On October 17, the School of Foreign Languages and Literatures (SFLL) organized the 12th “Classroom on the Move” activity, bringing first-year students to Lanzhou Planning Exhibition Hall, the Memorial Hall of the Lanzhou Office of the Eighth Route Army, and the History Exhibition of the Lanzhou University Museum. The activity was led by Lu Xiaobing, Secretary of the SFLL Party Committee, and Zhu Gang, Dean of the SFLL. Zeng Hao, Deputy Secretary of the Youth League Committee, and Hao Xinqing, a part-time counselor, also attended.

As the first “Classroom on the Move” activity for the 2026 cohort, the program brought together urban history, revolutionary education, and university heritage, helping students gain a deeper understanding of Lanzhou and the university before embarking on their academic journey.

At Lanzhou Planning Exhibition Hall, students explored the city’s historical development, achievements in urban construction, and future plans through scale models, digital displays, and historical materials. The visit traced Lanzhou’s development from a major Silk Road hub to a national central city, giving students a better vision of the city where they study and strengthening their sense of connection to it.

At the Memorial Hall of the Lanzhou Office of the Eighth Route Army, Lu Xiaobing gave an on-site introduction to the exhibits. He noted that more than 80 years ago, young people of similar ages had made decisions that shaped the nation’s destiny in this very courtyard. He encouraged students to look beyond the exhibition panels and reflect on the significance of those choices in their historical context.

Faculty and students visited the exhibition “Passionate Longyuan: The Eighth Route Army Office in Gansu and the Gansu Anti-Japanese Aggression for National Salvation Movement”, as well as the restored historical rooms. They learned about the office’s role in rescuing soldiers of the Western Route Army, transporting supplies in support of China’s resistance against Japanese aggression, and promoting the anti-Japanese Aggression for national salvation movement. The visit offered students a deeper understanding of the revolutionary predecessors’ commitment to the country at a time of national crisis.

At the History Exhibition of the Lanzhou University Museum, students traced the university’s history since its founding in 1909, from its beginnings as the Gansu School of Law and Politics to its development into a comprehensive university with multiple disciplines. Historical artifacts and photographs illustrated how generations of Lanzhou University faculty and students have remained committed to western China and contributed to the nation through education.

Reflecting on the university motto, “Constantly Improving, Blazing Our Own Path”, students reflected themselves on their roles and responsibilities as new members of the university community.

Moving forward, SFLL will continue to develop the “Classroom on the Move” program by drawing on local cultural and revolutionary resources and incorporating the distinctive features of foreign language education. Through these activities, the School aims to broaden students’ horizons through firsthand experience, strengthen their commitment to the Communist Party of China through practice, and deepen the effective ideological and political education. It also seeks to guide students to grow into foreign language professionals with a strong sense of national responsibility and a global perspective through their engagement with western China.