On April 12, Guangzhou hosted the awards ceremony for the second Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) International Communication Competition for College Students, concluding a six-month initiative that united young storytellers from across China and beyond.
Launched in September 2025, the contest drew participants from 49 universities, who formed 277 teams and submitted 210 eligible entries, spanning written reports and data storytelling, audio and video productions, photos, multimedia projects, animation and games. After an anonymous review by media professionals and academic experts, 45 works were selected for awards.
The competition also attracted participants from 14 countries and regions, reinforcing the GBA's function as a hub for cross-cultural exchange.
Many award-winning projects focused on contemporary social and economic developments in the GBA. One team from Shenzhen University, for instance, studied the livestreaming gold trade in Shuibei, Shenzhen's famous gold market, examining product quality control and consumer trust in the region's fast-growing online retail sector.
Other works explored cultural heritage and human stories. One illustrated book, created by students from Sun Yat-sen University, follows three generations of women artisans in Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, showing how traditional craftsmanship is preserved and reinterpreted through the years.
The illustration work "Grown into an Orchid Against the Wind", by Tang Shiwen, Yu Guo and Zhang Chuwei from Sun Yat-sen University
For some participants, the experience was personally meaningful. A freshman from Shanghai Jiao Tong University, who wrote about women's football in Shanghai universities, said she entered the contest simply because she admired Guangzhou. "I just really like the city," she said. "I didn't expect to win an award. This is my first journalism prize." She added that the recognition had given new meaning to her bond with the city.
Cross-cultural collaboration was another highlight. Arina Krasovskaia, a Russian student at South China University of Technology, partnered with a Guangzhou University team on a documentary about a guqin craftsman in Guangzhou. She called the project a unique exchange experience, as it gave her the chance to collaborate closely with local students for the first time.
You may also be interested in: 2nd GBA International Communication Competition for College Students
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | Zeng Xiangxing
