Three Chinese pianists have won the first Beijing International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition for young pianists. The event was held at Beijing's Central Conservatory of Music and closed on Sunday.

Nearly 60 Chinese and international contestants, aged 12 to 26, participated in China's international Chopin piano contest.

After two weeks of grueling competition, six contestants from China, Australia and Poland reached the final. Chinese pianist Chen Xuehong ultimately won the senior group title. While two Chinese pianists, Tie Shunshun and Ye Fangzhou, tied for first place in the junior group.

"This is a new beginning for me. I think it will encourage me to partipate in more international competitions in the future," said Tie Shunshun.

The Beijing contest follows the same format as Poland's International Frederic Chopin Piano Competition,  and is the only one of its kind in China.

The competition is a top international music event and its jury committee includes 11 globally celebrated piano masters, all recommended by the Frederic Chopin Institute. Members include prestigious pianist Katarzyna Popowa-Zydroń and several jury chairmen from previous Chopin Competitions.

"This competition provides the contestants and audience here a rare opportunity to get a sense of world-class music masters," said Yu Feng, president of Central Conservatory of Music.

The triennial competition was agreed to by the Chinese and Polish governments during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Poland in June 2016. It is part of the two-nations' bilateral cultural cooperation agreement. China's Central Conservatory of Music will be the permanent venue for the competition.