Congratulations to Dr Estella Zhao, Senior Lecturer of the Division of Languages and Communication of PolyU CPCE, on receiving the Grand Prize, the most prestigious award, in the 14th "Zhouzhuang Cup" National Children's Literature Short Story Competition in recognition of her outstanding literary works. The award presentation ceremony was held in Zhouzhuang on 11 May 2025.
The competition received over 3,000 entries. After a preliminary review, 63 outstanding works were selected. These stories then underwent two rounds of rigorous and professional anonymous evaluations in the re-evaluation and final evaluation phases. Ultimately, 25 exceptional works emerged. Dr Zhao’s "The Sky of Partitioned Rooms" won the Grand Prize.
"The Sky of Partitioned Rooms" focuses on the daily lives of underprivileged families in contemporary Hong Kong. The story is structured around the friendship of two girls, intertwining youthful anxieties, the transformations of urban life, and the torrents of societal development, showcasing a resilient and indomitable attitude toward life. The girl "Old Gu" lives in a small partitioned room in Hong Kong, characterised by material scarcity but marked by her sincerity, kindness, and determination, exhibiting significant life wisdom and resilience. The narrator, a mainland transfer student who moved to Hong Kong with her family, finds renewed courage and overcomes the frustrations of a strange environment through her interactions with Old Gu. This work expresses the complex dilemmas faced by youth during their growth through literary means, highlighting transformation in the relationships between people and their environments. It handles weighty themes with ease, capturing the intricacies of life with both realism and sensitivity. The narrative authentically depicts the complexities and hardships of existence while powerfully transcending the heaviness of reality. This blend of grand themes and compassionate humanity allows its literary charm to break through regional and temporal boundaries, inspiring countless youths facing adversity to strive for self-improvement.
About the "Zhouzhuang Cup" National Children's Literature Short Story Competition
The competition began in 2011 and is held annually. It is co-hosted by the Jiangsu Provincial Writers Association's Children’s Literature Working Committee, the Shanghai Writers Association's Children’s Literature Professional Committee, the Juvenile and Children’s Publishing House, the Literary Supplement Editorial Department of the Wenhui Daily, the Kunshan Literary and Art Federation, and the Zhouzhuang Town People's Government. The event is jointly organized by the Editorial Department of "Juvenile Literature," the Kunshan Children's Literature Creation Research Association, the Zhouzhuang Town Office of Social Governance and Social Affairs, and the Zhouzhuang Town Literary and Art Federation.
For more details, please visit https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/FOSHasDAFnzMtGmWnOsW2w.
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