In August 2025, the 16th China Undergraduate Physics Tournament (CUPT) successfully concluded in an atmosphere of academic rigor and competitive passion. Sixty-seven elite teams from 66 universities across the country gathered to engage in intense intellectual exchanges around 17 physics problems that combined theoretical depth with experimental challenge. The three representative teams from Harbin Institute of Technology (Harbin Campus, Weihai Campus, and Shenzhen Campus) distinguished themselves with solid academic foundations, innovative thinking, and superb teamwork, winning three major team awards and twelve individual awards, and once again extending HIT’s outstanding record in this national competition.
Harbin Campus Team: Scaling New Heights with Both Team and Individual Excellence
In this year’s tournament, the Harbin Campus team claimed multiple top honors with overwhelming strength. The team, composed of students Gong Shuhan, Chang Tianqiao, Zheng Chengrui, Wang Junzhe, and Zhang Junkei, was led by Prof. Zhang Yu and student leader Li Yi. Through a deep understanding of the problems, rigorous logical reasoning, and outstanding on-site presentations, they successfully defended their title and once again won the overall team championship. The coaching team—Professors Zhang Yu, Wang Yuxiao, Hou Chunfeng, Lü Zhe, and Wang Jian—provided comprehensive support with their profound academic expertise and rich mentoring experience, laying a solid foundation for the team’s continued success.
On the individual side, Chang Tianqiao became the center of attention. With his brilliant performance as the presenting speaker, he received “the Best Proponent Award”, and with his remarkable problem-solving capability, he alone secured “The Best Problem Study Award” for Problems 3, 11, and 14. His work was highly praised by the judging panel for its creativity and solid data support. Zheng Chengrui won another Best Problem Study Award for his in-depth research on Problem 15. In addition, Prof. Hou Chunfeng was named “The Best Judge Award” for the third consecutive year, setting a benchmark for the competition with his professional and impartial judging style. The Harbin Campus team also received “the Best Team Style Award” for their creative academic presentations and confident, composed team demeanor. Supporting team member Zhao Lingjing played a crucial role in experimental preparation and technical support, contributing significantly to the team’s success behind the scenes.
Weihai Campus Team: Double Honors and Shining Female Talent on the Physics Stage
The Weihai Campus team also delivered an excellent performance, winning a First Prize in the team competition and fully demonstrating their strength. The team, composed of Zhang Yimin, Zhou Baihao, Yang Xiuyi, Zhao Yaru, and Dai Jianghe, worked under the leadership of Prof. Pan Yuzhai and Mr. Zheng Yuheng. Together with their coaching team—Prof. Wang Xinshun, Associate Professors Pan Yuzhai, Wang Benyang, Li Yihua, and Li Yan, as well as Senior Experimentalist Li Li—they carried out in-depth analysis and repeated verification of each problem, ultimately standing out in the fierce competition.
In terms of individual awards, Zhang Yimin became a “double winner” for Weihai Campus. Her breakthrough research on Problem 3 earned her “The Best Problem Study Award”, and her outstanding academic performance and perseverance further won her “the Best Female Participant Award”—the only student in this year’s tournament to receive this honor. She showcased the unique charm and strong competence of HIT’s female students in the field of physics. With vivid case analyses, clear logical exposition, and confident team interaction, the Weihai Campus team also received “the Best Team Style Award”, fully demonstrating the solid academic training and positive spirit of Weihai students. In the background, a support team comprising Bao Pengfei, Zhang Jinjin, Wei Zhanqiu, and eight other students made silent but significant contributions, providing all-round logistical and technical support for the competing team members.
Shenzhen Campus Team: Breakthroughs in Both Experiment and Theory, Innovation Leading the Future
The Shenzhen Campus team took innovation as its driving force and achieved dual breakthroughs in experimental design and theoretical research. The team—Chen Mingjun, Gao Yuhang, Xia Lin, Jiang Xinkai, and Wang Yuanhao—worked under the coordination of team leaders Liao Qianwei and Wang Yuxiang. Together with their coaching team—Professors Chen Xiaobin, Chen Shumei, Cao Feng, Chen Yimu, Senior Experimentalist Wang Shuan, and Associate Professor Yan Feixiang—they carried out cross-disciplinary research on the competition problems, integrating theoretical analysis with experimental verification to produce innovative solutions.
In terms of individual recognition, the Shenzhen Campus team achieved notable success in both experimental demonstration and theoretical work. Liao Qianwei, Gao Yuhang, Wang Yuanhao, and Chen Mingjun won “the Best Experimental Image Award” with their carefully designed experimental setups and visually compelling, scientifically rigorous experimental data displays. In addition, Chen Mingjun proposed an innovative theoretical model for Problem 8, while Gao Yuhang conducted an in-depth experimental study on Problem 10. Both were awarded “The Best Problem Study Awards”, highlighting the innovative thinking and hands-on capability of Shenzhen Campus students in physics research.
Inheritance and Breakthrough: HIT’s Path of Excellence in Physics Competitions
As one of the most influential discipline competitions in physics in China, the China Undergraduate Physics Tournament (CUPT) is modeled on the International Young Physicists’ Tournament (IYPT). Through formats such as team debates, experimental investigations, and theoretical analysis, it comprehensively evaluates students’ abilities to solve complex physics problems and their innovative thinking. Since first participating in CUPT in 2012, Harbin Institute of Technology has upheld the university motto of “Strict Standard, Solid Foundation” and has used this competition as an important platform for training top physics talent. Up to and including this year’s tournament, HIT has participated in 14 editions of CUPT and has won the championship nine times, ranking among the very best universities nationwide.
In this year’s competition, the three HIT campus teams reached a leading level in China in terms of the depth of problem research, the innovativeness of experimental design, and the degree of teamwork, supported by meticulous planning, refined organization, personalized training, and collaborative innovation. Looking ahead, Harbin Institute of Technology will continue to deepen reform in physics education, optimize its talent training system, and cultivate more physics leaders with strong international competitiveness, contributing to China’s drive toward greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology.
