Initiated in 2010, the Shenzhen Expats Chinese Talent Competition is an annual event co-organized by the Shenzhen Municipal Government Information Office and Shenzhen Daily. The event aims to encourage overseas visitors to learn Chinese and enhance cross-cultural communication between expatriates and locals.Anne Zhang

zhangy49@gmail.com

Sixteen expatriates from 10 countries, including India, the United States, South Korea and Russia, competed in the semifinals of a Chinese-language contest Saturday at the Shangri-La Hotel in Futian District.

Eight made the final competition, which will be held Nov. 10.

Other judges are Liu Jun, a producer and TV host on the financial and life channel with Shenzhen Media Group; Liu Donghui, editor-in-chief of the IT page with Shenzhen Economic Daily; and Mary Ann O’Donnell, an American scholar in Chinese culture.

The competition comprises two parts: Chinese-language speech and a Chinese talent performance. During the speech section of the semifinals, the 16 contestants — with the youngest just 8 years old — shared their most memorable experience in Shenzhen. Contestants showed their Chinese talents in various ways, including singing Chinese songs, dancing, practicing kung fu and reciting Chinese poems.

Enya Eichenseder, a 14-year-old who is half Austrian and half Chinese, talked about Shenzhen’s development and the changes she has witnessed in the past seven years, and gave a demonstration of Chinese kung fu. Regarding Shenzhen as her second home, Eichenseder said in her speech that the city is now more international and civilized than a few years ago.

A pair of American twin girls, Emma and Leslie Robinson, gave a speech in the form of Chinese crosstalk that humorously demonstrated Chinese people’s curiosity and friendship. They also sang a Chinese folk song, “Molihua,” which means jasmine flower. Their mother, Jeanetta Robinson, said her daughters were eager to participate in the competition. Although they didn’t make the finals, their mother said: “It’s a fun experience for the girls.”

Judges praised the standard Mandarin of Korean girl Chansol Kim. She and her 8-year-old sister, Chanwool Kim, also performed a lively Chinese song that won big applause. Their mother, Soo Jung Kang, said the girls have been living in Shenzhen for almost seven years. She said they are attending a public primary school and Chansol is a leading singer in the school’s chorus.

Other performances were equally impressive. Sally Yang, 14, from South Korea, played the guzheng, or Chinese zither, a traditional Chinese string instrument. American Allegra Carlson performed a peacock dance, gaining significant praise and prolonged applause. U.S.-born Korean girl Jenny Aviel Suk recited “Farewell, Cambridge!”, a poem written by Xu Zhimo, an early 20th-century Chinese poet. American Robert Gewertz recited a Chinese poem that he wrote, earning praise for the originality of his performance and his bold attempt to writing Chinese poetry.

Many contestants regarded the competition as a fun experience that offered a great opportunity to improve their Chinese skills and make friends.

“It’s fun to participate,” said Ruben Mato Alonso from Spain, who gave a lecture on red wine appreciation in fluent Mandarin. He said he enjoys going on stage because he an actor in Spain.

More than 300 expatriates from more than 100 countries signed up for the competition.