20 young people from the Yangtze River Delta gathered in Shanghai for a competition speech on folk stories
The 2023 Yangtze River Delta Youth Excellent Folk Story Lecture Competition, which focuses on telling folk stories, searching for the roots of China, and forging the soul of the nation, has undergone preliminary and final rounds. Recently, 20 contestants competed on the same stage at the Jiading District Youth Activity Center in Shanghai. The competition aims to provide more young people with the opportunity to read, tell, and inherit classics, discover and promote excellent folk stories, and enhance their cultural literacy and national identity.
The speech competition lasted for 4 months, with nearly a thousand people from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui registering for the competition. After expert screening and evaluation, five contestants from Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui each advanced to the finals and competed in a final in Shanghai.
"When Emperor Wu of Liang established the country over 1500 years ago, Nanxiang was just a small village with beautiful mountains and rivers, with only a dozen or so households. Everyone in the village was hardworking and kind..." Shanghai athlete Xue Ruiqi vividly recounted "The Origin of Nanxiang". The judges stated that the contestants performed astonishingly, telling vivid, touching, and authentic folk stories in their own language and expression. Some contestants use catchy language to reinterpret myths and legends, while others focus on folk characters from a humorous and witty perspective. From content to expression, they make people feel the cultural confidence of teenagers. In the theme of the final story, historical celebrity stories such as "Yan Ziling and Diaotai Mist Tea", "Shi Nai'an Grows Glutinous Rice", "The Story of Qu Yuan", and "Qianlong's Fun Visit to Tianning Temple" are particularly popular. Some contestants also innovated their presentation methods. Min Chenyu and four other contestants from Jiangsu performed "Jingchuan Anti Japanese War" in a fast-paced manner, while Deng Hongcheng narrated "Three Kingdoms: Two Qi Zhou Yu" through Yangzhou Pinghua.
One of the organizers, the relevant person in charge of the Shanghai Quyi Artists Association, stated that the competition provides a platform for young people in the Yangtze River Delta region to showcase their talents, and also allows more people to appreciate the charm of folk stories and have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. "We look forward to more young people participating in such activities in the future, exploring the roots and soul of the Chinese nation together, and forging stronger national strength."
This competition is organized by the Shanghai Quyi Artists Association, Shanghai Folk Literature and Art Association, in collaboration with Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui Quyi Artists Association, and others.