On October 29th, the banquet hall on the third floor of the Qinyuan Restaurant was filled with a warm and festive atmosphere as distinguished guests gathered for a special occasion. The Double Ninth Festival gathering was held to honor the traditional Chinese virtue of respecting the elderly, carry forward the Peihua legacy, and unite efforts for future development. This year’s occasion was especially meaningful, as it coincided with the 99th anniversary of the birth of Mr. Jiang Weizhi, the educator and founder of Peihua Women’s University. To honor Mr. Jiang’s outstanding contributions and noble character, and to express gratitude to leaders at all levels, faculty and staff, and alumni for their outstanding contributions to education and to the university’s development, Peihua invited retired senior leaders, alumni from various years, representatives of the “Five Elders” group (veteran cadres, ex-servicemen, senior experts, retired teachers, and model workers) and current staff aged 60 and above to this reunion. It was a occasion to reflect on past achievements and discuss future prospects.
On behalf of the Board and all faculty and students, Jiang Bo, Chairman of Xi’an Peihua University, extended sincere greetings to the retired leaders, colleagues, and alumni present. In his speech, he reviewed Peihua’s 97-year educational journey, emphasizing the university’s continued adherence to Mr. Jiang Weizhi’s educational philosophy of “people-oriented and virtue-first.” He paid tribute to the late president’s lifelong dedication to education, noting that this gathering to remember the past, honor the elderly and value education not only continues the Peihua spirit but also inspires the entire community to strive towards building a high-quality private university with distinctive characteristics.
Professor Zhang Junxue, speaking on behalf of Peihua’s retired faculty, fondly recalled the university’s transformation from its original campus on Daxue South Road to the modern campus. He reflected on how the campus witnessed generations of educators devote their youth until their hair turned gray. He shared that the late nights of lesson preparation, the lively classroom discussions, and the students’ eager pursuit of knowledge were among his most cherished memories. Years spent before the blackboard may have silvered their hair. Seeing former students grow into pillars of the nation brings the profound joy of a teacher whose garden blooms with talent—a reward more precious than any other. He expressed his heartfelt wish for Peihua to achieve even greater glory and for his fellow retired colleagues to flourish like autumn chrysanthemums, growing ever more fragrant with time.
Zhao Changbao, Director of CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee for Education Affairs, extended festive greetings to all the participants. He emphasized that the Double Ninth Festival serves as an important occasion for honoring the elderly and carry forward the traditions. He praised the significant contributions made by the older generation of educators to Shaanxi’s educational endeavors and acknowledged the special role of the “Five Elders” in passing on the red revolutionary spirit and mentoring young teachers. He stressed the importance of providing platforms for veteran comrades to stay engaged and make further contributions to cultivating the next generation of builders and successors for socialist causes. He concluded with wishes for everyone’s health, longevity, and happiness, and for Peihua’s continued thriving.
Shitouwa (original name: Wang Xiaoxin) , Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and a National First-Class Artist, presented a couplet; Xi Jin, Vice President of the Shaanxi Design Association, presented a landscape painting titled Precious Vessel of Abundance; Calligraphic works were gifted by Zhao Jinhu, a National Senior Calligrapher recognized as one of the “Top Ten Cultural and Artistic Talents” in the second “Elite of the Era, Model of Shaanxi” selection, and former Dean of the School of Literature and Law at Peihua University, also offered a calligraphy work.
A calligraphy and painting donation ceremony was held on site, during which the veteran artists expressed their deep affection for Peihua and their heartfelt wishes for its future through brush, ink, and vibrant colors.
The event featured a vibrant and heartfelt artistic performance, including the ethnic dance Hua Yao Women, the female solo Walking Together Toward a Happy China, the prose-poetry recitation A Tribute to the Double Ninth Festival—To Our Glorious Years, a selected excerpt from the Qinqiang opera Su Wu Shepherding Sheep, the male–female duet China in Its Prime, the street dance Kara Forever OK, the male quartet Pluck My Beloved Lute and The Song of the Guerrillas, the female solo People of Our Homeland, the male ensemble Let Greater Xi’an Rise, among others. Through these diverse performances, the artists paid tribute to the passage of time and warmed the Double Ninth Festival with true affection.
The event continued with a luncheon, where guests gathered, toasted, shared memories, and envisioned the future. The banquet hall was filled with warmth, touching moments, and laughter. Three generations of the Peihua community—young, middle-aged, and senior—came together, strengthening bonds through conversation and ensuring the enduring transmission of their shared spirit.
The Double Ninth Festival at Peihua is more than a traditional observance; it is a celebration of the university’s spirit. The wisdom and dedication of the older generation light the path forward, while the energy and innovation of the younger generation infuse the campus with continuous vitality.
Xi’an Peihua University remains committed to upholding the fine traditions of “respecting, caring for, and supporting the elderly.” Staying true to its founding aspiration and mission, the university will continue to focus on fostering virtue and nurturing talents, inherit the educational ideals of Mr. Jiang Weizhi, and strive diligently to write new chapters in its high-quality development.
May time pass gently, may our elders enjoy health and peace; may the Peihua spirit be passed down through generations, shining brightly forever.
The leaders attending the conference included:
Wang Lisheng, Vice President of the China Association for Non-Government Education & Chairman of the Higher Education Professional Committee
Hu Muying, Daughter of Comrade Hu Qiaomu; Council Member of the China Yan’an Spirit Research Society; Head of the Yan’an Revolution Descendants Storytellers Association
Tu Saizhong, Daughter of Late General Tu Xidao; Former Director of the Film and Television Department of Beijing Film Academy; Deputy Secretary-General of the Yan’an Revolution Descendants Association, Beijing
Deng Li, Former Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Congress
Dong Xiaolong, Former Secretary of the Education Commission of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China
Yao Chaoying, Former Director-General of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Commerce
Qi Zhixue, Former Commander of the Shaanxi Provincial Military District
Liu Baoping, Former First-Level Inspector of the Department of Education of Shaanxi Provincial Government; President of the Shaanxi University Sports Association
Gao Wubin, First-Level Inspector of the Shaanxi Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Wang Fubao, Former Director of Shaanxi Radio and Television Station
Yao Zengzhan, Former Secretary-General of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)
Mou Xiaoning, Former Deputy Inspector of the General Office of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China
Lü Mingkai, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee for the Wellbeing of the Next Generation; Former Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Shaanxi Provincial Government
Zhao Changbao, Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Education System Committee for the Wellbeing of the Next Generation; Former Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Shaanxi Provincial Government
Yang Sansheng, Deputy Director of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee of the Standing Committee of the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Congress
Zhang Anxin, Former Deputy Director-General of the Shaanxi Provincial Public Security Department
Gan Shiping, Second-Level Inspector of the Education Commission of the Shaanxi Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China
Li Dewen, Former Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the Xi’an Municipal People’s Congress; President of the Xi’an Yan’an Spirit Research Society
Li Mingfu, Former Deputy Director and Secretary-General of the China Vocational Education Association, Shaanxi
Sun Jianning, Former Deputy Inspector of the Department of Education of Shaanxi Provincial Government
Zhang Min, Former Chairman of the Committee on Education, Science, Health and Sports, Shannxi
Zhao Xibin, Former Chairman of the Trade Union of the Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Taxation
Cao Yan, Former Secretary of the Organ Party Committee of the Department of Education of Shaanxi Provincial Government
Xue Yong, Former Deputy Director of the Counsellors’ Office of the Xi’an Municipal Government
University leaders and expert representatives attending the conference included:
Li Lei, Former Vice President of Shaanxi Normal University
Yang Hongmin, Former Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and Secretary of the Discipline Inspection Commission of Shaanxi Open University
Wei An, Assistant to the Dean of Shaanxi Master of Business Administration Institute
Representatives from social organizations and the cultural and arts community attending the conference included:
Shitouwa, Vice Chairman of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles; National First-Class Artist
Yang Juanru, Former Director of the Shaanxi Teenagers Psychology And Behaviors Research Center
Zhang Yuangeng, Former Secretary-General of the Shaanxi Provincial Student Science Association
Lei Xuejun, Executive Dean of the Shaanxi Red Culture Research Institute
Qin Quanan, Deputy Director of the Shaanxi Industrial Cooperation Association
Zhang Yi, President of the Shaanxi Chinese Painting Research Institute
Xi Jin, Vice President of the Shaanxi Design Association
Wang Shuchao, Secretary-General of the Shaanxi Notability Organization Treasure
Liu Jihong, Artistic Director of the Shaanxi Basketball Association
Former retired leaders of Xi’an Peihua University attending the conference included:
Professor Wang Douhu, Former Secretary of the Party Committee of Xi’an Peihua University
Professor Wang Shuancai, Former President of Xi’an Peihua University
Former Vice Presidents: Professor Chen Shengqiu, Professor Yang Dingjun, Professor Liu Yingnan, Professor Duan Maoxian, Professor Liu Yuelian, Professor Xu Guofu, and Mr. Jiang Lang
Representatives of retired faculty and alumni attending the conference included:
Alumni from the 1955 Class: Wang Jubao, Cai Peihua
Alumni from the 1984 Class: Ni Yongmei, Sun Qingwen
Former Faculty from the Peihua Women’s University Era: Lei Fuyun, Zhang Junxue, Li Dan, Xi Wei, Zhao Juanli, Zhao Zhengfa, Li Liqun, Li Zhenquan, Peng Gang, Zheng Mingping, among others.
Volunteer service was provided by:
The Women’s Volunteer Service Group of Xi’an Peihua University
