TEHRAN, June 5 (Xinhua) -- The atmosphere at Shahid Beheshti University buzzed with a fervor usually reserved for sports arenas, not academic contests. Yet, for the Iranian students competing in the final of Iran's 24th "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition, what surpassed even the electric energy in the air was their palpable passion for Chinese culture.

Last week's event saw 16 students from four prominent Iranian universities deliver passionate speeches and showcase traditional Chinese arts, revealing a profound and growing fascination with China on Iranian campuses.

"I've always been drawn to how Chinese people speak and their entire culture," said Mohanna Soltani, 20, a sophomore at Shahid Beheshti University and the competition's winner. For her, learning Chinese is a pathway to understanding a culture that feels both foreign and familiar.

This sentiment is widely shared within Iran's expanding community of Chinese language students. Many are motivated by the cultural parallels they perceive between these two ancient civilizations.

"China has successfully balanced tradition with modernity," observed Soroor Aflaki, 22, a senior Chinese language student. "When visiting China, you see both traditional and modern elements together; it's exactly what Iran aspires to be."

However, culture isn't the sole draw. Iran's deepening economic ties with China have opened up new career paths that these students are eager to pursue.

"I started watching Chinese TV series out of curiosity," said Zahra Varasteh, 22, from Isfahan University. "Now I'm planning to become a professional translator. The job market for Chinese speakers is exploding."

Hedieh-Zahra Shamkhali, 19, a freshman at the University of Tehran, views Chinese as essential for trade and economics. But she's equally impressed by what she sees as Chinese social values. "Chinese people treat strangers like friends and friends like family," she noted. "In a world that's becoming more disconnected, that's something worth learning about."

The Chinese language itself, with its unique character system and cultural authenticity, presents both challenges and rewards that keep students engaged.

"Learning Chinese characters feels like creating art," said Bahar Saffarha, 21, from Allameh Tabataba'i University. "Each character tells a story."