Da Zhi from the Niger, good at short plays, is awarded the popularity prize through online voting. [Photo from WeChat account tongleJS]

They also had the chance to show off their mastery of the Chinese language, culture, thinking and local intangible cultural heritages – the long-standing Kunqu Opera, Xuzhou story-telling, Yangzhou puppet shows and Nantong banyao whistling kites.

A series of singing and dancing performances added a touch of festive glamour to the contest. They included a dance remix staged by a group of Russian, Kazakhstani, Ukraine and Venezuelan students, and a guitar solo from Dai Tianle, telling of his earnest feelings and sense of belonging to Jiangsu. Dai was an award winner of the 2016 “Shared Joy in Jiangsu” Foreigner Singing and Talent Competition.