Leeds University Wins BIG at Prestigious 24th China Bridge Competition!

5th June 2025 — Leeds University students brought home major accolades from the renowned 24th China Bridge Competition, making it a day to remember! Harry Thursby-Pelham won 1st Place in the Business Category, Maya Fortune received the Most Creative Award, and Polly Akehurst earned a Participation Award. All in all, Leeds University emerged as the most successful university of the day, outperforming prestigious institutions such as SOAS, Oxford, Manchester, and others.

Harry Thursby-Pelham Wins 1st Place in Business

Harry Thursby-Pelham, a final-year BA Chinese & Japanese Studies student, secured 1st place in the Business category. Contestants in this section were tasked with delivering proposals for potential business or charitable projects in advanced-level Chinese, followed by a high-pressure, Dragons' Den-style Q&A session. Harry’s eight-minute presentation introduced 棒咖啡 (Quid Coffee)—a state-of-the-art coffee machine designed to brew faster, cheaper, and better-quality coffee than competitors. Supported by a thorough SWOT analysis and a compelling business model, Harry impressed the judges with his clarity, confidence, and entrepreneurial flair, and did so all in fluent Mandarin. Harry’s prize was a £300 cash award, as well as a number of work opportunities with famous Chinese companies.

Maya Fortune Takes “Most Creative”

In the main section of the China Bridge Competition, third-year BA Chinese Language student Maya Fortune earned the prestigious “Most Creative Award.” Her entry stood out for its originality and poise across all elements of the challenge: a three-minute speech in Chinese, a language quiz, an impromptu Q&A with judges, and a cultural performance where she recited her own self-written Chinese poetry. As a result of her award, Maya was given a free trip to China!

Polly Akehurst’s Outstanding Debut

Polly Akehurst, a first-year BA Modern Languages and Business (Chinese) student, also represented Leeds with distinction. Her outstanding all-round performance earned her a Participation Award—a remarkable achievement in such a demanding and competitive environment. For her cultural presentation, Polly played a beautiful piece on the Guzheng, the traditional Chinese zither—made even more impressive by the fact she had only been learning the instrument for three months.

Award for Language Teaching Excellence

Leeds BCI Chinese teacher Ye Jing was awarded with an Award for Excellence in Language Tuition. The award which was accepted by Head Teacher Xiaolong Liu, as Ye Jing was unfortunately unable to attend, included a £100 prize and was presented by Ralph Rogers the Regional Head China at British Council.

About the China Bridge Competition

The China Bridge Competition is a prestigious international event that attracts top student talent from across the globe. Contestants are tested on Mandarin language fluency, Chinese cultural knowledge, public speaking, and composure under pressure. Winners of the UK regional final may go on to compete in the China Bridge Global Final, which is televised across China and can catapult participants to national recognition.

Leeds University: Most Successful of the Day

Leeds University emerged as the most successful university of the day, outperforming prestigious institutions such as SOAS, Oxford, Manchester, Newcastle, and others. The university’s triumph highlights its continued commitment to excellence in Chinese language education, cultural engagement, and internationalisation.

You can watch a video of the main Chinese Bridge Content on their YouTube account here - https://www.youtube.com/live/bw4DYPawYA8

Interested in studying Chinese at Leeds? Learn more about our programmes here.