A dozen retired professors from China’s Shaanxi Normal University (SNNU) recently reunited at the campus to handwrite admission letters for the 4,500 freshmen enrolling this year.

The university has long attached importance to calligraphy, and this marks the 13th year that the SNNU has sent handwritten admission letters.

“Chinese characters are the most important carriers of Chinese civilization, and calligraphy is a treasure of traditional Chinese culture,” said Dang Huaixing, vice president of SNNU.

In handwriting the admission letters, the university hopes that its student will carry on the fine tradition and value handwriting.

More SNNU teachers, students and schoolfellows have joined the retired professors to help write all the admission letters.

Wu Yaohui, the oldest in the team who turned 86 this year, said it was exciting to participate in the activity. He believes that the admission letters carry the hope and care of the university, and represent the inheritance of culture. “I will keep doing this as long as I can,” he said.