The Opening Talk, delivered by Zhao Yang, Dean of the School of Chinese as a Second Language at PKU, offered an engaging overview of Peking University’s rich history and outstanding alumni who have shaped its flourishing across different stages, including presidents, professors and staff members. In addition, Zhao briefly highlighted China’s development trajectory, giving students a broader understanding of the country’s modern progress.


The orientation’s ice-breaking activities kicked off with an interactive game in which a plushie was tossed around the room to a soft background music, and students who happened to catch it when the music stopped were invited to introduce themselves, creating an atmosphere of excitement and friendliness.

The word-guessing game, where a student would describe a term related to Peking University, and the others would try to guess what it was, added an element of wit to the event and allowed students to familiarize themselves with key aspects of PKU’s settings and culture.


Journalists from Beida News spoke with some fresh faces during the orientation event. Here’s what they had to say about embarking on this new chapter at Peking University.


For Noa Bolte from Amsterdam, the Netherlands, studying at Peking University is an exciting adventure. “I want to experience something different from Europe,” she shared, highlighting her enthusiasm for exploring new perspectives. Majoring in interdisciplinary social sciences at her home university, Noa is focusing on language courses and cross-cultural studies during her exchange at PKU. “The campus is really big!” It’s clear that Noa is embracing every moment of her time at PKU with wide-eyed wonder.


Tyler Pruitt, hailing from California, the US, is captivated by the cultural and historical significance of Peking University. He described the campus as “energetic, vibrant, fun, peaceful, and knowledgeable,” but it’s the university’s abundant heritage that truly stands out for him. “The campus itself is full of cultural history, with artifacts and famous sites like Weiming Lake,” said Tyler. He values the opportunity to connect with traditional Chinese culture, noting that PKU’s teaching resources provide an unparalleled academic experience. For Tyler, the journey in PKU is an enriching blend of education, culture and history.


“I like the academic environment and the fact that there are a lot of international students here, and admittedly, the food choices,” said Jason Riady, an Indonesian student who had been working as a corporate strategy consultant but is now on a career break to explore the charms of China and Beida. The 26-year old also said that he would like to master the Chinese language and get to know what living in a metropolis like Beijing feels like in the long term.


Lisa Thunthicha, another international student from Thailand, also expressed her enthusiasm in learning the Chinese language and the Chinese culture when asked about her plans studying at PKU. “I would like to explore different parts of China and try all the food in the dining court,” said her, before adding that she would try to pass the HSK exam during her time here.

Together, these sessions provided a lively and informative introduction to Peking University, helping the international students form connections and engagement with the university’s legacy, and start their intellectual voyage on a high note.


Written by: He Yike, Chen Shizhuo
Edited by: Zhang Jiang
Photo by: Office of International Relations, PKU