Celebrating Language, Culture and Creativity: 2026 Chinese Essay Writing Competition Winners Announced

The Leeds Business Confucius Institute is proud to celebrate the winners of its 26 Chinese Writing Competition, now in its second year. Running from 1 January to 31 January 2026, the competition invited learners from across the Leeds community to express their creativity, share their ideas, and celebrate Chinese culture through the written word.

Celebrating Creativity and Cultural Connection

Designed to support learners at different stages of their language journey, the competition featured three levels and once again inspired thoughtful, imaginative, and heartfelt submissions. Participants embraced the opportunity not only to practise their Chinese, but also to reflect on culture, tradition, and personal aspirations.

This year’s writing prompts were:

Advanced (1500 characters):
“Which Chinese invention or innovation do you think has had the greatest impact on the world, and why?”

Intermediate (1000 characters):
“Tell me about your dreams for the future.”

Beginner (750 characters):
“What is your favourite Chinese holiday or festival?”

From reflections on ancient innovations to personal dreams and vibrant festival traditions, the entries demonstrated curiosity, cultural appreciation, and a genuine passion for learning.

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Winners of the 2026 Chinese Writing Competition

Advanced Category

🥇 1st – Marcus Meng
🥈 2nd – William Derrett-Smith
🥉 3rd – Benjamin Miller

Intermediate Category

🥇 Joint 1st – Katie Everest and Xuan Phuong Dang Duong
🥈 2nd – Giang Ha
🥉 3rd – Rachel Wong

Beginner Category

🥇 1st – Scarlett Postgate
🥈 2nd – Elaine Thompson

Congratulations to all of our winners for their outstanding achievements!

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Recognising Dedication and Talent

This year’s prizes were awarded as follows:

🥇 1st Place – £100
🥈 2nd Place – £50
🥉 3rd Place – £25

Entries were submitted in both simplified and traditional Chinese, either digitally or handwritten. Many participants also attended the BCI's free online writing workshops, where they refined their ideas and strengthened their confidence before submitting their work.

Submissions were received from across the Leeds community, including learners at the BCI, students from New Vision Education Chinese School, Leeds Chinese Community School, University of Leeds East Asian Studies students, and members of the wider community. The breadth of participation reflects the growing enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture in the region.

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A Celebration of Achievement

Certificates were presented by Chinese Director Hu Rong and members of the teaching team during our Chinese New Year celebrations. The standard of writing was truly impressive, showcasing not only linguistic progress but also creativity, insight, and meaningful cultural engagement.

As the competition concludes its second successful year, the Business Confucius Institute remains inspired by the dedication and passion shown by every participant.

This competition reflects the growing enthusiasm for Chinese language and culture across our Leeds community. Each piece of writing represents courage, curiosity, and commitment. We are delighted to see learners of all levels challenging themselves and supporting one another on their language journey. 

Executive Director BCI , Lynda Song

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Looking Ahead

We look forward to continuing this annual tradition and welcoming even more learners next year to share their voices, stories, and cultural discoveries through Chinese writing. We also have our annual Short Video Competition coming up once again int the summer.

Congratulations once again to our winners, and heartfelt thanks to everyone who took part in making this year’s competition such a success.