20 Million Foreigners Study Chinese - "Mandarin Boom" Heats Up Globally

"Now, according to incomplete statistics, in the United States alone, more than 80 universities have established Chinese majors. Over 700 universities offer Chinese as a public foreign language course. In today's world, not only the children of overseas Chinese and Chinese people are learning Chinese, but also many local residents are studying it. It can be said that a global热潮 for learning Chinese is emerging, and the overall trend is that more and more people will learn Chinese." Said Li Guilin, Deputy Director of the Office of the National Leading Group for Teaching Chinese to Foreigners.

20 million people are learning Chinese

Among countless Chinese learners, there is a Thai princess named Sirindhorn. The princess has a special interest in language and culture. After mastering English, French, Khmer, Pali, and Sanskrit, in 1980, she planned to study German. When her mother learned of her idea, she told her: "Learn Chinese instead, and you must master it."

Since then, until today, the princess has studied under nine Chinese teachers. With her natural intelligence and diligence, she has made rapid progress. In May 1981, the princess paid her first visit to China, becoming the first member of the Thai royal family to visit China. Over the past 20 years, she has visited China 14 times for visits, inspections, and research, promoting friendship and cultural exchanges between China and Thailand. After returning home, she wrote seven books about China, three of which have been translated into Chinese and published in China.