From a tin of tea to Chinese champion

He plans to graduate from the University of Hamburg next summer before returning to China for further study. He hopes to enroll in a Chinese-taught graduate program, possibly in economics or business administration.

"Winning the championship has made me even more certain that I want to come to China for further study," he says.

"My future career will definitely have something to do with China and the Chinese language."

During his preparations for the competition, Petersen often slipped into the corridor between train carriages in Germany to recite Tang Dynasty (618-907) poetry aloud. Those verses became another way for him to understand China — and, increasingly, himself.