On May 25, as the gentle afterglow of the sunset graced the main athletic field of Ningbo University, the "Medical Path with You · apex fitness" fitness camp was set to hold its opening ceremony. The event kicked off with a "Taylor Swift" themed music night run, which first took the stage amidst the youthful cheers and eager anticipation.
With a series of warm-up songs selected by the students themselves setting the tone, over a thousand teachers and students gathered early around the central stage, sitting on the ground in high spirits. The atmosphere was ignited by Zhu Yiran, the champion of the first foreign language music exchange competition, performing Love Story; dances choreographed by Chinese and international students, such as Blank Space & Shake it off and Cruel Summer, pushed the lively atmosphere to its peak; several self-organized performances of Style by Swift's fans led the audience into a collective sing-along, earning widespread cheers.
In this enthusiastic atmosphere, the opening ceremony of the "Medical Path with You · apex fitness" fitness camp officially began. With the sounding of the opening cannon, participants were encouraged to take this opportunity not only to enhance their physical fitness but also to cultivate a resilient will.
As the warm-up segment for the night run began, Cui Zhenfeng, a teacher from the School of Foreign Languages and the ninth generation successor of Wu's Open Door Baji Quan, led everyone in an impressive performance of Baji Quan. Each move, soft yet powerful, showcased internal strength and character, blending traditional Chinese culture with pop music, inspiring the audience to follow along and exercise their bodies. The night run featured challenges of 2.5 kilometers, 5.25 kilometers, and 6.66 kilometers. Completing different distances allowed participants to receive corresponding memorabilia. As Taylor Swift's music videos played on the big screen, groups of college students, teachers, and adorable children ran, releasing energy and challenging themselves.
Jia Huping, a student majoring in law from the class of 2020 and a long-distance running enthusiast who frequently runs 5 kilometers or 10 kilometers, actively participated in the 6.66 kilometer fun run challenge. He finished the race with a pace of 4 minutes and 9 seconds, stating, "Such music-themed night runs greatly reduce the monotony of long-distance running, making it passionate and exciting. I hope there are more events like this!"
Furthermore, the event site also arranged physical games, including frisbee darts, table tennis river crossing, shuttlecock kicking, and aerobics quick recall, allowing participants to exercise their lung capacity and coordination skills.
As night fell, students who had completed the night run and games still did not want to leave. Some sat on the lawn watching music videos, while others, filled with passion, took to the central stage for impromptu singing. Alexander Merryl Mariam, an international student majoring in clinical medicine from the class of 2019, spontaneously performed her favorite song, describing the event as "Amazing!"
This Taylor Swift-themed music night run is part of the "Happy Ningbo University" series of events organized by the Youth League Committee of Ningbo University in 2024, co-hosted by the School of Foreign Languages and the Health Science Center. The "Medical Path with You · apex fitness" fitness camp is a module within this year's comprehensive reform and quality improvement project for ideological and political work in universities. A responsible person for student affairs at the Health Science Center stated, "As medical students, especially needing excellent physical fitness to support high-intensity professional studies and clinical practice, the fitness camp has designed a variety of group competitive activities, specialized physical enhancement activities, and traditional cultural sports activities, allowing students to improve their physical health while maintaining a joyful mood."
