Chinese TV dramas 'new cool' in Egypt as students tune in

As Ahmed Magdy from Ain Shams University finishes his 7-minute performance fusing traditional Chinese comedy with trendy Chinese pop music, the grand hall of Cairo University echoes with thunderous applause.

More than 1,000 people have gathered on Wednesday morning, not only to witness this year's Egyptian final of Chinese Bridge - a language competition - but also to mingle with the large community of Chinese-language learners in Egypt.

Chinese Bridge is not only a platform where students showcase their language proficiency but also a festival for them to get together, says Han Bing, minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in Cairo.