Tengis Munkhbaatar, a Mongolian student at Fudan University, said that he feels a deep connection to China, calling it his "second hometown."

Pursuing a master's degree in International Chinese Education, he dreams of establishing a Chinese school to foster cultural exchanges between China and Mongolia.

In 2021, Tengis won the Asian championship in the 20th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, setting a record for Mongolian participants. His deep understanding of Chinese culture and spot-on comic dialogue performance impressed the judges.

Reflecting on his journey, Tengis describes learning Chinese as "bitterness before sweetness." Initially uninterested and slow to progress, his appreciation grew as his proficiency improved. "With effort, you will find joy in it," he noted.

His connection to China began in childhood when he moved to Beijing with his mother, who was furthering her studies. The country became a cherished part of Tengis's life, a place where he found warmth, friendship, and inspiration.

He fondly recalls the warmth of Beijing's snack shops, especially enjoying hot bean soup and fried pancakes during winter. Growing up near Peking University, he immersed himself in Chinese culture, mastering the language and making lifelong friends. He even learned various ethnic dances, which became part of his popular solo performances at university events.

After his mother completed her doctoral studies, they returned to Mongolia. Tengis found himself unexpectedly nostalgic for his time in China. "In that moment, I truly realized my feelings for China. It had become my second homeland." In Mongolia, he continued to study Chinese, majoring in Chinese language and literature at university.

Tengis plans to follow in his mother's footsteps and continue his studies in China. He aims to help more students understand and learn Chinese, becoming a bridge between his two homelands.