Tsinghua University held an opening ceremony on August 29 to welcome its incoming graduates. More than 9,000 students embarked on a new journey at Tsinghua in 2025.
Leaders of the University attended the ceremony, including Qiu Yong, Li Luming, Xiang Botao, Zeng Rong, Guo Yong, Zhao Gang, Xu Qinghong, Wang Hongwei, Bai Benfeng, and Wu Huaqiang. Tsinghua Vice President Jiang Peixue presided over the ceremony.
The venue of the opening ceremony.
Qiu Yong (right) pins a Tsinghua badge for a new student representative.
At the opening ceremony, a special segment featured the presentation of Tsinghua University badges to new students. Secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee Qiu Yong pinned a Tsinghua badge for a graduate student representative.
Li Luming makes an address during the opening ceremony.
Tsinghua President Li Luming warmly welcomed the incoming graduate students on behalf of the University. In his speech titled “Carrying Forward the Spirit of Self-Strengthening, Composing a Glorious Chapter of Youth,” he emphasized that the Chinese nation has long upheld the values of self-discipline and social commitment. He pointed out that the spirit of self-strengthening embodies an unyielding will and proactive attitude rooted in our cultural bloodline; it reflects a commitment to innovation and the courage to scale new heights in answering the call of the times; and it represents a pursuit of openness, cooperation and a broad vision with the world in mind amid the great changes unseen in a century.
He hopes that students will carry forward the spirit of self-strengthening, hone their skills, and compose a song of innovation, and become Tsinghua graduates capable of shouldering the mission of the times. In doing so, they will compose a glorious chapter of youth through their unrelenting efforts for national prosperity, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and the advancement of human civilization.
Wang Hui delivers a speech.
Wang Hui, Distinguished Professor of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, delivered a speech on behalf of faculty members. He said that with the development of natural sciences and technology, as well as the humanities and social sciences, crossing disciplinary boundaries and engaging in more integrated research has become the norm for academic innovation. He expressed the hope that students will keep in mind the historical significance of Tsinghua’s motto, and in their wholehearted dedication to academic work, experience the joy of research and the excitement of creation.
Cheng Zekun delivers a speech.
Cheng Zekun, president of the Tsinghua Graduate Student Union, shared insights from his own experience at Tsinghua. He said that the Tsinghua spirit of “running” embodies the pursuit of excellence in research, patriotic dedication, and physical fitness. As young people in the prime of their youth, he encouraged them to run with all their strength and strive to achieve the best results of their generation.
Li Yu’er delivers a speech.
Li Yu’er, a doctoral student from the Department of Automation, spoke as a student representative. She said that Tsinghua is a stage where personal aspirations resonate with the development of the nation. She looked forward to everyone finding their original passion for research through real-world needs, reaching academic heights through frontier exploration, and shouldering the mission of the times by serving the country.
New graduates attend the opening ceremony.
Tsinghua University held the opening ceremony in a hybrid online and offline format. Besides the main venue at the University Gymnasium, other venues like New Tsinghua Xuetang and the Auditorium were set up across campus. The event was also live-streamed on the “Rain Classroom” platform.
Leaders of school departments, award-winning teachers, and representatives of newly appointed faculty attended the ceremony.
Nearly 1,900 new graduate students from the Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School attended the ceremony online, along with the new students’ families, faculty, alumni, and friends from various sectors who support the University’s development.
Editors: JP, Li Han
