Bright moonlight bathes the maple grove as youth embarks on a new journey. To welcome the more than 2,000 new students of the Class of 2026, deepen their love for country and home, and celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, the “Full Moon over Maple Leaves · Mountains and Seas United in Roundness” 2026 Freshmen Welcome Evening and Mid-Autumn Gala, hosted by the Student Affairs Department (Youth League Committee), came to a successful close at the Daheishi Campus sports ground at 18:00 on September 22. Wei Xiaofeng, Party Secretary; Gao Chenglin, Executive Vice President; Jin Xiaohui, Deputy Party Secretary; together with leaders of administrative and academic departments, counselors, and all the new students, gathered to bring aesthetic education and ideological enrichment onto the stage, turning the gala into a vivid and lively campus “big ideological and political lesson.” Taking the moon as its prologue and youth as its chapter, the entire gala wove together patriotism, traditional culture, youthful striving, the warmth of reunion, and the passing on of legacy, fully expressing our school motto of “Diligent Learning, Refined Skills, Reverence for Virtue, and Altruism,” and showcasing the educational ethos of vocational education that cultivates both virtue and skill and integrates industry with teaching.
Prologue | Moon Rises Over Mountains and Seas · Flowers Bloom on Maple Leaves
The gala officially opened with the rousing and fervent dance “Blooming China,” performed with devotion by students of Dalian Xingang Customs Clearance Technical School. The dancers moved gracefully, praising the flourishing land of the nation with their nimble movements, condensing their sincere love for the motherland onto the stage, guiding the youth to cultivate patriotic sentiment, live up to the promise of the times, and grow toward the sun on their dream-chasing journey, opening a brand-new chapter of youthful life for the Maple Leaf students.
▲ Dance: “Blooming China”
Chapter One | Youth in Their Prime · Young Hearts Like Songs
As the wind stirs the scholars’ robes, the young should sing. This chapter focuses on the spirit of youth, encouraging the freshmen to shed their naivety and bravely charge toward their own arena of youth. Through spirited performances, the programs voiced the ideals of the young and vividly illustrated the proactive, vigorous, and upward-looking spirit of vocational college students in the new era.
The dance “Batter Up,” presented by students of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, featured dynamic and powerful movements that burst with the vibrant energy of youth, conveying an attitude of daring to strive and ready to take the initiative—inspiring students to face challenges fearlessly on the new track of university life, hone their skills, and seize opportunities for growth.
▲ Dance: “Batter Up”
The professional catwalk program “Enduring Charms of Splendor,” brought by the Smart City Service Industry College, saw students stepping onto the stage in time with the beat, showcasing fashion flair through modern attire and skillfully blending sartorial aesthetics with the students’ own bearing. This catwalk was more than a visual presentation; it was a display of young people’s aesthetic sense and confident poise, highlighting the upward spirit of vocational college students in the new era.
▲ Catwalk: “Enduring Charms of Splendor”
The solo “The Most Beautiful Sun,” sung by Tian Xinyu of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, used resounding voice to celebrate ideals and hope, telling every young person that an ideal is the sun that lights the way ahead. It encouraged the freshmen to hold passion in their hearts, fear no confusion, advance firmly toward their goals, and dispel hesitation on the path of growth with faith.
▲ Solo: “The Most Beautiful Sun”
The song-and-dance “China in the Lights,” performed by Gao Xinyue and other students of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, depicted the majestic rivers and mountains of the motherland through thousands of glowing household lights. The singing and dancing sketched a beautiful picture of the nation’s peaceful homes, guiding the youth to understand the close bond between country and individual, to realize that the tranquility of every household depends on the perseverance and struggle of each generation, and to embrace the value of unity of heart between family and nation.
▲ Performance: “China in the Lights”
Chapter Two | Brilliance of the Starry River · A Myriad of Wonders on Display
Vocational education makes possible diverse and brilliant lives. This chapter conveyed the educational philosophy that “everyone can become a talent, and everyone can fully display their gifts.” It showcased the inclusive and flourishing educational atmosphere of the Maple Leaf campus, where traditional culture, diverse cultures, and youthful creativity shine together.
The program “White Horse” blended dance, guzheng (zither), and calligraphy, performed by Xun Qihang, Wang Yu, and other students of the Smart City Service Industry College. With galloping warhorses, melodious strings, and flowing brushwork, it fused traditional instruments, calligraphy, and modern dance, fully revealing the elegant spirit of Eastern youth, leading students to feel the charm of traditional culture and realize the mission of young people to inherit the quintessence of the nation while upholding the right path and innovating.
▲ Performance: “White Horse”
The chorus “The Moon Climbs Over the Hillside,” performed on stage by Bi Yahan, Wang Lüqian, and other students of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, featured tender moonlight and crystal-clear singing, with the performers using a full round moon to express longing and reunion. Falling on the Mid-Autumn Festival, the program blended the feeling of reunion into the campus, closing the distance between teachers and students and classmates, and nurturing in the students a gentle character of gratitude and kindness.
▲ Chorus: “The Moon Climbs Over the Hillside”
Representatives of international students from the International Students Department performed the song “Diamond,” reminding us that the bright moon knows no distance and youth knows no borders. Diverse cultures met and blended on the Maple Leaf campus, shining brilliantly like diamonds tempered through refinement. The program broadened the youth’s international horizons and guided students to respect differences, embrace inclusiveness and mutual learning, and grow through exchange and mutual appreciation.
▲ Song: “Diamond”
The dance “Infinite Manifesto,” brought by Wang Yuxin, Chen Yushaofei, and other students of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, used sonorous body language to voice the youth’s cry, proclaiming the infinite potential and strength of young people. It encouraged students to break through their self-imposed limits, dare to express themselves, firmly affirm their self-identity, and believe that vocational youth, too, possess unlimited possibilities.
▲ Dance: “Infinite Manifesto”
Xun Qihang, Meng Delin, and other students of the Smart City Service Industry College performed the crosstalk “A Friendly Rivalry.” With witty remarks and laughter filling the hall, they explained the truth of competition and common progress through humorous performance. It not only showcased the students’ creativity and talent, but also taught the freshmen to view competition correctly—striving to excel while also understanding the importance of moving forward hand in hand.
▲ Crosstalk: “A Friendly Rivalry”
Chapter Three | Moon Shines on Mountains and Rivers · Love Fills the Human World
A round moon shines upon the mountains and rivers, and true feeling is found in the ordinary warmth of life. Grounded in the everyday world and the tender affection of family and nation, this chapter guided the youth to understand filial and familial love, remember where they came from, courageously shoulder the mission of the times, and perceive responsibility and original aspiration amidst the hustle and bustle of life.
The solo “The Human World,” sung with deep feeling by Shan Yinuo of the Medical and Nursing Industry College, voiced the joys and sorrows of life, the attachments of the world, and the preciousness of familial love, companionship, and the ordinary. It taught the youth to treasure the warmth around them, hold gratitude in their hearts, understand the profound strength within ordinary life, and cultivate a compassionate and kind character.
▲ Solo: “The Human World”
The women’s group dance “The Greatest Love of My Life,” performed by Li Jiawei, Hong Zihan, and other students of Dalian Xingang Customs Clearance Technical School, used body language to express deep affection from the heart, paying tribute to the precious love and protection in life. It guided the youth to learn gratitude for family love and for those who protect them, and to cherish every sincere emotion in life.
▲ Group Dance: “The Greatest Love of My Life”
The shadow-play accompanied by singing “I Remember,” wonderfully presented by the Smart City Service Industry College, flowed with light and shadow, looking back on the years of walking side by side—only by remembering the path taken can one journey far. The program reminded students not to forget where they started, to be grateful for the teachings of their teachers and the companionship of classmates, and to move forward carrying the warmth accumulated from the past.
▲ Performance: “I Remember”
The chorus “A New Journey,” sung by Yu Chang, Wang Siyu, and other students of the Smart City Service Industry College, sounded the clarion call of the era. The road ahead is long; only through striving can we prevail. The resounding singing blew the horn of progress for the times, encouraging the Class of 2026 freshmen to take up the baton of the era, integrate their personal ideals into the development of the times, and step onto the new journey that belongs to the youth.
▲ Chorus: “A New Journey”
Teacher Zhang Tao, leading members of the National Flag Guard, performed the song “I’ve Got This” together. “I’ve got this” is the youth’s most resounding vow, demonstrating faith and responsibility. The powerful singing interpreted the responsibilities of young people in the new era, inspiring Maple Leaf students to deeply root their sense of duty to family and nation, step forward bravely in times of peril, shoulder their youth’s responsibilities with courage, and carry the mission of the times that belongs to the youth through concrete action.
▲ Song: “I’ve Got This”
Following closely was the song-and-dance “Valiant,” brought by the Smart City Service Industry College. A bold melody paired with dashing dance moves, interspersed with fire-breathing performances, with flames leaping in time with the steps, created a magnificent momentum. It displayed the lofty aspirations of the young, expressed the Maple Leaf students’ vision embracing family and nation and their indomitable spirit, and encouraged the freshmen to meet the challenges on their academic journey with an uplifted posture.
▲ Performance: “Valiant”
Alumni representative Liu Huan, a student of the Social Sports program (Class of 2022) at the Smart City Service Industry College, brought the program “Resonance of Humanity.” Returning to their alma mater, the former student carried forward the torch, using their own experience to set an example for the freshmen and interpret the youthful vow of “Today I am proud of Maple Leaf; tomorrow Maple Leaf will be proud of me.”
▲ Performance: “Resonance of Humanity”
Finale | Maple Grove Full of Moon · Mountains and Seas United in Roundness
As the gala drew to a close, youth never disperses. This freshmen welcome and Mid-Autumn gala was an immersive practice of ideological education through aesthetic means, interweaving patriotism and the warmth of reunion upon the stage, and conveying our school motto of “Diligent Learning, Refined Skills, Reverence for Virtue, and Altruism.” May the more than 2,000 new Maple Leaf students carry this moving experience forward with perseverance, hone their skills, hold mountains and seas in their hearts, and sail far on their dreams. With the moon full and people reunited, mountains and seas united in roundness, we wish all leaders, teachers, and students peace and well-being on Mid-Autumn, and success in all endeavors!
