On 23 September, the donation ceremony of exhibits from Jiaolong WorldSkills Flag Tour was held in the WorldSkills Museum.

In June, the WorldSkills flag was carried on a deep-sea mission by Jiaolong (“mighty dragon”), China’s first independently designed manned deep-sea submersible. The journey symbolizes that WorldSkills Competitors will forge ahead courageously like a mighty dragon plunging into the ocean, with the oceanauts’ signatures on the flag conveying Jiaolong’s best wishes to skills talents across the globe. Marking the one-year countdown to WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 on 22 September, China’s National Deep Sea Center handed over the flag to the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Executive Bureau.

At the donation ceremony on 23 September, Tang Jialing, the chief pilot of Jiaolong and a senior oceanaut from China’s National Deep Sea Center, donated the model exhibit of Jiaolong to the WorldSkills Museum, and Xiu Yan, Level I Division Rank Official of the Executive Bureau, donated the touring WorldSkills flag to the Museum. These two exhibits tell a story of serving the country through skills, showcasing the determined spirit of striving for skill excellence.

Also on that day, Tang was invited to Shanghai Lansheng Middle School for the “Jiaolong” WorldSkills Flag tour popular science lecture and the Museum’s public education event “Ask the Master.” He delivered an engaging lecture to over 200 teachers and students, vividly presenting the adventures of deep-sea exploration and the dedication of master craftsmen to excellence. This event was also part of the “WorldSkills Community Tour” series.

As one of China’s first independently selected and trained manned submersible pilots, Tang participated in the entire sea trial of the Jiaolong submersible from 1000 to 7000 meters. He directly completed 24 dives and, for three consecutive years, piloted the submersible to its maximum diving depth, setting new records for the longest underwater time and achieving a wealth of precious operational results. He was awarded the title “Hero of manned deep-sea project” by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the State Council.

During the lecture, Tang vividly unveiled the mysteries of the deep sea and demonstrated the various high-level skills required to operate the Jiaolong. For example, he showed how to manipulate a mechanical arm from 2-3 meters away to insert a temperature-measuring probe into a high-temperature hydrothermal vent on the seabed with a diameter of only one centimetre. He also shared stories about his team members, such as master craftsman Gu Quliang, who could detect surface defects as fine as 1/50th of a hair’s width to ensure the submersible’s absolute sealing; Du Kun, a key assembly engineer, who pioneered new assembly methods for manned submersibles that solved critical technical challenges; and the many team members who prioritized the safety of vital national equipment over their own in extreme maritime conditions.

Tang pointed out that the Jiaolong is the result of generations of skilled talents striving for perfection with selfless dedication. He encouraged the students that whether it is exploring the unknown world of the deep sea or delving into the boundless ocean of knowledge, this craftsmanship spirit of continuous improvement and perseverance is the key to success.

“I felt incredibly inspired by the lecture,” said Ren Runze, a sixth-grade student who was deeply moved. “Especially the team’s craftsmanship spirit of striving for excellence is something we should all learn from.” Liu Yuan, another student, said, “In the future, I will study harder so that I can master a professional skill one day, just like the deep-sea heroes!” Through these activities, the seeds of the deep-sea spirit and the character of craftsmanship have begun to take root in these young minds.