A tale of two cities: My story from the China-Europe Youth Dialogue Conference
(By Tara Callanan)
Introduction
The China-CEE institute selected 61 youth representatives from across Europe to participate in the “China-Europe Youth Dialogue: Experiencing China” event in order to enhance the understanding of China among European youth and strengthen exchanges and interactions between young people from China and Europe. It was hosted on the 11th to the 18th November 2025 in Hangzhou and Beijing. I was very excited by this extraordinary opportunity and applied immediately.
My journey began in Dublin Airport with a 10 hour flight to Beijing. Landing in Beijing gave me quite a culture shock as no one around me seemed to speak English, all the attendants carried devices that translated their words into text on screen. I was devastated to be parted with my portable charger that had been made in China, but apparently did not have a required certification to travel within country. Leaving it behind with the employees, I ran to catch my next flight, travelling from Beijing to Hangzhou.
Our group consisted of 61 youth representatives (Figure 1, 2) from 30 different countries, ranging from Middle Schoolers, to Post-Graduate students. Everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming, and eager to learn more about China. Some participants had never visited or learned about China, while some visited regularly and could communicate fluently with the natives around us. But something that joined us together is our desire to learn more about China.
(Figure 1: Group Photo at Westlake)
(Figure 2: Group Photo in front of Institute of European Studies CASS)
DEEP Robotics
This tale of two cities kicks off with a guided visit to DEEP Robotics headquarters in Xihu District, a centre of incredible technology innovation with all kinds of robots, varying from wheeled dog-like, to bipedal human-like. We were able to watch fascinating videos of what these robots were capable of, from scaling ledges, swimming, and jumping off of heights (Figure 3). We also received a live demonstration with high fives, flips and many other cool technical tricks which was very enjoyable, particularly as it was set in beautiful natural scenery. (Figure 4)
(Figure 3: DEEP Robotics)
(Figure 4: Beautiful Scenery)
Westlake University
After the visit to the Robot skills demonstration, we visited Westlake University and had the chance to listen to a lecture on genetics, specifically containing some really interesting insights on how ailments such as where the genes determining the presence of depression or early male pattern balding can be found in a mouse. While not all of us were in a scientific/biological field, I still found the topic fascinating. It showed us how scientific research is developing at an incredible pace.
Zhejiang Financial College
Our next location was Zhejiang Financial College. We sat down for lunch first, which gave us a chance to talk amongst ourselves, it was the first time I talked with some friends that I spent a lot of my trip with. (Figure 5, 6)
(Figure 5: Group of Participants at Conference)
(Figure 6: Sightseeing in Beijing)
After our lunch we participated in a conference on European Youth Embracing Zhejiang, we were divided among tables and mixed with Chinese Students. This allowed us to think and work together to answer some questions, such as the advantages and disadvantages of online shopping and consumerism. We were able to bond over similarities between our cultures, and learn more about our differences. I learned about steps being taken in China to improve their sustainability, such as a really interesting app that was developed, “Ant Forest”, that shows you how much carbon your choices save, and allows you to both compete with your friends and plant real trees. I thought this was a particularly clever way to promote environmental consciousness, especially among young people.
A few students then serenaded us with a traditional Chinese piece played on the Guzheng, followed by a traditional Irish piece played on the fiddle by a fellow exchange participant from Galway. The Chinese instrument was a new experience for me and the different aspects of Irish and Chinese traditional music was skilled and vibrant. This exchange of traditions was amazing to see and listen to, highlighting the importance of a bridge between cultures.
We got the chance to create our own Matcha tea, with traditional methods and tools. It was a lovely process to take part in, from start to finish it was very involved, with every participant sharing a cup between 3-4 people and taking turns mixing the matcha in. We all got to draw a design on the foam at the end, as is traditional. This gave us a really nice chance to bond with other members of the Exchange, and also Chinese students.
To end the day we were brought to the Financial Museum, on the top floor of the Zhejiang Financial College, where we were able to explore the evolution of money across the globe. I thought it was quite interesting to follow how China moved from small physical coins to an almost completely cashless society. As someone unfamiliar with these systems, it was interesting to see how seamlessly digital payments such as Alipay and WeChat have integrated into everyday life in China. Adjusting to using these apps was a lot easier experience for me than I thought it might be, though it definitely helped that I
had set all the apps up before my travels.
ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre On our second day in Hangzhou we visited the ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Centre. This is a newly developed University campus that
emphasises Innovation. It was created as a joint project between Hangzhou Municipal Government and Zhejiang University. It was a huge campus, with students needing to use mopeds just to traverse it. We were eager to visit the gift shop, giving all of us a chance to collect some souvenirs to bring home to family and friends. It was an a amazing visit overall, giving us the chance to see some of the positive creations that have already been made and will hopefully be implemented in the future to improve the worlds sustainability.
Personal/Social Time
That evening we had the chance to finally explore Hangzhou ourselves, a group of us walked down to Hefang Street and explored all the beautiful shops and street vendors, enjoying the rich and vivacious city around us. I took pleasure in taking the time to go through each shop, buying a few beautiful postcards on the way. It was a really nice change of pace from the busy days, and I’m glad I had the time to get to know the other young adults on the trip, I think we really made some good friends for life on this trip.
Farewell to Hangzhou
Our last day in Hangzhou, we had the opportunity to visit the China National Silk Museum. It was amazing to learn about the traditional process of silk-making. We got to see many traditional robes, fans, and embroideries, and both the vibrant colours and intricacies were beautiful. I really enjoyed reading about how fashion has evolved throughout time and seeing some of the interesting styles that used to be worn.
We explored the area around the stunning West Lake. We travelled there with a guide and got to hear a folk story that was passed down through generations about a white snake goddess trapped in a tower, and her human lover. The sights were beautiful, and walking around the lake was an incredibly enjoyable experience, despite the many stares from both young and old. My favourite part was enjoying a freshly blitzed pear juice while sitting in the sun.
The day ended at the Hangzhou Grand Canal, another tourist opportunity with many adorable little shops and more incredible views.
Bullet train to Beijing
The next day we woke up early to reach the central train station. We travelled from Hangzhou to Beijing on a fast train, shortening our journey from over 12 hours to under 5. It was really interesting to travel on a train that reached speeds of 450 km/h, and being able to watch the landscape change around me was an added bonus. We saw green landscape become yellow and brown, and finally transform into high rise cities. By the time we reached Beijing, the freezing winds were quite a shock to the system in comparison to the beautiful sunny days in Hangzhou.
Having the rest of the day free after we checked in to our hotel, my friends and I went to visit the Palace Museum and both the Beihai and Jingshan parks. I can’t overemphasise how incredible this was, the views were inspirational and the culture all around us was beautiful. We then visited a dumpling spot I had found online, and loved it. China-Europe Youth Dialogue Conference Our final day in Beijing consisted of our last conference, taking place in the University of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. We were privileged enough to receive speeches from Former Deputy Prime Ministers of Poland, Spain and of Foreign Affairs in the Czech Republic amongst many others. This whole conference was an amazing experience, especially as it was my first encounter with live translation aides. Live translation is an extremely interesting job and I was very impressed.
The forum after the conference was a very valuable activity as well. I took part in the third forum, Youth and the Future of China-Europe Cultural Exchange and Mutual Learning among Civilisations. Being able to hear from so different nationalities was a really fascinating experience, and I learned so much from both the Chinese students in the room, and European participants. I got the chance to add my own input to the conversation with an Irish perspective on China-Ireland/Europe relations, I really appreciated this opportunity and I hope I gave a unique insight to the other members of the forum.
Overall, this trip was an incredible experience, and I would recommend anyone who has a similar opportunity to grab hold of it with both hands. The culture you’ll discover, language you’ll learn, and connections you’ll make are invaluable. In today’s global world, a lack of dialogue between countries is one of the biggest mistakes to make, we all have so much we can learn from one another. Every single person I’ve met on this trip has been incredible and I hope I’m able to stay in contact with each one of them, and maybe even meet them again in the near future.
My advice for any future participants on similar trips, would be to make sure your power bank has the correct certification to travel within China, to organise all your apps and SIM cards ahead of time, research the weather of the city you’re visiting, and most importantly prepare to put yourself out there and absorb as much culture as you possibly can. I cannot emphasise enough how much more fun you’ll have and how much more you will get out of your trips if you do this.
非常感谢。