On the evening of October 2, thousands of students, teachers and alumni gathered at Shizishan Square to celebrate the 120th anniversary of the founding of Huazhong Agricultural University(HZAU) with shows created, directed and performed by themselves, which made the Square an ocean of joy.
The shows of the "Celebration Night"consisted of two parts. The first part included "Inspiring Drums", "Passing the Torch", "School Flag Relay" and "3D Mapping Projection Show".
At about 19:30, drummers drew up, ready for the show. 24 students took the lead in beating the Gendang Dua Puluh Empat Perayaan (Gendang Cina), followed by 160 waist drums, 56 flat drums and a troop of audience with 120 drums. Then in the exciting rhythmic drums and shouts, the "Celebration Night" began.
Quiet came over the Shizishan Mountain, as the drums died down and the lights dimmed. Then when a beam of light shone on the main building, the image of the school badge was projected on it. Gao Chi, secretary of the Party Committee of HZAU, Deng Xiuxin, the president, Wang Hanzhong, academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Zeng Weijia, the representative of freshmen jointly lit the torch. And other 1,200 students walked down the steps of the main building in file at the main stage with flaming torches in their hands. Those torches moved forward with youthful passion, forming a Chinese dragon-like pattern . "Torchlight procession", as a tradition of our 110th anniversary, symbolized that the school undertakings will be passed down from generation to generation.
All the alumni watched the video of flag relay. And 40 school flags in the video had been passed among alumni all over the world for 128 days and finally arrived at HZAU. In the sky, as the airship towed a school flag from far to near, Deng Zixin, an alumni and academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences recited his poem to send his best wishes. “In the torch passing, we are connected hand in hand, heart to heart. May the glory stay everlasting and the school motto always inspire us.” And 40 freshmen came to the stage to take over the flag as well as the new mission of the new era.
"You are always in my heart , my warmest home... "the song “Love for the Shizishan” created by Mr. Shen Xifei, a music teacher of HZAU, was first sung by a chorus in the spotlight, which sweetly conveyed their deep attachment and good wishes to the alma mater. " You have struggled to make a headway for 12 decades. I follow in your steps and listen to your story..."In front of the main building, a school flag was being slowly passed down along with the passionate tunes, and the school name” Huazhong Agricultural University”sparkled on the flag.
What followed was a 3D projection mapping show created by the teachers and students from the Digital Media Art Studio of the Art and Design Department of the College of Humanity&Law. On the wall of Yifu building, the images of Confucius, Zhang Zhidong, the founder of HZAU, the school badge and the main building were outlined by flashes of light. What’s more, the pictures of universe, starry sky, fire, stone axe, jade Cong, Simuwu Cauldron, Dujiang Weir, ancient farm tools and books and so on, vividly flashed and presented the development of traditional Chinese agricultural civilization. Such classic art works as “Pictures of Tilling and Weaving”, “Cornfield” and “the Gleaners” expressed the love for farming and land of the East and the West. And in the show, some straw works of art like Venus de Milo, the Thinker and Terracotta Warriors were projected on the wall as a manifestation of the human touch in the University. Besides, the 3D genetic code, and other scientific research breakthrough were shown in an aesthetic way. They best showed the school's accomplishments in improving the traditional agricultural science by means of modern biotechnology. And the school was overwhelmed with youth and vigour when students in the art troupe turned up on 3D image. Finally, in the music of the Sun Also Rises, the images of starry night and the paddy fields, as well as the anniversary banner pushed the celebration to an exciting climax.
The second part of the “Celebration Night” was a outdoor concert. With the theme of "going Home", alumni from all over the world returned to their alma mater to celebrate the 120th anniversary with teachers and students at school. Sun Wei, the writer of the theme song “Waiting for You”, sang on the scene to convey his love for the university. Tang Yong and Zhang Yong, the two members of once popular EM band presented those pop elements of the 90s to audiences by playing the guitar and singing “I Don't Want You to Cry ". Other young alumni, such as Guo Wei, Qian Yuguo, Zhang Liujuan recalled wonderful memories and poured out their love to the campus and lost youth when they told their own stories about college life through songs and dance performances.
The original choreography “Path” performed by the teachers and students of the Students Art Troupe encouraged thousands of alumni to persistently explore their own path to a promising future. Students from Hubei University of Arts and Science displayed the joy of harvest by dance "Drums and Bowls ". Moreover, some international students from Africa, Vietnam and Indonesia also engaged themselves in a live exotic show.
Towards the end of the celebration, 200kg birthday cake was brought to the scene, prepared by teachers and students from College of Food Science and Technology of HZAU. Then with the best wishes of people present, "Celebration Night" came to an end. The big event even attracted more than 120,000 online audiences.
Source: http://news.hzau.edu.cn/2018/1002/52802.shtml
Translated by:Jiang Jingjing
