A delegation of 130 youths from South China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) attended a study tour on exploring the country under "Building the Future: Youth Innovative Development" project in Beijing and Shanghai cities from August 11 to 15.
Themed over arts and technology, the study tour focused on sci-tech and artistic integration and innovative industrial practices, underscored the building of a strong manufacturing powerhouse and the cultivation of cutting-edge technologies, organized young people from Hong Kong to visit state-class artistic halls, prestigious universities and sci-tech enterprises, and helped them gain a deep understanding of the country's remarkable achievements in sci-tech innovation and development and appreciate the boundless charm produced by technological and artistic integration.
It was the first time for many youths in the Hong Kong delegation to visit Beijing and Shanghai. At the opening ceremony, they held interactions and exchanges with their Beijing peers, explored the mysteries of science and technology, and admired the glory of traditional Chinese culture in the China Soong Ching Ling Center Science & Culture Center for Young People.
"Beijing is not only a well-known historical and cultural city but also a fertile land of innovation and sci-tech and artistic integration," said Wang Youjing, a student from Hong Kong Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School. Li Tiange, a student from Beijing National Day School, said that youths from Beijing and Hong Kong have simultaneously shown great enthusiasm in exploring the world.
The five-day study tour brought Hong Kong youths to the National Center for the Performing Arts, where they got immersed in VR technology and the digital innovation behind stage arts. They learned more about the breakthroughs in the application of large-model technology in the photography generation field during a visit to Beijing Zhipu Qingyan Technology Co., Ltd. They explored aesthetic diversity and engaged in the exploration of artistic expression with endless possibilities under the theme of "building a future city" at the Central Academy of Fine Arts.
Hong Kong youths learned about the operation of intelligent robots and gained a deep understanding of the development trends of AI and automatic control industries in Shanghai Whaledo Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd. They witnessed the revolutionary application of computer vision and large-model technology in personalized interactive scenarios in exhibition halls of Shanghai SenseTime Education and Technology Co., Ltd. The visit to the COMAC Shanghai Aircraft Design & Research Institute provided them with valuable opportunities to closely admire the research and development of the country's self-developed large passenger planes and the importance of sci-tech independence.
"I have had more reflections over the interrelations between technology and art, and become deeply impressed with the innovative development of digital arts. The development philosophies behind AI sector have offered me lots of inspirations toward future interest and career development," said Tian Qingfeng, a third-year student from Hong Kong Buddhist Mau Fung Memorial College.
"The study tour has further deepened my understanding of the extensive application of AI technology in the fields of education, city governance, medicine and agriculture. What impresses me most is the intelligent utilization of remote sensing technology in the detection and early warning of fire accidents, which allows people to respond quickly and minimize human casualties.
The "Building the Future" project is hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), financially supported by the Hong Kong Institute of Philanthropy and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, and undertaken by the China Soong Ching Ling Center Science & Culture Center for Young People. With Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups as its strategic partner, the project will organize this year's second such a thematic study tour in Beijing and Xi'an from August 18 to 22
