Recently, Shanghai universities have welcomed the new semester, with freshmen full of anticipation and hope as they embark on a new journey in life.

On the 27th, Shanghai Jiao Tong University held its opening ceremony and first lesson for the class of 2025 undergraduate freshmen at the Huo Yingdong Sports Center in its Minhang campus. Representatives from over 20 key high schools across the country, along with more than 5,200 new undergraduate students, attended the ceremony, collectively opening a new youthful chapter for the new members of the university community.

The university introduced that to help the class of 2025 freshmen adapt more quickly to university learning and life, Shanghai Jiao Tong University has innovatively launched a personalized, bilingual “AI Academic Advisor” to provide undergraduate students with round-the-clock, comprehensive academic development and planning support. This intelligent system can guide students step by step in scientifically and reasonably planning their learning process according to the characteristics of different university stages. From registration and teaching arrangements to daily academic inquiries, the “AI Academic Advisor” is always by the students’ side, helping them clarify goals and explore directions. Based on each freshman’s personalized schedule, the system can also push real-time customized reminders to effectively avoid missing key academic activities.

In addition, the “AI Academic Advisor” offers 24/7 online personalized in-depth interpretation, assisting students in thoroughly understanding the training requirements and knowledge systems they need to complete at each stage, providing strong support for a fulfilling and orderly start to university life.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University also prepared a “Freshman Welcome Package” for the class of 2025, independently designed by senior students. The package includes practical cultural and creative items that incorporate the university’s iconic elements, conveying campus culture through youthful and lively designs, allowing freshmen to feel a strong sense of belonging and warmth from the very beginning.

At the start of the opening ceremony, all freshmen and parent representatives watched the student-created video “Mom and Dad.” As a “fixed program” of the freshman season since 2011, this series of videos has accompanied Shanghai Jiao Tong University freshmen for over a decade, serving as a “warm emblem” of the enrollment season. Over fifteen years, it has used “gratitude to parents and cherishing family bonds” as a link to make the university motto “Remember the source of your drinking water, honor your country and school” more relatable—extending from gratitude for parental upbringing to a sense of responsibility toward the university and the nation, laying an emotional foundation for the new members of the university community.

The university’s Party secretary delivered the first lesson of the semester to the class of 2025 undergraduates, and the president, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave a keynote speech.

With the theme “Start Anew, Achieve Excellence Through Accumulation,” the president shared his and the Party secretary’s hopes for the new members of the university community. He encouraged students to be explorers committed to innovation and practitioners of long-termism, to set life directions with broad vision, develop genuine expertise, persist in walking with the nation and striving tirelessly, and create their own exceptional lives.

At Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, the university prepared seed fans for more than 2,100 undergraduate freshmen from across the country. On the fan surface, the cat IP “Su Xiaofei” leaps playfully, adding a full sense of warmth to this welcome gift with its adorable and charming appearance. Its special feature lies in the fan itself—meticulously made from eco-friendly seed paper, with fibers quietly embedded with seeds of various plants such as lettuce, mint, arugula, sunflower, and daisy.

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics welcomes the class of 2025 undergraduate freshmen.

To unlock this surprise, one only needs to tear the paper, bury it in soil, and water it appropriately, then wait quietly for greenery to sprout. This seed fan during the opening season is not only a touch of coolness in the summer but also a promise to “

Huo Yingdong Sports Center

The Huo Yingdong Sports Center is a major multi-purpose stadium in Guangzhou, China, primarily built to host the 2010 Asian Games. It was named in honor of the late Hong Kong businessman and philanthropist Henry Fok (Huo Yingdong), who made significant contributions to China’s sporting development. The center stands as a modern sports and cultural landmark in the city.

Minhang campus

The Minhang campus is the main campus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, established in the 1980s to accommodate the university’s expansion. It is a modern, comprehensive campus known for its engineering and technology programs and serves as a major center for academic research and innovation in China.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) is one of China’s oldest and most prestigious universities, founded in 1896 by an imperial edict. It was originally established as the Nanyang Public School to cultivate modern talent in engineering and management. Today, it is a leading research university renowned for its strengths in science, engineering, medicine, and business.

Chinese Academy of Sciences

The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is China’s national academy for the natural sciences and the nation’s highest academic institution in scientific research and technological development. It was founded in Beijing in 1949, shortly after the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, to promote scientific advancement. Today, it oversees a vast network of research institutes and universities and is a global leader in numerous scientific fields.

Shanghai University of Finance and Economics

The Shanghai University of Finance and Economics (SUFE) is a prestigious public university in China, originally established in 1917 as the Nanjing Advanced Normal School. It is renowned for its specialized focus on economics, finance, and business, playing a significant role in educating financial professionals and shaping China’s modern economic policies.

Su Xiaofei

I am not familiar with a significant cultural or historical site named “Su Xiaofei.” It is possible that the name may be misspelled, refer to a less-known local place, or be a personal name rather than a public site. Could you please provide more context or check the spelling?

Remember the source of your drinking water, honor your country and school

This phrase is a traditional Chinese motto that emphasizes gratitude and loyalty. It is not a physical place but a cultural concept, often found inscribed in schools and public buildings to promote civic virtue. Its history is rooted in Confucian values that stress the importance of remembering one’s origins and honoring one’s community.

Mom and Dad

“Mom and Dad” is not a specific place or cultural site, but rather a common, universal term of endearment for one’s parents. The terms have deep roots in family structures across countless cultures and languages, representing the foundational caregivers in a person’s life. Their history is intrinsically linked to the history of the family unit itself.