The first-prize-winning youths perform the poetry of Li Bai, a famous poet in China's Tang Dynasty. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Thirty teams from around China fought for the championship at the Tang Poetry Competition held in Xinchang, a county in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province on Dec 22.

Tang poetry refers to the poetry written in or around the time of or in the characteristic style of China's Tang Dynasty (618-907), which is often considered the Golden Age of Chinese poetry.

The 30 teams were divided into three groups: children, juveniles and youths.

Watched by more than 2 million people at the scene and online, each team recited their selected poems to reproduce the poems' artistic conceptions and competed with each other to answer questions about Tang poetry.

After fierce competition, first prize for the three groups finally went to Pujiang Experimental Primary School, Pujiang Adolescent Palace and Zhejiang Taitan Industry Co Ltd.

Some 30 expatriates from countries along the Belt and Road route also recited ancient Chinese poems for the Chinese audience at the competition to show their admiration for the brilliant Chinese culture.

Young ancient Chinese poetry fans from the Belt and Road countries recite poems at the Tang Poetry Competition. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]