Huaqiao University holds an opening ceremony for the school's freshmen on Sept 1. [Photo/hqu.edu.cn]

Huaqiao University (HQU) in Xiamen, Fujian province, held an opening ceremony for the school's freshmen on Sept 1.

Nearly 9,000 students from 36 countries and regions officially started their university life at HQU, including 1,644 students from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

After the opening ceremony, three Hong Kong freshmen told local media that the strong academic atmosphere and diverse, free and inclusive university environment were the reasons why they chose to study in the Chinese mainland university.

It's all smiles as foreign students get together after the opening ceremony on Sept 1. [Photo/hqu.edu.cn]

According to a teacher from HQU's recruitment office, the school will organize recreational activities linked to the region to add fun to the after-school life of the freshmen and increase communications between students from different places.

HQU has been strengthening its recruitment from Hong Kong in recent years. The school enrolled more than 500 students from Hong Kong this year, an increase of 17 percent on the previous year.

HQU began to recruit students from Hong Kong in 1978 and has enrolled 8,000 Hong Kong students to date.