The Shahe Campus of the Central University of Finance and Economics (CUFE) held the seminar and the awards ceremony for the Hearts Connected Through Light and Shadow("Guangying Tongxin")photographycompetition on June 10. The event was sponsored by the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office of CUFE, the CUFE Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, and its School of Culture and Communication. It's an integral part of the "Sailing Plan", a cultural immersion initiative designed for students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. The aim is to blend aesthetic education with national awareness and value guidance — encouraging students to enhance their national identity and cultural confidence through photographic storytelling.

Professor Liu Shuyong from the School of Culture and Communication delivered a lecture entitled "I Am Connected to Myself". He discussed how to tell one's life story through photography — explaining that photography is not only a record of the external world, but also a way to view oneself and understand one's inner world. The lecture combined aesthetic and emotional education. It helped inspire students to find truth, goodness and beauty in everyday life through their lenses — facilitating self-dialogue and emotional expression in their visual creations.

The photography competition, themed on "My CUFE, My Beijing", had two categories — documentary and AI creation. It received over 40 outstanding submissions. Participants captured the changing seasons of CUFE, the modern pulse of the city, and combined personal experiences with AI technology, displaying heartfelt and profound works.

Students from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan used photography to demonstrate their commitmenttothe nation's development, reflecting their youthful dedication and unity. Moving forwards, plans are for the university to introduce more culturally rich and contemporary exchange activities, helping students grow and shine in their academic and personal lives.

Writers: SONG Hongmei, FANG Yi

Reviewers: PENG Yuchao, GUO Feng

Editors: WANG Xinyu

Approvers: HUO Xiaoran