Peking University, July 2, 2025: Peking University (PKU) held its Commencement for Undergraduates at the Khoo Teck Puat Sports Complex on the morning of July 2, 2025. Degrees were conferred to undergraduates of the Class of 2025 who had completed their academic degree requirements.

The event was chaired by Wang Bo, Vice President and Provost of PKU, and attended by PKU Council Chair He Guangcai, President Gong Qihuang, as well as faculty, guests, alumni, and family members.

Kicking off this year’s graduation ceremony with warmth and celebration, students from the PKU Kindergarten and the PKU Symphony Orchestra delivered captivating performances.

Representing the Class of 2025, a group of graduates delivered a heartfelt medley of songs, setting a nostalgic and hopeful tone. The PKU Student and Faculty Choirs followed with a stirring performance of Forever, bringing the musical segment to a powerful close. A tribute video honoring the graduating class then deepened the emotional resonance of the ceremony, taking the audience on a heartfelt walk down memory lane.

Graduate representative Zhao Zhirui from the School of Psychological and Cognitive Sciences delivered a heartfelt speech at the ceremony, reflecting on her journey of self-discovery and personal growth at PKU. Guided by Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, she approached both campus life and academic research with a clear sense of purpose and determination. "Beyond every boundary I broke, I found not answers but growth, where I read my own heart for the first time."

Zhao Zhirui

In addition to academic achievements, Jiang Changyan from the School of Government shared his meaningful community service experience in the mountainous regions of Yunnan. As a volunteer, he regularly wrote letters to a middle school student there, offering glimpses into life at PKU and the broader world. Through his words, he inspired the student to dream bigger and strive for excellence.

Jiang Changyan

"The meaning of life lies within life itself"—this was one of the three key messages shared by faculty representative Li Rong, Vice President of PKU Third Hospital and Director of Reproductive Medicine Center, in her address to the graduates. She encouraged students to seek purpose even in repetition and to pursue excellence and mastery in service to the nation and society. Li also emphasized the importance of holding oneself to high standards while extending understanding and tolerance to others.

Li Rong

Alumni representative Shu Degan urged graduates to follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin—to question, to challenge, to push boundaries, and to pursue truth with relentless determination. An Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Professor in the Department of Geology at Northwest University, Shu is a 1964 undergraduate alumnus of PKU’s Department of Geology and Geography.

Shu Degan

What sets humans apart from most animals is the evolution of our brain’s cognitive abilities, enabling us to experience a wide range of emotions, including joy and fulfillment, said Shu. He encouraged graduates to appreciate the "dopamine" found in the pleasures of daily routines, while also striving for the "endorphin" sense of fulfillment that comes from dedication and hard work.

President Gong Qihuang delivered the closing address of the ceremony, extending his heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2025. He called on the graduates to devote their youth to serving the country and the people as the world is once again standing at a crossroads and urgently needs young people’s insights and contributions. “We are now in an era marked by mass innovations and breakneck development… I hope you can stand at the forefront of the current and lead China’s modernization endeavor.” 

Gong Qihuang

The ceremony culminated in a moving chorus of Yanyuanqing sung by everyone in attendance, evoking shared memories of joy, growth, and camaraderie. This beloved melody, which had accompanied the Class of 2025 throughout their years at PKU, echoed across the campus one final time, marking a heartfelt farewell to their undergraduate journey and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.

Written by: Wong Jun Heng
Edited by: Chen Shizhuo 
Photo by: Wang Tiantian, Li Xianghua, Song Baining, Yan Linlin, Wang Ziqian, Zheng Tao, Li Yijie, Ye Yubo, Ji Haoyu, Zhu Chengxuan, Hu Xiaodong, Cao Mengyao