Golden October adorns the land with splendor. On the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army's Long March, the university held its flag-raising ceremony, themed "Carry Forward the Red Legacy, Forge Ahead on the Path to Rejuvenation", at the Nanhu Central Sports Field on the morning of October 1. All university leaders on campus, heads of relevant functional departments and schools, and more than 2,000 faculty and student representatives gathered beneath the national flag to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of New China and to wish the great motherland prosperity and strength and people of all ethnic groups happiness and well-being.

Flag-Raising Ceremony Scene. Photo by Lian Shuang

At 7 a.m., the flag-raising ceremony officially began. Amid the majestic national anthem, the Five-Star Red Flag rose slowly and streamed high in the morning breeze. All faculty and students stood in solemn attention facing the flag and sang the national anthem in unison, paying the highest tribute to the great motherland.

Flag Guard Team Raises the Five-Star Red Flag. Photo by Gao Yinuo

Once the flag-raising ceremony concluded, the situational storytelling pieceThis Baton Is Now Yourswas warmly presented beneath the national flag. Wei Mingxuan, a young student representative, opened with the question of our times — "What should young people do for a strong nation and national rejuvenation?" This set the stage for a shared storytelling session by three generations — senior, middle-aged, and young — of SCMU members. Huang Xuming, leader of the 27th Postgraduate Volunteer Teaching Corps; Liu Siyu, representative of the sci-tech innovation team; and Wei Shuhe, representative of the social practice team shared their youthful stories of venturing to the western regions, dedicating themselves to innovation and exploration, and taking root in grassroots practice. Their accounts showcased the enterprising spirit of SCMU students in the new era. Jin Ning, a faculty representative from the School of Physical Education, recounted the story behind the delegation's first gold medal at the Hubei Provincial Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities, and reflected on 16 years of dedication to and continuity of the land boat racing event. Teacher Ye Xumin, who was born in the same year as the People's Republic of China, recalled his more than 40 years of growing alongside the university, recounting how generations of SCMU members worked hard and joined hands to build the university. He encouraged young students to take up the baton of history, carry forward the spiritual flame, and contribute their youthful strength on the new journey.

Situational Storytelling PieceThis Baton Is Now Yours. Photo by Dong Yiqing

In response to the expectations of the older generation of SCMU members, young student representatives gave a solemn pledge. They vowed to integrate their personal pursuits into the cause of the Party and the nation, and to dedicate their youth, unity, and sincerity to stepping up with courage and responsibility and striving tirelessly for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. All faculty and students sangOde to the Motherlandin unison, praising the great era and blessing the great motherland. The resounding song echoed across the sports field.

"When Teacher Ye said, 'This Baton Is Now Yours', my eyes welled up," said Wang Guanzhong, an undergraduate in the Class of 2023 from the School of Economics, who was visibly moved. "The stories of generations of SCMU strivers have made me understand more clearly that the value of youth lies in going where the nation needs us. As an SCMU student in the new era, I am ready to take the baton from our predecessors and write my own chapter through youthful striving."

Over the years, the university has taken flag-raising ceremonies as an important vehicle for deepening patriotic education and promoting campus cultural development. These solemn rituals help faculty and students cultivate a deep love for family and country and pool strength for forging ahead. Centered on the theme of "passing the baton", this ceremony brought together the stories of endeavor of three generations of SCMU members under the national flag. It encourages young students to draw spiritual strength from the university's development history, to advance on the Long March of the new era with a sense of urgency and unremitting effort, and to contribute their youthful strength to building a strong nation and realizing national rejuvenation.

Editor-in-charge: Liu Qiong Reviewed by: Lei Changsheng Uploaded by: Liu Hong Release Date: October 1, 2026