Navigating the Tides of Change: HNC Students at the Yenching Global Symposium 2025

From April 17-20, three Hopkins-Nanjing Center students stepped away from their academic routines to travel to Hainan for this year's Yenching Global Symposium, themed “Fortitude: Navigating the Tides of Change”. John Steinmetz HNC MAIS '26, Liu Yinuo HNC MAIS '25, and Eddie Witte HNC Certificate + SAIS MAIR '26 were selected from a pool of over 6,000 applicants to be three of the 90 delegates chosen to partake in the event. Launched by students at Yenching Academy of Peking University, the Yenching Global Symposium is a chance for various scholars and professionals to engage in dialogue surrounding current global and national challenges through academic panels and experiential activities. This post highlights John, Yinuo and Eddie’s experiences with the application process, their perspectives on the event, and their recommendations for future HNC students interested in applying.

Yinuo, John, and Eddie posing at the symposium (respectively)

The Application Process

The application for the Yenching Global symposium is thorough, including multiple essays and even a video component. John heard about the symposium through the weekly China / Asia Pacific Focused Jobs and Opportunities newsletter curated by Hopkins-Nanjing Center Career Services. After learning about the event in the newsletter, he was further encouraged by Eddie, who was already familiar with the Yenching Global Symposium and already planning to apply himself. Yinuo came across the opportunity when it was posted in the HNC Student WeChat Group and decided to apply as well.  

For the application itself, HNC’s classes were very relevant and helpful in the writing process. “For a lot of my responses, I used content I had been learning in class,” said John. “For questions like, pick a modern issue that China has been dealing with, I discussed debt restructuring. Debt restructuring is something I had never heard about before taking a class taught by Professor Paul Armstrong-Taylor, and it was something nobody really talks about, so I believe it made my application stand out among all the other applicants.” 

For future HNC students interested in applying for the Yenching Global Symposium, Eddie offered some words of advice: “It is important to align your responses to the theme of the event. Keep in mind the goals of the host organization and align that with your application materials. That is not to say you can’t have nuanced opinions, but it is important to keep in mind the tone and the type of program that they are running.” Eddie also recommended that HNC students continue to recognize and utilize their comparative geographical advantage during the application process, saying “The Yenching Global Symposium wants to include students from SAIS and the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. Although the Yenching Global Symposium did fly in people from all over the world, since we are already located in China, it's much more convenient and cost-effective for HNC students to attend.”

Perspectives on the Event

The event took place from April 17 through April 20, and included numerous academic panels led by experts invited to the event and moderated by Yenching students. Activities also included field trips and experiential learning, such as company visits and a trip to a local museum, and, of course, plenty of time to network among peers and with the experts presenting at the symposium. Reflecting on her experience at this year's Yenching Symposium, Yinuo said “Overall it was a great opportunity to hear opinions from all around the world. The symposium brought together students from all over Europe and Asia, including countries from the middle east and southeast Asia. I had the opportunity to hear a wide range of opinions on local issues.”

 

    

John and Eddie also shared this takeaway, with John saying “I was surprised by how international it was, because they really did have people from all over the world.  I met people from Namibia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Bulgaria, Romania, Pakistan, I mean I really was surprised at how truly international it was.” In terms of the event itself, John’s favorite part was simply “talking to other delegates at meals and in free time”. “It was nice to talk to them outside of structured events and get to know their perspective on China issues, what they’re researching for their thesis, what they’re interested in, I really connected with so many people I otherwise would never have a chance to talk to.”

 

Eddie echoed this sentiment, describing the symposium as a valuable chance to “expose yourself to different ideas and backgrounds you otherwise would never interact with.” Eddie said, “I met a lot of people that had totally different perspectives compared with the predominately Chinese and U.S. centered viewpoints we are exposed to at the HNC. For example, I met students from African countries who have moved to China for their master's degree through programs connected to the Belt and Road Initiative. Without participating in events like the Yenching Global Symposium, it's difficult to get the opportunity to interact with someone like that as an American.” 

These unique interactions that John, Yinuo, and Eddie describe also included numerous chances to network among peers and the experts attending the event. Furthermore, “the invited guests in the panels and the other students were very willing to chat privately as well as add WeChat, Instagram, LinkedIn or whatever form of connection you prefer,” said Yinuo. “Everyone who was there had the intention of connecting.” John agreed with Yinuo, saying “it was great networking with peers and experts with experience in the China sphere, and this was really supported by the event as there was even a LinkedIn group created at the end with all the delegates who elected to join and provide a way to stay in touch professionally.” 

Hopkins-Nanjing Center students who are interested in applying for the Yenching Global Symposium in the future can do so knowing that our peers have had wonderful experiences and strongly recommend anyone interested in applying. John also would like to add, “since I have experience and I will be here next year at the HNC, I’d be happy to help people with their applications.” Incoming HNC students should feel free to reach out to him with any questions about the 2026 Yenching Global Symposium Application.

Written by Aidan James O'Loughlin MAIS '26 

Shanghai Career Trek

HNC Career Services Manager Hailey McGleam recently led 22 students to Shanghai for a comprehensive introduction to business development and geopolitical risk consulting. The trek brought together 13 international students and 9 Chinese students for a full day of meetings with international consulting companies in Shanghai. Students had the opportunity to hear from several Hopkins-Nanjing Center alumni about how they have been applying the skills they acquired during their time at the HNC in the workforce. 

First up, the group headed to Intralink in the Xuhui District. They were hosted by Daniel Kollar, MAIS '14, who is the current Deputy Managing Director of Greater China and the Global Head of Automotive, Mobility, and Supply Chains at Intralink. Intralink is a global business development consultancy that specializes in supporting international market expansion, particularly for technology companies in sectors like e-commerce, biotech, MedTech, and IT. The firm helps companies scale up their business and expand across regions such as China, East Asia, and Europe through services like market research, go-to-market strategy creation, partnership development, and in-country representation. They also support government trade and investment entities by providing sector reports, organizing overseas missions, and promoting trade and investment. HNC students were able to learn more about the skills they would need to be successful at a company like Intralink, and were encouraged by Intralink’s proclivity for hiring multilingual, culturally adaptive candidates who can navigate complex international ecosystems. Students also found it helpful to hear Mr. Kollar explain how he used his Mandarin and intercultural communication skills from his time at the HNC in his work at Intralink. 

Lunch break featuring Vietnamese food

After taking a short break for lunch and coffee, students headed to Control Risks in the Jing 'An District. Global Risk Analyst Chenyu Wu, SAIS' 21, helped arrange the visit, and students were able to hear from Mark Young, Director of Fraud and Forensics for the Greater China area, and Thomas Zhang, Director of Crisis and Security Consulting for Greater China. Control Risks is a global firm headquartered in London, with offices across Asia. Originally focused on kidnap risk advisory, the company now provides a broad range of services, including market intelligence, threat and regulatory assessments, geopolitical analysis, dispute advisory, security, crisis management, and business continuity planning. They specialize in protecting businesses from risks such as fraud, corruption, and conflicts of interest, offering investigative services like forensics, anti-corruption work, and vulnerability assessments. HNC students learned about the day-to-day work of the office, and Mr. Young shared his experience conducting forensic fieldwork around China. Control Risks shared career opportunities at the company, including internships in China, and students learned why businesses might hire Control Risks when they face risks they cannot handle internally, such as supply chain fraud or geopolitical instability.

 

Students then rushed to Shanghai Tower to meet with the U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC). Navigating several sets of elevators to the office, Melinda Xu, HNC '13, VP of USCBC, and Ruiyue Sun, HNC '19, USCBC Membership and Programs Senior Manager greeted the HNC students. The USCBC focuses on trade policy advocacy and lobbying governments to open sector-specific markets in China. They facilitate bilateral commercial diplomacy and help resolve disputes and ensure reciprocal treatment for U.S. businesses operating in China. Additionally, the USCBC provides regulatory risk mitigation, policy analysis, compliance guidance, and support for multinational corporations navigating complex regulations to minimize operational disruptions. Seated in the conference room with stunning views of Shanghai, students received invaluable career and life advice from the HNC alums and the entire USCBC-Shanghai team. After providing an overview of USCBC’s history and mission, the team shared insights into day-to-day activities, emphasizing the importance of communication and cooperation between the world’s two largest economies. Students also learned about the internship process at USCBC and heard the staff’s perspectives on shifting paradigms in U.S.-China relations and their impact on U.S. businesses. 

Finally, students ended the day at APCO, hosted by recent alumni Sophia Pradels, MAIS '24, and Rui Cheng, MAIS '24, along with their APCO colleagues Nina Crunkhorn and Miumiu Jiang. APCO is a women-founded consultancy headquartered in Washington, D.C., and focuses on financial and geopolitical analysis, specializing in helping multinational corporations expand into China and assisting Chinese companies in going abroad. APCO’s services include policy monitoring, market research, stakeholder mapping and engagement, government affairs, and connecting companies with government stakeholders. They also offer media spokesperson training, crisis management, and communication strategies, including social media incident handling and key messaging. After learning about the company, HNC students were split into teams to consult on a mock case. Each team was supervised by an APCO staff member, and students collaborated to develop a proposal for the mock client, concluding the day by presenting their work to their peers and APCO staff. This hands-on experience was incredibly valuable and deepened students’ understanding of APCO’s daily operations and client engagement processes. 

After a long day of meetings, HNC students ventured into Shanghai, enjoying the lovely spring weather. The next evening, HNC alumni and current students gathered at Cages, a bar in Shanghai, for a happy hour and networking event—making connections, catching up with alumni from the trek, and trying out the arcade games, batting cages, and basketball courts inside. Overall, it was a wonderful and successful weekend in Shanghai—working hard and playing hard! 

Written by Hannah Bases MAIS '26

From Simulations to Storytelling: The Creative Side of HNC Courses

While coursework at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center includes standard assignments such as readings, presentations, exams, and papers, some classes invite students to explore ideas more creatively. This blog features highlights from those innovative learning experiences.
 

International Water Politics - Role Play Simulations 

 

International Water Politics is an Energy, Resources, and Environment course taught by Professor Wang Zhijian in Chinese. The course introduces various academic perspectives regarding current international freshwater politics (such as water security, water war, water politics, water hegemony, water justice, etc.) and explores some typical international river conflict and cooperation cases. Professor Wang takes an unconventional approach in the classroom by requesting international students to read and respond in Chinese, while the Chinese students read and respond in English. This provides a good challenge for anyone practicing their target language. 

 

The course looks at a variety of cases around the globe, with each case having their own dynamics based on the river and state actors involved. One of the most engaging parts of the course is the political role playing simulations. In this type of activity, students pick different sides as representatives of a country to engage in negotiation talks. The first enactment imitated talks between the US and Mexico regarding three different water security situations in the Colorado and Rio Grande river basins. Professor Wang was the moderator, while students took on roles such as diplomat officer, environmental protection advocate, and water irrigation advocate for each respective country. 

In the second simulation, students acted as representatives of riparian countries China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam to negotiate treaty terms for the Mekong River basin. Students had to navigate tensions between lower river states and upper river states, while also taking into account the economies of their representative states, environmental impact, water scarcity, and other factors. After each simulation, Professor Wang would invite students to lunch at the nearby Old Friends restaurant on Jinyin Street (Popular food street adjacent to campus).  

 

 Film, Society, and Culture in Contemporary China - Short Film Project 

Professor Yang Liu teaches Film, Society, and Culture in Contemporary China in the fall semester. This course, within the Chinese Studies study area, introduces representative domestic films from the 1990s to the present, involving China’s urbanization, globalization, consumerism, orientalism, gender studies, Chinese youth subculture, and other areas. Students also get a taste of film and literary theory in order to study and analyze film in a more structured way.  

The course mostly consists of engaging class discussion of films on the syllabus, occasional debates based on a single topic related to a film, and a final short film group project. Each film group included both international and Chinese students, students of different genders, and at least one student auditing the course. Students had ample time to brainstorm, film, and edit, with Professor Yang inviting an expert to give screenwriting and editing tips and providing students with class time to work on their films towards the end of the semester. This creative project allowed students to more deeply explore different societal phenomena or cultural issues in contemporary China and let students grapple with the concepts introduced throughout the semester in a creative, unique way, while learning practical skills like script writing, directing, acting, and video editing.  

 

In early January, the class had their annual short film screening at the HNC Kuang Yaming auditorium big screen, open to all HNC students, faculty, and staff. All four successfully completed short films, each with a runtime of under 9 minutes, were presented to the HNC community and received laughter and applause. Votes from all audience members were collected by Professor Yang’s graduate students for Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Film. Students also held their own film screening on the weekend afterwards for those who missed out on the initial showing.  

Written by Carolyn Chen HNC Certificate '25

Postcards from Fall Break: HNC Students Near and Far

In late November, HNC students took advantage of their well-deserved fall break—a week-long opportunity to travel, either within China or abroad, solo or with classmates. Altogether, students explored more than 13 different destinations, including Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Beijing, Hong Kong, Jiangxi, Shenzhen, Thailand, and Nepal. Japan was the most popular destination, with 15 students visiting! With help from fellow student Ryan Cheng, who organized a post-break symposium for students to share their travel experiences, this blog highlights a few memorable moments from their adventures.

HNC Fall Break Sharing Session Hosted by current student Ryan Cheng

Ryan compiled travel statistics from his classmates to create this diagram detailing all the locations HNC students visited, including a list of fun facts. Japan was the most visited location outside of China, but the farthest was Phuket, Thailand. The highest elevation any student reached was in Tibet at 5000 meters above sea level. The lowest elevation is debatable, but likely in Thailand as students engaged in some diving and snorkeling activities.

Prior to the sharing session, students were encouraged to share presentation slides of pictures from their travels as well as tips for classmates that may wish to travel to these locations in the future. Pictured on the right is MAIS student Mary, sharing her travel tips for Japan.

Zhangjiajie 张家界 and Guilin 桂林 

A group of six students, including HNC student bloggers Carolyn and Hannah, decided to take advantage of the "off-season" in China and travel to these two famous scenic spots in the Hunan and Guangxi provinces. While normally bustling with crowds in the summer and during China's holidays, students found that these places were pleasantly empty in November.

 

Zhangjiajie Segment

On day one, taking into account the rain, students visited the Zhangjiajie glass bridge and the Huanglong Cave. Including the walk over the 430 meter long glass bridge, the ticket package also included a zip-line across the canyon, elevator ride up and down the mountain, and a short ferry journey across the canyon river.

On day two, students spent an entire day at the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, home to the mountains and rock formations that inspired James Cameron's Avatar. The fog was intense in the morning, but students were able to see most of the landscape. Back in Nanjing, the weather had already transitioned to a chill that meant taking out the coats and gloves. In Zhangjiajie, the cold and wind at the peaks of the mountains could almost be forgotten looking at the sights of the area's unique rock formations rising out of the mist, and the jagged dark bodies against the large swaths of white fog reminiscent of Chinese ink-wash shanshui 山水 paintings.

One of the most memorable parts of the trip were the cable cars that took visitors up the mountain. Especially on day three spent at Tianmenshan, where the cable car begins in the midst of the city, slowly making its way out of the urban sprawl to rural houses and farmland in the forested hills, then rising sharply to a height of 1,279 meters along impossibly steep cliff drops.

 

Guilin Segment 

Guilin is known for some of the most beautiful landscapes in all of China. A popular saying goes “桂林山水甲天下”, (guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià) meaning Guilin’s mountains and waters are the best under heaven.

 

Despite near-winter weather all around China, walking in Guilin felt like taking a stroll in springtime. The weather was perfect, and the vibe in the sunny city was relaxed and easygoing. Students tried out the famous Guilin rice noodles as well as Luosifen (snail noodles, with the soup made from snail slime), and beer fish in the nearby town of Yangshuo.

In the city, students checked out the Sun and Moon pagodas, whose brilliant gold and silver reflections on the lake water lit up the night. They also visited the Elephant Trunk Hill and Dongxi Alleys next to the Lijiang River where people both young and old fished and played leisurely.  

Outside of the city, students experienced Guilin's famed mountains and waters by embarking on a bamboo raft cruise down the Lijiang River. The waters were clear and turquoise, and the round shape of the mountains on both sides made the scenery feel like a different world. Students also headed up to Xianggongshan to get a panoramic view of the beautiful Lijiang River valley. On the taxi ride back home, the stars, untouched by the pollution in big cities, could be seen clear and many in the dark skies.  

Hunan 湖南 and Jiangxi 江西 Provinces 

 

MAIS student Allie Yarashevich embarked on a solo trip to explore China's ultra spicy cuisine. For her spicy food tour, she visited Jingdezhen 景德镇, Nanchang 南昌, Pingxiang 萍乡, and Changsha 长沙.  

 

Allie's first segment of the trip in Jingdezhen was only a 2.5 hour train ride away from Nanjing. Jingdezhen is one of the famous capitals of ceramics in China, known for its blue and white Jingdezhen porcelain. It was the largest center of porcelain production in the 14th century, and emperors throughout the Ming and Qing dynasties controlled imperial kilns in the area. In our modern day, it's recommended to go to the markets to buy some cheap, high-quality ceramics. Jingdezhen is also home to a well renowned museum. It is a small city with no metro system, so getting around by taxi is your best bet.  

Next, Allie went to Nanchang, which is known for its spicy food. There were "great vibes and fantastic food." Most of the notable attractions were outdoors like temples, squares, and museums; however, the weather was unfortunate during her visit as it poured down rain the entire time, so she recommends planning in advance.  

In Pingxiang, another smaller city, the most popular activity is to go up the mountain. The Anyuang District in Pingxiang had a multitude of historical attractions and an old street. Allie didn't encounter any other foreigners, and everything from hotels to food was very affordable and the place was fantastic to travel around. Pingxiang is known as the spicy capital of Jiangxi, and the food was indeed very spicy! Allie travelled over to the Hunan Province, where she visited the capital of Hunan, Changsha. Changsha is a large city with a robust metro system, IFS (International Finance Sector) shopping district, and many monuments, including a famous statue of former chairman Mao Zedong. 

Thailand 

Four students went abroad and visited Phuket and Chiang Mai in Thailand. In Phuket, students went on a little boat trip to the Phi Phi islands. The boat trip was fun, relatively cheap, and a day-long excursion. There were many boats open for business, so it was unnecessary to book in advance. The waters at the beaches were very clear, and aided students in watching out for sharp rocks and sea urchins in the water. In contrast to the city, much of the local population actually lives on the small islands near the mainland, so in a way, it feels closer to the “real Thailand.” After ten minutes of walking out in any direction, there would be no other tourists. 

In Chiang Mai, students visited temples and recommended the elephant sanctuaries. The baby elephants were "top tier" (really cool), and the large animals had a very wide and open space with a river to live in. Students also recommended visiting the coconut market. Generally, fruit in Thailand is much sweeter than in other places, especially durian, which some students sampled and found to be super tasty. If you think you're not a durian fan, try it again in Thailand! Other recommendations from students included going to see a boxing match, as well as leaving some space in the budget to eat a nice meal because of the cheaper prices in the country. Students were able to enjoy an omakase dinner that didn’t break the bank. While traveling in China, many students use the app Xiaohongshu 小红书 for recommendations, but while abroad in Thailand, it would be best to get off the app to avoid the crowds of tourists. Instead, look to other sources for travel information. 

Nepal  

 

MAIS students Jiapei and Jay undertook a weeklong journey in Nepal, where they completed the Annapurna Base Camp trek. The Annapurna Base Camp trek is one of the best trekking trails in Asia, as well as one of the most famous in the world. The infrastructure is well done and secure, and the sightseeing is amazing. Right after the plane landed, the two students first exchanged currency, saw a traditional marriage while exiting the airport, and then ate a fantastic curry for breakfast. It was a 4 day trek to the mountain peak, with the trail consistently going above 4000 meters above sea level. On the way to Annapurna Base Camp, they weathered all sorts of conditions, from rain to snow, but the beautiful scenery made it all worthwhile. They could see the snowy mountains along the whole trail. Fish Tail Mountain, in particular, had sharp and beautiful lines which are beyond compare. On the fourth day, the pair experienced a sunrise, a wonderful culmination of their efforts. They also visited a temple with Nepali-style sculptures.  

Jiapei recommends finding a local tour guide as the best choice for trekking in Nepal. Tour guides can help arrange lodging, point towards the best places to stay, provide food recommendations, and can help you acquire the necessary hiking permissions (which are difficult to obtain alone). When traveling in November, be sure to prepare sufficiently for the cold. In total, the two students walked an impressive 110 kilometers on the trail. 

Shenzhen and Hong Kong

HNC Certificate + SAIS MAIR students Carlos and Dylan spent the fall break exploring two of East Asia's premier cities of Shenzhen and Hong Kong. These cities are very close, Shenzhen being only a 15 minute bullet train ride north; however, due to Hong Kong's status as a specially administrated region it is akin to traveling to a different country when entering and leaving to return to mainland China.

Shenzhen Segment

Shenzhen is a newer metropolitan city that has seen drastic development over the last 40 years. The majority of the population are not locals but are living there for work. The city has a gorgeous skyline and many elaborate malls you can spend days exploring. The city is home to a wide variety of foods and stellar restaurants with cuisine from all over the world. The city is separated into several districts, the most notable being Bao'an and Futian. Locals joke that the best thing to do in Shenzhen is to leave, but this is more a testament to the convenient location of Shenzhen to access cities across southern China as well as the several countries of South East Asia.

The pair of students visited several of the museums and public exhibitions across the districts. Shenzhen houses one of the most impressive exhibition centers in the world with multiple floors of product showcases. Shenzhen is also the manufacturing and tech capital of China, so any tech gadgets are recommended to be bought here. One of the students even purchased an extremely affordable high quality mini movie projector. The students stumbled upon a marathon in which they unsuccessfully attempted to join to acquire the free backpacks and tee shirts. Shenzhen offers countless hiking opportunities and striking architectural landmarks that can be admired even on the shortest of walks. The students recommend shopping around High Tech Park and the many malls at Coco Park, as well as visiting Window of the World for an Epcot-style experience

Hong Kong Segment

Hong Kong is one of the most diverse cities in the world with many justified comparisons to New York City. The city has a rich history and culture that can be felt no matter where you walk. Hong Kong offers a wide range of world-class restaurants featuring authentic cuisine from around the globe. The city’s many ports are perfect for a scenic walk and offer excellent photography spots, with views of the skyline and nearby islands. As a more expensive city, Hong Kong can be surprising—just 15 minutes north, a coffee might cost $1, but in Hong Kong, the same drink could be $5. The city is also known for its iconic film industry, with numerous museums and statues honoring legendary figures like Bruce Lee.

One of the biggest attractions in Hong Kong is the stunning skyline view from Victoria Peak. The students opted for the easy route up, a charming tram ride that winds through streets and buildings before climbing steeply up the mountain. Be sure to stay seated, as the tram gets surprisingly steep and it’s easy to lose your balance without holding on. The view from the top is breathtaking and a must-see for any first-time visitor. The students also recommend checking out Kowloon Park—see if you can spot the rainbow panda waving hello in the maze! One tip they shared: walk with purpose. People in Hong Kong move fast and won’t hesitate to nudge you out of the way, but it’s all part of the charm of such a fast-paced city.

Written by Carolyn Chen HNC Certificate 25' and Carlos Vicente Sanchez HNC Certificate + SAIS MAIR 26'