The RSIS Graduate Office organised the inaugural RSIS Study Trip to China, with a delegation of 31 graduate students travelling to Shanghai and Beijing from 2 to 8 November 2025. Associate Professor Li Mingjiang, Head of Graduate Studies, led the trip, with coordination support from PhD candidate Xing Jiaying.
Designed as a week-long experiential learning initiative, the trip provided students with firsthand insights into China’s development and foreign relations through academic exchanges, institutional visits, and cultural activities. It reflects the Master’s Programmes’ commitment to experiential, research-informed learning and to developing students’ regional and global exposure.
The study trip began with a visit to the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, where students learned about China and Shanghai’s new initiatives to further open their markets as well as their evolving approaches to cross-border data governance and AI innovation. The delegation also visited Horizon Insights, a leading private institutional investment research firm, where they gained valuable insights into China’s evolving economic and financial landscape.
At Fudan University, Professor Yin Zhiguang delivered a seminar on the Chinese model of development, sparking an engaging discussion with students. The group also visited XNode, a Shanghai-based start-up and corporate accelerator, gaining insight into China’s innovation ecosystem before travelling to Beijing by high-speed train.
In Beijing, the delegation attended a seminar at Peking University by Professor Zhang Qingmin on emerging directions in Chinese foreign policy, followed by a briefing at the Development Research Centre of the State Council on China’s future development opportunities and challenges. They also met with Grandview Institution for a seminar by Professor Zha Daojiong on China’s new energy sector, and visited Tencent to learn about the country’s rapid digital transformation and technological advancements.
Further academic exchanges included a seminar at Renmin University of China by Professor Li Chen on China–US relations and the regional order in Asia. The programme also featured cultural visits to the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, the Old Summer Palace, and the Great Wall at Mutianyu—where some students climbed to Watchtower No. 20 and were delighted to meet friendly local cats along the way.
Through visits, sharing sessions, and discussions across Shanghai’s academic and innovation hubs, as well as Beijing’s policy circles, high-tech enterprises, and cultural landmarks, students deepened their understanding of China’s development and foreign relations. Beyond the academic, policy, and cultural engagements, the shared meals, light-hearted encounters with friendly cats, and countless photos taken along the way added warmth and camaraderie to the journey, rendering the trip not only intellectually enriching but also deeply memorable.
