To mark the 18th International Archives Day on June 9, 2025, Guizhou University launched a week-long program of events under the theme "Let the Archives Speak." Through exhibitions, lectures, and open-house activities at its Jinzheng Hall (West Campus) and Mingde Hall (East Campus), the university brought its historical records to life for students, faculty, and the local community.
The celebrations began with the opening of the exhibition, "Badges of Mao Zedong: Treasures from Zhou Jihou’s Private Collection." Displayed in the first-floor lobby of Jinzheng Hall, the showcase features over 10,000 badges arranged in 150 frames across four thematic sections. The materials, craftsmanship, and slogans on display offer a striking visual narrative of modern Chinese history. Collector Zhou Jihou was on hand to provide guided tours, sparking lively discussions among attendees of all ages and backgrounds. The exhibition, which runs daily from 9:00 to 17:00 until June 13, was also adopted as a weekly activity by the University's History & Ethnic Cultures Student Party Branch.
Another significant exhibition honoring Martyr Leng Shaonong opened on the same day. Housed in the University History Museum (Mingde Hall, East Campus), this display uses five panels of photographs and documents to trace Leng Shaonong’s journey and demonstrate his devotion to his family and his commitment to the revolution. Since March 2016, his birthplace has served as an off-campus patriotism education site; this new on-campus exhibition will now serve as a permanent hub for learning and reflection for the university community.
In the morning of the same day, a Qin Tianzhen Archive Material Donation Ceremony was held in Jinzheng Hall (West Campus). Vice-President Zhang Dalin formally accepted a donation of 200 digitized photographs (dating from the 1930s to 1998) and a memoir titled Eighty Tumultuous Years from Qin Tianzhen’s children, Qin Xiaosong and Qin Hong. Other participants of the event were Zhou Changfeng, Secretary of the CPC Library Committee, Curator Zhou Yongxing, and deputy curators Yao Hong and Ding Chao. In return, the university presented the family with a certificate of appreciation and a specially printed photo album. Following the ceremony, the family toured the University History Museum, sharing memories of Qin Tianzhen's time on campus.
Throughout the day, the ground floor lobby of Jinzheng Hall buzzed with activities. Archives staff distributed recent publications and archival-inspired souvenirs.
Video tours of the Leng Shaonong exhibition and a display on Daxia University in Guizhou premiered online at noon, further extending the day’s reach through campus LED screens and official social media groups.
The university also participated in Guizhou province’s 2025 joint online exhibition, which shared the "Let the Archives Speak" theme. By the day’s end, the campaign had successfully engaged thousands of people, both on and off campus, advancing the university's mission to foster a culture that values, protects, and utilizes its rich archival heritage.
Editor: Pang Aizhong, Ning Yumei
Chief Editor: Li Xufeng
Senior Editor: Ding Long
Translator: Li Xiaorong
