A culture contest is held as part of the Sports and Culture Tour for Overseas Students in China at Liaoning University on June 17. [Photo/imnu.edu.cn]

A culture contest was held as part of the Sports and Culture Tour for Overseas Students in China at Liaoning University on June 17.

Inner Mongolia Normal University (IMNU) students beat competitors attending universities in Beijing, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia autonomous region, and Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning provinces.

Organized by the Ministry of Education and the Chinese University Sports Federation, the activity was specifically designed for 500,000 overseas students in China. Through sports matches and Chinese cultural performances, it aims to show university students' vigor and confidence and help strengthen exchanges between Chinese and foreign students.

Zhang Ailong, vice-president of the Chinese University Sports Federation, Yang Feng, head of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office under Liaoning's Education Department, and Pan Yishan, Liaoning University president all spoke during the opening ceremony, with each of them giving their best wishes to the participants.  

During the competition, overseas students perfectly integrated Chinese elements into their performances, including red lanterns and the legend of Hua Mulan, who took her elderly father's place in the army.

IMNU overseas student delegates won first place at the contest, while delegates from Beijing Jiaotong University and Harbin Engineering University took the second and third places.

Overseas university students dressed in traditional Chinese clothing hold red lanterns during a cultural activity held at Liaoning University on June 17. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Overseas university students perform a dance with Chinese fans on June 17. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]