Leading young and middle-aged faculty from Xi’an Jiaotong University and their family members visited a newly-completed subway line on Sept 10 to celebrate the 36th Teacher's Day and the westward relocation spirit of the university. The westward relocation spirit refers to the movement of part of Jiaotong University from Shanghai to Xi’an in the 1950s in support of industrial development in western areas of the country.

The theme of the celebration of Metro Line 5 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, was "Time gallops ahead on the road of national rejuvenation". The event was jointly organized by Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xixian New Area and Xi'an Rail Transit Group Co., Ltd.

It was also an important activity of "Science and Technology Innovation Month", a promotion launched by Xi’an Jiaotong University and Xixian New Area in September to encourage scientific and technological development and global cooperation. 

The activity started from Taiyi Road Station and carried on to Iharbor Station in the Xixian New Area. Iharbor is a national level base and platform for innovation promotion built by Xi’an Jiaotong University. Zhu Yuancheng, student representative of Jiaotong University’s westward relocation spirit, and Zhan Qirui, undergraduate representative of the school, on behalf of all the students and alumni put forward the proposal: "Start now, lead in scientific and technological innovation, and move towards world-class status!" 

Student representatives and subway attendants get together in the carriage. 

Student representatives on the new subway line celebrate Jiaotong’s ongoing westward relocation spirit and the innovative platform Iharbor.

Zhu Yuancheng was admitted to the Department of Mechanics of Jiaotong University in 1955 in Shanghai, moved westward with the university in 1956, and then graduated in 1960. 

"In 1956, when I was 19 years old, I took the train from Shanghai, more than 1000 kilometers away, to Xi'an. Today, I am lucky to participate in the activities. I can't express my pride," he said. Zhu added that China's colleges and universities are meant to have such a mission, to contribute to the development of human society. He also expressed his wish that the innovation port will become a world-class talent training base as soon as possible, and that his alma mater will soon become a world-class university with Chinese characteristics. 

Xi'an Metro Line 5 runs through the urban area of Xi'an and Fengdong and Fengxi new towns of the Xixian New Area from east to west, connecting Xingqing campus, Qujiang campus and Iharbor of Xi'an Jiaotong University. 

By the end of this year, Metro Line 5 will have officially opened which will solve the travel problems of scientific researchers working at Iharbor and provide strong support for the base’s accelerated development.