Contestants pose for a group photo at the competition venue in Beijing, on July 22, 2019. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

To celebrate traditional Chinese culture with confidence and innovative thinking, 48 teenagers from all around China gathered in Beijing at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, one of the capital's most significant historical sites, and shared their thoughts on intangible cultural heritage during a speech in English.

This English public speaking contest, sponsored by the Communication Center of the Chinese Communist Youth League and organized by 51Talk, has incorporated the evaluation of contestants' English skills with cultural education.

All participants had to go through a rigid selection system, centering on learning, critical thinking, communication skills, and public speaking capability. Seven judges with outstanding accomplishments, including an expert from the Chinese Education Society, professors of elite Chinese universities, and senior officials of 51Talk, made an overall assessment of each competitor.