On August 31st, XPU held opening ceremony both online and offline at the student center of Lintong campus. President Wang Haiyan gave the very first lesson for all the freshmen.

In 2021, over 4100 undergraduates and 1200 postgraduates from 29 provinces (cities or regions) have been enrolled in XPU. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, expect for a few numbers of teachers and students who attended the opening ceremony offline, most of the freshmen, parents and teachers were presented online. The ceremony was hosted by vice president Wang Jinfu . XPU leaders including Ma Wanqing, Wang Haiyan, Jing Hao, Xin Yongchang, Li Pengfei, Zhu Yongmin, Yin Yongjian, Dai Hong, deans of schools and heads of some departments were presented.

President Wang Haiyan indicated in the very first lesson for college students that university should cultivate students to have broader horizon, deeper knowledge and greater wisdom. He expected that students should think about and set up their goals of life and value in the university, achieve their personal ambition in the process of pursuing national value, and make the personal goal worthwhile. He hoped that the students would learn to respect knowledge while pursuing it and recreate the value of it. He encouraged students to master the way to grow, to learn and to choose, exploring one’s potential by working hard, and strengthening knowledge base during their university time. He advised students to be open and inclusive, learn to communicate and cooperate with others; he also stressed being stick to the original intention of human nature, learning knowledge and serving the country, shouldering the historical mission of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as well as becoming the backbone for China’s prosperity, national revival, and people's well-being.