EdUHK Innovates with Chinese Poetry AI Learning Application

23 Jun 2025

To promote the education of classical Chinese literature and culture, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) has launched the innovative ‘Fun to Chinese Poetry’ learning application. This initiative combines the study of classical poetry with artificial intelligence (AI) technology, creating engaging and dynamic content to enhance students’ reading literacy in classical poetry, as well as encourage personalised and interactive learning experiences. The application has been downloaded around 250,000 times and is currently being used in over 100 primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong.

The Fun to Chinese Poetry application is part of the project funded by the Central Reserve Allocation Committee (CRAC), called ‘An AI-enhanced Way to Learn Chinese Culture: Starting from Classical Chinese Poetry’. Principal investigators of the research project include EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Dr Liao Xian, Executive investigator and Associate Director of the Centre for Research on Chinese Language and Education (CRCLE), Director of CRCLE Dr Liang Yuan, and Professor Pamela Leung Pui-wan, Associate Dean of the Faculty of Humanities (Quality Assurance and Enhancement).

The application is built on AI algorithms specifically designed by the EdUHK research team, providing personalised recommendations for students to learn classical poetry. It includes all 50 classical poems from the Education Bureau’s ‘Recommended Passages’. The application offers a variety of functions, allowing students to read, interpret, sing and play games with the poetry. Users can also choose between viewing the application in Cantonese or Mandarin. They can also create individual profiles, allowing teachers to better understand their progress.

The research team explained that, in light of the widespread usage of AI in learning, traditional cultural education must evolve with the times. The project employs multimedia technology to transform classical poetry, characterised by its highly condensed language, in a more artistic, visual and simplified way. It innovatively demonstrates the unique rhythms, melodies and artistic concepts, thereby breaking the stereotype that it is dull and difficult to learn.

“The summer break is a golden opportunity for students to engage in self-directed learning. We encourage them to download Fun to Chinese Poetry and explore the mystery of classical poetry during the summer holidays. This process enhances students’ reading and comprehension skills and their appreciation of classical language, but also allows them to experience the meanings and aesthetic qualities within the poetry, cultivating positive values and enriching their emotional attitudes,” Dr Liao Xian said.

The programme is publicly available for download on the Apple Store, Google Play or through the website https://ftcp.eduhk.hk/. EdUHK hopes that this learning programme will further enhance public interest in classical poetry education, inject new momentum into Chinese education in Hong Kong, and promote the inheritance and development of Chinese culture.

The Fun to Chinese Poetry Learning Application Functions and Details

Function	Description
Personalised Recommendation*	Recommends suitable classical poems for first-time users based on their personal interests, using an AI algorithm developed by research team.
Animation Interpretation	Animated characters from the ‘Poetry Family’ (e.g., Poetry Boy, Poetry Girl, and her classmate) explain the content of each poem, including vocabulary, verses, main themes, and the poets' backgrounds, allowing students to quickly grasp the overall meaning of the poems. Animation dialogue topics relate to students’ school experiences and home life, making it easier for them to engage with the learning material. Each animation is appropriately timed for different grade levels: approximately 3 minutes for lower primary students, 4 minutes for upper primary students, and 5-6 minutes for middle school students. Brief introductions to important linguistic concepts of the Chinese language enhance students' understanding of the language.
Poetry Reading	Provides standard pronunciation readings in both Cantonese and Mandarin, with the verses displayed synchronously on the screen. Students can read aloud by following the standard pronunciation and make recordings of their own. Includes replay and sharing functions, allowing students to listen again independently or share with teachers and friends. Equipped with an AI speech recognition feature that provides intelligent feedback after students read.*
Poetry Singing	Enables students to appreciate the musical beauty of classical poetry through chanting. Music has been produced for 43 recommended pieces. Two versions are available in Cantonese and Mandarin, both featuring the same melody. Users can listen to the music and then participate in karaoke, customising the music speed and scenes while singing. Easily share singing creations with teachers and friends.
Poetry Games	Provides 3 to 5 mini-games for each classical poem to enhance students' understanding. Includes replay options and correct answers for improvement.

(* This function requires logging in with an account and password.)

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EdUHK Innovates with Chinese Poetry AI Learning Application

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