Qian Xuesen “Back” to Hong Kong after 69 Years

09/30/2024

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the "Scientific Spirit Shines on Hong Kong" series of events officially kicked off on September 26.

 

From September 25 to 26, the student play "The Backbone of the Republic" featuring Qian Xuesen’s life story was invited to perform in Hong Kong as part of the series activities. Teachers and students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University promoted the spirit of scientists in the form of art in Hong Kong Polytechnic University, igniting patriotic hearts on the banks of the Victoria Harbor. The play "Qian Xuesen" takes the historical events as the main story line such as how Qian Xuesen shifted his life ideal from"saving the country through transportation" to "saving the country through aviation" during his studies at Jiao Tong University, how he overcame obstacles from the U.S. government to return to China and devoted himself to the national defense industry after the founding of new China, and how he led the first generation of "space scientists" to successfully launch the Dongfeng-2A missile.

The exhibition "Outstanding Model of Patriotic Intellectuals - Qian Xuesen's Life and Deeds" curated by QLM was also unveiled in Hong Kong PolytechnicUniversity. The exhibition reviews Qian Xuesen's life trajectory through detailed text and pictures, vividly displaying the magnificent process of Qian Xuesen establishing China's space industry. It aims to help young generations in Hong Kong to further understand the major scientific and technological achievements made since the founding of New China, and stimulates their scientific enthusiasm for exploring the unknown and daring to innovate, as well as a strong sense of national and ethnic identity.