WARSAW, April 17 (Xinhua) -- A celebration marking the 2026 International Chinese Language Day was held on Friday at the SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Warsaw, attracting nearly 200 Chinese and Polish students and teachers.
The event, themed "Blending Chinese and Western Cultures: Exploring the Beauty of the Chinese Language," aimed to showcase the unique charm and contemporary value of the Chinese language through language learning and cultural exchange.
A variety of performances were staged during the event, including Chinese ethnic dances, Chinese-language speeches by Polish students, bamboo flute performances, a lecture themed on coming-of-age ceremony, and a crosstalk performance by students from the University of Warsaw.
Karolina Bilar shared her experience of learning Chinese. She said her early exposure to the film Mulan sparked her interest in Chinese culture and led her to choose Chinese as her first Asian language, with the hope of better understanding China and its society.,
As part of the event, interactive cultural experience zones were also set up, featuring Hanfu try-on, tea ceremony, Chinese calligraphy practice, fan dance learning, as well as hands-on experiences with traditional Chinese musical instruments such as the pipa.
Chinese Ambassador to Poland Lu Shan said that growing people-to-people exchanges between China and Poland have strengthened mutual friendship, and language connectivity has made bilateral cooperation smoother and ties stronger.
According to Marcin Jacoby, a professor at the university, an increasing number of people are learning Chinese, as the language has become more attractive to young learners alongside China's technological development and growing soft power. He added that International Chinese Language Day serves as a meaningful platform to inspire interest in the Chinese language and culture.
Established by the United Nations, International Chinese Language Day is observed annually on April 20 to promote multilingualism and cultural diversity, and this year marks the upcoming 17th observance. ■
