LISBON, June 6 (Xinhua) -- "Last year, I finally set foot in China and fulfilled a lifelong dream," 78-year-old Portuguese learner Joaquim Albuquerque said in Mandarin Chinese with a noticeable accent.

Albuquerque made the remarks when he shared his personal China story on Saturday at the award ceremony for the "My China Story" short-video competition and the 2026 Chinese Ambassador Scholarship, hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Lisbon, Portugal.

Albuquerque's fascination with China began in 2009 when he came across a page of Chinese text while reading a newspaper. Intrigued by the unfamiliar script, he decided to learn the language. What started as curiosity soon became a long-term commitment.

To mark his journey into the Chinese language, he even adopted a Chinese name for himself -- Wang Long.

Despite the challenges, his persistence and dedication earned the admiration of teachers at the Confucius Institute where he studied.

Last September, he realized his dream of visiting China. From the dramatic sandstone peaks of Zhangjiajie to Beijing's blend of ancient heritage and cutting-edge innovation, the trip left him a lasting impression.

Albuquerque's story is just one among many featured in this year's inaugural "My China Story" short-video competition, as the story of Portuguese theater professional Samuel Pascoal can serve another example how Chinese language learning can shape a person's life path.

Years ago, Pascoal became fascinated with classical Chinese poetry and the passion led him to study Chinese and eventually earned a scholarship to study at Nankai University in China with the support of the Confucius Institute at the University of Minho.

During his time in China, Pascoal immersed himself not only in language studies but also in campus cultural life, joining a student theater group and forging lasting friendships with Chinese classmates.

Now back in Portugal, he works with a theater company in Porto as a stage assistant, actor and playwright. In his spare time, he is translating modern Chinese playwright Cao Yu's drama "Thunderstorm" into Portuguese, with the hope of introducing more Chinese theatrical works to Portuguese-speaking audiences.

If the stories of Albuquerque and Pascoal reflect the growing appeal of Chinese language and culture among Portuguese adults, the experiences of siblings Keagan Ivan Oosthuizen, 11, and Skylar Theresa Oosthuizen, 9, suggest that such enthusiasm is also taking root among younger generations.

For the siblings, practicing conversations, writing Chinese characters, watching Chinese cartoons and reading children's books in Chinese have become part of their daily lives, and Chinese cuisine, history and traditional culture are among their favorite topics.

Participants at the event, through personal narratives, travel experiences and everyday observations, offered diverse perspectives on China they have come to know through study, friendship and firsthand encounters.

Pedro Assuncao, vice president of the Polytechnic University of Leiria, said initiatives such as the short-video competition and the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship provide valuable opportunities for Portuguese learners of Chinese to showcase their achievements while inspiring broader public interest in Chinese culture.

"Through these works, we can clearly see participants' dedication to learning Chinese, as well as their genuine interest in and affection for Chinese culture," he said.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador to Portugal Yang Yirui said the competition has attracted broad interest and enthusiastic participation across Portuguese society.

"Although the entries varied in theme and style, they all shared one common quality -- sincerity," Yang said. "Through these vivid and personal stories, people from our two countries gain greater understanding of one another, and friendship grows stronger."