As fresh rains fall on the tranquil mountains, lush greenery flourishes.

By the lake and among the mountains, the academic legacies endure.

A new cohort of 2,950 students has arrived,

riding the wind and waves forward,

gathering at this renowned institution

for a shared artistic journey.

On the evening of September 20, China Academy of Art (CAA) held the Inauguration Ceremony for New Students 2024 at the Xiangshan Campus, Hangzhou, China, as the freshmen gathered to begin a new chapter in their lives. Gao Shiming, CPC Committee Member and Secretary of the Secretariat of China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Chairman of Academic Degree Evaluation Committee and former President of CAA, delivered a keynote address. Jin Yibin, Chairman of the Committee of Academy Affairs of CAA, presented badges to student representatives and gifted them with traditional cultural items, including paper, ink, brushes, and copybooks. Members of CAA's leadership team, including Shen Hao, Fu Qiaoling, Chen Yujie, and Yu Xuhong, along with heads of teaching units and functional departments, attended the event. The ceremony was hosted by Fu Qiaoling, Vice Chairman of the Committee of Academy Affairs.

The ceremony commenced with the solemn strains of the national anthem.

In his speech titled "Art as Life Education", Gao Shiming shared his personal memories of first stepping through the doors of CAA. He said that today's CAA spans two cities—Shanghai and Hangzhou—with five campuses, 16 schools, 28 majors, over 1,000 faculty members, and more than 10,000 current students. The once-quiet school has now grown into the world's largest art academy, with the most comprehensive range of programs. Despite this expansion, the elite character of CAA's art education remains intact. The annual graduation season continues to showcase vibrant artistic vitality and a wealth of creative energy, with CAA's social influence growing steadily. CAA upholds its educational philosophy of "Driven by Global and Domestic Vision, Empowered by Culture and Tech Education" while advocating its principle of "Draw from the Sources, Venture with the Greats". United in effort, the faculty and students have built a "Classic Academy" that fosters cross-civilization exchange and a legacies of academic rigor, while exploring the "Academy of Innovation" that bridges disciplines and integrates theory with practice. They also pursue a "Pragmatic Academy" rooted in China and engaged with societal progress, building CAA's spirit of bold innovation, resilience, vitality, and dynamism.

Gao Shiming posed a question to the new students: "Are you here at CAA to study a profession or to study art?" He explained that at the Academy, art is not merely a profession or a future career; it is, first and foremost, a way of being—a state of self-imagination, self-criticism, self-creation, and self-liberation. Art itself is a form of life education. Natural education is grounded in an experiential exploration of nature as a whole; aesthetic education is the education of sensibility, focusing on developing perception, cultivating emotion, and possessing the ability to create a "second nature". The aesthetic emotions stirred by nature's creative forces are universal across time and space, and when aligned with everyday life, they form a foundation for life education. Nature, aesthetics, and life are unified through the experience of art, forming an education that is vital to contemporary China and its people. This form of education fosters "knowledge imbued with emotion, thoughts that encompass both body and mind, and creativity that unites knowledge and action". Through this transformative life education, aesthetic experiences drawn from nature evolve into generative artistic experiences, while aesthetic education, nurturing both body and mind, gives rise to life education that is holistic. The unification of "nature, aesthetics, and life" serves as the true foundation for artistic creation. Gao Shiming emphasized that through life education, we turn creativity into action, make experience dynamic, maintain sensitivity in perception, and render the world more brilliant. He encouraged the new students to embark on this journey alongside CAA's century-old legacies, to jointly pursue a "broad-reaching undertaking" and "a life that is both upward and forward".

In the presence of faculty members, student representatives solemnly accepted these cultural gifts, which embody the essence of traditional Chinese culture and the deepest expectations of the Academy's esteemed predecessors, that is, the expectations for the future leaders of the artistic community, and symbolize the inheritance of CAA's century-old academic legacies. From this moment, the new arrivers have begun their artistic journey within this lakeside and mountain environment; this is also a journey of carrying for the long tradition of CAA.

Prof. He Hongzhou at the School of Painting, delivers remarks on behalf of the faculty. In his speech, he emphasized, "To aspire to great achievements, one must first cultivate virtue before mastering the arts". He encouraged the students to have the courage to delve into history, engage with life, and truly experience the current times to constantly refine themselves. In their respective fields, they shall be bold in learning from the classics and daring in their pursuit to reach the heights that the classics represent through practical application. For those devoted to the arts, they shall possess steadfastness, perseverance, and resilience. By "working with their hands and nurturing their minds through study", they will stay on the path of artistic creation with composure and grace. He expressed his hope that while maintaining their artistic pursuits, students would also remain passionate and attentive to life, develop strong self-awareness and discernment, and chart a clear course for their artistic journey so that they can travel even further on the road of art.

Hou Yongpu, Founder of Yongpu Coffee and 2009 Graduate, delivers remarks as an alumnus. He said that CAA not only teaches knowledge but also instills a way of thinking and a system of aesthetic judgment—skills that will help students distinguish themselves in the highly competitive world of entrepreneurship. Reflecting on his own experiences, he encouraged the freshman students to actively participate in student organizations, such as the student union and interest groups, and to find their passion. He noted the importance of maintaining curiosity, learning how to communicate effectively, and building relationships with others. His advice for the students is to pursue work that they love, as this passion will ultimately be recognized by others. He concluded by wishing the students a meaningful and fulfilling four-year study journey.

Xiong Junling, a postgraduate student from the School of Sculpture and Public Art, speaks at the event.He shared his reflections from his time spent in teaching support roles, volunteering, and artistic practice. He encouraged his new fellows to "dare to dream" and "dare to imagine". He said, "Guided by the legacies of generations of CAA members, we must let our dreams lead us, using artistic creation to reflect reality and illuminate the world. We must be deeply rooted in China's rich soil, actively engage with societal advances, take pride in carrying forward the revolutionary spirit, find joy in exploring the arts, and embrace the mission of serving society." He also called on CAA students to become youth with ideals, abilities, and a sense of responsibility—emerging not just as the youth of CAA but as representatives of China on the world stage, fighting for art and singing for the times.

Wang Wenli, an undergraduate representative from the School of Foundation Studies, said that CAA, with its profound cultural heritage and outstanding academic reputation, has attracted countless aspiring artists to seek knowledge and guidance in the arts. She said, "As the new generation of CAA members, we must strive to improve our artistic skills, cultivate our artistic sensibility, and solidify our foundation in the art of creating beauty. We must develop the ability to discover beauty, nurture a soul enriched with beauty, and embody a lifestyle that reflects beauty. As youth of the new era, our vision must extend beyond personal growth to the global stage. We fight for ourselves, for CAA, and for art!"

The inauguration ceremony had more than 3,000 participants, including CAA alumni, representatives, instructors of the military training program for the new students, all 2024 undergraduate and graduate students, teaching secretaries, and student advisors.

The ceremony concluded with students and faculty joining in singing the school anthem.

CAA Is a Way of Life! As the brilliant lights of the stage shone brightly, the 2024 Inaugural Gala unfolded.

Youth shall rise like the wind, reaching for the stars and chasing the light of the sun and moon!

The new students of 2024 at CAA
will follow in the footsteps of masters,
thinking like virtuosos and acting like craftsmen.

This marks the beginning of their journey, a time to strive forward.

Driven by CAA's century-long legacies,

they embark on their own artistic lives,

walk their unique "Journey of CAA",

and together, shape the expansive and far-reaching undertakings of CAA!