Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) Affiliated School in SIP hosted a coming-of-age ceremony for over 430 18-year-old students at XJTLU's campus on Feb 24, celebrating their transition from a juvenile to an adult.

The event included a series of formalities where the students hugged their parents and saluted to their teachers as a token of gratitude, walked through the "door to adulthood" and vowed to take the responsibilities for their life, family and the country as an adult does.

Liu Yan, vice principal of the school, said they organize a rite of passage of the kind each year in February to help the third-year students mentally prepare themselves for the national college entrance exam to come about three months later.

"Different from the previous sessions, this year's event was held at XJTLU's campus. We hope this can help arouse the students' aspiration for the life as a college student," Liu said.