The annual number of global candidates taking the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), or the Chinese Proficiency Test, surged to a record high of one million in 2026, according to the 2026 World Chinese Language Conference, which kicked off on Friday in Beijing.
The HSK now has more than 1,500 test sites in 169 countries -- more countries than any other language exam -- and has served over nine million test-takers cumulatively.
The global scale of Chinese learning keeps expanding, with 210 million people overseas learning and using the language.
"Our adult classes at our office in New York really exploded over the last couple of years, and the explosion has gone from not just beginners and first-time Mandarin students to more like HSK 5, HSK 6 and beyond students who are looking for that next level. Then they go on to more -- maybe private tutoring -- and [ask], 'How do I do this specific sector?' We're actually seeing that increased a lot as well," said Jamie Keyte, co-founder of Manhattan Mandarin, a Chinese learning center in Manhattan, New York.
"Language will certainly bring you many benefits. You can make friends in Chinese. Many countries want to cooperate with China, and you can help them better understand Chinese culture," said Graciela Barrantes, a Costa Rican student at the Beijing Normal University.
As demand for Chinese learning diversifies, how Chinese language education can be combined with vocational skills training has become a hot topic at this year's World Chinese Language Conference. During the event, the Chinese Education Ministry's Center for Language Education and Cooperation, together with multiple institutions, launched the "Chinese+" industry-education integration partnership initiative, aimed at helping other countries and regions cultivate local talent skilled in both Chinese language and culture and professional expertise.
Chinese language proficiency test hits annual record of 1 million
A wildlife photographer recently captured rare footage of a leopard cat preying on a young lamb in Beijing's Fangshan District.
In the footage, a young lamb—having just finished nursing from its mother on a hillside—remains on guard against golden eagles circling overhead; meanwhile, a leopard cat, taking advantage of the terrain and its natural camouflage, stealthily crept up close from behind.
"By the time I swung my camera back, the leopard cat had appeared—I don't know when. After spotting its prey, it crouched down, belly pressed tight to the ground, and inched slowly toward the lamb. It went straight for the throat. As the lamb struggled desperately, the leopard cat dragged it upward with all its strength—that cat is seriously powerful," said Liu Tong, the photographer.
The leopard cat is a Class II protected animal in China. It has a slender build, is roughly the same size as a domestic cat, and has its entire body covered in brown spots.
According to experts, the leopard cat’s typical diet consists primarily of small rodents, birds, and amphibians; killing a lamb in this instance was opportunistic predation.
According to the photographer, the location where this leopard cat was seen hunting is not far from a village, and the lamb that was preyed upon belonged to local herders who let their livestock roam freely. An expert said that villagers who encounter such situations can report them to the relevant government authorities to receive compensation.
"Its usual diet consists mainly of small rodents, with mice and rats making up the bulk of its food. It can catch large numbers of rats and help keep rodent populations in check. Under certain special circumstances, it may also prey on domestic poultry or livestock, but under normal conditions the leopard cat still prefers its natural prey. So if you come across one preying on your poultry or livestock, you should promptly report it to the relevant government authorities to claim compensation," said Feng Limin, a professor from the College of Life Sciences of Beijing Normal University.
Leopard cat caught on camera preying on lamb in Beijing
