On the morning of February 13, as the winter chill mingled with a gentle drizzle, the 21 students of Class 1‑4 at Hongwen School arrived at the school gate full of enthusiasm, boarding the bus early. Under the organizers’ attentive care, they traveled in high spirits, their faces alight with curiosity, and made their way to Shanghai Jinxiang Mechanical Equipment Co., Ltd. to take part in a winter‑break team activity themed “Building Dreams in Manufacturing, Revitalizing Made‑in‑China.” The event aimed to give the children a firsthand look at the operations of private manufacturing enterprises, while nurturing their aspiration to contribute to the nation’s prosperity through careers in industry.

This event was personally organized and led by General Manager Wei. For first‑grade students, the concepts of “manufacturing” and “profession” still seem rather abstract, so he drew on familiar examples from everyday life, asking the children to name common products they encounter and to share which country’s products they consider the most impressive. The room instantly came alive as the children eagerly raised their hands to answer: “Washing machines,” “televisions,” “iPads”... When one child loudly declared that, in his view, the greatest manufacturing nation was “our China!”, a warm feeling welled up in everyone’s hearts. Despite their young age, these children already harbored a strong sense of national pride—truly heartening. Unexpectedly, amid the lively discussion, one child mentioned that his mother had told him about an American‑made space shuttle that had exploded—the Challenger disaster, which was caused by a problem with the seal‑ring material during the manufacturing process. Taking this as a starting point, General Manager Wei used a PowerPoint presentation to systematically introduce the company’s manufactured products, vividly comparing them to “health checkups” for metal materials. He helped the children understand that manufacturing is the foundation of a nation, the tool for its prosperity, and the bedrock of its strength—and that research and development in materials science form the very cornerstone of a country’s manufacturing capabilities. China’s independently developed Shenzhou‑5 manned spacecraft soaring through space and the Chang’e lunar probes landing on the moon are both remarkable demonstrations of our nation’s cutting‑edge manufacturing technologies and comprehensive manufacturing prowess. And building such monumental national assets depends on generations of talented individuals who tirelessly dedicate themselves to scientific research and manufacturing, turning small contributions into great achievements, one step at a time.

As the children gradually developed a hands-on understanding of product manufacturing and the role of metallographic equipment, they toured the company’s exhibition hall, the cold‑working workshop, the machining shop, the assembly line, and other facilities—each step following the sequence of the manufacturing process. Amid an atmosphere of learning through play, mutual respect, and orderly collaboration, the two‑plus hours flew by in a flash. At the event’s conclusion, when asked the final question—“What is the theme of our activity?”—the children chorused in unison, “Building Dreams in Manufacturing, Revitalizing Made‑in‑China”—their innocent voices echoing across the factory grounds…

Looking back at the rise and fall of history, a century ago, the world’s great powers, with their superior ships and artillery, forced open the gates of ancient China. Generations of martyrs devoted themselves to the patriotic movement to save the nation, paving the way for today’s New China. In peaceful times, our forebears toiled to build a better life, and prosperity has steadily grown. Yet realizing the “Chinese Dream” of national strength and rejuvenation is far from easy. Amid a restless social climate, many young people—those who carry the hope of national revival—are more enamored of “TikTok” than of “manufacturing,” more drawn to “finance” than to “industry,” and more captivated by “celebrities” than by “art.” Entertainment can lead a nation astray; the nationwide obsession with “TikTok” is, in essence, a decadent distraction. Revitalizing the country through industry is the social responsibility of every citizen, and passing down the ideals and spirit of “prosperity through industry, patriotism through manufacturing” is both an educational duty and a historical commitment that parents and teachers owe to the next generation.

Under the guidance of China’s Made in China 2025 national strategy, we hope that the seeds of career aspirations sown in today’s children will eventually bear fruit, enabling successive generations to devote themselves wholeheartedly to and contribute to the manufacturing sector, thereby firmly establishing China’s core strength on the global stage.