Spring Festival Celebration | Third “Jiaoxiang Renhe” Alumni New Year Gala

On February 14, 2026, as the festive spirit of the Year of the Horse coincided with Valentine’s Day, the venue on West 39th Street in Manhattan came alive with swaying lanterns, laughter, and warm New Year cheer.

Co-hosted by the New York Chapter of the RUC North America Alumni Association and the Jiaotong University Alumni Association of New York, with support from the RUC High School Affiliated School Alumni Association of New York, the third “Jiaoxiang Renhe” Alumni New Year Gala brought together more than 150 alumni, guests, and friends from universities across New York.

Gathered to celebrate the New Year, share memories of home, and renew old friendships, participants brought warmth to the Manhattan winter through the resonance of “Jiaoxiang” and the spirit of “Renhe”—harmony and connection among people.

Greetings from the Consulate: Best Wishes for the Year of the Horse

— A Warm Harbor for Alumni Overseas

At the beginning of the event, Yu Yougen, Counselor for Education at the Chinese Consulate General in New York, and Consul Geng Junwei joined the celebration in person and extended warm Chinese New Year greetings to the alumni community.

In his remarks, Counselor Yu highlighted the important role of Renmin University of China and Jiaotong University as leading Chinese universities under the national “Double First-Class” initiative, and spoke highly of the achievements of their alumni across different fields in the United States.

He noted that the Consulate General will always serve as a strong source of support for Chinese alumni overseas, and encouraged alumni to continue serving as bridges between China and the United States and as positive ambassadors for people-to-people exchange.

Cross-Disciplinary Resonance, Passing the Torch

— Reflections from Alumni Association Leaders

Amid warm applause, leaders and council representatives from the two alumni associations took the stage.

Liu Bin, President of the Jiaotong University Alumni Association of New York, and Huang Beiqing, President of the New York Chapter of the RUC North America Alumni Association, shared their interpretations of the meaning behind the “Jiaoxiang Renhe” brand.

“Jiao” represents Jiaotong University, while “Ren” represents Renmin University. Together, the name reflects the complementary strengths and spirit of collaboration between the two universities.

Representatives from several fellow alumni associations—including the RUC High School Affiliated School, Fudan University, Wuhan University, Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, East China University of Political Science and Law, Central University of Finance and Economics, Tianjin University, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, and Southwest University of Political Science & Law—also attended the event, highlighting the inclusive and collaborative spirit of “Jiaoxiang Renhe.”

Two council members then shared particularly heartfelt reflections.

Wang Xia, a council member of the Jiaotong University Alumni Association, brought his daughter to the event. Having lived in the United States for 16 years, he spoke emotionally about how alumni associations serve not only as bridges connecting people, but also as vehicles for cultural continuity.

He expressed the hope that gatherings like this would allow the next generation growing up overseas to experience firsthand the deep bonds among alumni, carrying forward the spirit of “remembering where we came from” from one generation to the next.

Liu Jing, a council member of the RUC North America Alumni Association, described the collaboration between the two universities as a “perfect cross-disciplinary partnership.”

Renmin University and Jiaotong University—one rooted more in the humanities and social sciences, the other in science and engineering—complement each other in distinctive ways. Jiaotong alumni build the roads and bridges; RUC alumni add the ideas and vision. Together, they create a force that helps people move steadily and confidently toward the future.

Amid the global wave of AI, Liu Jing also emphasized the value of real human connection. No matter how far algorithms evolve, she said, alumni associations will always keep a light on for students and alumni overseas, helping illuminate the way home.

“Where the heart finds peace, there is home.”

A Feast for the Senses

— From Intangible Cultural Heritage to Modern Rock

This year’s program broke through traditional boundaries, creating a truly cross-disciplinary celebration that showcased the remarkable talents of alumni from different fields.

Classic Kunqu

With a history of more than 600 years, Kunqu Opera, originating in Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, is widely regarded as the “ancestor of a hundred forms of Chinese opera” and was among the first traditions inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

At the gala, Wang Xuqing and Qiu Xiaowen performed a classic excerpt, The Jade Hairpin: Playing the Qin. The graceful interplay of the traditional sheng and dan roles and the delicate sound of the bamboo flute brought the elegance of traditional Chinese opera to the heart of New York, evoking the romance and refined beauty of classical Chinese culture.

Comedy and Crosstalk

The 哥大相声社 (Columbia University Crosstalk Society), represented by Shou Yiwei and Xiao Xuyan, brought laughter to the audience with “Ten Out of Ten.” With clever punchlines and quick wit, the performance delivered New Year wishes in a uniquely Chinese comedic style.

Cross-Disciplinary Rhythms

Finance professional Shirley Lu performed a delicate and romantic violin rendition of Lanting Xu.

Ph.D. student Xinyi Zhou captivated the audience with a solo dance incorporating sign language, combining graceful movement with expressive emotion.

Quantitative development engineer Zijing Zhao presented a vocal performance rooted in traditional Chinese bel canto.

Architecture professional Cathy took the stage in high heels with an energetic dance performance, igniting the room and once again demonstrating the extraordinary range of talent within the alumni community.

The Voice of a Generation

ZenHow presented original music centered on themes of pursuing dreams, hard work, and personal growth. Blending elements of campus culture and youthful memories, the performance resonated strongly with the younger generation.

A longtime friend of “Jiaoxiang Renhe,” Mingle Huang returned this year with an even more striking cross-genre performance. Seamlessly blending rap, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, his bilingual original performance showcased remarkable stage presence.

When he shouted his signature line at the climax—

“RUC and Jiaotong—Grand Slam!”

—the entire audience erupted. It was more than the high point of the performance; it became a collective declaration from alumni ready to “hit the gas” and embrace a new beginning.

High-Energy Rock

As familiar Mandarin and Cantonese classics filled the room with live accompaniment, the highly infectious rhythms immediately brought back memories of youth.

The “Gouweiba Grass” Band, made up of alumni from multiple universities, transformed the venue into a vibrant music festival and pushed the gala atmosphere to its peak.

Games, Interaction, and Good Fortune

— A Celebration of Connection on a Special Double Holiday

With the gala coinciding with Valentine’s Day, this year’s interactive activities carried an especially warm and festive atmosphere.

Planned and hosted by Lu Cuili, Vice President of the New York Chapter of the RUC Alumni Association, games including “Passing the Parcel,” “Guess What I’m Saying,” and “Perfect Match Challenge” brought alumni closer together.

During the WeChat group trivia challenge, participants competed for speed and prizes, filling the venue with laughter and festive energy.

No Chinese New Year celebration is complete without a reunion meal. A delicious lunch provided by Jin Manting gave alumni a taste of home even while celebrating thousands of miles away.

Red candies, crispy peanuts, rich chocolate, and Lele milk tea from Panda Food Delivery filled the tables. What gathered around those tables was more than a group of alumni—it was a community bound by a sense of family.

Gratitude Behind the Scenes, and See You Next Year

— Thank You for Every Bit of Support and Companionship

The gala was co-hosted by Shanshan Zhao, an RUC alumna and Wall Street legal professional, and Xiaohua Zhang (Xinhe), a Jiaotong alumna and neuroscientist/postdoctoral researcher.

One brought the sharpness and insight of a Wall Street legal professional; the other brought the warmth and intellect of a neuroscience scholar. Their seamless chemistry on stage reflected the energy and accomplishments of a new generation of alumni.

The success of the gala would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors.

We extend our sincere thanks to Gold Sponsors HungryPanda and CrowdFunz, as well as Silver Sponsors Jingtian Culture and Hibee International Consulting, and to Attorney Hong Zhang and BIWL P.C. (Beijun International Law Firm) for their generous support.

We are equally grateful to the dedicated volunteer team behind the scenes, whose time and effort made the celebration possible.

Three years of “Jiaoxiang,” a lifetime of “Renhe.”

We did not simply reunite here.
We set out again from here.

Full speed ahead. May everything go our way in the Year of the Horse!

And with a promise to meet again—

See you next year!

Editorial Team

Copywriting: Zhang Yong, Yin Xilei
Editorial Support: Jiao Ziyi
Photography & Videography: Chen Jianfeng, Sean

Organizers

Co-Organizer

Sponsors

Organizing Team

Planning: Liu Bin, Huang Beiqing, Yu Mengyao, Lu Cuili
Execution: Gao Wenbo, Cao Chenzi, Zhao Shanshan, Xinhe, Sean, Chen Jianfeng, Li Yujing, Yin Tao, Wu Chengjin, Jiao Ziyi, Victor, Wang Yinxie, Wang Zengye, Yin Xilei, Zhang Yong