On May 30, “Flowers of May,” an art performance under the theme “love to the western regions” debuted in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. More than one thousand college students from 23 colleges nationwide gathered at Xi’an University of Technology, singing and dancing for China’s western regions.

The theme of the art performance this year was “love to the western regions.” Under the social background of China’s Go-West Campaign, through self-composed performances, college students not only conveyed their love of West China, devotion to West China, concern for the development there, but also presented a new image of young college students in China today. The art performance consisted in four parts: “Love to the western regions,” “Enchantment of Youth,” “Glamor of China,” and “Strength of West China.”

14 members from PKU Student Dance Troupe joined performers from Shihezi University of Xinjiang in the program “Joining Hands with the Oasis.” It was a combination of dancing, kuaibanr (Chinese clapper talk), poetry reading, and all other forms of art, a depiction of how members of Shihezi University and PKU advanced with the help of each other towards a better tomorrow, as well as a hymn for the spirit of teachers from PKU who had devoted to the development of education in West China.

After the performance, activities joined by students from Shihezi University and PKU were held to strengthen the understanding and friendship between both sides. On coming back to Beijing, students from the two universities exchanged gifts with each other in hope of a prolonged communication and cooperation.

“Flowers of May” has been a national college students’ art performance on campus hosted by China’s Ministry of Education every May since 2001. It has become a crucial part of the quality-oriented education on campus and an important platform to present college students’ patriotic spirit. So far more than 150 colleges and hundreds of thousands of college students have taken part in the activity. The Tenth “Flowers of May” was co-organized by Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education, the Provincial Education Department of Shanxi, Xi’an University of Technology, and China Education Television.