On September 24, the 2026 Welcome Gala, themed “New Journey in Zhengzhou, Youth Chasing Dreams at ZZULI,” was held in the auditorium on the Dongfeng Campus. Over a thousand faculty and student representatives attended the event, while the live stream recorded more than 33,000 cumulative views.

The gala consisted of three chapters, “New Journey in Zhengzhou • First Encounter with ZZULI,”“Setting Sail with Determination • Steadfast Pursuit of Far-reaching Success,” and “Chasing Dreams to Write Splendid Chapters • Making China Strong”. It featured a rich blend of artistic forms including songs, dances, dramas, poetry recitations, traditional operas, instrumental performances, and fashion shows, interspersed with segments such as interviews with freshmen and messages from alumni and student counselors. Together, they vividly captured the spirited and aspirational character of faculty and students.

The gala kicked off with the opening number Blaze into Bloom. Among vocal programs, the song and dance performance Ode to Coral, presented jointly by the Art Education Center and the University Student Art Troupe, was elegant and moving. The Daylily Girls Chorus paid tribute to the passage of time with Daylilies and The Half Moon Rising. The song Blooming Flowers and Full Moon created a warm and harmonious atmosphere, while the small chorus Dear You was crystal-clear and melodious with harmonious vocals. A medley of pop hits, featuring Running, Shining, and I Ride the Wind and Fly Over, brimmed with youthful vigor and depicted the pursuit of dreams. In the dance category, the ballroom dance First Sight was graceful and romantic; the classical dance Hibiscus in Bloom featured light and graceful steps brimming with Eastern elegance; and the dances First Day and Setting Sail in Youth burst with vitality and youthful spirit. Among the language performances, the original drama The Moon and the Stars Illuminate the Journey offered a heartfelt interpretation of the spirit of the Long March, while the poetry recitation “ZZULI” Youth Relay, Walking Toward the Light wove together ZZULI's motto and devotion to family and country. Additionally, the instrumental performance March of the Elephant King thundered with stirring drumbeats and majestic power; the traditional opera Wujiapo stood out with its mellifluous singing and rich charm; and the fashion show Splendid Years showcased outstanding graduation design works contributed by students of art majors at ZZULI. As the gala drew to a close, the entire audience joined in singing Setting Out and My Motherland and I. The interweaving of songs, applause, and cheers pushed the atmosphere to its climax, bringing the evening to a heartfelt and rousing conclusion.

This welcome gala was not only a dazzling audio-visual feast but also a soul-nourishing class for young people, which seamlessly integrated the awareness and love for the university, youth growth, and devotion to family and country. It inspired the 2026 cohort of freshmen to uphold ZZULI's motto of “nothing is too difficult for the willing mind” to cultivate a deep affection for their alma mater, foster aspirations to build a powerhouse, and put their commitment to serving the country into action. With their youthfulness and striving spirit, they were encouraged to take root and grow in the fertile soil of ZZULI.