See how China builds. Decide what works for you.
A curated field-learning programme exploring China’s AI, digital commerce and robotics ecosystems—and the ideas that could apply in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
- Mid December 2026
- 5 days, 4 nights
- Two of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen
China’s AI story goes beyond the models.
While the US AI landscape is familiar, China offers a distinct view of the next frontier of technology and automation.
Physical AI and automation
China installed 54% of the world’s new industrial robots in 2024, showcasing Physical AI and automation at scale.
Connected digital commerce
Commerce, payments, fulfilment and AI services often run as one connected stack.
Chinese AI models
27.5% of 2,719 approved Agentic AI Build Week registrants already leverage Chinese AI models. Curiosity is turning into action—understanding the practical trade-offs matters.
Insights from the Ground: China Through Our Lens
During recent visits across China's technology ecosystem, GenAI Fund's team met AI builders, explored robotics applications and observed how technology becomes part of everyday business and customer experiences.
These visits reinforced an important lesson: innovation is not only about technological capability. It is also about how solutions reach users, create measurable value and scale within their ecosystem.
Building ecosystems around products
From NIO's community-led approach to WhalesBot's focus on robotics education and Agora's Voice AI applications, the experience highlighted how companies build adoption through practical use cases, communities and accessible technology.
Bringing Physical AI into the real world
Visits to robotics companies and experience centres revealed different routes to adoption: entertainment, industrial applications and developer enablement. Each offers a different way to test demand, gather feedback and commercialise emerging technology.
Turning AI capabilities into business outcomes
Conversations with AI companies, including MiniMax, 01.AI, Rino.ai and Kimi, highlighted the importance of go-to-market execution, partnerships and business models alongside technological progress.
Tencent Strategic Partnership Discussion with Tencent
How ecosystem partnerships shape what scales.
Alibaba Cloud Business Discussion with Alibaba Cloud
Platform and cloud partnerships behind AI adoption.
BYD Company Visit at BYD
Manufacturing, hardware and automation at scale.
MiniMax Business Visit at MiniMax
Models take turns winning on performance, but a strong go-to-market team is what makes AI work for customers.
Agora · Shanghai From Real-Time Communication to Voice AI Chips at Agora
From livestreaming to Voice AI chips with vision: where Voice AI, vision and robotics start to connect.
Kimi Business Visit at KIMI
Go-to-market execution alongside technological progress.
01.AI Management-Level Meeting at 01.AI
How model builders turn capability into business outcomes.
Robotics experience centre AI & Robotics Experience Visit
Different routes to robotics adoption beyond the demo.
The questions worth taking with you
What can Chinese AI models do well today, and what trade-offs should a builder or business leader understand?
What does Physical AI look like beyond a demo, in manufacturing, logistics or everyday operations?
How do digital platforms connect merchants, payments, fulfilment and in-person experiences?
Which China-developed practices could work in Vietnam or Southeast Asia, and which depend on local conditions?
A field-learning programme built around those questions
A five-day, four-night China Innovation Study Tour for business leaders, founders, investors, product innovators and ecosystem builders—with direct access to practitioners driving AI, digital commerce and robotics. This is an innovation research tour, not a sightseeing schedule: each visit is linked to a participant question, combining curated company and expert conversations, field observations, peer exchange and facilitated synthesis.
Two of three cities, matched to the cohort
The pair will be matched to the cohort’s learning priorities and confirmed host access. Specific organisations and speakers will be announced only after they confirm.
The tour visits two of these three cities; the focus shown is indicative and will follow the final pair.
A sample five-day itinerary
The final sequence depends on the selected city pair, host availability and flight schedule.
Day 1
Arrive and frame the questions
What you’ll explore
Arrive in the first city, meet the cohort and join a briefing on China’s AI and innovation ecosystem. Set the business or product question you want the tour to answer.
Who you may meet
GenAI Fund facilitator, cohort peers and a subject-matter expert, subject to confirmation.
Day 2
AI products and platforms
What you’ll explore
Visit selected AI, model or platform teams. Explore how models become products, how companies approach adoption, and what is changing in the economics of building with AI.
Who you may meet
AI founders, product and engineering leaders, or commercialisation teams.
Day 3
Digital commerce and omnichannel
What you’ll explore
Look at how platforms, merchants, payments and fulfilment fit together. Use company conversations and local observations to understand the customer journey and operating model.
Who you may meet
Digital-commerce, retail-technology and platform operators.
Day 4
Physical AI, robotics and the second city
What you’ll explore
Travel to the second city and examine robotics, hardware or manufacturing applications, depending on the route. Discuss what makes deployment work beyond a prototype.
Who you may meet
Robotics and hardware founders, manufacturing operators or automation leaders.
Day 5
Translate the learning into action
What you’ll explore
Compare observations across the two cities. Build a Copy / Adapt / Skip view and prioritise experiments or decisions to take home, then depart.
Who you may meet
Facilitated peer synthesis with GenAI Fund; post-trip follow-up is planned.
What you take home
On the final day, the cohort turns observations into a clear view of what to apply at home.
Copy
Practices that transfer directly to your context.
Adapt
Ideas that work once adjusted to local conditions.
Skip
Approaches that depend on conditions you don’t share.
You leave with
- A clearer, first-hand understanding of China’s AI and innovation ecosystem.
- A concise synthesis of what you observed, including the practices to Copy, Adapt or Skip for your context.
- Priority experiments and a practical plan linked to your business or product questions.
- New peer and ecosystem connections, with follow-up opportunities where both sides agree.
The package is expected to include
Programme & Learning
- A tailored five-day itinerary linked to the cohort’s learning priorities.
- Pre-trip briefing materials and suggested questions for company visits.
- Curated company and expert sessions, subject to host confirmation.
- English–Chinese interpretation during programme activities.
- On-site programme coordination and daily group reflection.
- A GenAI Fund ecosystem briefing, plus a post-trip summary, recommendations and follow-up discussion.
Travel & Logistics
- Round-trip international airfare.
- Four nights of accommodation.
- Meals included in the itinerary.
- High-speed rail between cities, including luggage.
- Private coach, local ground transport and airport or station transfers.
- Visa and processing fees, travel insurance, and selected travel essentials such as water, a SIM card and supplies.
Hong Kong & Chengdu study visit
Leadership Roundtable & Policy Exchange, Hong Kong — the National Assembly Office delegation with HKU Business School and School of Governance and Policy. A separate, completed programme for a different cohort.
Read the case study