Tian Dadi, a first-year undergraduate majoring in Finance at the Sino-French Institute of Renmin University of China, won the runner-up prize in the grand final of Classical Chinese Poetry Contest Season 10, held on April 5. 

Produced by China Media Group, the program is an original cultural television show that celebrates classical Chinese poetry through competition and appreciation, allowing audiences to experience the charm and spirit of traditional verse.

Throughout the competition, Tian impressed viewers with his deep knowledge and youthful confidence. In his acceptance speech, he remarked: “Poetry is like the stars—once you see it, it becomes a light in your eyes. This stage allows us to share the light we see in one another’s eyes and weave together a brilliant starry sky.”

Tian’s passion for poetry began in his childhood. Inspired by the first season of the show in 2016, he participated in the Beijing selection for Season 4 in 2019 and ranked among the top 100 contestants. In 2023, he competed with his family and won third place in Season 8.

Now a freshman at RUC, Tian has continued to excel in a wide range of pursuits. He has hosted campus events, placed third in a campus debate competition, been named Best Debater twice in provincial-level contests, joined the university basketball team, ranked among the top students in his class, and taken part in programs such as the Qiushi Academic Project. “The university provides us with abundant resources and an excellent platform for growth,” Tian said. “What I can do is to make the most of these opportunities and keep improving myself.”

The international environment of the Sino-French Institute has broadened his horizons. He performed in the French musical Molière, explored French culture through rehearsals, and studied comparative development paths between China and France through academic projects. Inspired by the French-language edition of Classical Chinese Poetry Contest broadcast on Mandarin TV in France, he has begun translating Chinese poetry and discussing his work with foreign teachers. 

One of his favorite lines reads: Mêmes montagnes, mêmes pluies sous un même ciel, deux contrées qu’un même clair de lune relie. (“Bound by the same mountains and rain, under one sky; connected by the same bright moon, though miles apart.”)

For Tian, poetry is more than a personal passion—it is a bridge that transcends language and connects people across cultures, offering a shared space for beauty, understanding, and dialogue.