Students held a special coming-of-age ceremony in Shenyang, Liaoning Province in East China, on June 2, 2018.

The newest graduates from the international department of Liaoning Province Shiyan High School became adults this year, as they were all born during or after 2000 and are considered one of the last groups in the Millennial generation. 

All the graduates wore “Hanfu”, which literally means “the costume of the Han Dynasty or Han ethnic group”. The Han ethnic group got its name from the dynasty of the same name dating back 2,000 years ago. The Han ethnic group is the largest among the 56 ethnic groups in China.

Wearing the traditional Han ethnic costume, students bowed to their teachers, as the tradition requires, to show respect and thankfulness. Then all the teachers and students bowed to the portrait of Confucius who is considered the grandmaster of education.

Wearing the 2,000-year-old costume and following traditional etiquette, Chinese students and their foreign teachers created this special and unique coming-of-age ceremony.

(Photos: VCG)