Dear new students of the Class of 2026, distinguished faculty, and guests,
This golden autumn, we welcome 7,332 new students from all over China and 46 countries around the world. From this moment on, you are officially members of the Beijing Forestry University (BFU) family, ready to embark on a new chapter of your academic journey on this fertile ground that nurtures green dreams and cultivates hope. On behalf of the university, Chairman of the University Council Wang Tao, and all faculty, staff, and students, I would like to extend our warmest welcome to each and every one of you.
Before your arrival, we received exciting news: the world's first 100-kilowatt-class wood-bamboo offshore photovoltaic platform, "Jilin II", was successfully launched in Shandong. The platform's core structure uses "Sea Bamboo Pipes" developed independently by Professor Qi Chusheng and his team from the College of Materials Science and Technology. Bamboo, a humble mountain plant for millennia, has now become the backbone of offshore renewable energy—a testament to how BFU transforms tradition into innovation. This transformation offers a powerful metaphor for your journey ahead.
From mountain forests to the open sea, from traditional natural materials to cutting-edge renewable energy equipment, the transformation of bamboo mirrors BFU's journey of keeping pace with the times. This is the inspiration I wish to share with all new students today. I would like to use bamboo as a metaphor to discuss how young BFUers in this new era should root themselves in learning, transcend limitations, and engage with the times.
Bamboo has nodes—upright and unwavering. This integrity defines the BFU spirit. Generations of our faculty and alumni have remained true to the mission of greening the nation. In a world of distractions, I hope you will stay grounded, resist impatience, and keep your sights on meaningful goals. Align your personal aspirations with the cause of building a Beautiful China.
Bamboo is hollow—open and receptive. This is the mindset for learning in a new era. Forestry today is no longer confined to trees and forests; it reaches into green materials, digital ecology, and renewable energy. Cross disciplinary boundaries. Learn to work with AI and emerging technologies. Become the kind of well-rounded professional who can shape a sustainable future.
Bamboo is resilient—breaking through limits to grow. University is a platform for exploration. Step out of your comfort zone — enter labs, join competitions, take part in fieldwork and social practice. Through trial and error, you will solve real problems and turn knowledge into innovation.
A thousand-foot bamboo grows from a tiny root. Every rise comes from quiet accumulation. Before breaking through the soil, bamboo roots deep in the darkness. Your time at BFU is the season for grounding yourself, building strength, and cultivating patience. Do not rush — read, explore, and grow steadily. With persistence, you will stand tall and travel far.
As we add new green to our mountains and rivers, we begin a new chapter of promise. May you embrace responsibility, cultivate broad vision, and contribute your youth to the building of a modern China.
Thank you all.
Li Zhaohu, President of BFU
August 28, 2026
