Harbin Institute of Technology

Reported by: SHANG Kaiyan

Photographed by: FENG Jian, LAN Rui

Translated by: XU Lianxin

Edited by: Jennifer Taylor

Updated: 2013/7/1

Thirty four years ago, a group of young people from across the country came to HIT. Four years later, they went to every corner of China with their dreams. Thirty years later, they returned to their Alma Mater.

June 10, the “Graduation Thirty Years, Alma Mater Forever” performance was held to celebrate the alumni’s reunion on the third floor of Xueyuan Building. President WANG Shuguo, Vice President SUN Heyi, Vice President ZHANG Hongtao, Vice President GUO Bin, Secretary of the Supervision Division CAI Jujin, Standing Vice Secretary of the Alumni Union CUI Guolan and Vice Secretary of the Alumni Union JING Rui attended the gathering. They spoke with nearly 500 alumni about their past friendship and study on this campus.

It was the traditional Dragon Boat Festival. The campus became lively with the arrival of the alumni. About one hour before the performance, a succession of alumni flooded into the Xueyuan Building. Many couldn’t help standing by and watching the billboards on the pedestrian street. “Is this me? I nearly cannot recognize it,” an alumnus said, looking at the old pictures on the board. A fellow alumnus smiled. Before the welcoming banner hanging in front of the Xueyuan Building, many alumni took photos with their classmates or friends, big smiles blooming on everybody’s faces.

About 15:30, nearly every alumnus was on the third floor of the Xueyuan Building. The signing boards beside the stairs teemed with alumni’s names. There is also a “Proposal for the Launching of the 1979 Alumni Love Fund”. The powerful Song of Harbin Institute of Technology echoed in the dining room. Old photos about the 1979 alumni’s past campus life were rolling on the screens on both sides of the stage.

At 16:00, the art performance began with the happy Chinese traditional folk music ensemble Wild Dance of the Golden Snake. Representatives of the 1979 alumni WANG Hongda and LI Su and representatives of teachers and students at school LI Xiaoyu and XU Yang took the stage as hosts and extended their warm welcome to everybody present.

President WANG Shuguo gave a welcome speech on behalf of HIT. He said, “You, 1979 alumni are a special generation. You not only inherited the glorious tradition of the older generation, but also the young generation’s vitality from the Reform and Opening-up period. You have made great achievements in your field with your ingenuity and courage. You have made contributions to our nation and earned a reputation for HIT. This glory will forever go down in history and HIT is proud of you!” He improvised a folk song from northern Shanxi and earned an eruption of applause and cheers.

Two 1979 alumni representatives ZHANG Simin and AN Yujie gave a speech about their common aspirations and wishes. ZHANG Simin said, “It is really exciting to come back after 30 years. As HIT students, no matter how great our achievements are, they come from the cultivation and training of our Alma Mater. We wish HIT a bright future and for forever friendship with 1979 alumni!” AN Yujie said, “We are a generation with luck not only because we caught up with Reform and Opening-up, but also because we have learned and lived in HIT. It is our sincere hope that we all can contribute to the cause to make HIT a world-class university and realize the great China Dream!”

The 1979 alumni, President of HIT at Weihai, President FENG Jicai welcomed his schoolmates to HIT and invited alumni to visit HIT at Weihai in his speech. He also express his wish on behalf of all 1979 alumni that all their teachers live long and prosper and that HIT that become a world top-class university soon.

Subsequently, 1979 alumni representatives and the university student art troupe gave brilliant performances. The song I Love You, the North Snow brought everyone back to the unforgettable days of youth. The song The Ability of Men by alumni of the School of Mechatronic Engineering BAI Jicheng won him a round of applause. From On the Songhua River to The Evening at Moscow Suburb, from The Troika to How Can I Stop Missing Him, the campus folk songs given by alumni and students summoned up their memory of the past good time at HIT, expressing their nostalgic feelings about their Alma Mater. Students from the university student art troupe performed the surna solo, violin duo, lute solo, saxophone trio and a series of Chinese and Western classics.

“If I can choose again, I would still choose HIT. HIT, I love you!” The poem performance Unforgettable 1979 given by alumni ZHANG Fengshou, TIAN Guomin and 1979 alumni and university leaders, Vice President ZHANG Hongtao, Vice President CAI Jujin and GUO Bin exclusively for this gathering pushed the performance to a small climax. “Far and near students come to HIT, all over the world talents spread”, the elaborate calligraphy offered by alumni expressed their affectionate and sincere wishes.

At the 30th anniversary of their graduation, HIT launched the 1979 Alumni Love Fund project to reward the excellent students and the homecoming activities of 1979 alumni. Alumni ZHANG Simin donated 1 million yuan to the Love Fund and other alumni donated over 350,000 yuan. During the performance, President WANG Shuguo presented the commemorative medals to alumni ZHANG Simin and 1979 alumni representatives.

Eating the familiar food, talking about their past, some singing on stage during the break, everyone enjoyed themselves during this nearly 3-hour long performance. Many were reluctant to leave, as this had been a memorable experience deep in the hearts of every 1979 alumnus.