WUHAN，Aug. 31-（By Liu Na, Staff Reporter.Photos by Chen Chong, TanYufeng, Yuan Chengxin）Over 6,000 freshmen from all corners of the country marked their long-awaited campus debut on August 31, kicking off a brand-new chapter of campus life and injecting youthful energy into the campus. With ideals and aspirations in mind, they embarked upon their unique university journey beside Wentian Lake.
（Freshmen Arrive in Staggered Shifts for an Order-Oriented Campus Check-in）
To guarantee safe, smooth and orderly arrival for newcomers, the university made advance plans and conducted cross-department coordination to launch a full range of orientation services. Off-campus welcome stations were set up at Wuhan Railway Station, Wuchang Railway Station and Hankou Railway Station. Starting in the early morning, faculty members and volunteers were stationed at station exits,providing point-to-point transfer services to take freshmen and their parents straight to campus. Shuttle buses run non-stop on campus between the main gate, registration venues and student dormitories, offering efficient transfers for new students and bridging the "last-mile"journey to campus.
（Volunteers gave warm directions to freshmen）
（Volunteers stepped forward to help freshmen and their parents carry luggage）
（After registration, students collected their millitary training supplies）
On orientation day, university leaders visited the comprehensive welcome service center on Ziqiang Road, the reception stations of various schools, and the parent rest area. They greeted newly arrived students and their accompanying parents, and expressed appreciation to counselors, faculty members, student volunteers, and logistics staff who remained at their posts. At every stop, university leaders engaged in warm conversations with freshmen, asking in detail about their journey and how well they were adjusting to dormitory life. They encouraged students to quickly adapt to their new roles, adjust their mindset, cherish their university years, study diligently and think critically, and persevere in practice—honing their skills and achieving growth on this vibrant campus. At the same time, leaders urged all work teams to maintain strict safety standards, deliver meticulous services, respond promptly to the needs of students and parents, and ensure warm-hearted service in every detail.
（Jiang Heng,Secretary of the University Party Committee, visited the orientation sites.）
（Students set off on their new journey with bright smiles）
This year, various schools carried out the "One School, One Feature" orientation initiative, creating a rich variety of themed activities. Among them, the "Time Imprint · Family Journey" activity launched by the School of Intelligent Manufacturing became the most popular highlight on registration day. The school collected childhood photos from 10 years ago from freshmen in advance. On registration day, students and their families were invited to take new group photos on campus. Senior students then handcrafted solid wood photo frames during woodworking training sessions, displaying the old and new photos side by side. An old photo preserved the innocence of youth; a new photo captured the warmth of the company of family members; a handmade frame carried the craftsmanship of engineering training, weaving together stories of growth, family bonds, and campus memories.
（At the "Time Imprint · Family Journey" event, freshmen displayed their growth comparison photos.）
Many freshmen and parents stopped to participate, flipping through and comparing the photos as they reflected on the passage of time. Chen Jiaying, a freshman majoring in Software Engineering from the Class of 2026, held the photo and said with emotion, "The innocent child from ten years ago has now stepped onto the university campus. This warm handmade gift is the most special welcome present I have received."
On registration day, the School of Intelligent Manufacturing also held a parent forum for new students, discussing topics such as academic studies, talent cultivation in the Chenguang Engineer Class, and graduate career development. The forum carefully addressed parents' concerns and further built an efficient and smooth bridge for home-school communication.
（A parent forum for freshmen focused on talent training and career development）
Besides, each school brought forth a wealth of creative ideas. Cultural-and-creative gift packages, themed signature walls, check‑in display boards and other activities took turns to make an appearance. Some schools customized creative souvenirs integrated with disciplinary elements; some set up themed photo zones for freshmen and their families to capture precious moments; others offered free fruits, snacks and more to convey warmth through thoughtful gestures.
Diverse featured activities helped freshmen quickly ease their sense of unfamiliarity upon arrival and embark confidently on their new university journey.
（Faculty and students posed for photos at college welcome stations）
According to reports, the university hosted two themed events this evening for freshmen and their parents. First, an immersive drama Red Footprints · Eternal Spark was staged in the auditorium in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of the victory of the Red Army's Long March. Meanwhile, the Lotus‑Picking Session of the "Lotus Charm at Wentian Lake · Lotus Nurtures the Original Aspiration" Lotus Culture Festival took place at Wentian Lake and the campus orchard. Activities including lotus‑harvesting labor practice and lotus-themed food experiences integrated ideological-political education, aesthetic education and labor education.
