Having a Peanut Allergy in China

When I first became interested in studying abroad in China, I was not thinking about the practical side of my daily life. In the United States nut allergies are very common and restaurants typically do not use peanut oil or are specific about allergens on their menus. In China; however, this is not always the case. I have a peanut allergy, which impacts how I can go out and consume food in China. However, though my allergy is something I now have to think about in my daily life here, it is manageable with a few tricks. This week's blog explores some useful considerations to staying safe with allergies. 

1.                  Know how to say your allergen correctly! 

The Mandarin characters for peanut are 花生 [huā shēng] and to express my allergy I say “我对花生过敏.[wǒ duì huāshēng guòmǐn]” You can say “我对[insert allergen]过敏.” Make sure you are pronouncing this correctly and get the attention of your server or food seller and get acknowledgement that they have heard you. Some people also have a card they carry around with them which state their allergies in writing so they can show the server in case of communication or pronunciation issues. 

2.                  Clearly advocate for yourself!  and get

                                ~SPECIFIC~ 

Sometimes in China allergies are not taken very seriously, as people might believe that you do not like the food. As someone with a severe allergy, I always want to make sure I am taken seriously. I will emphasize to the server that if I eat a peanut, I will go to the hospital “如果我吃花生[allergy]，我就会去医院. [rúguǒ wǒ chī huāshēng, wǒ jiù huì qù yīyuàn]” This may not necessarily be the case for me all the time, but I want to make sure that my server understands that this is not a food I do not like, it is one I cannot have. Additionally, I will clarify about the oil that is used. I will ask if there is any peanut oil in the food and will further clarify by asking what oil is used to ensure I know what I am eating. You can say “这菜有没有花生[allergen]油？你用什么油? [zhè cài yǒu méiyǒu huāshēngyóu? nǐ yòng shénme yóu?”

3.                  If you don’t know, don’t eat it! 

There are many times when I am extremely hungry or a friend offers me a snack, like a mooncake, and I just want to have it. However, if I cannot get clarification on my allergen, I refrain from trying the food/snack. It is better to be safe than sorry, and there are so many other safe foods to try. Be patient with yourself, and do not be afraid to speak up and ask for something else if the food in front of you does not feel safe. 

4.                  Check the ingredients list when purchasing snacks. 

It is very important to check the allergen information before you purchase snacks. Every Chinese food package has an ingredients list and allergen information [过敏源信息][guòmǐn yuán xìnxī]. Know the characters of your allergen so you can easily find it. If the allergen is not listed, it should be safe to eat. The package may also describe, as in the US, whether the product was made on equipment that is also used to make items with the allergen. Use your discretion here.

 5.                  Be aware of cross contamination at restaurants. 

If cross contamination is a big issue for you, make sure to ask if your food is being made in the same pan that has the food with the allergen. Especially check this if the restaurant says they also use the allergen in other foods they serve. If you are sharing food (like hot pot) with friends, be sure to let them know about your allergy and have utensils that are specifically used for the food you are eating. Sometimes people will use their chopsticks for multiple dishes, which causes cross-contamination. 

6.                  Tell your friends about your allergy! 

We look out for one another at the HNC, and it is very important to let people know that you have an allergy, especially if it is severe. Don’t be afraid to speak up and make sure your voice is heard! It’s much better to be open about it, even if it is a bit annoying, than to have your friend suddenly not know what to do if you have an allergy attack.  

Written by Hannah Bases MAIS'26

The Start of the 2024-2025 Academic Year

Let the fall 2024 semester begin! Hopkins-Nanjing Center students recently arrived on campus for orientation, and are already exploring all of the sights (and food) that Nanjing has to offer. There's nothing like the annual hike up Purple Mountain to start the semester off right!

Students pose for photos in front of the new welcome banner.

The hike up Purple Mountain begins!

Posing for a group shot after making it to the top. 

Discovering the culinary delights of Nanjing. 

The opening ceremony officially kicks off the start of the

academic year. 

Chinese Proficiency Admissions Requirement

To apply for any HNC program, you must provide Chinese reading and listening proficiency test results from one of the following language assessments: STAMP, HSK, ACTFL, CEFR, or ILR. Test results must be from within the last 12 months, and available for review before the application deadline. If you have not yet taken any of these tests, you can request to take the STAMP test via the online application.  

Should I even bother taking a language assessment? How could I possibly be ready for graduate courses in Chinese? 

Don't doubt yourself! Most incoming HNC students have completed 3-4 years of undergraduate Chinese language study. We don't expect you to be able to come in on your first day and be able to fluently discuss international relations in Chinese. This vocabulary is really something you pick up once you get to the HNC, so we encourage all interested students to take the STAMP test to gauge their level rather than assume their language ability is not high enough. 

What's the format of the STAMP test? 
The test questions are multiple-choice for both the listening and reading sections, and you can listen to every question twice. The STAMP is available in simplified Chinese only. If you are more familiar with traditional Chinese, that's ok! Just take your time and don't rush through it. Taking longer on the test won't have a negative impact on your results. 

The proficiency test covers diverse topics and subject matter. It tests your ability to understand main ideas from written Chinese passages and audio recordings. Note that there is no writing or speaking component to the STAMP. This test is reflective of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center’s classroom experience, in that you are tested on your comprehension rather than your ability to identify specific vocabulary words or grammar points.

The STAMP is also designed to challenge you and push you to the limit of your language ability. It is an adaptive test, which means as you answer questions correctly, the questions increase in difficulty. Even if you do not know the answer to a particular question, try your best to answer each question to the best of your ability. Applicants typically spend about 2 hours on this test. 

Is there a practice test? How do I prepare? 

There is a sample test available, but it is designed to ensure your computer is configured correctly for the reading and listening sections. The actual test will be more challenging. For example, you might read a section of a Chinese contract or listen to a segment of a real Chinese radio broadcast or interview. 

We often have applicants ask the admissions team how they can prepare for the Chinese proficiency test. While there is no formal study guide or textbook to help you prepare, there are still things you can do in preparation to take the test. Regularly reading Chinese news articles can be a great way to practice your reading comprehension skills. To improve your listening skills, tuning in to Chinese news broadcasts and podcasts, or even watching Chinese TV shows, can help you get used to hearing native speakers talk at a natural pace. Another tip is to listen to something in Chinese right before the test, so you are already in "Chinese mode" before you begin. Below are some resources that previous HNC students have indicated are beneficial for self-study ahead of the test:

• The Chairman's Bao (articles with vocab lists, grammar structures and recordings)
  
• American Mandarin Society (Weekly newsletter with Chinese news and phrases, podcasts and other resources)
  
• Voice of America Chinese Podcast
  
• Sinocism Newsletter (weekly Chinese-US relations news in Chinese and English)
  
• Global Times (Chinese newspaper)
  
• CNKI Database for Chinese Academic Articles

How to take the proficiency test 
To request the STAMP test, you will first need to start an application to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center and complete the Chinese proficiency test tab. You will then be prompted to choose from two proctoring options: in person for $15 or virtual proctoring for $40. Once you complete this section of the application, you will receive an email within 2 business days from nanjing@jhu.edu with testing instructions and a link to pay your testing fee.

When to take the test

You can take the test any time before our application deadline (November 1 for early notification or February 1 for regular notification), but we generally recommend taking the test when you first begin your application. 

Can I take the test more than once? 

You can take the test once every three months, so it is a good idea to get a head start on the test to allow room for retaking, if necessary. It is also important to note that retaking the test does not negatively impact your application, particularly if there are signs of improvement. 

Getting your results
Once you have completed the test, you will need to notify the HNC Washington Office by emailing nanjing@jhu.edu, after which you will be emailed your test results. 

Test takers receive a Benchmark Level score for each section. These scores are categorized into three major levels (Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced), each with three sub-levels (low, mid, high). For those applying to the Certificate program (including the Certificate + MAIR and Certificate + MAIA), an Intermediate-High benchmark level is recommended. For those applying to the Master of Arts in International Studies (MAIS), we recommend a score in any advanced level. Applicants scoring below these levels can still be admitted, but will need to complete additional Chinese language study prior to  enrollment. 

So start your application and request the STAMP Chinese language proficiency test today!

As you prepare to take the STAMP Chinese proficiency test, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Hopkins-Nanjing Center admissions office at nanjing@jhu.edu for assistance.

Energy, Resources and Environment (ERE) at HNC

Students at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center choose their coursework from several concentration areas, including Energy, Resources and Environment (ERE). ERE focused students take classes from Professor Roger Raufer, Resident Professor at the HNC who joined the faculty in 2014. He has more than four decades of engineering consulting experience and has been an advisor for the UN, USAID, and World Bank. This week's blog explores Professor Raufer's busy spring semester.

Prof. Raufer at Nanjing University's School of Business

HNC’s Professor Roger Raufer had an especially busy Spring semester!  He spent the first part of the semester in Europe, giving his annual lectures on environmental policy at the IFP School near Paris.  He then went to Italy to present a Professional Skills Course (PSC) about emissions trading at the SAIS Europe campus in Bologna.  This course had a special focus on China’s nascent emissions trading program.  The course was funded by the Yeung Family Scholar Fund, a program designed to encourage innovative teaching related to China within SAIS.

From Bologna, Professor Raufer returned to the HNC to teach a compressed course entitled Economic Instruments for Pollution Control in the Spring-II semester.  This is a full-semester course offered over eight weeks, addressing such topics as carbon taxes, emissions trading, and the controversial role of carbon offsets.  Professor Raufer arranged two exceptional guest speakers:  Mr. Li Shaoyi is a former senior UN official who retired from the UN Environment Programme in Paris and had an office adjacent to Professor Raufer at the UN Secretariat office in New York.  Mr. Li spoke about trade issues and the role of the EU’s new Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).  Next was Mr. David Fishman, an HNC 2014 alum who is a Shanghai-based Senior Manager at the Lantau Group, an energy advisory group.  Mr. Fishman spoke about the role of Green Electricity Certificates (GECs) in China’s power sector transition, as well as his observations about the impact of the country’s carbon market (currently still limited to the power sector).

Professor Raufer also had an opportunity to provide a lecture about carbon mitigation strategies for Professor Bu Maoliang’s MBA course at Nanjing University’s School of Business.  Professor Bu teaches ERE Economics in HNC’s ERE program, highlighting the shared-professor interactions between Nanjing University and HNC, which is especially valuable for both programs.

Finally, Professor Raufer is glad to report that the Fourth Edition of Springer’s Handbook of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation was recently published and contains an updated revision of his chapter on Emissions Trading. He is co-authored with – among others – Professor Carla Freeman, former HNC Co-Director and former head of the Foreign Policy Institute at SAIS; and Cory Combs, a SAIS alum and Associate Director of Energy at Trivium China.

Mr. Li Shaoyi and Prof. Raufer

Edited by Sam Trizza, HNC Certificate + MAIR '25

HNC and SAIS Alum Brian Hart: A Career Studying China

HNC alumni thrive in various sectors related to US-China relations, including government, business, journalism, and think tanks, often carving out unique specialties within their organizations. Brian Hart has done just that at CSIS. In our latest alumni profile, Brian shares captivating insights from his time at the HNC and his focused career journey.

Brian Hart is a fellow with the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where his research concentrates on Chinese foreign policy, military modernization, and Taiwan security issues. Before his current role, Brian conducted research for the Project 2049 Institute, the Freeman Chair in China Studies at CSIS, and Trivium China. He holds an HNC certificate and a master’s in international relations from SAIS, as well as a bachelor's degree in politics and international affairs from Wake Forest University.

How did you find yourself at the HNC?

I knew I wanted to go into a field focusing on China, which was clear from the work that I did as an undergrad––it was just a matter of finding the best program for me. I also wanted to spend time in China to improve my language skills and gain in-country experience, so SAIS and the HNC were at the top of my list from the beginning. Going in, I knew the HNC had a significant reputation within the China studies field, and it was the front-runner that luckily worked out for me. I was able to have an incredible experience in China and I still encourage a lot of current undergraduate students, whether at my alma mater or interns at CSIS, to apply to SAIS. It’s one of the best programs if you really want to research China.

Tell us about your work at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).

At CSIS we have several different programs focused on China and I work on the China Power Project, which is geared toward researching the Chinese military, national security issues, foreign policy, and cross-strait relations. We dive deeper into security issues than some of our other programs, which focus more on economics, finance, or domestic Chinese politics. We have a good balance of issue areas between teams at CSIS and a lot of people working on China overall. 

CSIS and think tanks in general are fantastic places to be. It's been a great opportunity early on in my career to learn from people who have decades of experience and are at the top of their field. In terms of studying China, it’s given me a lot of opportunities to carve out my own path. I also appreciate that think tanks give you a balance of research and public engagement. I get the chance to engage with different people from both the policy community and academia. CSIS exists at a cross-section of several different research spaces and I’ve enjoyed that. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to work at a think tank in general.

The work of the China Power Project feels connected to the Security, Strategy, and Statecraft focus area at SAIS. Was this always your interest?

My main area of study at SAIS was China studies, which involved a broad focus on China. In fact, when I was at the HNC, I was more interested in domestic Chinese politics, specifically institutional reforms and similar topics within the Chinese Communist Party. I did an independent study with Professor Qi Lingling where I examined various organization reforms going on within the political system in China, especially the evolution of “leading small groups” (领导小组). I dug into that while at SAIS and I have continued similar work at CSIS, shifting more towards security-focused research. This involves researching the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), its modernization, and Chinese security policy more generally. It’s been a shift over time, but certainly many of the classes that I took at SAIS were relevant and prepared me well. At SAIS DC, I took a course on the PLA, which was foundational to my understanding of the Chinese military before my more in-depth work at CSIS. 

What is your favorite memory from your time at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?

It’s not really a single memory, but I think some of my fondest memories are going out with friends to eat and hanging out at local restaurants, especially hole-in-the-wall places on Shanghai Road 上海路 near the HNC. Locals were often amused and excited about seeing so many foreigners in the neighborhood. I enjoyed the atmosphere of Nanjing and it stands out in my mind as one of the best Chinese cities that I've visited. So, getting to explore local spots, become a regular, and enjoy life in Nanjing really stands out as what I miss the most about my HNC experience. 

What is one skill you gained from your time at the HNC? Are these skills you use every day at CSIS when analyzing China?

For me, it’s being able to read Chinese academic articles and having the vocabulary to analyze them. That ability is a valuable asset for me in terms of the work that I do at CSIS. As someone based in DC, I want to go beyond just talking to Americans about what is going on in China. We really try to stay engaged in reading what Chinese experts and officials themselves are saying. That’s something that relatively few people can do. There are a lot of people who can visit China and can get around speaking colloquial Chinese which is an important skill to have. But I think the ability to dig into policy and academic issues in Chinese is a whole different ball game. My studies at the HNC put me in a great position to do the kind of work that I'm doing now. 

Pretty much every day I read some kind of Chinese language material, whether that's picking up articles on Xinhua or People's Daily that are relevant to major news stories or reading academic articles by Chinese scholars. At CSIS, we really want to ground our research in understanding China as best we can. That means reading what Chinese experts themselves are saying. 

What advice would you give to current or future HNC students about the type of work you do? 

I would say two things are relevant to anybody who wants to do this or any kind of work on China. One is to maintain your language skills. Once you leave China, it becomes much more challenging to keep your language skills fresh. There are always ways to practice though. Around Washington, DC and all over the country, there are language programs available in-person and remote, and I’ve utilized these. In fact, when I recently took refresher courses, it seemed like two-thirds of my small class was HNC alumni. Several were former classmates of mine, and we had no idea we would all be enrolling in the same course so that was a fun surprise.

The other one, I would say as you move through your career, carve out your area of China studies. China is a huge topic and I think it’s impossible to really be a strong expert on all issues. There’s just too much there: security, politics, trade, economics, etc. Find your niche and invest in that. It’s okay if you don’t come out of the HNC or SAIS knowing what it is exactly, but as you advance in your career, begin to carve it out.

Student Profiles: Paths To and Through the HNC

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center (HNC) is a unique academic community where students with diverse interests converge, united by a shared focus on US-China relations. Below, students Alec Nash, Yan Manshu, and Wyatt Crooks share their paths at the HNC, individual passions, and multifaceted experiences in international relations.

Also, be sure to check out last semester's student profiles.

Alec Nash 亚历山大
MAIS '24
Concentration: International Economics
Hometown: Atlanta, Georgia
Undergraduate Institution: Emory University 

Yan Manshu 严曼舒
HNC Certificate '24
Hometown: Nanjing, China

Wyatt Crooks 康沃业
HNC Certificate + MAIR '25
Concentration: Governance, Politics, and Society
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Undergraduate Institution: North Carolina State University

Tell us about your background, how you became interested in China, and what led you to the HNC.

Alec Nash

Alec: During my undergraduate years at Emory University I studied international relations. At the time, China was a major growing force in the field, and I wanted to learn more. In 2015, I decided to study abroad at Nanjing University and loved it. Coincidentally, my dorm was right next to the HNC. I enjoyed the pace of life in the Nanjing University neighborhood and how livable and accessible China was. After graduating in 2016, I worked in the US education sector for a few years, then lived in Beijing  to work with high school students applying to US, UK, and Canadian universities. Since I still wanted to pursue an international relations master's degree, I applied to the MAIS program at the HNC with a concentration in international economics.

Wyatt: I first became interested in China when I was in middle school because my mom participated in a summer teaching program at a middle school connected to Nanjing Normal University. After that summer, she came back and told me all about it, sharing tons of pictures which made me very interested in China. My middle school offered Chinese classes, so I took those and then continued studying in high school. While I didn’t originally plan to focus on China or do a foreign language major in college, I later decided to add Mandarin to my history degree.

I chose the HNC because it is one of the best opportunities for American graduate students to study in China. I also chose it due to its location in Nanjing, versus say Shanghai or Beijing, as it does not have a massive city feel. Nanjing is a bit more traditional and has tons of cultural and historical significance. Spots like the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum and the fact that Nanjing is the former capital of China are meaningful to me as someone who studied history, so it seemed like the perfect place.

Manshu: I studied abroad in Denmark and was an exchange student in the Netherlands, spending quite a few years in Europe. I love traveling and adventure, and I am very independent, having traveled alone to over 30 countries, including multiple visits to the U.S. As someone who enjoys diverse cultures, the multifaceted and diverse nature of the U.S. deeply attracted me.

My previous job at an American company provided me with extensive experience in international business. I chose the HNC because I wanted to deepen my understanding of global affairs from a Sino-American perspective. I also recognize the significant impact of US-China relations on business. Furthermore, the HNC's academic excellence and its focus on fostering US-China relations perfectly align with my career aspirations.

What were you doing before joining the Hopkins-Nanjing Center?

Wyatt Crooks

Manshu: After returning to China from my studies abroad, I joined a Fortune 500 American company as a management trainee. During my time there, I worked closely with colleagues, partners, and clients from the US whose work styles and corporate spirit greatly influenced me.

Wyatt: I studied in Taiwan in the summer of 2022 for three months. That was the first time I was able to study abroad. Originally I was planning to go to Beijing and do a summer language program, but because of Covid that didn’t happen. I then spent the next couple of years trying in vain to go to mainland China or Taiwan, so I was very excited to finally do that in 2022. Around the time I graduated, a former professor talked to me about the HNC and I knew it would be a perfect opportunity to finally study in China.

How was your experience adjusting to the Chinese/English coursework? Do you have any tips for future students?

Yan Manshu

Manshu: Although my previous experiences studying abroad were in English, mastering academic English in unfamiliar fields was still challenging. I often watched related movies or documentaries to help me understand the material. For future students, I recommend actively participating in class discussions, expressing your ideas bravely, and fully utilizing academic resources, such as journals and faculty exchanges, to enhance your language skills and academic understanding.

Wyatt: It was pretty tough at first. Jumping from a Chinese language course where you’re working on material that is specifically made for learning the language to reading research articles is pretty daunting. Before arriving at the HNC, practice consuming Chinese media and research articles. It will definitely help with the shock aspect. Doing this sort of thing, you definitely have to take it slow. You sometimes have to go word for word in the readings, even if your Chinese is good, especially since academic language can be different from spoken Chinese. However, even after just a semester, I feel like I’ve got the hang of it and am now able to recognize lots of the jargon.

What has been one of your favorite experiences at the Hopkins-Nanjing Center so far?

Alec: The attitude of the HNC once the border re-opened in spring 2023 was very exciting. There was a newfound joy to see classmates arriving back. It was great to meet people in person after seeing them in Zoom classes after a year. For a while, we had heard news about how few Americans were in China at the time, so it felt exciting to turn things around with the HNC campus and China overall becoming lively again.

Wyatt: The Halloween party was a blast. I wore an inflatable dinosaur costume and I didn’t expect to be in the top three of the costume contest. The HNC community loves the famed Halloween party, so everyone dressed up well for the costume contest and the scary maze was... scary fun. These types of events have allowed us to interact with each other and create better relations between Chinese and international students. This is something unique that the HNC provides that you cannot find elsewhere.

Manshu: I thoroughly enjoy the various lectures, discussion sessions, and social events at HNC. These activities allow me to engage deeply with students from diverse nationalities and backgrounds, as well as experience different cultures, enriching my academic life and broadening my international perspective.

What extracurricular activities are you involved in?

Wyatt: One group that I’ve been part of this year has been the Dungeons and Dragons group. It feels like a typical D&D group you’d have back in the States. Since English is quite complex in D&D, we have one brave Chinese student who's joined us on our quest. Altogether, it’s been a lot of fun, and I really appreciate the dungeon masters creating a fun environment despite having busy schedules.

Manshu: At HNC, I joined the erhu interest class, where I have been able to learn how to play this ancient musical instrument. HNC offers a rich variety of interest groups ranging from chess to sports to musical instruments, which has greatly enriched my extracurricular life.

What is your favorite HNC tradition?

Manshu: My favorite tradition at HNC is the field trips organized for class or extracurricular interests. These not only foster interactions among students but also deepen our understanding of the coursework through practical experiences interacting with other cultures.

Wyatt: I really enjoyed the Christmas Eve Party with all the students, faculty, and staff. I remember American Co-Director Adam Webb’s speech. He talked about how even though the academic calendar is different in China, our celebration brought about the togetherness of spending Christmas in China. The Secret Santa and casual gift-giving really went a long way to create the same kind of Christmas spirit that you have back in the US.

What is your favorite thing about Nanjing?

Wyatt Crooks

Wyatt: My favorite thing about Nanjing is all of the historical sites and the museums, like the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum, the Ming tombs, and the Nanjing Massacre Memorial. It always feels morbid saying it, but these things give you a sense of the deep, painful, and fascinating history present in Nanjing.

Manshu: Nanjing is my hometown. I particularly love its combination of deep historical significance and modern vibrancy. Additionally, the local cuisine, especially the variety of duck dishes, is noteworthy. There’s a saying, "no duck can leave Nanjing alive," which means that all the ducks are eaten before they are able to leave Nanjing. Therefore, you must experience Nanjing if you like to eat duck!

What do you plan on pursuing after graduation? Where do you see yourself 5-10 years after graduation?

Alec: I am hoping to continue working in China and am looking into the business advisory space. 

Wyatt: I did a lot of cultural and ethnic studies during my undergrad, so I would like to pursue a career with that sort of work in mind, likely with an organization like UNESCO. I would love a role where I can focus on the preservation of history and cultural heritage––a combination of my IR and history backgrounds.

Manshu: I am currently interning at the Royal Danish Consulate in Shanghai. After graduation, I plan to pursue a career in diplomatic service or international policy to promote better international cooperation. In the next 5-10 years, I hope to work in an international organization or governmental agency, contributing to global diplomacy and peace efforts.

What was one of the things you learned during your time at the HNC that transformed your perspective or way of thinking?

Wyatt: The string of conversations I’ve had with my Chinese roommate and Chinese classmates on their perspectives on certain world issues and US-China relations. I think it’s interesting to compare Chinese classmates’ sentiments with people I know back in the US on their attitudes toward US-China relations. Back in the States, there exists an overall pessimistic view. In comparison, there are a lot of Chinese students at the HNC who do not seem pessimistic about the US-China relationship. One of the Chinese students in our Toastmasters interest group actually talked about this in one of his speeches. These conversations reveal how practicing international relations can be improved due to mutual understanding at low and high levels––people-to-people and official-to-official. 

Manshu: My studies at HNC have taught me the importance of understanding the nuances of international relations. The courses and discussions highlighted the complexity of global issues and the necessity for balanced and informed policymaking.

If you could give one piece of advice to future HNC students, what would it be?

Yan Manshu

Alec: Try to take the time to appreciate everything China has to offer. Being here as a student presents far more opportunities than being an employee or even a tourist. The workload at HNC is very high, but you will still have free time. Even if you feel like you’re busy, my recommendation is to get out as much as possible and see as much of the country as you can. Those are the memories that you’ll take with you once you finish the program or return to your home country. 

Wyatt: If you’d like to attend the HNC, and you’re serious about the bilingual aspect, I would say try your hardest to improve your Chinese. This helps not only with classes but also with day-to-day living. Not that your Chinese has to be amazing, but I think the better your language skills are, the more you'll get out of class. All that to say, you will personally get the most out of the program regardless of your language level. As they say, 跟昨天的自己相比，不跟别人相比。

Manshu: I would advise future HNC students to seize every opportunity to engage with and understand different viewpoints to expand their horizons. The diverse academic environment at HNC is an excellent platform for personal and professional growth. Also, make use of the alumni resources; HNC has many outstanding alumni who are very willing to provide guidance and assistance.

Compiled by Savanah Glaves, MAIS '25. Edited by Sam Trizza, Cert+MAIR '25.

Hefei and NIO's Symbiotic Relationship

Ever wonder if you can tour an electric vehicle factory in China? Three HNC students did their research and recently took a road trip to visit a NIO factory in neighboring Anhui province. China's EV market is massive and competitive, which makes China a fascinating place to experience this aspect of the green energy transition.

Chris (right) and two classmates at the NIO Factory Experience Center

On an overcast April morning, I arrived in Hefei, the capital city of Anhui province, with two classmates. Our destination was a NIO car factory which produces top-of-the-line electric vehicles. NIO has become famous in China and abroad for its unique battery-swapping, rather than charging, technology. NIO owners can pull into any of the nearly 2,500 battery swapping stations to receive a new battery pack and be on their way. This automated process lifts the car, removes the depleted battery, stores it in an underground vault, and replaces it with a fully charged battery. The whole process takes about 3 minutes.

The tour of the factory lasted less than an hour and brought us into the belly of their production line where car parts whiz along conveyor belts at different stages of assembly. By far the most impressive part of the tour was seeing the level of automation. This NIO factory has integrated nearly 900 fully automated robots into the assembly line. One particularly striking scene was watching four robotic arms attach car doors to the body of the car. The intricacy and precision were mesmerizing, we watched the 96-second process five times before our tour guide finally told us we had to move on.

After concluding the tour, we took one of the recently manufactured EVs for a test drive. NIO packs tons of hi-tech features into all of their vehicles and we were impressed by the voice command system (only in Chinese for the time being) which could reliably open and close windows, route the driver to a destination, or adjust settings like audio volume, AC, etc. Even more impressive, when it came time to park, we simply pulled up next to a parking space and the car’s interface allowed us to select a spot so it could park automatically. If you need to park in a particularly narrow spot, you can exit the vehicle and start the automated parking process from an app on your phone.

NIO is one of the many domestically manufactured EV brands that is propelling China to a dominant position in the market both in terms of production and consumption. During the first quarter of 2024, NIO sold just over 30,000 cars, putting it ahead of basically every brand that isn’t Chinese or Tesla over the same period. NIO is distinct from other Chinese brands like BYD because they cater to the luxury market. Prices range from just under RMB 30,000 (USD 41,000) to over RMB 55,000 (USD 76,000) for their top-line models. NIO is also unique because of how bullish they have been on their ability to sell their cars internationally. The company has successfully launched four models in the EU and NIO has pledged to enter the North American market by 2025, though it seems unlikely that they will be able to make good on that goal.

Amid all of this excitement, it’s easy to forget just how young this company is. NIO was founded in 2014, and its meteoric rise over the 10 years since then can be largely attributed to the very successful relationship with the city of Hefei.

Over the last decade, Hefei has experienced rapid economic development and is swiftly becoming a national success story for public-private cooperation in incubating high-tech industries. Between 2010 and 2020, Hefei was China’s fastest-growing city in terms of GDP and as of 2024, so-called “strategic emerging industries” like EVs accounted for 56% of total industrial output, up from 27% in 2013. More shocking stats: since 2019, Hefei’s car production has tripled and today, Hefei manufactures more cars than Michigan.

The story of Hefei and NIO began in earnest in 2020 when the city government of Hefei––via a complex network of state-owned enterprises and other private-public lending agencies––provided 7 billion RMB (1 billion USD) in investments. According to Bloomberg, the funds came as NIO faced serious liquidity issues. A statement released by NIO following the investment indicates that the investors would own roughly 25% of the company, while NIO China would retain control of the remaining 75%.

What followed would become the so-called “Hefei model” for public-private partnerships in strategic industries. SCMP reported that following the investment, NIO relocated its executives from Shanghai to Hefei, and in 2021, the company began to turn a profit, selling more than 90,000 cars by the end of the year. To put it succinctly, the symbiotic relationship between Hefei and NIO has been a huge success, making Hefei a national success story that other local governments seek to emulate.

Both inside and outside of China, much ink has been spilled trying to clearly articulate what exactly makes the Hefei model work. In broad strokes, the city government in Hefei is a cross between a central planner and a venture capitalist. Government financing entities buy shares from start-ups that need cash and provide low-interest loans from banks to finance development.

This financing is bolstered by other forms of support. During our tour of the NIO factory, we drove through the Hefei Xinqiao Science and Technology Innovation Demonstration Zone, a gigantic, modern industrial park. The government provides support for funding development and attracting talent to high-tech manufacturing companies in the park. The Hefei model also owes some of its success to the University of Science and Technology which churns out engineers ready to enter the workforce.

Abroad, the same support systems that have made NIO successful might leave it vulnerable to trade sanctions. The EU has opened a probe into unfair subsidies in China’s EV sector, and the US is considering an outright ban on Chinese EVs. Domestically, local governments rushing to mimic the Hefei model contribute to domestic overcapacity, earning a rebuke from Xin Guobin, Vice Minister of China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. 

One of the problems contributing to overcapacity is an enormously overcrowded EV market; NIO has to contend with more than 200 competing manufacturers for domestic market share. As overcapacity exerts a downward force on prices, that number should start to come down. The question for NIO executives and Hefei politicians is whether or not NIO can weather the storm and emerge poised to occupy a pivotal role in China’s luxury EV market.

Written by Chris Hankin, MAIS '24. Edited by Sam Trizza, Cert+MAIR '25.

Interest Groups at the HNC

The Hopkins-Nanjing Center hosts an array of interest groups and extracurricular activities. This semester, students are connecting in classes on calligraphy, ping pong, and erhu. Students are also enjoying interest groups like badminton, afternoon tea, chess, and Quiz Bowl. Below are a few highlighted groups.

To read about other interest groups at the HNC, check out the Connecting Through Hobbies blog from last semester.

Many HNC students at a recent happy hour

Ping Pong Class

Ping pong tables are always set up in the HNC's west auditorium and are only taken down for events every now and then. Whether class has just let out or if students need a 20-minute study break, the large room usually emits the sweet sound of ping pong. Besides spontaneous ping pong matches, HNC students are able to take a ping pong class that is taught by a semi-professional player. The teacher and students meet every Sunday for practice, technique, and intense fun. Not only have students been able to let out their competitive side, but they also have built onto this storied cross-cultural activity.

Erhu Class

Yang Shihan –– Since last semester, I've been attending erhu 二胡 classes. During this time, I've mastered two very melodious and well-known traditional erhu pieces— Liang Xiao 良宵 and Sai Ma 赛马, which gives me a great sense of accomplishment. Moreover, the erhu teacher's method is meticulous and she is very friendly, making our learning process enjoyable. In the course, we learned some basic techniques for playing musical notes, enabling me to practice independently and play other pieces that interest me. Overall, I find the erhu course to be excellent and I highly recommend it!

Calligraphy Class

Peter Burds –– This semester and last semester, I have been in the HNC’s extracurricular calligraphy class, along with many of my Chinese and international classmates. Each week we meet for ninety minutes with our instructor, Teacher Yu, who guides us through that week’s characters in an increasing order of difficulty from 上 to 龘. My feelings in those first classes were of humility, as I quickly realized that I couldn’t even draw a straight line, let alone multiple straight lines, let alone have all of them come together into a cohesive shape that was worthy anyone turning their head to admire. However, seeing Teacher Yu’s careless mastery of his art inspired me to persevere and his always-jovial encouragement and clear enjoyment of both teaching and learning is an infectious reminder of the beauty and simple fun to be found in practice. So practice is just what I have done and by the time we had reached the end of the first semester, I could at last draw a straight line (and perhaps a bit more). My favorite lesson was when we studied the fu 福 character in time for Chinese New Year. As with any character there seems to be a thousand different ways to write. My classmates and I had a good deal of fun learning each variation and (subtly) critiquing each other’s style. Calligraphy has quickly become my favorite meditative pastime and I know it is something I will pursue with fervor for many years to come.

Dungeons & Dragons

Jay Figg –– “What if we were pirates on the high seas?”

“And what if there was a cult?”

“Can we have dwarves?” 

These are the questions we asked ourselves in the HNC Dungeons & Dragons interest group as we gathered at the beginning of first semester. In the first few weeks of class, I met two fellow D&D masterminds and we began planning this weekly interest group. D&D is a roleplaying game where each player assumes the role of a character of their own making and then creates a story with the other players while the Dungeon Master/Game Master acts as rulekeeper. Events determined by chance – whether your character can convince a guard to let them through, or whether they can snatch an arrow right out of the air – are calculated using dice.  While it may seem complicated, it’s absolutely one of those games that you pick up while playing.   

Our lively crew of D&D players meets every week for two to five hours of adventuring, mystery solving, and buccaneering. The whole campaign is designed to be easy to drop in and out of, so when academic deadlines come up, it’s easy to skip a session and return the following week. The players are still exploring a cluster of islands near the center of the map I made at the beginning of our group, so we still have a ways to go in this game. Next school year, I will be sure to invite/peer pressure others into joining our game!

Edited by Sam Trizza, Cert+MAIR '25