Turkish students shine in Chinese poetry, song contest in Istanbul

ISTANBUL, May 2 (Xinhua) -- University students from across Türkiye gathered in Istanbul on Friday to showcase their Chinese language skills at the 4th Chinese poetry recitation and karaoke competition.

Held at Yeditepe University, the event brought together around 40 students from nine universities.

Participants demonstrated their proficiency in Chinese through poetry recitations and lively karaoke performances, reflecting both their dedication to the Chinese language and their appreciation of Chinese culture.

Eren Berk Karabulut from Middle East Technical University in Ankara won the first prize with a rendition of the classic Chinese poem "Snow -- to the Tune of Chin Yuan Chun," earning high praise from the judges for his fluency and heartfelt expression.

Murat Salih Karabulut, a Turkish language and literature major at Yeditepe University, has been self-studying Chinese for over a year. During the competition, he recited the poem "A Moonlit Night on the Spring River," drawing cheers from the audience.

"Many elements in classical Chinese poetry resonate with those in ancient Turkish literature -- similar themes, similar writing styles. That's what fascinates me," he said, highlighting the connection between Chinese and Turkish literary traditions.