On March 14, the 2025 kickoff ceremony and first event of the “Youth in Wuhan, Journey Together” series for the city’s million college students was held in Wuhan East Lake High-Tech Development Zone. The event was jointly organized by the Municipal Organization Department, Municipal Talent Work Bureau, Municipal Economic and Information Technology Bureau, Municipal Youth League Committee, and East Lake High-Tech Zone. SCMU was represented by Li Hongyan, Standing Committee Member and Vice President, along with Youth League Committee leaders and 20 student representatives.
During the launch ceremony, officials and attendees reviewed the 2024 “Youth in Wuhan, Journey Together” activities. Representatives from the Municipal Economic and Information Technology Bureau briefed students on the current development of Wuhan’s next-generation information technology industry.
Following the ceremony, participants traveled to visit leading enterprises in the area. At the dust-free workshop of WuhanHuaxing PhotoelectricTechnology Co., Ltd., students were captivated by the fully automated production lines. They witnessed the company’s breakthrough achievements and had hands-on experience with innovative products like folding screens and vehicle displays. Inside the production facility, students observed robotic arms working on assembly lines, marveling at the fully automated manufacturing process. At China Information Communication Technologies Group, students gathered around a smart city sand table where flowing data streams displayed real-time urban operations. At Yangtze Fibre Optic Cable Co., Ltd., participants viewed globally advanced innovations including optical fiber preforms and hollow-core optical fibers. Li Hao, a 2021 student from the School of Chemistry and Materials Science, gazed at China’s first domestically produced optical fiber from 1987 displayed in a showcase and remarked, “From this ‘glass thread’ that could only transmit signals a few kilometers, to today’s globally leading hollow-core optical fibers—this technological breakthrough epitomizes Wuhan’s scientific innovation spirit and perfectly illustrates China’s technological manufacturing prowess”.
Students touring a corporate exhibition hall. Photo by Song Jia
The tour also incorporated cultural, ecological, and integrated urban experiences. Students strolled through East Lake Cherry Blossom Garden,taking in the natural splendor of what locals proudly call the city’s ‘world-class green lung’,and sampled local specialties like Wuchang fish and pork rib and lotus root soup, savoring Wuhan’s distinctive food culture.
“Youth gather because of the city, and the city thrives because of its youth”, reflected Ran Qiuli, a 2021 graduating student from the School of Electronic Information Engineering. “As a soon-to-be graduate, this event helped me clearly understand Wuhan’s talent policies. Visiting these companies up close has filled me with confidence about Wuhan’s development”.
The “Youth in Wuhan, Journey Together” series will continue throughout Wuhan’s three towns, creating platforms for connecting universities with local talent and industry needs, guiding college students to explore Wuhan, understand the city, develop an appreciation for it, and ultimately choose to build their futures here.
