Bulgarian students recite the Three Character Classic. [Photo/cnnb.com.cn]

At the Asian Festival in Sofia, Bulgaria on June 14, Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang province, made a strong impression with a creative showcase built around the Three Character Classic, bringing traditional Chinese culture to life under the festival's theme of "United in Diversity".

One of the most striking moments came during the opening ceremony, when a group of Bulgarian students took to the stage wearing hanfu and recited the opening lines of the classic Chinese text in confident Mandarin.

Nearby, a temporary classroom drew in curious children who sat at long tables, dipping brushes in ink as they carefully traced Chinese characters on paper.

"As one of the most widely known Chinese primers in the world, the Three Character Classic, which originated in Ningbo during the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1279), is a great introduction to Chinese for Bulgarian learners," said Liu Bei, who works at the China Cultural Center in Sofia. "We previously ran online workshops with Ningbo's Yinzhou district, and the response from local children was very encouraging."

Cultural creativity was on full display, with themed souvenirs like Three Character Classic magnets and audio pieces. The biggest hit was the Yongxing Scroll, a fold-out set of seals featuring 15 Ningbo landmarks, including the Ningbo Museum and Southern Song Stone Carving Park.

Also featured was a compact one-square-meter intangible cultural heritage booth, packed with delicate folk art. One visitor was captivated by an egg carving depicting the tale of Kong Rong, who gave his siblings the larger fruits and kept the smallest for himself when his father asked him to share some pears.

"This is incredible — the detail, the meaning. It really sparked my interest in Chinese culture," said the visitor.

Cultural ties continue to deepen. Since 2023, Ningbo has donated ten dragon boats to Bulgaria and established a training base. Three dragon boat races are planned for 2025, further strengthening this growing partnership.