On November 18th, 2023, the Coming-of-age Ceremony in Guangzhou with the theme of "Pursuing Dreams in the Greater Bay Area and Exploring a New Journey" kicked off in Nansha. It is reported that this is the 30th adult ceremony in Guangzhou to take an oath, and it is the first time that youth from Chinese Hong Kong and Chinese Macao become the main participants of the ceremony.
The ceremony features the number "18". On the morning of the event, the Guangzhou Metro Line 18 "GBA Youth Express" officially started operating at Panyu Square Station. As the first group of passengers, 60 youth representatives of Chinese Hong Kong and Chinese Macao were presented with commemorative tickets and took the express to Nansha to participate in the coming-of-age ceremony.
"I am a citizen of the People's Republic of China. I will abide by the Chinese Constitution and laws, support the leadership of the Communist Party of China, exercise my rights correctly, faithfully fulfill my obligations and promote social morality." At the Guangzhou Nansha International Cruise Homeport, 60 youth representatives from Chinese Hong Kong and Chinese Macao and 50 students from Guangzhou NO.2 Middle School (Nansha Tianyuan Campus) solemnly swore to the national flag under the guide of Yang Shuming, the champion of mobile application development project in the World Skills Competition, Jia Wenzhao, the representative of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Youth League of China, Rong Zhenzhen, member of the Standing Committee of Guangzhou Youth Federation, and Wu Jiahui, a young entrepreneur from Chinese Hong Kong. At the same time, Chen Guanfeng, one of the gold winners in the men's 4x100m relay in the Hangzhou Asian Games, also sent a message to the students present online: Beyond yourself and never stop.
It is worth mentioning that these five "mentors of growth" also brought special gifts. Chen Guanfeng gave a pair of running shoes with his signature, while Yang Shuming presented a Lu Ban lock symbolizing the spirit of craftsmanship in the World Skills Competition... These gifts carry their expectations for the 18-year-old youth and inherit responsibility and commitment.
Representatives of 18-year-old youths from Guangzhou, Chinese Hong Kong, and Chinese Macao join hands to cross the "door of adulthood". Ouyang Shangtai, a youth from Chinese Macao, is particularly excited, saying that he was so excited last night that he couldn't fall asleep. Every process, from taking the Express to making a collective oath, provides him with a sense of ceremony. Such an atmosphere prompts him to seriously reflect on the meaning and importance of turning an adult.
After the coming-of-age ceremony, the 18-year-old youths went to Hengdang Island, a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level and Patriotism Education Base in Guangdong, to carry out a "Red Bombax Ceiba Study Tour", visiting historical sites such as the official hall and batteries on the island. In the afternoon of that day, youth representatives of Chinese Hong Kong and Chinese Macao youth visited places such as the Hong Kong and Macao Youth Association Base, the GBA Youth Exchange Activities Headquarters Base, and the GAC Technology Museum.
"Nansha supports Chinese Hong Kong and Chinese Macao students in an all-round way, and I want to make more friends here," said Qiu Peilin, a youth from Chinese Hong Kong. He said that he felt the broad development opportunities in Nansha during the study tour and hoped to participate in the construction of the Greater Bay Area in the future.
