With a gentle spring rain nurturing the land, every tree and bud pulsed with boundless vitality. On April 20th, all faculty and staff of Aulin College, representatives of the foreign teachers, and over 300 students collectively headed to the Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm for an “Aulin with the World” tree-planting event. Through this practical action, they embodied Xi Jinping’s thought on ecological civilization, practiced the concept of green development, promoted the Saihanba spirit, advanced labor education, and fostered a civilized ethos of loving, planting, and protecting green spaces, thereby adding more greenery to the construction of a beautiful China.

Before the activity began, Liu Zhiming, Dean of Aulin College, delivered a mobilization speech. He stated that this event was a concrete action to deeply practice green development and an important measure to implement NEFU's action plan for serving national ecological civilization construction. He hoped that students would take this opportunity to practice green development, promote ecological culture, and temper their bodies, wills, and knowledge through labor, achieving all-around development in ethics, intelligence, physical fitness, aesthetics, and labor.

Jin Xin, Director of the Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm, stated that he hoped the students would advocate for green lifestyles, cultivate green living awareness, develop civilized and healthy habits, and consciously become enthusiastic promoters of green environmental concepts, active participants in building a green ecological environment, and loyal practitioners of green civilized living.

Liu Yanwen from the 2024 Chemistry Class 2 spoke as the student representative, and an expert from the Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm explained the key points of tree planting to the students.

As Ai Xifeng, Party Secretary of Aulin College, announced, “The 2025 Aulin College Ecological Civilization Practice Tree Planting Activity officially begins!” Following their group assignments, the students enthusiastically began planting trees. They meticulously completed each step, from swinging shovels to dig the soil, carefully placing and firming the saplings, backfilling soil, and building protective ridges. The atmosphere was lively, and teachers and students were highly enthusiastic, cooperating to contribute their efforts towards protecting lush mountains and clear waters and strengthening the ecological barrier. After more than two hours of diligent work, 100 new trees were planted, forming an “Aulin Forest” that added a vibrant patch of green to the Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm.

After planting the trees, the students attached unique “identity cards” to the planted saplings. Their youthful writing expressed their deep understanding and firm commitment to green development.

The students who participated in the tree planting expressed that they wished they could have done more and felt great accomplishment. “We didn’t just plant saplings, but hopes. We deeply understood the true meaning of ‘dressing the rivers and mountains in brocade and painting the land in vibrant colors, ’” said Xu Jialu, a student from Aulin College’s 2024 Biology Class 1 who participated in the activity. Hu Xiao, a counselor for Aulin College’s 2024 class, remarked, “While planting new greenery, we also conveyed hope and responsibility. When the students hung the adoption tags filled with messages on the young trees, I saw the sense of responsibility and anticipation sparkling in their eyes. May every tree planted today grow strong together with these young people.”

Foreign teacher John Taylor, who participated in the planting, commented, “After personally planting the saplings symbolizing hope, I deeply felt China’s educational philosophy emphasizing ecological environmental protection. When the students introduced these tree species to me in Chinese and English, this cross-cultural exchange felt wonderful and very beneficial.”

Sowing green hope in the fertile soil of spring and tempering youthful responsibility through hands-on practice. Labor education is fertile for cultivating virtue and fostering talent, and ecological civilization is the bedrock of sustainable development. Aulin College will continue to align its educational mission with the principle that “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets,” building an integrated “ecology + labor” education system. This will cultivate students’ concepts of simple, moderate, civilized, and healthy lifestyles and consumption patterns, fostering an intense atmosphere where everyone values ecological civilization, and taking practical actions to make our motherland greener and more vibrant.