The Fall Semester 2026 at Tsinghua University has officially begun!

For ICPM students, after completing course registration according to individual study plans, all have selected their supervisors were selected, finalized study plans, and quickly immersed themselves in university life — attending inspiring lectures, working together in class, and completing assignments.

But the sense of unity, harmony, mutual support, and friendship that we already feel as a cohort could not have appeared on the first official day of the semester. Bonding takes time. Fortunately, thanks to the thoughtful organization of Department of Civil Engineering, ICPM students had the opportunity to get to know one another outside the classroom, build friendships, experience their first challenges together, discover ways to collaborate, and strengthen their team spirit.

This September, ICPM students set off for a hiking trip to Xiangshan Park.

The scenery was absolutely beautiful, with fresh air and spectacular views. But the hiking route turned out to be a little more challenging than it looked at first! It became students' first test of physical endurance as a cohort. Some students made their way confidently towards the summit, while others took occasional breaks along the way but kept moving forward. For some, the climb was particularly demanding.

What was especially meaningful was seeing how much attention everyone paid to one another. Instead of focusing only on individual progress, our classmates supported each other and shared one common goal: to reach the summit together — and then make it all the way back down! For some, the descent was even more challenging than the climb. It did not matter who reached the top first. What mattered was that no one was left behind.

The day was filled with challenges, beautiful views, fresh air, laughter, encouragement, and countless moments of support. Step by step, ICPM cohort became not just classmates, but a stronger and more connected team. And after such an energetic adventure, everyone deserved a well-earned meal together!

The Fall Semester has only just begun, but our ICPM journey is already full of shared experiences. And there are many more to come.