As the national flag rises, youthful dreams take shape

At dawn on Sept 20, student representatives from flag-raising teams in Hong Kong and Macao stood on a viewing platform at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing, watching as the National Flag Guard Unit of the People's Liberation Army Ceremonial Escort Battalion marched in precise formation and the five-star red flag slowly rose over the square.

The ceremony was part of the "Salute to the National Flag" Hong Kong and Macao Youth Flag-Raising Teams' Beijing Visit, held from Sept 18 to 22.

Around 1,000 representatives from flag-raising teams at primary and secondary schools and universities in Hong Kong and Macao took part in the program.

For these young people, the trip was not only a chance to pay tribute to the flag, but also an opportunity to learn from the country's professional ceremonial guards.

Li Leqian, a member of The Chinese University of Hong Kong's flag-raising team, closely watched the guards' steps, formations and movements. "They are among the best teams in the country and set a standard that student flag bearers aspire to," he said.

Reflecting on his own experience as a flag guard, Li said the ceremony carried deeper significance.

"Guarding the national flag is not only about protecting the flag itself. It is also about preserving the passion of our youth," he said. "The national flag carries the history and achievements of our country. To guard it is something deeply meaningful and honorable."

That same attention to detail was evident in Li Yixin, another member of the university's flag-guard team.

During a visit to the People's Liberation Army Ceremonial Escort Battalion on Sept 19, she observed the guards' ceremonial movements up close. Scenes she had previously seen only in videos were now unfolding before her. She even noticed how the guards began anticipating each movement as soon as the preparatory command was given, and how their uniforms, equipment and overall bearing had evolved over time.

To her, they are "the public face of the country", and the flag-raising ceremony offers a window into how a nation presents itself.

"The experience gave me a sense of our country's progress and growing strength," she said.

Later that afternoon, visits to Tsinghua University and Peking University offered the students a closer look at life on the Chinese mainland, making it feel less like an abstract idea and more like a tangible place, with campuses, peers and possibilities for their own futures.

Huang Runqian, a student at Macau University of Science and Technology, was particularly impressed by Tsinghua University's educational resources. He has started to consider pursuing a master's degree at Tsinghua or another university on the Chinese mainland.

"I know I'll have to work hard," he said. "The academic standards at mainland universities are quite high."

At Peking University, Lu Xueying of The University of Hong Kong pointed to a path on campus and told those around her, "This was the route I took to class every day."

She had previously spent two summers studying at Peking University.

Walking the familiar route again, Lu reflected on the progress made in education, science and technology on the Chinese mainland.

The visit also strengthened her desire to return to Beijing for further study or to work after graduation.

"I could see how much effort researchers on the mainland are devoting to the country's development," Lu said. "As a young person from Hong Kong, I also hope to play my part in shaping its future."

The trip's focus on the national flag came full circle for Li Yixin during the visit to Peking University.

While listening to speeches by student flag bearers at the university, she was moved to tears several times. They spoke about their teammates, perseverance and the choices they had made. Their words brought back memories of her own experience with the flag-raising team — and of the national flag she had watched rise over Tian'anmen Square that morning.

"When we see the same five-star red flag in different places, it reminds us that wherever we are, we are all moving toward better lives in our own ways," she said.

"We have all grown up under the Chinese national flag, and together we guard what it represents."