October 25 – The 2025 welcome event for new alumni officially commenced at Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School. Members of the Peking University community, embarking from the Yan Yuan campus, traversed mountains and rivers to gather in Pengcheng (Shenzhen), collectively opening a chapter of alumni connection centred on legacy, growth, and belonging.
Organized jointly by the Peking University Alumni Association in Shenzhen and the Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School Alumni Association, the event brought together over a dozen distinguished alumni representatives who have achieved remarkable success across various sectors in Shenzhen.
The proceedings began with Mr. Wang Tianbing, representing Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, extending a warm welcome to the Class of 2025. He outlined Peking University's strategic presence in Shenzhen and the Graduate School's development history and unique characteristics. As the southern base for PKU's "New Engineering Disciplines" initiative, the Graduate School has established nine colleges spanning science, engineering, humanities, and social sciences. Notably, the newly founded College of Scientific Intelligence in 2025 is the world's first of its kind. Mr. Wang also introduced enhanced campus services for alumni, including access to sports facilities, the interdisciplinary "Sci-Tech and Humanities" lecture series, and alumni networking platforms, warmly encouraging all to frequently return to the Graduate School.
Mr. Wang emphasised that the alumni associations are the most reliable organisations for uniting alumni and building a spiritual home. He encouraged new graduates to actively participate in alumni events, leverage these platforms to connect with senior peers, and engage in meaningful exchange. Concluding his address, he expressed his hope that alumni would carry forward the PKU spirit in Shenzhen, a hotbed of reform and innovation, integrating personal development into national strategies and writing new chapters for the PKU community in the realms of technological advancement and industrial transformation.
Following the opening, guest alumni and new graduates engaged in three rounds of small-group discussions focused on career development, professional practice, and life insights.
The first round, the "Starting Block," was designed for those new to the workforce. It encouraged them to proactively seek advice from experienced alumni on topics like workplace adaptation and skill enhancement, facilitating the transfer of experience and a clash of ideas.
After this session, new alumna Fu Minyi shared her group's initial workplace adaptation status and confusion, alongside the advice received from seniors. She concluded that growth paths vary by industry, necessitating careful, personalised decision-making to identify one's direction early and embark steadily on a career path.
Guest alumnus Guo Ziyu shared his perspective, noting that the first year often presents the challenge of "being entrusted with significant responsibilities." He advised maintaining ambition and a willingness to take on tasks, while also prioritising work-life balance and self-regulation. Resilience and a long-term view of career development, he stressed, are key to navigating the adaptation phase.
Before the second round, new alumni switched tables via random reassignment, meeting a new set of guest alumni and peers. The discussion theme shifted to "navigating career pivots" – exploring how to adjust after discovering a misalignment with one's initial direction and how to find mentors within the alumni and professional networks.
Following these exchanges, new alumnus Yang Xuesong remarked that he was the only member with a medical background in his group, the others being predominantly established figures in entrepreneurship and investment. He found the discussions on self-media and career development highly enlightening and rewarding, quipping that "having a senior leading the table really makes a difference," and praised the session's professional yet dynamic atmosphere.
Guest alumnus Chen Hui shared his reflections, stating that conversing with such vibrant young individuals made him feel rejuvenated. He primarily addressed questions regarding career development and industry understanding, expressing gratification that his experiences could benefit the younger generation and admiring the vitality and thoughtful consideration of the new PKU members.
After another random reshuffle, the discussions entered a more relaxed phase centred on life, tackling core concerns for young alumni: managing energy, balancing work and life, expanding social circles, and relationships.
During the sharing segment, new alumnus Wu Yaoyu emphasised the importance of a high starting point for one's career in a city like Shenzhen, full of opportunities and challenges. He argued that a superior platform, whether a corporate headquarters or a renowned large firm, lays a solid foundation for long-term growth and advancement.
Addressing the classic dilemma of "balancing work and family," doctoral alumna Jiang Linli offered her insight. She pinpointed the core issue, suggesting that both domains demand full commitment, and striving for a deliberate "balance" can lead to imbalance. Her solution: "Focus on being your best self." She shared her personal story of pursuing her PKU doctorate simultaneously with her son's exam preparations, ultimately achieving success at remarkable speed. She firmly believes that when one chooses to focus on self-growth and live a fulfilling life, issues of work and family naturally find resolution.
Guest alumna Wang Fang encouraged her junior fellows to "be bold, proactive, and enthusiastic in pursuing romance." Regarding the common tendency to "just want to collapse after work," she shared her own past experiences, highlighting the importance of a mindset shift – viewing socialising as a way to switch gears and recharge, rather than as a burden.
Guest alumnus Chen Hui added perspective on the significance of marriage from practical and legal standpoints. Sharing profound experiences from accompanying family in hospital, he highlighted the irreplaceable role of immediate family members (spouse, children), prompting fresh contemplation on life partners and responsibilities.
Encouraged by the guest alumni, several new graduates gave brief self-introductions and remarks, showcasing the diverse career paths and vibrant energy of PKU's new generation.
To conclude the first segment, Mr. Bai Wentao, Executive President of the Shenzhen PKU Alumni Association, delivered a heartfelt and pragmatic closing speech. He warmly welcomed the new alumni into the Shenzhen PKU family, highlighting its unique advantages of youthfulness, openness, and vitality. He earnestly advised the new graduates: "Beyond excelling at your jobs, you must actively participate in various social activities." Stressing that mentors and valuable contacts won't appear while one is "at home gaming or browsing the internet," he urged them to "engage more with fellow alumni and industry elites" to encounter those who can offer support, guidance, and acceleration towards faster progress. Mr. Bai concluded by reiterating his call for everyone to follow the alumni association's public channels for events and actively participate, fully integrating into the alumni community.
A special session, "Shenzhen Hidden in Place Names," was held to help new alumni better understand Shenzhen and quickly forge a spiritual connection with the city, guiding them to "view Shenzhen through its place names, and see the future through Shenzhen."
Using examples like "Qianhai," "Houhai," "Shenzhen River," and "Luohu," the speaker, Mumu, revealed the dual significance of place names in physical geography and human history: 'Qianhai' isn't a new name post-reform; it originates from the bay in front of Nantou City 450 years ago. Disputes over the source of the Shenzhen River reflect the complex interplay between natural geography and administrative boundaries. The naming of Luohu might be related to the ancient landscape pattern of "Luo Mountain, Luo Lake, Luo Stream."
He further pointed out that the characteristics of Shenzhen's place names – such as the high frequency of "Nanshan," "Tianyuan," "Wan" – precisely mirror the city's orientation, topography, and development trajectory. He called for understanding Shenzhen's past and future with a "twin-city perspective of Shenzhen-Hong Kong," as the "Hong Kong element is key to understanding Shenzhen's origins, its rise, and its future direction."
Yin Changlong, speaking on the theme "Viewing Shenzhen Through Place Names," emphasised the importance of toponyms as cultural heritage. Drawing from his own childhood experiences, he vividly illustrated the historical memories and cultural identity embedded in place names. He noted that changes in place names often reflect cultural ruptures or continuities in a region, citing examples like "Huizhou changed to Huangshan" and "Lanling changed to Zaozhuang" as typical cases of broken cultural context.
In interpreting Shenzhen's place names, Yin Changlong delved into the historical origins and cultural connotations of names like "Pengcheng," "Shenzhen Special Economic Zone," and "Shennan Avenue": "Pengcheng" derives from Zhuangzi's "Free and Easy Wandering," symbolising Shenzhen soaring like a giant roc over the South China Sea; the naming of the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone reflected considerations of the Hong Kong market and an international outlook; Shennan Avenue is not a "road in southern Shenzhen" but the historical artery connecting the old county seat Nantou with the new centre, Shenzhen Town.
He also shared the refinement processes of place names like "Dafen Village" (originally "Dafen," meaning 'night soil'), "Huanggang" (originally "Huanggang"), and "Xianhu" (originally "Dashuikeng," meaning 'big water pit'), underscoring the pursuit of cultural dignity and positive aspiration in toponymic revision. Mr. Yin concluded that understanding place names is the starting point of cultural identity for Shenzheners and the foundation for telling Shenzhen's story well.
During a free exchange session, the two speakers engaged in deeper, more informal discussions with attending alumni readers.
In an interactive segment, children of PKU alumni (the "second-generation PKUers") enthusiastically participated in a Q&A on place names, raising their own questions and thoughts. The two speakers addressed their queries one by one, delighted by the children's earnest engagement. Using the cultural sharing platform, these young minds entered the classroom of PKU alumni, thinking and growing under the influence of the PKU cultural atmosphere. Hopes are high for more second-generation PKUers to join future events, engaging in shared reflection and exchange with the alumni community.
The gathering, though brief, was substantial. Its conclusion marks the beginning of new connections and friendships among the recent graduates.
With senior mentors generously sharing their wisdom and peers walking alongside them, the Class of 2025 is well-positioned to find their direction in Pengcheng, anchor their coordinates in this city of miracles, and confidently embrace the defining questions of their era.
