The champions of five continents competed in the finals of the "Chinese Bridge" competition in Tianjin on Sept 21, with the contestant from the United States winning the overall championship. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

For some, the competition has grown into a lifelong pursuit.

Neli Dimitrova Nanova, winner of the fifth Chinese Bridge Bulgarian regional contest, is a former diplomat who has travelled to many countries.

After two decades of never setting aside her Chinese studies, she became a Chinese teacher in 2023. She has helped send groups of Bulgarian students on exchange programs to Tianjin, introducing thousands of local children to Chinese language and culture.