On 20 June, Harrow Hengqin hosted the Guangdong Provincial Final of the ‘ Telling China’s Story Well’ National Language Literacy Competition for Primary and Secondary School students, an event officially recognised by China’s Ministry of Education.
More than 150 teams and over 600 students from across Guangdong took part. They were from public, private and international schools.
As the sole officially authorised organiser of the Guangdong round, Harrow Hengqin provided an outstanding platform for students to showcase their critical thinking, communication skills and understanding of Chinese culture.
A Prestigious Opening Ceremony
At 9:30 a.m., the opening ceremony was held with great formality in the school auditorium.
Distinguished guests in attendance included Ms Feng Fangdan, Director of the Livelihood Affair Bureau of Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin ; Mr Chen Jian, Education Inspector Adviser to the Guangdong Provincial People’s Government, Visiting Professor at South China Normal University, Ninth National Education Inspector, and the first Chief Inspector of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Education; Dr Zhou Ning, General Manager of Zhongjiao Hailan Company at China Education Television and member of the organising committee of the “Telling China’s Story Well” Competition; Mr Patrick Liang, Director of External Relations of AISL; Ms Linda Wang, Associate Director of Education of AISL; Ms Dong Naqiya, Deputy Secretary-General of the Guangdong Education Research Institute in the Greater Bay Area; Ms Song Yantao, Deputy Secretary-General of the Education Committee of the China Senior Professors Association; and Mr Wang Yanbo, President of the Asian Association for Debate Education and Head of the “Telling China’s Story Well” Debate Competition.
They were joined by Harrow Hengqin Head Master Mr Luke Bartlett and Chinese Assistant Principal Ms Lydia Liu to witness this major educational event.
The ceremony began with a student flash performance and organ recital. The blend of Eastern and Western artistic traditions reflected the spirit of the competition and its focus on telling China’s stories well.
In her address, Ms Feng Fangdan encouraged participants, saying: “Regardless of the result, by standing here today, you are already excellent storytellers of China.” Dr Zhou Ning, encouraged students to strengthen their critical thinking and cultural confidence through debate. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony then took place, marking the start of the competition.
Young Voices on Stage
A highlight of the opening ceremony was an exhibition debate featuring students from different age groups and school backgrounds. Teams composed of students from Harrow Hengqin, public schools, private schools and international schools debated the motion: “When telling China’s story to the world, which is more important: preserving cultural roots or innovating international forms of expression?”
The students demonstrated impressive confidence, reasoning and eloquence, reflecting a deep understanding of the competition’s theme and the strong debating culture at Harrow Hengqin.
Following the debate, Dr Chen Ming, lecturer at the School of Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University and a renowned debater, together with Ms Linda Wang, Associate Director of Education of AISL, offered professional feedback and praised the students’ analytical skills and cultural awareness.
Student ambassadors from Harrow Hengqin also introduced the two-day competition schedule and shared local travel recommendations with visiting families, helping them experience the unique attractions of Hengqin.
Developing Future Leaders
Hosting a major provincial competition reflects Harrow Hengqin’s commitment to educational excellence. Drawing on more than 450 years of educational heritage from Harrow School in the UK, Harrow Hengqin remains dedicated to the educational mission of “Educational Excellence for Life and Leadership”. The school’s Chinese teaching team played an active role in coaching participants and supporting judging activities. Through the competition, teachers also gained professional certification in debate education, helping to establish Harrow Hengqin as a regional centre for debate and critical thinking.
Over the two-day event, students debated a range of topics, including the purpose of learning and the relevance of traditional values in modern society, competing for places in the national final. Alongside the debates, families took part in activities across the campus, experiencing Harrow Hengqin’s open, diverse and internationally minded learning environment.
According to the organising committee, the competition is expected to be held in Hengqin for the next three consecutive years. Plans are also underway to introduce a bilingual Chinese-English debate format next year, further strengthening students’ cross-cultural communication skills and establishing the event as a leading platform for youth debate and exchange in the Greater Bay Area.
The critical thinking, communication skills and cultural confidence developed through debate will remain with students throughout their lives. That, ultimately, is the true meaning of telling China’s story well.
