On the evening of February 10, the 16thChina Farmers’ Spring Festival Gala was held at the Jingzhou Sports Center in Hubei Province. Our University’s dragon and lion dance team was invited to perform, presenting a luminous dragon performance that combined strength with grace to deliver New Year blessings to a national audience.
Team Members at the Performance Venue. (Photo provided by the Organizer)
In late December 2025, the invitation to perform at the China Farmers’ Spring Festival Gala broke the tranquility of the end-of-semester exam period on campus. At that time, the University’s dragon and lion dance team had already concluded its regular training for the semester. Team members were either busy preparing for exams or making plans to return home, presenting two major challenges: a shortage of available members and an extremely tight schedule. Unexpectedly, a single call for action quickly rallied the students. On January 29, Xu Benyu, Deputy Secretary of the Hubei Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League, visited the team’s training site. He spoke at length with the coaches and team members about the choreography, training progress, and logistical support. He fully affirmed the team’s long-standing efforts in preserving China’s outstanding traditional culture and showcasing the vibrant spirit of young students. He encouraged everyone to present their best on the national stage, demonstrating the youthful energy of Hubei’s youth and students from a minzu university, and to successfully complete their performance mission.
Xu Benyu Posing for a Group Photo with Our Faculty and Students. (Photo by Lan Yongli)
On January 31, President Liu Yi made a special trip to the training venue to visit and encourage the participating faculty and students. He carefully inspected the performance equipment and reminded everyone to prioritize safety, maintain a relaxed mindset, and fully demonstrate the fruits of their training. He stated that participating in the China Farmers’ Spring Festival Gala was an important practice for the University in serving rural revitalization and promoting ethnic sports and outstanding traditional culture. He expressed his hope that the team members would cherish this opportunity on stage, showcase the spirit of our University through their exquisite skills, bring honor to the institution, and add luster to their youth.
Liu Yi Greeting the Dragon and Lion Dance Team Faculty and Students. (Photo by Zong Ming)
At the performance venue in Jingzhou, Hong Shengzhi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Physical Education College, visited and greeted all faculty and students of the dragon and lion dance team. It is reported that the Physical Education College has long placed great emphasis on the development of the dragon and lion dance team, providing comprehensive support in areas such as daily training, faculty guidance, logistical support, and competition and performance participation, thereby offering a solid foundation for the team’s growth.
