On August 30, the 2025 undergraduate freshmen of Nanjing University arrived from all over the country, gathering at the Gulou Campus to embark on the new journey. Tan Tieniu, Chair of NJU CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the freshman welcome sites on Gulou Campus to meet the newly enrolled 2025 undergraduate freshmen and extend greetings to faculty, staff, and volunteers busy at the frontline of the welcome activities.
"Warm welcome to the Class of 2025!" "NJU nurtures talents, forge ahead toward the future!" The slogans on the display boards complemented the vibrant smiles of the freshmen, with the Gulou Campus permeated with a strong atmosphere of welcome. Tan Tieniu carefully inquired about the work at various welcome stations, patiently asking about material supplies, registration procedures, and volunteer service arrangements. He emphasized the need to optimize traffic order around the campus, ensure close coordination of all aspects of the welcome work, and promote efficient, smooth, and orderly progress to guarantee that new students arrive on campus smoothly.
Tan Tieniu visited the Party Member Pioneer Post and Student Volunteer Service Station to extend greetings to volunteers there. The volunteer representatives detailed the personnel arrangements and thoughtful services. In addition to luggage handling, many welcome stations provided free warm water, iced sour plum drink, room-temperature bottled water, and rest areas for parents. Tan Tieniu highly commended the volunteers' work, reminded them to take precautions against the heat, and encouraged the students to share their learning experiences at NJU with the new freshmen and demonstrate the spirit of NJU students.
At the main reception station for freshmen, electronic screens were displaying real-time updates on the registration progress and relevant statistics for the 2025 undergraduate freshmen. This year, NJU has admitted 4,113 undergraduate freshmen. Each new student could see a personalized welcome page with their name on the screen, and many students lined up in an orderly manner to take photos. They expressed their excitement to Tan Tieniu, creating a lively atmosphere filled with laughters. Tan Tieniu fully affirmed the students' excellent achievements that brought them to NJU and earnestly advised them that entering NJU marks a new starting point in their lives. He hoped that the students would continue to strive forward and, as new members of NJU, make greater contributions to the country's prosperity and social progress in the future.
Tan Tieniu also enthusiastically interacted with the "Little NJU Whale" robot, which was independently developed by an alumni enterprise team with core members from NJU's School of Artificial Intelligence. The robot can narrate university history, sing the university anthem, take AI cartoon photos. Additionally, "Little NJ Whale" is connected to the university's "Little Blue Whale" intelligent assistant platform—a platform based on artificial intelligence technology that provides comprehensive, in-depth digital support for the learning and research of faculty and students.
At the reception point for students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, Tan Tieniu engaged in warm conversations with representatives of new students from these regions, carefully inquiring about their educational experiences, adaptation after enrollment, and plans for academics and life. "You come from different parts of our motherland. No matter where you come from, we are all one family." Tan Tieniu promised the students that entering NJU means moving from a small family to a larger one, and the university will wholeheartedly create the best learning and growth environment for every student.
At the "Green Channel" registration point, Tan Tieniu solemnly handed over the "Care Package" thoughtfully prepared by the university to representatives of students with financial difficulties, and asked about their journey from their hometowns to Nanjing and whether they had any worries about life or study after enrollment. This year, NJU provides diversified assistance to freshmen with financial difficulties. In addition to the "Care Package", travel allowances, meal subsidies, and bedding sets are also provided, with warm-hearted measures to help students smoothly begin their university life.
The Freshman Pre-school Camp is an innovative initiative in NJU's undergraduate welcome program. It includes not only special lectures to broaden horizons and in-depth discussions to stimulate thinking but also peer exchanges. Through systematic ideal and belief education, immersion in university history and culture, adaptation guidance, and leadership development, the camp guides freshmen to clarify their direction while experiencing the spirit of NJU, confidently taking their first steps in self-exploration and academic growth. Xiao Ruiyao, who participated in the camp, shared his experiences of studying and living at NJU with Tan Tieniu. He comes from Huaping County in Lijiang City, Yunnan Province, where Zhang Guimei works. Under the guidance of Zhang's spirit, he studied hard and was admitted to his long-desired NJU with the top score in Huaping County.
"Welcome to you all, and thank you for choosing Nanjing University!" At the welcome points of Kaijia College and Anbang College, Tan Tieniu cordially visited new students and parents who were completing registration procedures. "We want the children to feel at home from the moment they arrive." Tan Tieniu entered the freshmen dormitories, carefully inspected the living environment and facilities, and warmly greeted the students' parents. Tan Tieniu advised the students that after coming to NJU, the teachers are their family, and the classmates are their brothers and sisters; they should think from others' perspectives, be tolerant of each other, and live in harmony. Tan Tieniu emphasized that moral education is the fundamental mission of the university, and the university not only teaches students how to do things and study but also guides them to establish great aspirations and become great talents. The university will solemnly take over the baton from the parents, carry forward NJU's fine traditions, and help every student grow robustly and set sail for their dreams here.
At the Dream Bonding Station—a place that has witnessed countless students' dreams about NJU—new students eagerly shared their connections with NJU with Tan Tieniu. In the students' sincere words were longings that transcend time, affections born from cultural heritage, inheritances inspired by loved ones, and pursuits illuminated by spirit. Regardless of the origin of this journey, they all contained the students' purest sincerity and most eager expectations for NJU.
University leaders Lu Xiancai, Li Bin and responsible persons of relevant departments participted in the visit.
The smooth implementation of this welcome work was due to the coordinated efforts of relevant functional departments of the university and meticulous preparation in advance. At Nanjing Station and Nanjing South Station, the university set up conspicuous welcome service points, with reception volunteers escorting and thoughtfully guiding every new student and parent to take the subway and safely arrive at the campus. On campus, volunteers welcomed freshmen with their hearts, actively helping them carry luggage, patiently guiding the way to college registration, and providing meticulous logistical support, making people feel warm; at the same time, a variety of campus activities were conducted simultaneously, helping new students perceive the cultural heritage of the university through participation, find their inner passion through experience, and start a new chapter of university life with full determination and enthusiasm, more composedly and confidently.
