Recently, the original drama Qian Xuesen , produced by Shanghai Jiao Tong University was staged at the Third Yard of National University of Defense Technology (NUDT) in Changsha Campus.
Qian Xuesen , created by Student Drama Troupe of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, chronicles the legendary life of Qian Xuesen, a pivotal figure in China’s “Two Bombs, One Satellite” Project. Set against Qian’s student years at Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the drama portrays his awakening to the urgency of the country’s situation during wartime and how he decided to commit himself to saving the nation through aerospace instead of transportation.
Interwoven with the narrative is a subplot exploring Qian Xuesen’s love story with his wife, Jiang Ying, adding some romance to the gripping storyline. Since its 2012 debut, the drama Qian Xuesen has toured 20 times and has been performed 53 times in cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Xi’an, Chongqing, Nanjing, Hohhot, Macau, and Hong Kong. It was honored with the China Theatre Award · Campus Theatre Award, the highest accolade at the 3rd China Campus Theatre Festival.
Qian Xuesen, an alumnus of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, is also an essential figure in NUDT’s history. He encouraged NUDT to pioneer global scientific advancements in education and research. Many of the university’s breakthroughs were made under his visionary guidance. With his profound patriotism and scientific foresight, Qian Xuesen instilled a shared ethos of “serving the nation through science and technology” in both universities. This theatrical homage revives a chapter of history, celebrating the honor of the two universities. It is a tribute to Qian Xuesen’s indomitable spirit and an inheritance of his enduring scientific legacy.
This cultural masterpiece not only rekindles the shared philosophy of both universities but also delivers a powerful lesson in patriotism and the pursuit of “aerospace for the nation”.
