Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) staged a graduation parade featuring agricultural machinery on June 13, turning modern farm machines into 16 colorful floats to give graduates a spirited farewell.
As evening fell, decorated machines lined Sakura Avenue, drawing graduates, teachers and students for photos and celebrations. At 7 pm, engines roared and lights came on as Yao Jianglin, Party secretary of HZAU; Yan Jianbing, president of the university; and graduate representatives Lin Jianxin and Jiang Yushan boarded a New Holland combine harvester nicknamed Bumblebee and waved the university flag.
The leading float, designed by the College of Engineering, combined paper airplanes, glowing feathers, rice fields, wheat fields, drones and harvesters, symbolizing students' dreams, innovation and technology-driven agriculture. Agricultural robots, including a robot dog and a dragon boat-inspired machine, led the procession.
The other 15 floats represented different colleges, each carrying academic features and heartfelt blessings. Designs included flowers, fruit, ice cream, sunflowers, grapevines, blue whales, windmills, cotton, wheat, fish and graduation caps, creating a vivid display of campus identity.
Liao Yitao, dean of the College of Engineering, said the parade was not only a distinctive graduation ritual, but also a window into the university's progress in new engineering and new agricultural sciences.
The parade ended with drums and lion dances, as banners bearing the university motto reminded graduates to study diligently, work hard, develop themselves and serve others.

University leaders wave from a decorated combine harvester. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Graduates pose with a decorated parade float. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]

Students cheer during the graduation parade. [Photo/new.hzau.edu.cn]