Overview
The Hua Luogeng Gold Cup Youth Mathematics Invitational (华罗庚金杯少年数学邀请赛, the Hua Cup) is a national mathematics competition for primary and junior high school students in China, started in 1986 in memory of the mathematician Hua Luogeng. It is organised by a group of bodies including the China Children's News publishing house and the Chinese Society of Optimization, Overall Planning and Economic Mathematics. It has drawn teams from places outside mainland China, such as Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taiwan, Macau and the Philippines.
Who can take part
Students compete in groups by grade as of September:
| Group | Grades |
|---|---|
| Primary middle grades | Up to Grade 4 |
| Primary upper grades | Up to Grade 6 |
| Junior high first year | Grade 7 |
| Junior high second year | Grade 8 |
Students register through local participating organisers.
Exam pattern
| Stage | Timing | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary | December (Saturday), 10:00 to 11:00 | Written: 6 multiple-choice and 4 fill-in-the-blank questions |
| Final | March (Saturday), 10:00 to 11:30 | Written: 8 fill-in-the-blank and 6 written-answer questions |
| Grand final | August, Huizhou, Guangdong | Gold, silver and bronze medals by group |
Questions stress number theory, counting, geometry and combinatorics. Reports of the 2026 cycle in other regions show different timing, so check your local organiser.
Fees
Fees are set locally and differ by region.
How to apply
Register through your school or local organiser. Deadlines are local.
Preparation tips
Practise past preliminary and final papers for your group, and work on counting and number theory problems in particular.
Note
These details come from guide pages, not the organiser's own site, which could not be reached. Confirm schedules and fees with your local organiser.
Can a student enter a higher grade group?
Reports say entering a higher group is allowed but entering a lower one is not.