10 young mayors selected in Guangzhou

Ten students were awarded as young mayors of Guangzhou after an almost three-month-long competition with the final held at the Guangzhou Friendship Theater on May 28.

Initiated by Guangzhou Women's Federation and the Guangzhou education bureau, the "Guangzhou Young Mayor" contest is held every two years to encourage young people to get involved with urban development.

More than 600,000 students from 1,094 primary and middle schools took part in the contest with 20 making it to the final – 14 of them were primary school students, according to the organizer.

A primary student takes part in a quiz at the Guangzhou Young Mayor contest. [Photo/southcn.com]

Contestants who performed well in the first two rounds of quizzes about Chinese history, culture, and folk customs of Guangzhou then made a speech on urban management and the future of the city.

Song Xinyu, a winner in the middle school group, spoke of the importance of reading in her speech, recommending book corners to be set up as well as book recycling stations.

"Residents can use an app to find which book he or she would like to read," Song said.

The competitors also had heated discussions on whether people should make contacts using electronic "hongbao"(online red packets of money), and the advantages and disadvantages of public shared bicycles.

Participants in the middle school group debate whether people should make contacts using electronic "hongbao" at the Guangzhou Young Mayor contest. [Photo/southcn.com]