Four black swans have alighted on the tranquil Lianxi Lake at the Sanjiang campus of a university known for its rare-earth expertise — a gift from the China University of Mining and Technology (CUMT) that marks a new chapter in an enduring partnership.
The two pairs of “friendship ambassadors” traveled more than 1,140 kilometers by road, escorted by a CUMT delegation. They arrived safely on the evening of June 16. The following morning, Ge Shirong, president of the host university and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, together with Vice President Dong Bingyan and the visiting team, inspected the swans’ condition. A formal handover ceremony was held at the lakeside, where Ge presented a certificate of appreciation to the donors.
Relieved to see the swans adapting well, Ge expressed his gratitude to the escorts and called for meticulous, dedicated care from the campus logistics team — assigning designated keepers and establishing direct links with veterinary experts for any difficulties. Drawing on the university’s signature strengths in rare-earth research, he proposed a creative touch: each swan will wear a colored leg ring representing a distinct rare-earth element, paired with custom nameplates. Educational panels on rare earths will be added around Lianxi Lake, transforming the area into a living classroom that blends ecological beauty with scientific learning. Ge also emphasized long-term planning, advising that as the swans breed, the habitat should be expanded to further enrich the campus ecosystem.
During the visit, the two sides exchanged practical knowledge on swan behavior, feeding routines, and daily care, with CUMT staff sharing hands-on husbandry experience.
The swans have quickly become a campus attraction. Gliding across the rippling water, they draw students and faculty who pause to watch these serene new residents.
Behind the scenes, the university prepared meticulously. Conscious of the swans’ sensitivity to new surroundings, the logistics team spent nearly ten days modifying the site: building a cozy wooden shelter by the lake, installing perimeter fencing to keep the newcomers safe as they acclimatized, and planting two osmanthus trees to shade the shelter from the strong afternoon sun — creating a cool, comfortable refuge for the swans to settle in and, eventually, to raise young.
More than a landscape upgrade, the swans’ arrival signals a promising new start for deeper collaboration. The two universities plan to broaden joint talent cultivation and research innovation, with these elegant black swans serving as a lasting symbol of a partnership that is taking graceful flight.
