and tag @chinesebridge2002 and @china_culture.

Weibo: Post your work on your personal account with the hashtag #漢語橋書畫展#. Follow and tag @漢語橋, @中國日報網.

V. Submit and enrich

For every 100 calligraphy and painting works we receive, we will donate 50 books.

"Chinese Bridge" and the People's Education Press will select books to donate to children's centers or primary and secondary schools in Nepal to enrich Nepalese teenagers' after-school lives.

We look forward to your participation in this "Chinese Bridge" public welfare activity!