Contestants from around the world are gathering in China for the ninth edition of the “Chinese Bridge,” a Chinese proficiency competition. Recently, two contestants from Mauritius visited a town in Mengzi City, in Southwest China’s Yunnan province to experience some authentic ethnic culture.

Known as Kang Siru and Zhu Yueli in Chinese, the 13-year and 14-year old are two of the youngest contestants participating in this year’s “Chinese Bridge” competition. On October 24, they visited Nisu Town, where the Yi Ethnic people live.

Here they got to see the mysterious “Dragon Tree” and the tiger totem. They also visited an embroidery workshop, where exquisite embroidery pieces with unique Yi characteristics were on display. Some folk artists even showed them the process of making an embroidery.

Contestants from around the world are gathering in China for the 9th edition of the "Chinese Bridge", a Chinese proficiency competition.

The Yi people are known for their singing and dancing. To experience authentic Yi culture, Kang and Zhu joined the locals in a performance featuring traditional Yi dancing. They also tried to their hand at the Hulusi, or the cucurbit flute, a reed wind instrument from Yunnan province. After all the entertainment, the two contestants were treated to a table of delicious local food.

“The Yi people are so friendly. Their culture is diverse and the food here is so special. This is really a fresh experience for me,” said Zhu Yueli, a Mauritian contestant.

After the visit to Nisu Town, Kang and Zhu went to a high school in Kunming, where they got to know their Chinese peers.