On September 12, the opening ceremony and "First Class" for the 2026 undergraduate students of Nanjing University were held at the Fang Zhaozhou Gymnasium at the Xianlin Campus. Over 4,000 new students took the subway from the Gulou Campus to the Xianlin Campus, embarking on a brand-new journey. Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, delivered the lecture to the new students. Tan Zhemin, President of NJU and Academician of the CAS, attended the ceremony and delivered a speech, encouraging everyone to start afresh from Nanjing University and become "new Nanjing University students in the era of AI."
At 10:00 a.m., members of Nanjing University's National Flag Guard escorted the national flag into the venue. Amid the solemn and grand national anthem, the opening ceremony officially began.
"Nanjing University will become a brand-new starting point on your life journey!" Tan Zhemu extended a warm welcome to the new students on behalf of the university. Starting with the recent announcement by OpenAI on solving questions about the existence and smoothness of the Navier-Stokes equation, which caused a stir and debate, he noted that AI has begun to penetrate the core of the hardest, most abstract, and most creativity-demanding aspects of human knowledge. He emphasized the necessity to face new challenges, such as changes in knowledge production methods, the breaking of professional boundaries, the surfacing of issues surrounding power and responsibility, and the disruption to humanity's self-understanding, urging students to become a new breed of human beings and new students of NJU.
"You are a generation traveling in the same direction as the new era and growing together with the wave of digital and intelligent transformation," Tan Zhemu said. He explained that in the next four years, students would reconstruct their knowledge landscape through cross-disciplinary integration of humanities, sciences, engineering, and medicine, grasp the pulse of the times in an AI-empowered education ecosystem, explore the frontiers under the guidance of leading educators, cultivate character, and, through high-level international exchanges and community practices, understand China and stride into the world. With its profound academic resources, diverse campus culture, and open, inclusive educational environment, NJU will provide every student with a broad stage for growth and talent development. He encouraged students with his expectations and emphasized that each generation faces its unique opportunities and challenges, its mission and aspirations. He inspired students to set off from Nanjing University in their pursuit of becoming Nanjing University students of the AI era. Guided by the university motto "Sincerity with Aspiration, Perseverance with Integrity", they should leverage the power of youth and creativity to become better versions of themselves, contributing to a better NJU, and writing a new chapter for the university in the great cause of building a strong and rejuvenated nation.
University leaders and guests presented badges to representatives of the new students. Each freshman then proudly donned the badge symbolizing their identity as a "NJU student."
Wan Xiangang, Dean of the School of Physics, spoke as the faculty representative. He remarked that a university is not only a sanctuary for learning but also a place to shape character, explore the unknown, and anchor ambitions. He urged the students to maintain curiosity about the future, to dare to "advance through uncharted territories", to embrace NJU's motto, to cultivate calmness and determination, to endure challenges patiently, to keep the nation at heart, and to integrate personal ambitions into the broader tides of the era.
Deng Ruiqi from Xingzhi College, gained widespread praise for her martial arts performance during the military training . Representing the new students, she expressed her hope to root her aspirations in scholarship, use martial arts as a bridge, carry forward the fine traditional culture of China, and tell China's story to the world. She encouraged her peers to embrace a sport, go outdoors more often, make more friends, strengthen their bodies, enrich their souls, and honor Nanjing University, youth, and the times.
"Today I am proud of Nanjing University; tomorrow I will bring glory to Nanjing University!" All the new students took an oath to inherit the virtues and endeavors of their predecessors, embrace a vision for global betterment, enhance their character, and enrich their wisdom and learning. The teachers and students present sang the university anthem together, wishing for a brighter future for NJU.
The ceremony was presided over by Lu Xiancai, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC NJU Committee and Vice President of NJU.
CAS academicians Zhu Shining, Guo Zijian, and Shi Yi, University Senior Professor of Humanities and Social Sciences Zhao Shuming, university leaders Suo Wenbin, Li Bin, and Wen Yu, along with representatives of relevant departments attended the event.
The "First Class"
During the "First Class," Tan Tieniu shared the story of his first encounter with the new students on August 22, the day they registered. Tan Tieniu expressed that it is a precious bond that has brought the students together after such long journeys and encouraged everyone to cherish, care for, and support one another as they advance together.
"What kind of era are we living in?" Tan Tieniu delivered his lecture focusing on this key question and expressed his expectations for the new NJUers. "You are living in a great era, and this is the time to make great achievements." Tan Tieniu emphasized, hoping students will uphold the ambition and actions of contributing to the nation's strength. He urged them to fulfill their mission by inscribing their loyalty in the cause of national building, dedicating their youth to the path of national rejuvenation, and engraving their glory into the annals of history's march forward. He encouraged them to contribute their youthful energy to building the "Unique Nanjing University," a university imbued with Chinese characteristics, Nanjing's spirit, and the essence of the times. Moreover, they were asked to accelerate Chinese modernization in the mission of national strength and rejuvenation.
On the same day, more than 4,000 NJU freshmen traveled by subway from the Gulou Campus to the Xianlin Campus, marking their departure from "Undergraduate Freshman Day" and the beginning of a new university journey.
After the conclusion of the opening ceremony, the annual "Undergraduate Freshman Day" activities were held as scheduled. Through a series of events such as campus tours, peer interactions, and college exhibitions, the 2026 undergraduate freshmen familiarized themselves further with the campus environment and gained a deeper understanding of life at NJU.
