568 middle school students celebrate a rite of passage

Qingshan Senior Middle School’s 568 students celebrated their transition into adulthood with a rite of passage on May 18 at the school’s theater.

A girl celebrates her rite of passage by leaving a palm print on a board. [Photo by Liu Sitong/China Daily]

A large number of the students are from ethnic groups that originate from Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, including Mongolian, Tajik, and Xibe ethnic groups. They study under a program specially designed for Xinjiang students that started in 2000.

Students from various ethnic groups offer flowers to school faculty members. [Photo by Liu Sitong/China Daily]

Students who recently came of age wore special ceremonial gowns, mixing tradition aiwth modernity and selected after a design competition organized by the provincial government, to attend the ceremony. Before entering the theater they climbed a flight of steps where three arches labeled responsibility, love, and aspiration were erected.

Students walk to celebrate their rite of passage as they pass under the three arches of responsibility, love, and aspiration. [Photo by Liu Sitong/China Daily]

Alumni members, teachers, and parents, nearly 1,000 people, witnessed students swear an oath as a Chinese citizen in front of the national flag inside the school’s theater.

Coming-of-age students swear an oath as Chinese citizens in front of the national flag at their rite of passage ceremony at Qingshan Senior Middle School on May 18. [Photo by Liu Sitong/China Daily]