The sweeping sea breeze carries young dreams afar;

The guiding stars light up the voyage of youth.

On August 29, Dalian Maritime University (DMU) welcomed its new students.

Welcome, our newest members of the DMU community!

Embarking on a New Journey, with Dreams in Sight

The campus is filled with energy and excitement today. Bright young faces, filled with anticipation and joy, can be seen throughout the campus as new students begin their university journey. Their arrival marks the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, as well as a fresh start as they pursue their dreams and embark on a new chapter in life.

President Shan Hongjun, Vice President Zhao Baogang and other university leaders visited the registration area, where they spoke warmly with new students and their parents. “Was your journey from home to the university smooth?” “Please feel free to reach out to your teachers whenever you encounter difficulties.” Their thoughtful greetings conveyed the warmth and care of the DMU community, while encouraging the new students to strive with determination and forge ahead with courage.

A Warm Welcome, with Every Detail in Place

Across the campus, colorful banners fluttered gently in the breeze, while carefully arranged welcome stations were filled with vitality and anticipation.

New students completed their enrollment procedures in an orderly manner at their respective colleges. The smart registration system operated efficiently, making the process simple and convenient, with registration data updated in real time.

Faculty and staff from across the university, along with student volunteers, were on duty in high spirits, ready to welcome new students with the warmest hospitality.

Pick-up staff held up direction signs. As new students and their parents stepped out of the station, the first thing they saw was the “DMU Blue”. Shuttle buses carried the new arrivals to campus, where volunteers on board served as “ambassadors of DMU”, sharing stories of Dalian’s cityscape and the university’s journey of development.

Military training cadres, freshman volunteer teams, and other student volunteers were active on every corner of campus—carrying luggage, guiding the way, answering question, etc. They’ve become the most vibrant sight at DMU.

The Warm Welcome with Heartfelt Care

DMU set up 5 on-site “Green Channel” service points, where staff offered one-stop, streamlined assistance to new students. Undergraduate freshmen applying through the Green Channel received a “Welcome Package,” providing tangible support that demonstrated the university’s care and helped them embark on their academic journey with peace of mind.

New students wrote down their wishes on “Wish Cards”. The university will collect and review these wishes before providing tailored support based on their individual needs and circumstances. Through this initiative, every small dream will be seen, cherished, and fulfilled.

For new students whose birthdays fell on the day of registration, the University prepared special cakes and gifts. These heartfelt birthday wishes came at just the right moment, bringing a sense of warmth and belonging to students as they took their first steps into campus life.

Packed bags carry the hopes and ambitions of young students, while words of advice from their parents are filled with love, care, and concern. Each school and college has organized activities such as parent meetings and campus tours, bringing families and the University closer together to support students as they begin their journey and pursue their dreams.

Writing the first page, where dreams begin to unfold

New students and their parents gather before the motto “Together We Set Sail for the Stars and Seas,” posing for photos at this and other special backdrops, freezing this first encounter as the beautiful opening chapter of their university years.

Relevant University departments provided a range of support services for new students, helping them adapt to campus life and pursue their goals. Information sessions on financial aid policies helped students understand the support available to them, while mental health awareness activities promoted students’ wellbeing. Introduction to the work of the Communist Youth League helped students better understand opportunities for personal growth and participation, while student residence property services contributed to a safe, comfortable, and welcoming campus environment.

Collaboration between the University and the local community helped create a supportive environment for student development.

To welcome the new students, Dalian’s cultural and tourism authorities brought a warm welcome, showcasing the city’s natural beauty and passion for football.

To help ensure their safety, local police officers also visited the orientation site to share practical tips on preventing fraud.

Landmark campus venues including China’s first-ever Maritime Education Museum, the new library — a popular online check-in spot, and the Student Psychological Development Service Center are fully open to new students and their parents, building a platform of the university for new students and their parents to learn about and embrace DMU!

The First Lesson for Freshmen: Navigation Led by Science and Technology

The orientation site also serves as a classroom, and technological experience functions as enlightenment. The “one-stop digital orientation” features streamlined procedures. Dual verification via ID cards and facial recognition enables “Seamless campus admission”. Freshmen can keep track of check-in progress in real time, with the whole process transparent and efficient.

The autonomous shuttle bus has once again gained wide popularity. Shuttling back and forth across campus, it has become the most eye-catching “star vehicle”. It fully demonstrates the scientific research achievements of the university in serving the transport sector, and carries the boundless aspirations of freshmen for DMU.

The VR maritime simulator vividly reproduced surging winds and rolling waves. The knot-tying workshops passed down millennia-old seafaring craftsmanship. The meteorological instruments offered popular-science interpretations of the codes behind celestial phenomena, and on-site interactions with robots ignited the passion for exploration. Freshmen of DMU got hands-on access to technology and engaged with the deep blue sea. They were deeply imbued with the “learning philosophy of DMU members”,

and set the academic course toward becoming top-tier innovative talents of the “mariner-type” for the new era.

Dear new students of DMU,

Now, setting off from DMU,

May you take dreams as sails and ride the winds and waves,

And inscribe the university motto of

“Gathering knowledge from myriad sources, extending virtue to the boundless seas”

Into the brilliant chapters of your lives!

Welcome, new members of DMU!