University sends off graduates with elaborate, wordplay-rich meal

As graduation season arrives, many universities are trying to bid their students goodbye with an impressive ceremony. On Wednesday, Hunan Agricultural University took the celebration to a new level — literally.

The university's School of Food Science and Technology held their graduation and bachelor's degree awarding ceremony for the class of 2023 in the second-floor cafeteria of the East Lake Dining Hall in Changsha.

In addition to standard procedures such as the dean's speech, valedictorian speech, honoring of excellent graduates and tassel turning, the 298 graduates had one unique feature – a full-course meal with 12 main dishes and three desserts.

The meal was prepared by the faculty and students together, including a cake with slogans wishing the graduates a good future. The beverages were also developed and produced by the university.

The school brought a special twist to the menu, naming each dish after the layout of the food inside the plate, or with a pun in Chinese based on the ingredients. The names included: "Rising to New Heights" (preserved meat on top of pickled mustard greens), "Radiant Light" (stir-fried shrimp in lotus leaf), "Round and Full" (steamed sticky rice meatballs), "Good Fortune Ahead" (braised spicy fish head), and "Remarkable" (chicken with onion rings).

Social media buzzed with excitement from the graduates themselves, and many internet users voiced their envy, saying things like "I'm so jealous," and "May I bring a bowl?"