Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) welcomed over 20,000 new undergraduate and graduate students at its opening ceremony for the 2025-26 academic year on September 7. The event marked the beginning of a new chapter for the incoming class, bringing together first-year students, university leaders, faculty, and distinguished guests for a memorable celebration.

The venue of the opening ceremony.

Faculty and student representatives spoke as keynote speakers, sharing motivating stories from their experiences and encouraging the new students to embrace the pursuit of knowledge and the mission of national service.

Dr. Kongjun Zhu, Chairman of the University Council,makes an address at the opening ceremony.

Dr. Kongjun Zhu, Chairman of the University Council, extended his heartfelt congratulations and warm welcome to the incoming freshmen. In his speech, he urged students to embody three core virtues. He called on them to be ambitious and driven, aligning their personal aspirations with the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. In an era of rapid technological change, he stressed the importance of being compassionate and kind, emphasizing that human values like conscience and empathy are irreplaceable. Finally, he called on the new cohort to be responsible and accountable, encouraging them to use their knowledge to tackle real-world challenges and contribute to society.

President Song Gao delivers a speech.

Professor Song Gao, President of SYSU, addressed the incoming students with an inspiring message. He began by explaining the origin of the university’s name—“Yat-sen” which in Cantonese is a homophone for “renewal”, embodying the spirit of innovation and perseverance that defines the university's legacy. He called on students to strive to align their knowledge with national service. He also stressed the importance of critical thinking and empathy in a technology-driven world, while encouraging them to embody the university's pioneering spirit by taking bold action and daring to be at the forefront of their fields.

Professor Yitang Zhang delivers a speech.

Professor Yitang Zhang, a renowned mathematician from the Institute of Advanced Studies Hong Kong at SYSU, addressed the freshmen as the faculty representative. Drawing on his personal experiences and academic research, he shared with the students what he considered the three forms of beauty. First, he spoke of the beauty of university, a place where teachers and students embark on a shared journey of intellectual discovery. He then described the beauty of science, which lies in the persistent pursuit of seemingly "useless" questions that ultimately push the boundaries of knowledge. Finally, he celebrated the beauty of life, rooted in the essential act of self-affirmation and acceptance. Zhang concluded by expressing his hope that the incoming students would not only gain knowledge, engage with science, and embrace life at SYSU, but ultimately discover their true selves.

Yuxiang Qiang delivers a speech.

Yuxiang Qiang, a graduate student from the Department of History, shared how the university's "century-old ethos" guided his academic journey. He spoke about his personal journey of engaging in field research and community revitalization projects, connecting his work to the university's profound historical legacy. "This practical work is a contemporary response to the aspirations of our university's predecessors," he stated.

Tianyu Sun delivers a speech.

Tianyu Sun, a first-year graduate student from the School of Advanced Energy, drew on his academic and practical experiences to urge his peers to pursue excellence in academic work, shouldering the mission of the times by serving the country.

Guoge Zhang delivers a speech.

Guoge Zhang, a senior undergraduate from the School of Tourism Management, shared her three-year transformative journey at the university. She recalled that her early participation in the "Azheke Project" had equipped her with the practical skills to apply her academic knowledge to rural revitalization efforts.

Zehui Qiu delivers a speech.

Zehui Qiu, a first-year undergraduate student from Zhongshan School of Medicine, shared her perspective on what it means to be a new-generation SYSU student, defining this spirit through a mindset of integrity, a dedication to truth-seeking, and a commitment to action. She also talked about her aspiration to combine medical knowledge with sports injury research in her future studies.

As the 41st Teachers' Day approaches, teacher representatives from 21 high schools across the country were also invited to attend the opening ceremony. During the ceremony, a representative of the freshmen presented flowers to the principals of their alma maters to express gratitude for their dedicated guidance and nurturing.

SYSU held the opening ceremony in a hybrid online and offline format. The main venue was set at the University Gymnasium on the South Campus of Guangzhou Campus, with branch venues established across five campuses in Guangzhou, Zhuhai and Shenzhen. The event was also live-streamed for freshmen’s families and friends.

Photographers: Huang Runxuan, Chen Kaijia, Huang Xinyue, Zhang Langrui, Zhang Yan