On the evening of September 3, the participants of the 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp visited the Career Education Center of Hainan Middle School and carried out a distinctive cultural exchange with students from the school’s International Department. The event was filled with warmth and enthusiasm, as the youth from Hainan and Malaysia took Chinese as a shared language and culture as the core, jointly creating a new chapter in cross-national friendship.

A total of 20 Chinese Bridge participants took part in this exchange, coming from Malaysia and seven other countries, with academic backgrounds ranging from high school to doctoral studies. The core mission of their visit was to deepen their knowledge of the Chinese language through the Chinese Bridge program, gain an immersive understanding of the profound essence of traditional Chinese culture, and appreciate the unique charm of Hainan’s local culture. Through these cross-cultural interactions, they sought to build bridges of friendship that transcend national boundaries.

The event began with students from Hainan Middle School’s International Department giving a presentation on “Hainan Intangible Cultural Heritage.” Focusing on two cultural treasures—the Li ethnic bark cloth and Li brocade—they explained in detail the selection of raw materials, the intricate production process, and the cultural significance behind them. They also vividly interpreted the symbolic meanings of Li brocade patterns and the weaving techniques involved. The captivating presentation left the Chinese Bridge participants deeply impressed, prompting them to actively ask questions in Chinese: “How long does it take to make bark cloth?” “Can the patterns on Li brocade be designed freely?” Their fluent and natural expressions highlighted the remarkable progress they had achieved in their language learning.

During the subsequent free exchange session, students from Qiongma quickly broke down barriers, gathering together and speaking freely in Chinese. The “Chinese Bridge” participants introduced intangible cultural heritages from their own countries, such as Nyonya embroidery and Malay kites, while also sharing their learning experiences, noting for instance, “I find Chinese idioms particularly difficult, but mastering them is very rewarding.” In response, students from Hainan Middle School offered vivid examples, explaining in Chinese that the sun motif in Li brocade symbolizes auspiciousness, and encouraged their peers by reminding them that learning a foreign language requires the courage to speak. From intangible cultural heritage to language learning, from everyday anecdotes to future aspirations, the young participants forged friendships amid laughter and conversation, and through their interactions, they truly experienced the bridging role of the Chinese language.