On the morning of September 2nd, Nanchang University (NCU) held the Opening Ceremony for Incoming Students of 2026 at Baifan Stadium on the Qianhu Campus. Gathered on campus, undergraduate and postgraduate new students arrived with bright eyes and high spirits to embark on a brand‑new chapter of their lives. Luo Sihai, Party Secretary of NCU, Chen Yeguang, President of NCU, together with other university leaders, faculty members, students and parent representatives attended to witness the memorable occasion.
Chen Shifa, Vice President of NCU, presided over the ceremony.
A prelude programme unfolded before the official opening. New students watched a special video showcasing the university’s century-long legacy. Performances followed, featuring uplifting warm-up acts from the University Art Troupe and Campus Singer Contest winners. Counselors for the Class of 2026 took the stage to sing, conveying the caring spirit of faculty mentors through melodies. Coaches and players of the Men’s Volleyball Team fired up the audience with their signature entrance and rousing songs celebrating perseverance, and applause and cheers reverberated across the venue.
The opening ceremony commenced as the solemn strains of the National Anthem rang out. All faculty and students stood at attention facing the national flag and sang the anthem in unison. This particular Five-Starred Red Flag was raised at Tiananmen Square on 3 February 2016, the day General Secretary Xi Jinping visited Nanchang University, and was presented to the university by the Tiananmen Area Administration Committee. This treasured gift embodies General Secretary Xi Jinping's sincere care and earnest expectations for every member of the NCU community. Shortly afterwards, NCU's azure university flag was carried into the venue, rippling in the breeze.
Chen Yizhi, a freshman majoring in Stomatology at the School of Stomatology, spoke on behalf of incoming students. Recalling twelve years of diligent study in pursuit of her academic goals, she shared what drew her to stomatology and expressed her joy and pride in joining NCU. She encouraged fellow freshmen to align personal growth with the broader momentum of the times, to gain insight through learning and assume responsibility through practice. Drawing inspiration from Academician Jiang Fengyi, she urged her peers to “emit more light than heat” in their respective fields and write brilliant chapters as NCU students in the prime of youth.
Zhu Zhiwei, a second-year master's candidate at the School of Physical Education and captain of the University Men's Volleyball Team, shared his experience balancing academics and athletic training. He recounted the team's hard-won victory in the China University Volleyball Association (CUVA) national championship after a 14-year gap, illustrating the team ethos: “Never give up until the ball touches the ground.”He advised new students to build regular exercise habits, nurture positive mental well-being and embrace healthy lifestyles as they forge their own vibrant college journeys at NCU.
Professor Yin Junyi, Dean of the School of Food Science and Technology, delivered remarks on behalf of faculty. He reflected on his own journey from student to educator and outlined key milestones achieved by NCU's food-science discipline in recent years. He encouraged new students to stay committed to moral integrity, uphold the pursuit of truth, and develop the ability to think independently. He urged them to thrive academically and personally, growing into well-rounded socialist builders and successors with sound moral, intellectual, physical, aesthetic and labour-related development.
At the ceremony, Luo Sihai presented the flag to the military training brigade.
President Chen Yeguang delivered a speech entitled “The Way of Scholarship: Learn Extensively, Inquire Accurately, Reflect Prudently, Discern Clearly, and Practice Earnestly.” He explained the symbolism of the camphor tree on the university emblem, traced the university's over-100-year history and spiritual legacy, and elaborated on the scholarly ethos embodied in these five pursuits. He noted that this year marks the 105th anniversary of the university's founding. Over 105 years, generations of NCUers have nourished dreams through extensive study, sought truth through earnest enquiry, refined character through quiet reflection, anchored direction through sound discernment, and achieved glory through steadfast practice, jointly forging the NCU spirit of “Patriotism, Self-reliance, Innovation and Practicality.” He encouraged freshmen to break boundaries and pursue knowledge broadly, laying a solid foundation for growth with a wide intellectual horizon; to dare to question and enquire, exploring the essence of things with a truth-seeking spirit; to settle down and take deep root, forging independent personalities through quiet perseverance; to distinguish right from wrong and maintain inner focus, calibrating life's course with clear judgement; and to forge ahead unremittingly with down-to-earth efforts, composing youthful chapters through solid practice.
A university badge pinning ceremony followed. Guests seated in the front row of the rostrum pinned badges onto freshman representatives, while freshmen in the audience fastened theirs to their chests. A university badge is not only a mark of identity, but also a pledge of mission. As the badges engraved with “Nanchang University” gleamed on their chests, the university motto — Seeking Truth and Innovation, Cultivating Virtue and Benefiting People — took root in the hearts of the new NCUers, a spiritual compass that would guide them as they forge ahead.
The familiar melody of the NCU anthem rang out across the stadium: “Shouldering our mission, our prospects stretch far; Nanchang University marches toward the future…” All faculty and students joined in song, their voices lingering long in the morning light. With this, the Class of 2026 embarked on a new journey, marching forward alongside Nanchang University toward a broader, brighter future.
