A young performer delivered an English rendition of the Tianjin clapper talk, while a Hong Kong peer followed suit with a comedy standup routine in a vibrant demonstration of cross-boundary cultural exchanges.

The event took place recently in Hong Kong, highlighting a four-day study and cultural exchange tour jointly organized by the 21st Century Education and Media Group and VDO English — the educational arm of China Daily Hong Kong.

The tour, which began on May 1, was held in conjunction with the second edition of the invitational contest in the “21st Century Cup” National English Speaking Competition (Hong Kong Region).

READ MORE: New star orators born as over 1,500 HK students vie for honors

The event saw active participation by more than 250 primary and secondary school students representing more than a dozen regions across the Chinese mainland, all eager to showcase their sterling mastery of the English language and broaden their global perspectives.

The youngsters — selected from top performers in a prestigious national English-speaking competition — were signed up for an extensive exploration of the special administrative region’s vibrant culture, media, and tertiary educational institutions.

Karen Tang Shuk-tak, executive director of The Better Hong Kong Foundation, sponsor of the event, described the occasion as a powerful echo of the nation’s call for all sectors to promote cross-boundary youth exchanges.

“The tour connects Chinese mainland and Hong Kong students, fostering cross-boundary learning and exchange,” she said. “Through participation, students can sharpen their speaking skills while building meaningful friendships and mutual understanding.”

The students’ itinerary was designed to boost their enthusiasm for learning English, deepen their understanding of recent developments in the SAR, and promote meaningful exchanges among young people from both sides.

“It’s most encouraging to see firsthand how professionals can present Hong Kong’s breathtaking natural landscapes and architectural wonders to international tourists in perfect English”, said a student from Henan province after visiting the Peak Galleria atop the city’s iconic Peak.

He said he is determined to continue learning languages to help more people around the world to learn more about China’s rich cultural and geographical heritage.

A visit to the Hong Kong Productivity Council and an artificial intelligence-themed workshop, led by experts from Hong Kong Baptist University, provided an immersive exploration of the city’s burgeoning innovation and technology industry.

“I was very impressed by a variety of AI tools applied in the HKPC’s daily operations. It truly allows me to have a concrete grasp of how such cutting-edge technologies have been changing our lives and a future skill set required of us,” said a student from Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province in eastern China.

Other key destinations on the itinerary included the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sing Tao News Corp, and Lee Kee Group — a Hong Kong-based metal solutions provider.

ALSO READ: The budding orators

The third day featured a tense invitational contest at HKBU — the marquee showdown of the event — where young, talented mainland orators took to the stage, presenting compelling perspectives and unique voices of their generation in front of Hong Kong judges and peers.

In the evening, mainland and Hong Kong students gathered for a cultural gala, putting on a lineup of collaborative performances that ended on a high note with an improvised sing-along of the Cantonese classic, Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies, themed around self-resilience and the pursuit of dreams.

The event drew praise from many students, who said it served as a catalyst for fostering deeper cross-cultural understanding and forging stronger bonds of friendship with peers from across the country.

An awards ceremony on May 4 marked a fitting conclusion to the fruitful learning journey, recognizing champions and runners-up in four categories for junior, senior primary, and secondary school students. Other top scorers received first, second and third prizes.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com