Kate Waterman (17) and Tineke Jannink (16) won all-expenses paid trips to Chongqing in southwest China after winning the senior section of the New Zealand Chinese Bridge speech competition in Wellington recently.
The pair will spend two weeks in the city, immersing themselves in the culture and the language.
Kate said the competition involved giving a three-minute speech in Chinese and giving a performance (singing or dancing) in a talent show-type competition.
It would be challenging because they would be competing against secondary pupils from around the globe, including Chinese pupils.
Tineke said she had been to China before on a school trip, but was looking forward to returning to experience the culture again.
"I love bargaining with people at the markets. It's something you can't do in New Zealand."
Kate said she had never been to China, and was also looking forward to experiencing the culture and looking at the panda bears which lived nearby.
"It's where the panda bears are. We're very excited," she said.
The duo's Chinese teacher at Columba College, Ivy Ding, also won awards at the New Zealand Chinese Bridge competition for being the best organised school and the best coach.
Year 10 pupils Tayla Ashworth and Hannah Pearson were third in the junior section of the competition.
