(By Ding Xudong, Photo by Cai Xiaoyan, Marie DULIEU Rachel DOUIS) The semifinal of the 2025 French Song Contest (Concours de chanson francophone 2025) concluded in Zhejiang. After intense competition, students from the Zhongfa Aviation Institute of Beihang University (ZFAI) secured both championship and runner-up positions in the Zhejiang region. Cai Yufei (Chloé), a student enrolled in 2024, won the championship, while Chen Xingguo (Juliette), a student enrolled in 2023, emerged as the runner-up. They also received the Audience Award. Representing Beihang University, they will participate in the national final of the French Song Contest in Shanghai.
△ Nicolas Piaia, Director of Alliance Française de Hangzhou, presents awards to Cai Yufei and Chen Xingguo
Every March marks the annual "Month of Francophonie," during which French-speaking countries and regions host a variety of vibrant celebrations. Among these, the "French Song Contest" is one of the most popular events in China, aiming to showcase the charm of the French language and the diversity of Francophone cultures through music.
Each year, the organizers carefully select 24 semifinal and 24 final songs from entries submitted by singers from various French-speaking countries and regions. Participants are judged based on vocal technique, expressiveness, and creativity. Local branches of the Alliance Française select regional champions from the semifinalists to advance to the national finals. The 2025 French Song Contest is jointly organized by Institut Français, the embassies and consulates of France, Belgium, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Switzerland in China, and Quebec offices in China, in collaboration with Alliance Française de China.
In November 2024, to provide contestants with more stage experience, the French language curriculum group organized H3I’s First French Song Contest. This contest, which brought people together through French language and music, attracted students from ZFAI students who are passionate about French and music. Whether with heartfelt tenderness or explosive passion, the students conveyed their understanding and love for French culture while showcasing the unique charm of French songs and their youthful spirit. In this contest, Chen Xingguo and Cai Yufei won first and second prizes, respectively. Notably, Cai Yufei had only been studying French for two months at the time, yet she had already demonstrated remarkable talent and potential.
The preliminary stage of the contest coincided with the winter vacation. Despite the break, the participating students diligently prepared their video submissions under the guidance of their French teachers. Following a rigorous evaluation process in the Zhejiang semifinal, ten contestants were selected from over a hundred applicants. Six of these finalists came from ZFAI.
On the day of the contest, ten outstanding contestants from all over the province competed with each other on the same stage. They showcased an extraordinary level of musical literacy and performance skills. With their captivating voices, the contestants performed classic and modern French songs, winning warm applause and cheers from the audience.
The triumph of Cai Yufei and Chen Xingguo in the Zhejiang semifinal can be attributed not only to their talent and hard work but also to the internationalized educational environment fostered by the Hangzhou International Campus of Beihang University. In the 2024-2025 academic year, the French teaching team of H3I organized the First French Song Contest, complemented by a series of activities at French Café. These activities, which are both educational and entertaining, included chatting over coffee, dubbing, literature appreciation, and movie screening. These activities have enabled students to learn the language and appreciate culture in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, thereby rapidly improving their French proficiency. We believe that such a rich and diverse training approach can not only help students bolster their language competence but also support them in deepening their cultural awareness and cultivating a global perspective.
Using songs as a bridge, we link Chinese and French cultures! Looking ahead, ZFAI will continue to deepen the cooperation between China and France. Through language learning and cultural practice, the Institute will empower students to deliver even more wonderful performances on the global stage!
Approved by Dong Zhuoning, Zhang Wei, Xu Ran
Edited by Yuan Xiaohui
