<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context: China Tour]]></title><description><![CDATA[Baiguan's China Tour to discover on-the-ground insights of China]]></description><link>https://www.baiguan.news/s/china-tour</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I3n5!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F442a8829-6add-4e08-916f-9352d824ec95_880x880.png</url><title>Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context: China Tour</title><link>https://www.baiguan.news/s/china-tour</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Apr 2026 02:09:13 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.baiguan.news/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[Baiguan]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[baiguan@bigonelab.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[baiguan@bigonelab.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Baiguan]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Baiguan]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[baiguan@bigonelab.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[baiguan@bigonelab.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Baiguan]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[Invite to RSVP: 2026 Shanghai AI & Robotics Innovation Tour]]></title><description><![CDATA[April 21 &#8211; 23, 2026 | An Immersive Journey into China's Frontier Tech & Startup Ecosystem]]></description><link>https://www.baiguan.news/p/invite-to-rsvp-2026-shanghai-ai-and</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.baiguan.news/p/invite-to-rsvp-2026-shanghai-ai-and</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Baiguan]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:03:35 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<h2>Why This Tour is Unparalleled</h2><p>The global investment community is witnessing a massive resurgence of interest in China&#8217;s &#8220;Hard Tech&#8221; sectors&#8212;specifically <strong>Generative AI, Humanoid Robotics</strong> and <strong>Driverless L4 Robotaxi</strong>. However, headlines and research reports only tell the surface-level story. To truly grasp the scale, velocity, and real-world integration of these technologies, you must experience them on the ground.</p><p>This tour offers a rare look into the &#8220;vibe&#8221; of China&#8217;s innovation engine, through:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Deep-dive networking:</strong> We skip the standard corporate walkthroughs. Engage in candid, closed-door conversations with C-level executives, founders, and industry pioneers.</p></li><li><p><strong>Insider investment perspectives:</strong> We will travel alongside seasoned investors who have backed China&#8217;s leading AI and robotics ventures. Gain raw, unfiltered insights into market trends and valuation realities.</p></li><li><p><strong>Experience real-world applications:</strong> We move beyond the pitch deck. Ride in Robotaxis, witness industrial robots in action, and explore AI-native consumer communities.</p></li></ul><p>You will gain a clear, actionable understanding of:</p><ul><li><p>How Chinese AI startups bypass theoretical bottlenecks to rapidly deploy cutting-edge models into high-value commercial use cases.</p></li><li><p>A firsthand look at the new paradigm where a new generation of entrepreneurs and government sectors co-evolve to de-risk frontier innovation.</p></li><li><p>Why China&#8217;s massive manufacturing base is no longer just a &#8220;factory floor,&#8221; but a critical R&amp;D partner that accelerates the prototyping and scaling of high-tech hardware.</p></li><li><p>A realistic assessment of China&#8217;s positioning in the global tech landscape, identifying where the ecosystem remains most resilient and where the next growth &#8220;inflection points&#8221; lie.</p><ul><li></li></ul></li></ul><p><em><strong>English service:</strong> The entire program is tailored for international professionals. All members of the Baiguan team and all guest speakers from the companies we&#8217;ll visit can converse in English to ensure seamless communication.</em></p><div><hr></div><h2>Itinerary Overview</h2><p>This is a 2.5-day immersive program. The detailed daily schedule will be shared with registered participants approximately one week before the tour.</p><h3>Day 1</h3><p><strong>Location: Xuhui Riverside (West Bund), Shanghai</strong></p><p><em><strong>About Xuhui Riverside:</strong> Known as the core cluster of China&#8217;s AI industry, <strong>Xuhui Riverside houses nearly 90% of Shanghai&#8217;s AI startups</strong>. It operates under a unique &#8220;Double A&#8221; strategy (AI + Art), blending high-tech innovation with a modern, sophisticated lifestyle. The area integrates diverse elements such as art, finance, technology innovation, and sports. Participants will also learn how Shanghai attracts and nurtures tech talent through government policy support for the AI and hard-tech industries.</em></p><p><strong>Welcome Meeting &amp; Ice-breaking</strong></p><p><strong>Seminar by Baiguan Team:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Current Landscape of China&#8217;s AI and Technology &#8212; Strategic policy, the AI ecosystem, and an introduction to the program, including the companies we will be visiting.</p></li><li><p>Investment Themes, Ideas, and Opportunities &#8212; A discussion on sectors driving structural growth in China.</p></li></ul><p><strong>Welcome Dinner</strong></p><div><hr></div><h3>Day 2 &amp; Day 3</h3><h4><strong>Inside China&#8217;s AI Incubator: Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center (&#39764;&#36895;&#31354;&#38388;), Xuhui Riverside</strong></h4><p><em><strong>About Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center:</strong> A premier, government-backed incubator where 80% of resident startups are in Pre-A stages. Covering LLM applications and Industrial AI,<strong> it is considered a &#8220;living laboratory&#8221; for early-stage AI projects in China</strong>. Access is typically restricted to industrial and strategic capital; this tour provides an exclusive gateway.</em></p><p><em>We will conduct in-depth visits to 2-3 representative startup companies, engaging in direct discussions with the founders on key issues such as technological barriers, China&#8217;s startup ecosystem, and commercialization paths.</em></p><ul><li><p><strong>Incubator Walkthrough:</strong> Meet startups and experience live demos of the latest robotics, AI, and other cutting-edge technological products and developments.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>Cyber Partner Technology (&#39746;&#20276;&#31185;&#25216;):</strong> Implementation layer is getting more and more important, and will be ultimately responsible for translating robotics hardware into actual commercial usage. Cyber Partner Technology is a leading robotics integrator. Its &#8220;large robots + AI algorithms&#8221; integration solutions have been implemented in over 20 industries, including automotive and 3C manufacturing. We will visit the production line-level robotics dispatch site and engage in a conversation with the founder about pathways for &#8220;AI + robotics.&#8221;</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>Nieta Art (&#25423;Ta):</strong> Founded by a Meta veteran, Nieta is China&#8217;s largest AI-native content community. Meet the CEO to discuss the shift in Gen-Z digital culture and company&#8217;s global expansion strategy.</p></li></ul><h4>Visits to China&#8217;s leading AI and robotics company</h4><ul><li><p>One of China&#8217;s <strong>leading, globally recognised LLM companies</strong>. Meet with the team to discuss the latest developments in foundation models and commercial applications.(Exact identity of the company will be shared upon request.)</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>JAKA Robotics (&#25463;&#21345;&#26426;&#22120;&#20154;):</strong> A leading manufacturer of collaborative robotics (cobot). Learn about China&#8217;s rapidly growing industrial robotics sector and the automation revolution in manufacturing.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p><strong>Pony.ai (NASDAQ: PONY):</strong> Experience a Robotaxi ride firsthand.</p><p><em>Seminar: Steven Xiao, who invested in Pony.ai&#8217;s Series B round in 2018, will share exclusive perspectives on Pony.ai and China&#8217;s broader robotaxi development, the current status of the autonomous driving technology, the path toward robotaxi commercialization, investment impacts, as well as the social implications.</em></p></li></ul><h4>Optional experiential activities</h4><p>This is also your opportunity to experience the vibrant (AI + Art) &#8220;Double A&#8221; ecosystem in the Xuhui Riverside area, and get a sense of the trendy lifestyle, consumer AIs, and other consumer trends in China. We invite you to optionally join us and explore the lively nightlife, restaurants, fashion, and other experiences this region has to offer. April is also an ideal time to enjoy a walk with a breezy wind and beautiful riverside landscape in Shanghai.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg" width="1456" height="818" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:818,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:1779476,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/i/190368496?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!jkLw!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F136a0c41-fa2b-4784-967a-b7135d826d3e_2936x1650.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Xuhui Riverside, Shanghai</figcaption></figure></div><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png" width="2" height="2" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/a58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:2,&quot;width&quot;:2,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:246,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/png&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/i/190368496?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!e2Hx!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa58d00c6-51d1-4c56-b313-2e3d72f75486_2x2.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><div><hr></div><p><em><strong>Who will you meet:</strong> C-level executives, founders, experts, and industry leaders from startups. We will also meet the Chief Ecosystem Officer of Shanghai Foundation Model Innovation Center, who will provide us with an extensive network and unmatched, direct access to the founders and executives of these high-growth startups.</em></p><div><hr></div><p><em>*All of our visits on day 1 will be within walking distance in the Xuhui Riverside area. Please wear comfortable shoes. We recommend booking a hotel close to Xuhui Riverside.</em></p><p><em>*Shuttle rides will be arranged for Day 2 and Day 3.</em></p><div><hr></div><h2>Pricing &amp; Signup</h2><p>To maintain the quality and focus of this program&#8212;and to ensure meaningful interactions among investors and industry leaders&#8212;<strong>we are accepting participants by application only. Limited to 20 seats.</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Standard Tour Price:</strong> $3,000 USD per person for the 2.5-day event</p></li><li><p><strong>Early Bird Discount:</strong> $2,860 USD per person for registrations completed by March 20</p></li><li><p><strong>Baiguan Tour Returnee Discount:</strong> $2,100 USD per person for participants who have previously joined a Baiguan tour</p></li></ul><p></p><p><strong>What&#8217;s Included:</strong></p><ul><li><p>All scheduled company visits and seminars</p></li><li><p>All lunch and dinners</p></li><li><p>All ground transportation during the tour</p></li></ul><p><strong>What&#8217;s Not Included:</strong></p><ul><li><p>International/domestic flights to/from Shanghai</p></li><li><p>Chinese visa application fees</p></li><li><p>Travel insurance</p></li><li><p>Personal expenses</p></li><li><p>Breakfasts</p></li><li><p>Hotels</p></li></ul><p><strong>To apply, please click or scan to fill out this Google form:</strong> <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1som6C0dk-OLXtgZk55XswRoaV9D51EkkSCzJ6EMm8dE/edit">RSVP: 2026 Shanghai AI &amp; Robotics Innovation Tour</a></p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png" width="110" height="110" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:110,&quot;width&quot;:110,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:null,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:null,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Y1Zm!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7cfa215d-c8f9-4b0e-9ad0-79eced039d9e_110x110.png 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div></div></div></a></figure></div><p><strong>What to expect:</strong> </p><ul><li><p>After receiving your response, <strong>our team will get in touch within 1 business day </strong>to schedule your payment process and discuss the next steps.</p><p><em>We understand that emails can sometimes end up in your spam folder. If you don&#8217;t hear from us within 1 business day, please check your spam folder.</em></p></li><li><p>Once your payment is processed, your seat will be officially secured. We will follow up with an email to gather additional details to enhance your experience, such as arrival information, dietary restrictions, or any special accommodation needs.</p></li><li><p><strong>About one week before the program begins,</strong> we will reach out with the exact daily schedules, meeting spots, and an introductory brochure about the companies we will be visiting. We will also create a designated WeChat group for participants and invite you to join.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>Logistics &amp; Accommodation</h2><p><strong>Accommodation:</strong> Participants should book their own accommodation.</p><p><strong>Recommended Stays:</strong> We strongly recommend booking at either the <strong><a href="http://Urcove by HYATT Shanghai Xuhui West Riverside">Urcove by HYATT Shanghai Xuhui West Riverside</a> Hotel</strong> or the <strong><a href="https://us.trip.com/hotels/shanghai-hotel-detail-104656356/mgm-shanghai-west-bund/?locale=en-US&amp;allianceid=1306174&amp;sid=4131376&amp;ppcid=adid-761079966951_akid-dsa-456866651212_adgid-181751142877&amp;utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=cpc&amp;utm_campaign=22733289053&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gad_campaignid=22733289053&amp;gbraid=0AAAAABn2eFIW_8PGq_NrlTrsBkcBEQ9ho&amp;gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw5PDrcKSkwMVMSBECB0NnSVYEAAYASAAEgLMgfD_BwE">MGM Shanghai West Bund</a> Hotel.</strong> These hotels are within comfortable walking distance of our primary visit locations and are also located in a vibrant area that blends the AI + art lifestyle and experiences.</p><p><strong>Transportation:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Day 1: All activities will be within walking distance.</p></li><li><p>Day 2 &amp; 3: We will arrange shuttle rides. The shuttle will stop at the recommended MGM Shanghai West Bund to pick up participants on Day 2 &amp; 3. If you choose to stay at a different hotel, please plan on meeting the group in the lobby of the recommended hotel before the program begins.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>Testimonials from Previous Tours</h2><blockquote><p>&#8220;About halfway through the tour, we went out to dinner, and it was a notable turning point where everyone loosened up. One great aspect of this tour is that the interest and domain is specific enough to draw out a diverse set of backgrounds, all of whom you&#8217;re interested in getting to know, and beyond getting the opportunity to pick everyone&#8217;s brains, you can become friends as well.&#8221; <em>&#8212; Tech industry expert</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>&#8220;Came with intention to learn more about China, ended up with not only succeeding the original intention but also meeting new friends with diverse backgrounds. &#8220;<em> &#8212; Family office 2nd generation leader</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>I just want to thank Robert, Amber and both the Baiguan + FO Insights team for organizing this China Tour. It has been such a wonderful experience for me. One memorable experience was visiting Yowant&#8217;s X27 mall. Just mind-blown by the sheer scale of livestreaming in China. This is unlike any other &#8220;investor trip&#8221; and I really got to meet many interesting companies, analysts and other financial experts on the ground. Thank you so much! :)<em>&#8212; Investor &amp; entrepreneur</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Deep Robotics demonstration of their robots, visitng Ali baba cloud center and Xi hu university</p><p>It was an incredible opportunity to gain first hand exposure to the Chinese consumer market and witness how homegrown tech companies are playing a crucial role in AI/robotics space. The Baiguan and FOI team deep connections and expertise in the market definitely helped contextualized some of the market nuances.</p><p><em> &#8212; Fintech Senior management, personal investor</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>Baiguan&#8217;s tour has provided independent, objective and insightful perspectives for global investors. <em>&#8212; CIO private wealth</em></p></blockquote><blockquote><p>The Baiguan China Discovery Tour provided a unique opportunity to meet with a number of businesses from different industries. The presentations and discussions gave a good idea about the business models and how they deal with the current situation in the Chinese market. It was an action packed program that gave us many new insights.</p><p>But the best was how the group spirit evolved, fueled by the hosts&#8217; organizing skills and hospitality. We came as individual professionals interested in getting to know China on the ground. We left as a group of friends sharing an exceptional experience. <em>&#8212; Founder, AI-based cloud solution</em></p></blockquote><p><em><strong>For more details about our previous programs and field trip notes, visit:</strong></em></p><p><em><strong>2025 Program</strong></em></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;53b5df5d-a54a-4cdf-bb6a-5628dda745d2&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;This is a final call for our upcoming 2025 China Tour (Oct 27 Monday to Oct 30 Thursday in Shanghai &amp; Hangzhou). We have only about 5 seats remaining, and we will be closing the signup form as soon as they are filled. If you are still considering joining, now is the time to secure your spot.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Last Call: 2025 Baiguan China Tour &amp; Program Upgrades&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:131835372,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amber Zhang&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Follow me for data-driven insights on China &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ed84c02c-db45-4e4e-8bad-927b8a8f658a_755x754.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:100}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-09-20T15:02:24.214Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iD4T!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F03534766-181e-437e-a026-c39afaa395e0_880x628.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/p/last-call-2025-baiguan-china-tour&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:174001895,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:11,&quot;comment_count&quot;:2,&quot;publication_id&quot;:1455037,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I3n5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F442a8829-6add-4e08-916f-9352d824ec95_880x880.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p><em><strong>2025 Field Trip Highlights</strong></em></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;c865f421-4721-4118-9ad0-9d83917a60f8&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Earlier this year, I wrote about Hangzhou as the city behind DeepSeek&#8217;s rise in the newsletter Hangzhou: The city behind DeepSeek&#8217;s rise and why it&#8217;s just the beginning. In that piece, I argued that DeepSeek wasn&#8217;t an outlier or a one-shot accident, but a product of Hangzhou&#8217;s burgeoning private business ecosystem.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;md&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;How China innovates higher education to select and train world-class STEM talent&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:131835372,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amber Zhang&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Follow me for data-driven insights on China &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ed84c02c-db45-4e4e-8bad-927b8a8f658a_755x754.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:100}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-11-20T10:01:21.790Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Xy1O!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8ab9590a-53da-42b6-9961-09654e74165c_3000x1999.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/p/china-stem-talent-pipeline-innovation-westlake-university-hangzhou-deepseek-tech-ecosystem-gaokao-education-reform-qiangji-plan-research-university-scientist-training-ai-deeptech&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;China Context&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:179429379,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:39,&quot;comment_count&quot;:1,&quot;publication_id&quot;:1455037,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I3n5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F442a8829-6add-4e08-916f-9352d824ec95_880x880.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;3dd42f64-f8a1-4d30-9667-d511b0a9ad5e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;In our last newsletter, &#8220;The Service-Led Future of China&#8217;s Economy&#8220;, we explored a thesis: China is crossing a critical threshold ($14,000 GDP per capita) where the economy must pivot from manufacturing-led growth to service-led consumption.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;md&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;China's New Luxury Product: The $100,000 Postpartum Center&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:131835372,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Amber Zhang&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Follow me for data-driven insights on China &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/ed84c02c-db45-4e4e-8bad-927b8a8f658a_755x754.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:100}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-12-02T10:01:18.124Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/02dfe4e0-fc50-41f0-a9c8-bf8b9359b9ed_1242x904.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/p/china-service-upgrade-postpartum-confinement-centers-saint-bella-luxury-maternity-market-aging-population-elderly-care-taikang-retirement-homes-consumption-trends-investor-analysis&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Investment&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:180476645,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:24,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:1455037,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!I3n5!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F442a8829-6add-4e08-916f-9352d824ec95_880x880.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><h2>Important Policies</h2><p><strong>Refunds &amp; Cancellations:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Cancel &#8805;7 days before the tour start date &#8594; <strong>Full Refund</strong></p></li><li><p>Cancel &lt;7 days before the start date (any reason, including visa issues) &#8594; <strong>No Refund</strong></p></li><li><p>Requests must be sent in writing to <strong>baiguan@bigonelab.com</strong></p></li></ul><p><strong>Visa Application:</strong> We strongly urge all non-Chinese passport holders to begin their visa application process immediately upon registration. Participants are responsible for securing valid passports and visas. Failure to obtain a visa is <strong>not</strong> an exception to the refund policy. To be eligible for a full refund, you must cancel before <strong>April 14, 2026.</strong> Please plan your visa application accordingly.</p><p><strong>Travel Insurance:</strong> Strongly recommended to protect against unexpected events (medical emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage, etc.).</p><div><hr></div><h2>Perks</h2><p>All participants will receive a <strong>free 1-year Baiguan subscription</strong>. Already a paid subscriber? We&#8217;ll extend your subscription by 12 months.</p><div><hr></div><h2>About Baiguan and BigOne Lab</h2><p><em>Baiguan Newsletter is owned by BigOne Lab, a data-driven market research and information services company. Founded in 2016, BigOne Lab leverages alternative data to provide clients with insightful, objective, and actionable solutions.</em></p><p><em>Our data solutions currently cover more than 10 industries and 200,000+ businesses, spanning hundreds of business metrics. Our clients include 100+ investment funds, sovereign wealth funds, PE/VC investors, leading consulting companies, consumer companies and internet companies, among others.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/p/invite-to-rsvp-2026-shanghai-ai-and?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://www.baiguan.news/p/invite-to-rsvp-2026-shanghai-ai-and?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><p></p><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://www.baiguan.news/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Baiguan - China Insights, Data, Context is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Last Call: 2025 Baiguan China Tour & Program Upgrades]]></title><description><![CDATA[Only 5 Seats Left on the 2025 Baiguan China Tour!]]></description><link>https://www.baiguan.news/p/last-call-2025-baiguan-china-tour</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.baiguan.news/p/last-call-2025-baiguan-china-tour</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Amber Zhang]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 15:02:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!iD4T!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F03534766-181e-437e-a026-c39afaa395e0_880x628.png" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>This is a final call for our upcoming <strong>2025 China Tour (Oct 27 Monday to Oct 30 Thursday in Shanghai &amp; Hangzhou)</strong>. We have only <strong>about 5 seats remaining</strong>, and we will be closing the signup form as soon as they are filled. If you are still considering joining, now is the time to secure your spot.</em></p><h2>Why is this tour different?</h2><p>The dominant narrative in global media is that China is facing deflation and deep structural challenges&#8212;and long gone are the days when every sector posted double-digit growth. In this new phase of the Chinese economy, identifying structural investment opportunities requires a sharper lens and a deeper presence on the ground.</p><p>While the macro picture feels uncertain, specific sectors are thriving&#8212;driven by generational shifts in behavior, demand for domestic cultural identity, and a new wave of tech innovation. But these are not always the trends you&#8217;ll find in boardrooms or equity research reports.</p><p>We believe that the best way to deepen your strategic understanding of China is to <strong>come and see it for yourself</strong>. Meet the founders and operators of tomorrow&#8217;s Pop Mart and Deepseek. Hear directly from the companies shaping China&#8217;s next growth cycle.</p><p>This tour takes you beyond glossy surfaces. You&#8217;ll meet both listed and pre-IPO companies, dine with local founders and investors, and visit the spaces&#8212;both digital and physical&#8212;where real consumer behavior takes shape.</p><p><strong>If your investment thesis depends on understanding where China </strong><em><strong>is</strong></em><strong> going, not where it </strong><em><strong>was</strong></em><strong>, this trip is for you.</strong></p><h3>Program Updates</h3><p>We&#8217;ve also been working to make this itinerary even more impactful, and we're thrilled to announce a few key updates:</p><ul><li><p><strong>1 Upgrade: </strong>On the last day in Hangzhou, we will now visit <strong>Deep Robotics (&#20113;&#28145;&#22788;)</strong> instead of ROKID AI. Deep Robotics is one of Hangzhou&#8217;s famous &#8220;<em>Six Little Dragons</em>&#8221; tech startups &#8212; a grouping that also includes DeepSeek, Unitree, and Game Science. The company develops quadruped and humanoid robots that have already been commercially deployed in sectors such as power &amp; energy, emergency response, security patrol, and education &amp; research. We think <strong>Deep Robotics offers a strong lens for understanding China&#8217;s AI, robotics, and hardware supply chain</strong>. We have been eager to confirm a visit with one of Hangzhou&#8217;s &#8220;<em>Six Little Dragons</em>,&#8221; as it offers a rare view into Hangzhou&#8217;s <strong>innovation ecosystem, private business, and start-up culture</strong> &#8212; arguably the most important takeaway from the city and what sets it apart from other affluent Chinese cities. We&#8217;re thrilled to have this visit confirmed.</p></li><li><p><strong>1 Addition: </strong>We are also adding <strong>Westlake University (&#35199;&#28246;&#22823;&#23398;)</strong> to our Hangzhou agenda. Westlake is a pioneering private research university that aims to build a world-class research hub. During our visit, we will meet with research teams, tour labs, and see cutting-edge scientific work in action. Westlake University is significant for two key reasons: <strong>it offers a window into China&#8217;s future innovation ecosystem</strong>, showcasing how science and technology are advancing beyond tech giants and commercial sectors, and <strong>it represents a bold experiment in China&#8217;s higher education system</strong> as a private, research-focused university that emphasizes science, medicine, and engineering while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. This visit provides a rare opportunity to understand both Hangzhou&#8217;s role as a hub for innovation and <strong>China&#8217;s broader efforts to reform education and cultivate its next generation of innovation talent.</strong></p></li><li><p><strong>1 Change:</strong> Instead of visiting NetEase Games, we will now visit <strong>FunPlus</strong> in Shanghai &#8212; a leading global game studio with teams across multiple Chinese cities and a strong overseas presence. FunPlus is behind blockbuster titles such as <em>King of Avalon</em> and is <strong>a great case study of how Chinese companies are building locally but competing successfully worldwide</strong>.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3>&#9992;&#65039; Tour Itinerary</h3><p>Throughout the program, you will have the opportunity to experience firsthand and gain a deep understanding of four important themes that highlight key social changes and future opportunities in China:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Understanding the Daily Life of China&#8217;s Young Consumers:</strong> How a typical urban professional in their 20s&#8211;30s works, eats, and shops in 2025 China.</p></li><li><p><strong>Digital Culture and Entertainment in Transition:</strong> How content, entertainment, and commerce intersect in a rapidly evolving consumer landscape.</p></li><li><p><strong>Culture, Identity &amp; Chinese Brands&#8217; Global Ambition:</strong> Explore how Chinese brands fuse heritage and product innovation to succeed at home and expand globally.</p></li><li><p><strong>Tech and Innovation:</strong> China&#8217;s AI and robotics landscape, and how her education and research system is cultivating innovative talent for the decades ahead.</p></li></ul><p></p><h4><strong>Day 0 Oct 26: Shanghai - Welcome Dinner</strong></h4><p>We will host a complimentary welcome dinner on the evening of the 26th, giving everyone a chance to get to know each other. We&#8217;d love to see you there if your travel plans allow!</p><p></p><h4><strong>Day 1 Oct 27: Shanghai</strong></h4><p><strong>Atour Hotels (NASDAQ: ATAT): </strong>Atour is one of the most loved hotel chains among Chinese in their 20s to 40s. Beyond being a reliable choice for both business and leisure travel, Atour has successfully expanded into retail, with its household product line now contributing ~39% of group sales. It&#8217;s one of the first hotel brands in China to transform into a <em>"lifestyle brand."</em> A visit to Atour offers insights into how young Chinese consumers think about travel, home, and lifestyle.</p><p><strong>Lunch @ Super Bowl: </strong>Super Bowl is a popular healthy fast-casual chain among China&#8217;s young office workers. Its grain bowls, lean proteins, and app-based ordering reflect a rising awareness of health and convenience, localized for Chinese tastes. Lunch here highlights how &#8220;clean eating&#8221; concepts are evolving into scalable restaurant models. <em>We&#8217;ve invited an early investor in Super Bowl&#8212;who has also backed several successful consumer startups&#8212;for a conversation on the evolving dynamics of China&#8217;s consumption landscape.</em></p><p><strong>M&amp;G Stationery (SHA: 603899), </strong>founded in 1997, is etched into the childhood memories of nearly every Chinese student. Once known simply as a trusted stationery maker, it is now reinventing itself into a creative, globally-oriented brand. From IP collaborations to ESG initiatives&#8212;such as launching China&#8217;s first carbon-neutral stationery&#8212;M&amp;G exemplifies how China&#8217;s &#8220;time-honored&#8221; companies are innovating and building brand power to stay competitive.</p><p><strong>FunPlus, </strong>founded in 2010, has left its mark on millions of players with its globally popular strategy games. Once part of a new wave of ambitious Chinese tech startups, it is now a proven leader on the international stage. With blockbuster titles like <em>King of Avalon</em> topping charts in overseas markets, FunPlus is an excellent case study of how Chinese companies can build locally while competing successfully worldwide.</p><p><strong>Transport:</strong> Private coach transfer to Hangzhou (~2.5 hrs)</p><p><em>Lunch and dinner will be provided today.</em></p><p></p><h4><strong>Day 2 Oct 28 Hangzhou</strong></h4><p><strong>Foshan Yowant Technology (002291.SZ): </strong>Livestreaming is one of China&#8217;s most influential retail formats, blending product discovery, trust-based marketing, and instant conversion. Yowant remains the industry leader, with top celebrity hosts, collaborations with 25,000+ brands, and the highest number of livestreams surpassing RMB 100 million in single-session sales. We will step inside a livestreaming room to see how it works in practice, and explore how new technologies&#8212;AI-powered content and digital marketing&#8212;are reshaping creator-led commerce.</p><p><strong>Westlake University (&#35199;&#28246;&#22823;&#23398;): </strong>Westlake is a pioneering private research university that aims to build a world-class research hub. During our visit, we will meet with research teams, tour labs, and see cutting-edge scientific work in action. Westlake University is significant for two key reasons: it offers a window into China&#8217;s future innovation ecosystem, showcasing how science and technology are advancing beyond tech giants and commercial sectors, and it represents a bold experiment in China&#8217;s higher education system as a private, research-focused university that emphasizes science, medicine, and engineering while fostering interdisciplinary collaboration. This visit provides a rare opportunity to understand both Hangzhou&#8217;s role as a hub for innovation and China&#8217;s broader efforts to reform education and cultivate its next generation of innovation talent.</p><p><strong>JNBY Group (3306.HK): </strong>JNBY is a prime example of how a Chinese designer brand tells the story of China&#8217;s fashion. It blends modern taste with subtle Chinese design elements, cultivating loyal followers both at home and abroad. The brand exemplifies the rise of <em>Guochao</em> (&#8220;China Chic&#8221;) brands that balance product innovation with cultural identity.</p><p><em>Lunch will be provided today. Once you arrive, we&#8217;ll give you some dinner suggestions featuring local flavors.</em></p><p></p><h4><strong>Day 3 Oct 29 Hangzhou</strong></h4><p><strong>Saint Bella (2508.HK): </strong>If you follow China&#8217;s news, you&#8217;ve likely seen headlines about declining birth rates. A key question is how consumer brands continue to adapt and stay competitive in this environment. We will visit Saint Bella, the largest postpartum and family care group in China and Asia, to see how it builds a strong portfolio of both services and retail products, domestically and overseas. More importantly, this visit offers a chance to explore how Chinese mother &amp; baby brands are responding to changing demographics and what this signals for the industry&#8217;s future.</p><p><strong>Lunch@Home Original Chicken &#32769;&#20065;&#40481; (HK Pre-IPO): </strong>Home Original Chicken is one of China&#8217;s most recognizable fast-casual chains, famous for its homestyle chicken dishes and grassroots brand image. It thrives on a uniquely Chinese formula: down-to-earth marketing, approachable prices, and comfort food rooted in local traditions. Now preparing for its IPO, Home Original Chicken raises an intriguing question&#8212;could it become China&#8217;s own version of KFC or McDonald&#8217;s? Experiencing it firsthand in China offers an authenticity and scale that no overseas case study could replicate.</p><p><strong>Proya Cosmetics (603605.SH): </strong>Proya is a leading example of a domestic beauty and skincare brand successfully shedding the &#8220;cheap, low-quality&#8221; stereotype. Through strong R&amp;D, effective digital marketing, and culturally resonant products, Proya competes head-to-head with global giants while driving the localization and upgrade of China&#8217;s cosmetics industry.</p><p><strong>Private Welcome Dinner with Family Offices &amp; Founders </strong>An English-friendly gathering with founders, second-generation leaders of family businesses, and local investors. This is a unique opportunity to network and exchange perspectives on brand-building, challenges, and investment trends in China.</p><p><em>Lunch and dinner will be provided today.</em></p><p></p><h4><strong>Day 4 Oct 30 Hangzhou</strong></h4><p><strong>Alibaba AI (NYSE:BABA):</strong> Visit Alibaba&#8217;s AI Labs to learn about their cutting-edge AI developments, including China&#8217;s leading large language model, Qwen, which uniquely integrates AI capabilities directly with e-commerce operations. Gain insights into how Alibaba&#8217;s foundational research supports commerce, logistics, and cloud services, and understand where China is innovating or diverging in the AI landscape.</p><p><strong>Deep Robotics (&#20113;&#28145;&#22788;): </strong>Deep Robotics is one of Hangzhou&#8217;s famous &#8220;Six Little Dragons&#8221; tech startups &#8212; a grouping that also includes DeepSeek, Unitree, and Game Science. The company develops quadruped and humanoid robots that have already been commercially deployed in sectors such as power &amp; energy, emergency response, security patrol, and education &amp; research. Deep Robotics offers a strong lens for understanding China&#8217;s AI, robotics, and hardware supply chain, and a rare view into Hangzhou&#8217;s innovation ecosystem, private business, and start-up culture &#8212; arguably the most important takeaway from the city and what sets it apart from other affluent Chinese cities.</p><p><em>Lunch will be provided today. Last day will conclude before dinner time, around 4pm to 5pm. </em></p><p></p><h4><strong>Cultural &amp; Experiential Stop</strong></h4><p>In addition to company visits, we will also include curated cultural and experiential stops in Hangzhou&#8212;designed to give participants a first-hand feel of China&#8217;s unique cultural environment. The exact activity will be confirmed closer to departure.</p><p></p><h3>Who exactly will we meet?</h3><p>What sets the Baiguan China Tour apart is the quality of our access. Our itinerary is curated to ensure you go beyond the standard corporate pitch.</p><p>Throughout the tour, you will engage directly with: <strong>founders &amp; C-level executives, key division heads </strong>who are directly responsible for business units and product strategy, and <strong>second-generation family office leaders.</strong></p><p>We bypass the PR teams to connect you with the individuals driving the business, ensuring you receive unfiltered insights into their strategies, challenges, and vision.</p><p></p><p><em>*A quick logistical note: While we have confirmed these visits, the final company list, company representatives and hour-by-hour schedule are subject to minor changes depending on the final availability of our hosts. A detailed handout will be provided prior to departure.</em></p><div><hr></div><h3>&#128179; Registration &amp; Fees</h3><p>This tour is <strong>strictly limited to 20 seats</strong> to ensure an interactive and high-value experience. Spots are confirmed <strong>only after successful payment</strong> and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.</p><p><strong>&#128073; To begin your registration, please fill out this <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSftEZxnCpkv3R59_wBV93MVbCXuPOuHVaLStGVJ6tsbAii86w/viewform?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=111182560247123996067">google form</a>.</strong></p><p><em> (The RSVP form will close once all seats are filled.)</em> </p><p><strong>Our team will send you a secure payment link via Stripe within 1 day, which accepts all major credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Link.</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Standard Price:</strong> $4,280 USD</p></li></ul><p><em>*Please note that the international airfare and accommodation will be at your own expense.</em></p><p></p><p><em><strong>We do realize that sometimes our email can get into your spam box. Please help us check if that's the case if you don't hear from us within 1 day.</strong></em></p><p><em>*If you are traveling with others, each participant must register and complete payment separately to ensure accurate details for everyone.</em></p><div><hr></div><h3>&#9989; Confirmation Process and What to Expect Next</h3><p>Once your payment is successfully completed, here&#8217;s what you can expect:</p><p><strong>Upon successful payment, you will receive an immediate payment receipt from Stripe. This confirms your seat and registration.</strong></p><p><strong>Within 24&#8211;48 hours:</strong> You will receive a <strong>personal welcome email</strong> asking for the following information:</p><ul><li><p><strong>Personal information:</strong> Legal name, phone number, dietary restrictions/allergies, arrival &amp; departure flights, a short personal introduction (optional, for cohort networking), and emergency contact.</p></li><li><p><strong>Private group access:</strong> We&#8217;ll invite you to a <strong>WeChat group</strong> for timely communication and a more personal connection before and during the tour.</p></li><li><p><strong>Recommended hotel:</strong> Local transportation will be arranged throughout the trip. <strong>Please note that while shuttles will be provided, pickup will only be available from the recommended hotel each morning before the day&#8217;s activities begin</strong>. If you choose to stay elsewhere, please plan to meet the shuttle at the recommended hotel each morning.</p><ul><li><p><strong>Shanghai: </strong><em><strong>Atour Hotel Shanghai Hongqiao Shuicheng Road</strong></em> (<a href="https://www.booking.com/hotel/cn/shang-hai-chang-zhu-shui-cheng-lu-ya-duo.html">view on booking.com</a>).</p><ul><li><p>Instead of a 5-star hotel, we recommend Atour Hotel&#8212;a lifestyle brand and hotel chain that has become one of the most popular among young Chinese consumers. It is known for its smart and modern room design. This particular location is close to Hongqiao Railway Station, making it convenient if you are arriving by train.</p></li><li><p><em>If you are arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Oct 26, please let us know your flight details, and we will assist with pickup and transfer to the recommended hotel.</em></p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Hangzhou: </strong><em><strong>Sheraton Grand Hangzhou Wetland Park Resort</strong></em> (<a href="https://www.booking.com/Share-JjBlX9U">View on booking.com</a>).</p><ul><li><p>This hotel is recommended because it sits close to companies that we will visit (Alibaba AI, Rokid, Yowant etc.). It is also located next to the Xixi National Wetland Park and inspired by traditional Chinese architecture, offering landscape views of the signature gardens of Hangzhou.</p></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul><p><strong>Follow-up communications:</strong></p><ul><li><p><strong>Mid-to-late September:</strong> A dedicated newsletter will feature company hosts, guest highlights, and itinerary details. You&#8217;ll find out who you&#8217;ll meet at each company, along with early insights into the discussion topics and key business highlights.</p></li><li><p><strong>Mid October: </strong>You&#8217;ll receive the detailed hour-by-hour schedule and join a pre-tour Zoom briefing to meet fellow participants and the Baiguan team, and to have any questions answered.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3>&#128204; Important Policies</h3><ul><li><p><strong>Refunds &amp; Cancellations:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Cancel &#8805;30 days before the tour start date &#8594; <strong>Full Refund</strong></p></li><li><p>Cancel &lt;30 days before the start date (any reason, including visa issues) &#8594; <strong>No Refund</strong></p></li><li><p>Requests must be sent in writing to <strong>baiguan@bigonelab.com</strong></p></li></ul></li><li><p><strong>Urgent Action Required for Visa Application: </strong>We strongly urge all non-Chinese passport holders to begin their visa application process immediately upon registration. Participants are responsible for securing valid passports and visas. Failure to obtain a visa is <strong>not</strong> an exception to the refund policy. To be eligible for a full refund, you must cancel before <strong>September 26, 2025</strong>. Please plan your visa application accordingly.</p></li><li><p><strong>Travel Insurance:</strong> Strongly recommended to protect against unexpected events (medical emergencies, cancellations, lost luggage, etc.).</p></li><li><p><strong>What&#8217;s Not Included:</strong> International airfare, accommodation, meals (except those noted in itinerary), visa fees, and personal expenses.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h3>&#127873; Perks</h3><p>All participants will receive a <strong>free 1-year Baiguan subscription</strong>. Already a paid subscriber? We&#8217;ll extend your subscription by 12 months.</p><p>We look forward to welcoming you to China in 2025!</p><p>Warm regards, <strong>The Baiguan Team</strong> baiguan@bigonelab.com</p><div><hr></div><h3>Other FAQ</h3><h4>&#129534; Invoice Requests</h4><p>If your organization requires an invoice, simply email <strong>baiguan@bigonelab.com</strong> after completing your payment. We&#8217;ll issue a Stripe invoice (example attached).</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w2oi!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7264136d-1923-4d9c-a2cb-a5360f89675b_493x687.png" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w2oi!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7264136d-1923-4d9c-a2cb-a5360f89675b_493x687.png 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!w2oi!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F7264136d-1923-4d9c-a2cb-a5360f89675b_493x687.png 848w, 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x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><h4>Alternative payment methods</h4><p>If your organization needs a different payment arrangement (such as bank/wire transfer), please contact us at <strong>baiguan@bigonelab.com</strong> with the subject line: <em>&#8220;China Tour Payment Request.&#8221;</em> Please note that it may take up to <strong>24 business hours</strong> for us to process and respond to your inquiry.</p><p></p><h4>Will there be English translation?</h4><p>Yes, all company visits and official sessions will have English translation available.</p><p></p><h4>What if I don&#8217;t stay at the recommended hotel?</h4><p>Shuttle service will only operate from the recommended hotel. If you choose to stay elsewhere, please plan to meet the shuttle at the recommended hotel each morning before the day&#8217;s activities.</p><p></p><h4>When does the program end on Oct 30?</h4><p><strong>Last Day October 30</strong> will be a full-day experience, <strong>concluding before dinner (around 4:00&#8211;5:00 PM</strong>, depending on how company visits go).</p><p></p><h4>Will transportation be arranged from Hangzhou back to Shanghai on Oct 30?</h4><p><strong>We recommend taking the high-speed train</strong>, which is much faster than driving (about 1 hour versus 2&#8211;3 hours by car, especially during rush hour). Trains run frequently between Hangzhou and Shanghai&#8212;about every 15 minutes until around 22:30pm. But we are collecting details from participants and can arrange a group ride for those who prefer that option. Once you have your flights booked, please let us know so we can coordinate any assistance if needed.</p>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>