How do young Hungarians learn about Chinese culture?

Across the globe, there are more than 30 million foreigners currently learning Chinese, and about 200 million foreigners have learned the language.

Speaking of the reasons for learning Chinese, answers from young Hungarians vary. Some feel cool when they can speak or even write Chinese, while others want to know more about the ancient culture, travel to China or find career opportunities in Chinese companies in Hungary.

Flóra Tóth, an undergraduate at the University of Miskolc in northeastern Hungary, told CGTN that she has been fascinated with Chinese culture since she was young.

"I have taken a keen interest in Chinese paintings, calligraphy, traditional wear, and customs in daily life," Tóth said.

"Chinese calligraphy is a beautiful art form that combines deep meaning and artistic strokes. These masterpieces are often created on stunning canvases that make them a feast for the eyes," she added.

In her opinion, Confucius Institutes in various countries provide an ideal opportunity for anyone who wants to learn the Chinese language and culture.

The Confucius Institute is a non-profit education institution jointly hosted by Chinese and foreign partners, with the aim of communicating in Chinese, deepening international understanding of the Chinese language and culture, and promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and the rest of the world.

"You get to meet and communicate with Chinese teachers daily and have a chance to connect with other students online," said Tóth.

"I made friends with a Chinese girl who is studying the Hungarian language in China. We used to meet every week online to prepare cultural exchange presentations and practice our language skills. It was truly a heartwarming experience," she said.

Boglárka Kántor, 24, also an undergraduate at the University of Miskolc, fell in love with Chinese traditional music, Chinese cuisine, calligraphy and painting after she joined the Chinese language courses offered by the Confucius Institute of her university.

Kántor has been good at singing since little, and she has won several awards for singing Chinese songs in various competitions in recent years. Several months ago, she made a painstaking effort while learning the tongue-twister lyrics of the Chinese song "Zhong Guo Hua" (meaning Chinese).

"I think most young Hungarians are learning about the Chinese culture at the Confucius Institute of their universities or they get the opportunity to visit the Chinatown at Budapest," said Kántor.

To boost cultural interaction and understanding between China and Hungary, Kántor looks forward to more exchange programs for young people, such as short-term language programs between the universities and volunteer programs in both countries.

Known for its heavy industry, the city of Miskolc has many Chinese companies close by. For instance, Wanhua-BorsodChem, a leading manufacturer of plastic raw materials and inorganic chemicals in Europe, is one of the major employers of university graduates.

Chinese new energy vehicle (NEV) manufacturers, such as BYD Company Limited and NIO, have invested and built factories in Hungary. The NIO Power Europe Plant spans approximately 10,000 square meters in Biatorbagy, Hungary, serving as NIO's first overseas manufacturing facility.

Hungary has also become a key traffic hub in Europe. With the rapid transport connections of China-Europe freight trains, cargo going to Hungary from China continues to develop and is expected to grow due to large amounts of investment from Chinese companies in Hungary.

Moreover, people-to-people exchanges between China and Hungary are going to rise since China adopted a visa-free policy for Hungarians in March.