Another late summer brings the same sense of anticipation. The drizzle carries a hint of autumn and the promise of new encounters.

Last year, we witnessed blueprints turning into reality. Today, the campus of the Eastern Institute of Technology, Ningbo (EIT) welcomes 130 undergraduate students from Zhejiang Province—the 2026 entering class.

Hello, new students—welcome home!

Passing the Torch: The Best Welcome Gift

At 9 a.m., the Teaching & Laboratory Building buzzed with activity as new student registration proceeded smoothly.

Identity verification, campus card pickup, document submission... What set this year apart from last was the presence of familiar, energetic figures on the welcome team: EIT's inaugural undergraduate cohort, the 2025 intake, now serving as student volunteers.

Last year, they were the newcomers being welcomed; today, they are the guides. The student volunteers arrived early at their posts, patiently answering question after question and bringing a warm sense of continuity to this year's orientation.

Amid the bustling crowd, we also captured many memorable moments.

Xiaofeng Chen

There was palpable excitement. Xiaofeng Chen from Tiantai High School arrived at the registration hall before 8 a.m. and became the first new student of the day to complete registration. In fact, he had arrived the previous evening and moved into his residence hall, spending his first night at EIT. "I was so excited that I didn't sleep well last night, so I just got up early and came over," he said with a smile. That eagerness reflects a genuine yearning for a brand-new college life.

Chenlin Shen

Then there was a story of unwavering conviction. Chenlin Shen from Zhenhai High School, who scored 688 on the Gaokao (China's National College Entrance Exam), listed EIT as his only choice on the application form without a moment's hesitation. When asked why, his eyes shone with a clear passion for research:"I want to follow my own path and do things that interest me. EIT is exactly what I imagined an ideal university to be."

Lexuan Wang (left) with her family

And there was a delightful coincidence. Lexuan Wang from Cangnan Middle School in Wenzhou celebrated her birthday on registration day. Stepping through the university gates on this special day and beginning a new chapter of life felt like the most extraordinary birthday gift she could have received. "Joining EIT on my birthday makes the occasion feel especially meaningful," she said. At the welcome site, the coincidence also drew warm birthday wishes from faculty and student volunteers.

There were also moments of family pride. In the registration hall, Yuheng Zhang from Beilun High School in Ningbo posed for a treasured family photo with her family of five. Her grandparents made a special trip to see the "new home" where their granddaughter would spend the next four years.

Behind every youthful face are the hopes of a family and the opening chapter of a student's journey toward independence.

President Shiyi Chen chats with new students and their parents

In the morning, Shiyi Chen, President of EIT and Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, visited the registration site and chatted warmly with new students and their parents. "Where are you from?" "Did you have a good trip?" "Don't worry—we'll take good care of them." These simple, everyday words helped ease parents'concerns about sending their children far from home and allowed students to feel the warmth and inclusiveness of the university.

President Shiyi Chen joins new students for lunch in the dining hall

The welcoming atmosphere carried over to lunch. At midday, university leaders and faculty members from across the colleges headed to the dining hall, picked up their trays, and joined the new students and their parents at the tables. Over lunch, conversations drifted from the quality of the food to intended majors and early research interests, giving a simple meal the feel of a family gathering. At EIT, exchanges between faculty and students are never confined to the classroom; this relaxed conversation around the table served as the new students' first informal introduction to university life.

Next Stop: Siming College

New students move into their residence halls

With registration complete, the next stop was "home." Siming College is where the new students will live together, exchange ideas, and share joyful moments over the years ahead.

Student volunteers were already on hand, distributing thoughtfully prepared welcome kits. The new students settled into their rooms, and with a first hello to their roommates, began to form their first friendships at university.

Around 4 p.m., as the students were getting settled, university leaders—including Mr. Bo Jin, the Party Committee Secretary; Professor Dongxiao Zhang, Executive Vice President and Provost; Mr. Kun Peng, Member of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission; and Professor Zhongchao Tan, Vice Provost and Director of Academic Affairs—together with heads of relevant departments, visited the residence halls to greet the new students.

The university leaders asked in detail about how the students were settling in and listened carefully to their needs and concerns. As a new type of research university, EIT values every student's voice; students' growth and well-being are among its top priorities.

Exploring Campus: First Impressions of University Life

Once settled, the urge to explore was hard to contain. The new students began exploring the campus in their own ways, piecing together their first impressions of university life.

In the library, librarians served as guides, introducing the building and its distinctive architecture, which embodies traditional Chinese design principles.

Exploring the library

In the College of Engineering, the College of Science, and the College of Information Science and Technology, faculty and doctoral students shared insights from cutting-edge research, offering the new students glimpses into the future. Inside the laboratories, science was no longer just abstract concepts in textbooks but something tangible and within reach.

The gym buzzed with energy, as pickleball, fencing, basketball, and other activities were open to everyone. Through sports and recreation, EIT students displayed a balanced, youthful energy. EIT believes that a healthy body is the foundation for a long and productive research journey.

A new chapter is about to begin.

You are 130 bright stars joining the EIT constellation. Here, you will study alongside distinguished scholars and push the boundaries of science; you will make friends among your peers and engage in stimulating exchanges of ideas. May you put down roots, reach outward, and grow upward at EIT.

Welcome, EIT's 2026 Freshmen!