The 2022 Oral Chinese Competition for International Students in Ningbo concluded in Ningbo, Zhejiang province on Nov 4, and expats of various ages in the city attended.

The final of the competition was held at NingboTech University and was divided into a university group and a primary and secondary school group. The finalists, from primary schoolers to postgraduate students, came from 15 countries, including the United States, Russia, Spain, South Korea and Iran.

During the final, they showed their Chinese language skills through tongue twisters, rapping and poetry reading and shared stories about the city.

Maxwell Marcus, who came from New Zealand to Ningbo six years ago, is a student at Yangming Middle School in Yuyao, a county-level city in Ningbo. He considers the competition a great opportunity to meet friends from around the world.

The 16-year-old Iranian Nazhin Khosravinia was born and brought up in Ningbo. The girl, who speaks fluent mandarin, expressed her love for China in the competition.

"I am lucky to be born and live in a country that is peaceful and technologically-advanced and where people lead happy lives," said Khosravinia.

As a port city, Ningbo is known for its openness and an increasing number of expats have been attracted to the city in recent years. According to official data, 2,521 international students from 127 countries and regions currently live in the city.

"Compared to the past, in addition to college students, many international students come to Ningbo with their parents at a very young age and grow up here. They are familiar with the city," said He Qian, an official of the Ningbo Education Bureau.

He added that the competition promotes the city's image as an international city, and as a result will attract more expats to study, live, work and invest.

The competition was sponsored by the Ningbo Education Bureau and organized by the Ningbo Education International Exchange Association, Ningbo People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, NingboTech University, and Georgia School.