From childhood Chinese lessons with his grandfather to studying and living in China as an adult, and now promoting Chinese culture, every step Belgian blogger Lucas Deckers has taken is rooted in his love for the Chinese language and culture. Returning to the stage of the "Chinese Bridge" competition, from being a participant to becoming a guide, Deckers' journey continues, with his future closely linked to China, and his story will inspire many more people.

From the Chinese lessons with his grandfather to the initial experience of Chinese culture.

"My grandfather was a teacher proficient in multiple languages, who took up the study of Chinese out of interest after retirement and often taught me some simple Chinese phrases." Under his influence, a seed for learning Chinese was planted in Deckers' heart, and at the same time, he also developed a longing for the distant China.

With this anticipation, Deckers followed his grandfather to China, visiting places such as Beijing, Xi'an, and Inner Mongolia. The majestic landscapes, long history, rich culture, and delicious cuisine of China left a profound impression on him.

Upon learning that the Chinese Department at the University of Leuven in Belgium offered the opportunity to study in China during the third year, Deckers resolutely chose this university. Despite family and friends believing that "learning Chinese is harder than climbing to the heavens," the naturally optimistic Deckers chose to face the challenge head-on. Over four years of university, he immersed himself in the study of Chinese, practicing pronunciation, writing characters, memorizing texts, and watching news. His Chinese improved rapidly.

In 2019, Lucas Deckers came to "Mountain City" Chongqing through the Chinese Government Scholarship Program and began his short study journey in China at the International School of Chinese Language and Culture at Chongqing Normal University. During his time at school, he actively participated in cultural exchange activities and made a group of good teachers and friends. The enthusiasm of the people in Chongqing, the spiciness of Chongqing hot pot, and the "comfortable and easy" life of the people in Chongqing made him reluctant to leave.

Having crossed the "Chinese Bridge," becoming a bridge for cultural exchange among young people from various countries.

"Learning Chinese has completely changed my life," said Deckers. In 2020, upon returning to Belgium, he signed up for the 19th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for College Students worldwide. With his solid foundation in Chinese and excellent performance on the spot, he ultimately won the global championship. Delighted, Deckers set higher standards for himself: "I can no longer simply pursue progress in grammar and vocabulary; I need to gain a deeper understanding of the cultural background of the Chinese language."

Also in that year, Deckers began posting short videos on social platforms, sharing the amusing everyday experiences from his life in Belgium and China. His fluent Chinese, humorous conversation, and topic-rich content quickly earned him a large following. "Many Chinese students studying in Belgium would contact me after watching my videos. We would make plans to have a meal and chat, and soon we became friends."

Deckers' experience in learning Chinese and participating in the "Chinese Bridge" has set an example for Chinese enthusiasts from various countries. He Jia Ming, the global champion of this year's "Chinese Bridge" World College Students Chinese Competition, is one of his "little fans": "I have watched many of his videos. We both come from Belgium, and his experience of winning the global championship of 'Chinese Bridge' has given me a lot of motivation to learn Chinese."

Deckers' return to China continues the special connection he has with the "Chinese Bridge." He came back to this stage as a guest performer. For him, the "Chinese Bridge" is an inseparable bond between him and the Chinese language: "I want to come home often and see."

When it comes to the future, Deckers said he wants to use his experience in making short videos to start a program called "Foreign Youth See China," which will document the stories of foreign youth studying and living in China. From their perspective, he aims to explore and spread Chinese culture, inspire more young people to learn Chinese, and enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and foreign youth.