Music, dance and fireworks brought Nanfang College, Guangzhou (NCG) together for an evening of celebration on 18 October, as the College marked its 20th anniversary with a cultural gala entitled Nanfang at Twenty: Forever Young. Featuring performances by students, faculty and alumni, the event celebrated two decades of shared experiences while looking ahead to the College's future.

The evening opened with A Glorious Chapter, a dance performance by the College Dance Troupe. Fireworks sponsored by Liu Zhao, a 2010 graduate of the School of Literature and Media, added to the celebrations, with a spectacular display providing the finale.

Our Beginnings

The first part of the gala reflected on the values and aspirations that have guided NCG through its first two decades.

The Dance Troupe from Nanfang College, Guangzhou Panyu Affiliated Primary School presented Riding the Waves, using flowing movements to evoke the energy of the sea and the spirit of moving forward. Faculty members from the School of Art followed with Our New Era, a spirited musical tribute to the present and the future.

The Student Presenters' Team performed a recitation of The Bugler, conveying determination and the resolve to pursue new ambitions. The DMC Dance Troupe then brought a change of pace with its street dance performance, Break Out, showcasing the confidence and energy of NCG students.

Growing Together

The second part of the evening celebrated the people and experiences that have shaped the Nanfang community.

Alumna Huang Shulin performed Footsteps of Happiness, offering her best wishes for the College's future. The College Dance Troupe followed with The Ergun River, combining graceful movements and expressive choreography in a performance reflecting the vitality and continuity of life.

Memories of everyday campus life also took centre stage. From the warmth of sharing sweet rice balls during the Lantern Festival to conversations over lunch, familiar experiences were brought together in Songs of Nanfang: Twenty Years, a collaborative performance by the College Drama Troupe, Student Presenters' Team and College Choir.

Liu Zhao returned to the stage with Looking Back Once More, a song that invited the audience to reflect on the years shared with the College and the journey still ahead.

A New Chapter

The final part of the gala turned towards the future, celebrating the creativity, aspirations and sense of responsibility of a new generation.

The 2026 Campus Top Ten Singers joined the College Choir and Dance Troupe for Riding the Wind towards the Stars, a medley of familiar songs performed as a musical tribute to NCG.

The Sun Yat-sen University Dance Troupe made a special appearance with That Light, a performance that added to the celebrations and reflected the longstanding ties between the two institutions.

Alumni also returned with music of their own. Xie Weijia, a 2014 graduate of the School of Literature and Media, presented the original song Leaving the Mountains, Returning to the Forest alongside Lu Jianan, a 2013 graduate of the Business School. Together, they expressed their enduring affection for their alma mater through music.

The Yangqun Choir from the School of Art performed We Are the Light of the World, conveying the aspirations and sense of responsibility of young people. The Campus Top Ten Singers and College Dance Troupe then presented Visions of Youth, a lively song-and-dance performance celebrating the promise of the years ahead.

The evening reached its climax as students and faculty counted down together: “Three, two, one!”

Fireworks illuminated the night sky as colourful balloons rose above the gathering. Against the display of light and colour, the NCG community came together to wish the College a happy 20th anniversary.

The gala was both a celebration of NCG's first twenty years and an expression of confidence in what lies ahead. Through music, dance and the participation of different generations of the College community, it honoured the connections and traditions that continue to shape Nanfang's story as the College looks towards its next chapter.