Sanjiaodi, a place near the south gate of Peking University, was once regarded as a kind of "holy place" for students. In 1981 when China's men's volleyball team survived the World Cup qualification, thousands of Peking University students gathered there holding slogans proclaiming "Unify and Rejuvenate China". At that time, Sanjiaodi symbolized the university's "House of Representatives" - it was a place where students gathered to discuss national issues.

Now the area is covered by housing ads and lecture notices. Apparently nobody comes here to post mimeographed articles on his or her ambitions. For some people, the "spirit of Peking University" has faded, but for others, the change indicates that modern university students are more sensible and pragmatic.

In the past, most universities and colleges would erect banners greeting the upcoming CPC National Congress. But with the 17th CPC National Congress only a few days away, such banners are rarely seen on campuses. There are few discussions posted at universities' BBS discussing the congress.

Zhang Shengmin, a postgraduate of Peking University in computer studies, told China News Service in a telephone interview that most students were aware of the importance of this year's congress, which will map out the next five-year plan for China. However, few of them talked about it.

"If there is something I expect from the congress, I have to say it revolves around education," said Zhang, adding that he was most concerned with issues of immediate interest to himself. For example, several universities have eliminated free post-graduate education as a trial reform, and will this reform continue? "Obviously, the congress will focus on macro issues rather than these kinds of details," he said.

From this year, free education is provided for teacher-training students in six universities. Pan Fei is one of the freshmen enjoying this privilege. On September 9, the day before Teachers' Day, Premier Wen Jiabao held a discussion with teacher-training freshmen at Beijing Normal University. During the discussion, Pan told Premier Wen that a lot of children from her hometown, a small village in Huaxian County, west China's Shaanxi Province, had dropped out of school and left home to work.

"There is one more thing I want Premier Wen to know," said Pan. "A flood damaged most of the vegetable fields in my village two years ago. I hope the government will help us to rebuild them. For me, I wish more issues about rural China would be addressed at the congress."

Guan Ling, a postgraduate student of journalism from Tsinghua University held different expectations for the congress. "I wish the housing prices in Beijing would fall after the congress," she said with a smile. "You may think that this kind of worry seems unnecessary for a student. But I am going to work in Beijing next year after I graduate," she explained.

Most of the interviewed college students' expectations for the congress focus on daily life, such as education, employment, environment and the upcoming Olympics. Compared with 10 years or 20 years ago, the CPC congress appears closer to people's livelihoods and farther from politics.

A stable society and political environment have made college students pay closer attention to their own self-development, noted Sun Yunxiao, vice director of China Youth and Children Research Center, "This represents progress."

(China.org.cn by Huang Shan, October 11, 2007)