Peking University, May 4, 2026: As Peking University marks its 128th anniversary, its legacy continues to echo through the voices of its alumni worldwide. PKU has not only shaped scholars but also created a global family whose ties remain unbreakable. These stories, filled with personal triumphs, challenges, and memories, remind us that PKU is more than a place of learning. It’s a living, breathing part of its alumni’s journeys. In this collection, we celebrate the moments that have defined lives and the connections that span generations and continents.

Yang Tongchen (杨彤晨)
Yuanpei College, BS '24
AI Developer



Recalling her initial impression of studying in China, Yang Tongchen, who graduated from Yuanpei College with a bachelor's in data science in 2024, admits that she was prepared for an academically demanding experience, expecting that she would have to "study very hard."

However, despite initial concerns, she was still drawn to the opportunities that the PKU experience could offer. For Tongchen, China's position as a global powerhouse in technology made PKU an obvious and ideal place to learn alongside leading minds in the field, putting her "at the forefront of technology." 

Now working in AI development, Tongchen reflects that she has "grown to be more open-minded, empathetic and receptive to different perspectives", a quality that she attributes to the "diversity of thought present in PKU". She credits her arduous journey in PKU with building mental fortitude and strengthening her ability to bounce back from adversity.

Tongchen's message to PKU: 北大生日快乐！(Happy Birthday Peking University!) May you continue to inspire generations to come! Thank you for everything you have given me.”

Nai Chen Huang (赖贞瑝)
School of Economics, BS'95 
Guanghua School of Management, EMBA'18
Founding President of Peking University Alumni Association of Malaysia



On Peking University's 128th anniversary, Nai Chen Huang, founding president of Peking University Alumni Association of Malaysia, reflected on his formative years at his alma mater. Arriving from Malaysia a novice, he had not just learned knowledge, but also developed a discipline of mind and a widening of perception. In quiet corridors and long conversations, he learned that sweat, humility, and persistence were the building blocks of success.

He carried that lesson beyond graduation. The values settled into his habits, guiding how he worked, how he listened, and how he chose to contribute. Back home in Malaysia, his lived those values in every aspect of his life, influencing others along the way. What Peking University had given him was not an end, but a way of continuing.

He extended a poetic birthday wish to his alma mater: 燕园百二八薪光永耀，南洋千万里文脉同辉！(The 128-year legacy of Yanyuan shines eternally, while the cultural heritage spans thousands of miles across the sea, radiating with equal brilliance.)

Wang Jia En
School of Economics, BS'25
Campaigns Marketing Associate


To Jia En, PKU was a vast trial ground. She had ventured into different paths – studying economics, attending Model United Nations, taking up a PR role in a student association, becoming a student journalist at the Office of Global Communications, going on an exchange program in Europe, and finally landing a career in marketing. Throughout this journey, she faced joys and woes, conversed with people from various backgrounds, and in turn, had a clearer idea of her capabilities. 

However, too many options sometimes confused her. So, Jia En often found herself in self-reflection by the Weiming Lake, her quiet sanctuary amongst the hustle and bustle of PKU. There, she discovered that when in doubt, she could always look within herself to find answers, just like how the Boya Pagoda is always reflected in the shimmering ripples of the lake. 

"Happy 128th anniversary to PKU! May my alma mater continue to flourish, nurturing many generations of thought and curiosity to come. Hope I can go back to revisit my memories there soon!"

Sean Tan (陈家俊)
Yenching Academy, MA'26
Evaluation Intern, Green Climate Fund



For Sean, attending Peking University was less about arriving at a destination and more about encountering the world. At the Yenching Academy of Peking University, his perspectives were constantly reshaped through conversations with peers from diverse backgrounds.

Yet some of his most vivid memories lie beyond the classroom. From field trips along the China–Myanmar border to journeys as far north as Mohe, Sean experienced the geographic and cultural breadth of the country. The program encouraged scholars to engage deeply with China through travel and immersion, alongside academic study.

This lived experience extended beyond China's borders, as Sean later studied in Japan on a Yenching Academy scholarship, where he explored Sino-Japanese relations from a regional perspective. This academic interest was further enriched by his professional work with the Malaysian government at the World Expo in Osaka. There, he began to connect his academic training with real-world regional dynamics through communication and diplomacy, shaping a more nuanced understanding of China's role in Asia.

What made this journey possible, Sean reflects, was the environment at Peking University itself. Beyond its academic rigor, PKU fosters curiosity, critical thinking, and engagement across disciplines and cultures. As the university marks its 128th anniversary, Sean expresses his gratitude for an institution that continually encourages students to step beyond their comfort zones and engage with the world.

Khalid Al-Balushi
Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, PhD'25
Deputy Director of Councils and Committees, Office of the Minister, Ministry of Higher Education Oman



On this 128th anniversary, Dr. Khalid Al-Balushi from Oman offered a warm message that echoed across the celebration. "I am proud to be part of its legacy," he said. "And I wish the university continued success in the years ahead."

 "I chose Peking University for its strong academic reputation and its unique focus on development, policy, and global cooperation," said Dr. Al-Balushi, who earned his PhD in Economics as a member of the Class of 2025. Reflecting on his time at Peking University, he recalled engaging discussions with professors and peers from around the world. "Life on campus, the cultural diversity… created memories that I still value today."

The interdisciplinary environment at ISSCAD, he noted, allowed him to connect economic theory directly with real-world policy challenges, particularly in his research on development and economic growth. That academic rigor has already borne professional fruit. "The education I received at PKU enhanced my ability to contribute to policy-related work, improved my communication skills, and gave me confidence to engage in high-level discussions," he said.

Said Mukhtar Ahmad
School of Earth and Space Sciences, PhD'25
Research Associate, Chengdu University of Technology



For Dr. Said Mukhtar Ahmad, the journey to becoming a faculty member began with a specific choice: the SAR Imaging Geodesy group led by Assistant Professor Wang Teng at the School of Earth and Space Sciences. "I chose PKU for its world class and cutting-edge expertise in InSAR," he recalls.

But it was the welcome that made him stay. "I will never forget arriving at PKU. I informed my professor, and within 30 minutes, he arrived and checked that everything was fine." Fellow researcher Li Zhen showed him the Geological Museum, the serene Weiming Lake, and the iconic Boya Pagoda. "Evening walks with my labmates, international and Pakistani friends around the Weiming Lake and the Global Village remain my most cherished memories."

PKU soon gave him the world, taking him from Chinese cities to Vienna, Budapest, and the Czech Republic for conferences. "That exposure, combined with rigorous InSAR training, shaped my career." Today, he is a faculty member at SKLGP, Chengdu University of Technology, a leading national laboratory for geohazards. "PKU gave me wings to fly and roots to remember. PKU made this journey possible."

On this 128th anniversary, his message is one of enduring gratitude from a proud member of the PKU community.

Khin Mar Aye
Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, PhD'25
Deputy Director at Myanmar's Ministry of National Planning, Investment and Foreign Economic Relations



Khin Mar Aye, a PhD alumna of Peking University’s Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development, reflected on her doctoral journey at PKU. Drawing on over two decades of public service experience, she said her time at the University reshaped her understanding of development by connecting theory with practical realities. From rural infrastructure to industrial policy, the insights she gained had informed her work back home. Describing PKU as “a light on Myanmar’s road to development”, she expressed deep affection for the University and extended her heartfelt wishes for its continued global impact.

Zhang Xinfeng
School of Software & Microelectronics, BS'11 



Zhang is a technologist but also has a deep love for Chinese classics. He still remembered his first impression of PKU: a vast, beautiful campus and a library rich in rare collections—resources that had become difficult to access after graduation.

Beyond his studies, Zhang steadfastly pursued this passion. He contributed to the proofreading work for Shidian Guji (识典古籍), a digital Chinese classics platform jointly developed by Peking University and ByteDance.

He encouraged current students to explore their interests deeply and make full use of PKU’s valuable resources while on campus. For him, PKU broadened his horizons through a diversified education, a vibrant campus, and a free-wheeling environment for discourse. 

Returning to PKU years later, he was delighted to see today’s students expressing their views on tradition and culture with growing confidence. He also extended his heartfelt wishes for an even brighter and more prosperous future for both PKU and China.

Christine Wen-Yi Liang
School of Education, PhD'25
Vice Principal, St. Paul's Co-educational College



As a higher education student, Christine studied universities in theory, but at Peking University, she truly experienced their meaning. Along the Weiming Lake, through the spring blossoms and autumn’s golden leaves, riding yellow bikes across campus, warming up with soup from Jiayuan Canteen, and skating on winter ice, she found learning everywhere. 

It was an honor for her to study at PKU as a U.S.–China Bilateral Government Scholar and to receive the "San Hao Xue Sheng" (三好学生) recognition. With her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather also being alumni, carrying this legacy forward on the same historic grounds meant more than words could express. Peking University had profoundly shaped her personal and academic journey, and she is deeply grateful to be able to continue this cherished family tradition. "Happy birthday PKU!"

Md Sahariar Rahman
School of Education, PhD'25
Research Associate, University of Oxford



Sahariar came from Bangladesh, curious and a little nervous. What he found at PKU were yellow bikes, walks around the Weiming Lake, noodles eaten too fast, and Mandarin slowly clicking into place. Though there were hard days, the campus had a way of pulling him back in. Something about him changed here quietly, without him noticing until much later. Peking University wasn’t just a place he studied; it became embedded in the way he thinks and works. It's a place he would never truly leave, no matter where life takes him.

"Happy Birthday, Peking University. I am eternally grateful to have been here."

Muhammad Tayyab Ahsan
School of Materials Science and Engineering, PhD'24,
Postdoctoral Researcher, Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT)



Muhammad's favorite memory at PKU was working in the laboratory, learning from dedicated professors, and exchanging research ideas with classmates and colleagues. As a materials science researcher, he had the opportunity at PKU to deepen his academic training, strengthen his scientific thinking, and explore new ideas through research. PKU was a place where curiosity, discipline, and discovery came together, shaping his growth as a researcher and broadening his international perspective.

"Happy Birthday, PKU! Wishing you continued excellence, discovery, and global impact."

Interviewed and written by: Akaash Babar, Jawad Shabbir, Chloe Tan Xuan En, Sean Tan, Wang Jia En, May Thu Htet, Leow Kai Lim, Lim Wei Urn
Edited by: Chen Shizhuo