8-Day, 7-Night Shanghai-Hangzhou Innovation Camp

We didn’t rush into the itinerary on our first day in Shanghai.

Instead, we kicked off the journey with a meaningful Opening Ceremony.

Our instructors introduced themselves one by one,

and fun ice-breaking activities helped the children get to know one another through laughter.

Stepping into the EnjoyAI Whale Robotics Base felt like entering a world from a science-fiction film.

The children came face to face with humanoid robots, bomb-disposal robots, drones and educational robots.

They were no longer watching them through a screen.

They were standing right in front of the machines,
experiencing the power of robotics and artificial intelligence up close.

The most exciting part was getting hands-on.

The children built robots, took on coding challenges, worked in teams and brainstormed ideas together.
When the programmes they had written ran successfully, the room erupted in cheers.
Their passion for innovation was truly ignited.

As they walked through Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the children experienced the rich academic heritage of this century-old institution.
Guided by university students, they visited research laboratories, observed advanced scientific equipment and attended specially arranged talks on university courses and fields of study.
Immersed in the learning environment of a leading university, they broadened their scientific horizons and developed a stronger spirit of curiosity, inquiry and discovery.
A new aspiration for university life quietly began to take root.

At the BeiDou West Hongqiao Base, the children learnt about the development of the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System and the principles behind satellite navigation.
They also explored how BeiDou technology can be integrated with AI, gaining first-hand insight into cross-disciplinary innovation.

As curiosity turned into amazement, they assembled their own satellite models and experienced the impressive capabilities of China’s aerospace technology.
The visit gave them a deeper appreciation of the country’s scientific and technological achievements.

At SenseTime, one of Asia’s largest AI centres, the children explored its futuristic, aircraft-carrier-inspired headquarters.

More than 20 real-world AI applications — including smart city solutions, smart healthcare and metaverse-based interactive projects — opened their eyes to the possibilities of artificial intelligence.
They came to realise that AI is not just science fiction; it is already part of everyday life.

Working in teams, they assembled industrial robot models by tightening screws, connecting circuits and testing the systems.
This immersive experience helped them develop practical problem-solving skills and an engineering mindset.

At Baidu Apollo Park, the children discovered the future of mobility.
They learnt about Baidu’s decade of research and development in autonomous driving, visited the calibration workshop to understand how a vehicle’s visual systems are adjusted, and explored the technologies behind new energy vehicles and intelligent transport systems.

The highlight was the test ride.
With a tap on their phones, the children called for a Luobo Kuaipao robotaxi and experienced autonomous driving first-hand.

At the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum, the children entered an interdisciplinary world of discovery — from rainforest ecosystems and material science to aviation and hands-on experiments.

They explored ten exhibition zones, interacted with the exhibits and learnt about the scientific and design principles behind them through live demonstrations.
Science was no longer just a set of formulas in a textbook; it became a living, working world right before their eyes.

At the Hangzhou “Six Little Dragons” Exhibition Hall, the children learnt about emerging technology companies and explored interactive smart displays.
They also attended an in-depth talk on artificial intelligence and discovered how AI is reshaping the way we live and the future of different industries.

Even more excitingly, they had the opportunity to operate humanoid and quadruped robots developed by Unitree Robotics and DEEP Robotics.
Using real-time signal transmission, they completed practical tasks and challenges — an experience they found thoroughly exciting.

Alibaba’s global headquarters is a landmark destination for many people in the technology industry.
The children experienced the company’s distinctive martial-arts-inspired culture, heard entrepreneurship stories from Alibaba employees, watched the film Tang Xiaoju’s Time-Travel Adventure and attended a talk on large AI models.
Together, these experiences gave them a broader understanding of how digital technology is shaping everyday life and the future.

At BrainCo, the children learnt about the past, present and future of brain-computer interface technology, as well as the company’s mind-controlled smart bionic arm.
The visit introduced them to the remarkable possibilities of controlling technology through brain signals.

Wearing specialised devices, the children used their concentration to control a smart bionic arm and complete a team relay challenge.
This hands-on experience pushed the boundaries of what they thought was possible and showed them that focus can be a superpower too.

After several action-packed days of exploring technology, the pace slowed at Longwu Tea Town.
The children became young tea pickers, entered the tea gardens to harvest tea leaves and, under the guidance of skilled tea makers, experienced the traditional process of hand-roasting tea.
As they tasted West Lake Longjing tea, they gained a deeper appreciation of the craftsmanship behind this form of intangible cultural heritage.
For the first time, they understood how many careful steps a single tea leaf must go through before becoming a fragrant cup of tea.

Cruising across West Lake, the children enjoyed views of the famous Ten Scenes of West Lake.

With the gentle breeze around them, they listened to folk legends, learnt about stories from the Jiangnan region and discovered the poetry and cultural traditions associated with the lake.
The water-town landscapes they had previously encountered in textbooks came vividly to life.

On the final day, we didn’t simply say goodbye.

A thoughtfully planned Closing Ceremony brought our eight-day journey to a warm and meaningful close.

Together, the instructors and children looked back on every exciting “first” they experienced—building robots, riding in autonomous vehicles, and operating robotic arms.

Eight days of non-stop discovery —
from robotics, AI, aerospace and autonomous driving
to internet technology, brain-computer interfaces and traditional culture.

Through every journey and hands-on experience, the children learnt, reflected and grew.
They gained knowledge of emerging technologies, strengthened their teamwork and sense of responsibility, connected with their cultural roots and ignited new dreams of innovation.

More importantly,
they began to see the world
through the eyes of the future.

Technology is not simply cold code and machines.
It can improve lives,
solve real-world problems
and help make the world a better place.