On December 10, Xiamen University successfully held the 4th Multilingual Poetry Recitation and Chinese-English Original Poetry Contest, titled “Poetic Xiamen: Silk Road Ode.” The event, jointly organized by the Student Affairs Office, the Student Union, the Center for Aesthetics and General Education, and CFLC, aimed to deepen the understanding of the Silk Road spirit on the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The competition began in mid-November, with nearly 100 students from 13 colleges participating in the preliminary rounds. Using different languages, the participants recited classic poems, celebrated the stories of the Silk Road, and explored the beauty of cultural integration. The judges selected the winners of the Chinese and English original poetry contest, as well as the finalists of the Multilingual Poetry Recitation Contest.

During the finals, the contestants expressed their profound thoughts and understanding of the Silk Road spirit through poetic recitations. The audience was captivated by Li Zhuoran’s poem “Desert Dunhuang,” which transported them to the Han Dynasty’s Gobi Desert and allowed them to experience the vastness and tranquility of the desert while glimpsing the sunset on the Silk Road through the haunting sound of the Qiang flute. Chang Qianfei’s heartfelt recitation of “Ode to the Silk Road” praised the new Silk Road of East-West exchanges and co-prosperity, evoking deep emotions and blessings from the audience. Shan Chengxin presented “La Franja y la Ruta,” showcasing the active participation and benefits of Spanish-speaking countries in the Belt and Road Initiative, deepening the audience’s understanding of the contemporary value of Silk Road cultural exchanges and the spirit of mutual benefit.

The event consisted of the finals of the Multilingual Poetry Recitation Contest, an exhibition of Chinese and English original poetry contest works, and an award ceremony. The confident and poised contestants used their recitations to convey the charm of language and express their personal emotions. The eloquent recitation of each poem allowed the audience to immerse themselves in the profound history and rejuvenation of the Silk Road, earning unanimous praise from the judges and the audience.