As an “educational wetland and cultural oxygen bar,” Luzhi not only boasts a long history and a rich cultural heritage, but it is also the “second hometown” of the renowned educator, writer, and China’s first publisher of children’s fairy tales, Mr. Ye Shengtao.
During his tenure as a teacher in Luzhi, Mr. Ye Shengtao not only devoted himself to the cause of education but also embarked on his literary career, publishing nearly a hundred vernacular short stories and prose poems.
As a pioneer of modern Chinese children’s literature, the author’s fairy tales have won the enduring affection of countless readers; many have been included in primary and secondary school textbooks, shaping the minds of generation after generation. Among them, “The Scarecrow,” published in 1923, was China’s first collection of original author‑written fairy tales, blazing a trail for Chinese children’s literature that emphasized creative originality. The work is distinguished by its fresh, distinctive conception, its delicate and vivid descriptions, and its accessible, easy‑to‑understand language—rich with auditory and visual beauty and powerful impact—offering young readers both the nurturing warmth of love and the delight of aesthetic pleasure.
Every child
All of them are brimming with wildly imaginative ideas.
To enable more students to understand and experience
The Charm of Mr. Ye Shengtao’s Fairy Tales
and encourage them to unleash their imagination
Create imaginative and fantastical fairy tales.
Suzhou Wuzhong Luzhi Tourism Company
Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall joins hands with Xin Xiaohe Aesthetic Education.
Co-hosted
Chasing the masters, riding the great tide.
“The Duan Duan Cup” First Suzhou Primary and Secondary School Students’ Fairy Tale Competition
At present, the essay contest is in full swing.
We look forward to each and every one of you.
Contestants who love fairy tales and love to create.
Drawing on the image of the ancient town’s “Luduan”
With your brushstrokes and imagination
Presenting one splendid fairy-tale world after another.
One
Organizing and Co-organizing Units
Organizers: Suzhou Luzhi Tourism Development Co., Ltd. and Suzhou Youth Literature Academy
Co-organizers: Ye Shengtao Memorial Hall, Feng Bin Composition Museum in Luzhi
Two
Eligible Participants
Elementary and middle school students in Suzhou City
Three
Call for Submissions Period
From Saturday, June 1, 2024, to Thursday, June 20, 2024
Four
Competition Topic
The overall requirements and instructions for the question are as follows:
A. For the following questions, please choose only one and do not write more than that.
B. Word Count Requirements: The second-grade group must write at least 200 words; the lower-middle grades (grades 3 and 4) must write at least 300 words; the upper-middle grades (grades 5 and 6) must write at least 500 words; and the junior high school group (grades 7 through 9) must write at least 600 words. There is no limit on the number of words for those who wish to write more.
(1) “The Ever-Changing ‘Duanduan’—What I Hope a Mythical Beast Will Become on the Dragon Boat Festival”
◆Hints and Requirements: The mythical creature of Luzhi Ancient Town is called “Luduan,” with the nickname “Duanduan.” Legend has it that Duanduan possesses keen hearing to catch every sound and far‑seeing eyes to see for miles, along with countless magical powers. Use your imagination: on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, what would you like Duanduan to become, or what would it bring you? Write at least two possibilities. Your response should be playful and creative, infused with cultural traditions, and include a clear plot with vivid details. This activity is recommended for Grade 2 students and the lower‑middle school group.
(II) “The Mythical Beast Has Disappeared—An Amazing Adventure in the Ancient Town of Duanduan”
◆Prompt and Requirements: One day, when people woke up in the morning, they discovered that the mythical beast statue standing in the ancient town square had vanished! The townsfolk began to murmur and speculate: “Where has ‘Duanduan’ gone? What happened on the square last night?” Use your imagination to write a fairy tale. Be sure to include vivid descriptions and creative ideas, while keeping the story engaging and emphasizing the element of “wonder.” This assignment is recommended for the lower‑elementary and upper‑elementary groups.
(3) “A Comedy of a Single Bamboo Leaf”
◆ Prompt and Requirements: One of the traditional customs of the Dragon Boat Festival is eating zongzi. Wrapped in bamboo leaves, zongzi releases a natural, grassy fragrance. Please imagine the life cycle of a single bamboo leaf and its comical adventures, and write a fairy‑tale‑style story or short novel. Be sure to weave into your work your own insights and understanding of life, existence, and survival. This assignment is recommended for middle school students.
(4) Based on the theme and scope of “The Dragon Boat Festival and the Mythical Beast ‘Duanduan’,” formulate your own title.
Five
Submission Guidelines
(1) All submissions must be original. Any instance of plagiarism will result in disqualification and public notification.
(2) Contestants must provide their real name, school and grade, and a contact telephone number for communication and verification purposes.
(3) All submissions for this essay contest shall be owned by the organizer.
Six
Grouping and Submission Guidelines
(1) Group-based Selection
This competition features four categories: the Grade 2 category, the Lower–Middle School category (Grades 3 and 4), the Upper–Elementary category (Grades 5 and 6), and the Junior High School category (Grades 7 to 9).
(2) Online Submission (Electronic Version)
※ Please send your submissions to the designated email address; do not send them to the wrong address.
(3) Offline Solicitation
The organizers will invite selected primary and secondary schools to participate on-site.
Seven
Award Evaluation and Prize Structure
(1) Award Ceremony Time
This awards ceremony is tentatively scheduled to take place in early July at Luzhi Ancient Town. The organizers will invite some of the winners to attend; details regarding the time and venue will be communicated by telephone.
(II) Award Structure
1. Top-Performer Award: One winner from each group will receive a cash prize of 300 yuan, a year-long complimentary VIP family admission pass to Luzhi scenic attractions, a specially crafted “Xiaohe” certificate, and other prizes, with a total value of approximately 1,000 yuan.
2. Grand Prize: Winners will receive one “Six-Month Free Admission Family VIP Card” to Luzhi Scenic Area, one specially crafted certificate from Xiaohe, and other prizes, with a total value of approximately 500 yuan.
3. First Prize: Winners will receive prizes with a total value of approximately 200 yuan, along with one specially crafted certificate from Xiaohe.
4. Second Prize: Winners will receive prizes with a total value of approximately 100 yuan, along with one specially crafted certificate from Xiaohe.
5. Third Prize: Winners will receive prizes with a total value of approximately 50 yuan, along with one specially crafted certificate from Xiaohe.
6. Excellence Award: A number of recipients will each receive a specially crafted certificate from Xiaohe.
※The organizer plans to compile an anthology titled “Selected Award-Winning Works,” featuring pieces by some of the winners, and publish it as a commemorative volume.
Eight
Competition Hotline
Teacher Coral: 15252244075
Teacher Dingxiang: 18151077537
Teacher Youzi: 15252638842
