Day: May 7, 2026

This message is sent on behalf of Department of Chinese History and Culture (CHC)

Dear Principal, subject teacher of Chinese History, History & Humanities,

PolyU Young Historian Competition 2026

We are delighted to extend an invitation to your school to participate in the PolyU Young Historian Competition 2026. We encourage you to form one or more teams from your school to take part in this exciting and educational event.

The competition aims to offer students a rich and varied learning experience under the mentorship of distinguished experts and scholars. Participants will delve into the multifaceted realms of Chinese history and culture, encompassing cognitive exploration, experiential learning, and educational enrichment, with the goal of igniting a profound interest and nurturing the abilities of young minds. This event also provides an invaluable platform for students to deepen their exploration of Chinese historical and cultural legacies, thereby enhancing their understanding and appreciation of this rich and diverse heritage. It fosters a community where young learners and educators with a shared passion for Chinese history and culture can collaborate and share knowledge. 

Since its launch in 2023, the competition has been successfully held for three consecutive years and has attracted participation from over 100 schools, forming approximately 200 teams involving hundreds of students and teachers. Notably, around one quarter of all secondary schools in Hong Kong have taken part in previous competitions. With the introduction of the non-local section last year, the competition further expanded to include teams from 12 provinces, municipalities, and special administrative regions in Mainland China, as well as four teams from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. This has fostered valuable cross-regional learning experiences and broadened students’ horizons. 

In past years, we have had the honour of welcoming distinguished guests including Ms Yvonne Lam Si Hang, Principal Assistant Secretary (Curriculum Development) at the Education Bureau; Mr Lee Kin Wan, Paul, Principal Education Officer (Curriculum Development) at the Education Bureau; Professor Ricardo Mak, Director of Public Examinations at the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority; Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the Hong Kong Palace Museum; and Professor Liu Shuyong, Deputy Chief Editor of Hong Kong Chronicles and Senior Research Fellow in the Hong Kong and South China Historical Research Programme at Lingnan University. They graciously joined us to present awards and deliver inspiring speeches.

This year marks the fourth edition of the competition, with the theme “Exploring Chinese History Through Games”, which aims to encourage students to explore Chinese history and culture through engaging topics and content. 

For more details, please visit our website at https://events.polyu.edu.hk/secchist2026/home (in Traditional Chinese) or refer to the poster and handout below.

• English Poster: HERE
• Chinese Poster (Simplified Chinese): HERE
• English Handout: HERE
• Chinese Handout (Simplified Chinese): HERE
• Chinese Handout (Traditional Chinese): HERE

Registration is now open and will remain open until June 30, 2026. 

Interested teachers and students are encouraged to attend the briefing session (in Mandarin), where Prof. Chen Bin will share insights on the competition theme. The session will provide an opportunity to learn more about the competition details and expectations. 

Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please feel free to contact us at +852 3400 8946 (phone) or sec.chist@polyu.edu.hk (email). We welcome your interest and are here to support your participation.