Setting off on a new journey!

As spring awakens the hills and life begins to bloom anew, Zhejiang University comes alive with color, energy, and promise. Beneath fresh green trees and in the gentle brightness of the season, dreams seem to lift into the air. On the afternoon of March 29, Zhejiang University held its 2026 Spring Graduate Commencement and Degree Conferral Ceremony on Zijingang Campus. More than 2,500 graduate students stand on the threshold, ready to step beyond the university gates and set forth on bold new journeys of their own.

MA Yanming, President of Zhejiang University, extended his heartfelt congratulations to the graduating class of 2026 and delivered an address titled “Raising the Sail of Seeking Truth Amid the Waves of Transformation.”

Reflecting on the graduates’ years at Zhejiang University, he said: “During your time at Zhejiang University, you have grown from new students finding your footing into trailblazers ready to chart your own course. Through perseverance in study and action, you have come to understand the true meaning of learning. Through constant exploration, you have pursued the light of truth. Every setback has tested the limits of your growth, and every breakthrough has expanded the boundaries of your understanding.” He added: “The years you have spent at Zhejiang University haveshaped your knowledge, sharpened your wisdom, and left you with something enduring — one of the most precious and defining parts of your life.”

In a world marked by profound and unprecedented change, how can young people stay grounded and move forward with confidence? President MA Yanming suggested that the answer may lie in one of Zhejiang University’s most treasured legacies: Qiushi Spirit, or the spirit of seeking truth.

He offered the graduates three guiding principles for the road ahead.

First, he spoke of professionalism as craft: pursue excellence, and be willing to do what is difficult but right. Stay rational, remain true to your original purpose, and approach scholarship with intellectual honesty. Go deep into your chosen field, explore the unknown, and respond to the needs of the times with solid knowledge and meaningful innovation.

Second, he spoke of long-termism as a way of life: stay patient, stay steady, and choose the path that may be slower, but leads farther. Do not be distracted by short-term rewards or shaken by passing noise. In a fast-moving age, learn the discipline of slow, sustained growth.

Third, he spoke of idealism as the soul: look beyond immediate gain and hold fast to what is true and worthwhile. Face the challenges of the age with creativity and courage, and shoulder responsibility with a sincere commitment to society and the nation. Let the spirit of seeking truth guide your ambitions, and put what you have learned to meaningful use.

He closed with a message of hope and conviction: “No matter how the times may change, always raise the sail of seeking truth. Be a Zhejiang University graduate with dreams in your heart, light in your eyes, and a road beneath your feet.”

Professor LI Hanying from the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering spoke on behalf of faculty and staff. He described Zhejiang University’s influence as quiet but profound. Speaking as both a teacher and an alumnus, he offered the graduates three pairs of words to carry with them: excellence and creativity, courage and resilience, and responsibility and commitment. He encouraged them to apply what they have learned where the country needs them most, and to pursue innovation, excellence, and purpose with confidence.

Alumni representative HUANG Xiaohuang, co-founder and chairman of Manycore Tech, one of Hangzhou’s “Six Little Dragons”, graduated from Chu Kochen Honors College in 2007. In sharing his entrepreneurial journey with the graduating class, he recalled that although he had missed his own commencement ceremony, he had never missed the opportunity to pursue what he truly loved. “As long as you keep moving forward, time will always be on your side,” he said, urging graduates to stay true to their passions and uphold the principle of seeking truth from facts.

Graduate representative JIANG Yutong, a master’s graduate from the College of Information Science and Electronic Engineering, looked back on her seven years at Zhejiang University. She said that her journey of growth had been shaped by the guidance of mentors, the warmth of fellow students, and the nourishment of academic tradition. “Wherever I go, I will carry with me the resilience and dedication of a ZJUer. At the frontiers of science and technology, I will keep striving to contribute my own light and strength.”

As tassels were turned from right to left, one chapter came to a close, and another began. Graduation marks the end of academic study, but also the opening notes of life’s next chapter. Spring brings blossoms; autumn brings harvest. Every season of effort becomes a sail for the voyage ahead.

May these graduates carry forward Zhejiang University’s enduring spirit of seeking truth and pursuing innovation, and step into the future with courage, clarity, and hope.

Translator: FANG Fumin
Editor: HAN Xiao