China Innovation Tour to Beijing: Applied AI, Innovation Ecosystem & Tech Policy Tour
6–9 September 2026
Beijing
Capped at 20 leaders
YOUR INVESTMENT
$7,888
EARLY BIRD
$6,998
This is not another business trip. This is a 4-day executive briefing in the city where applied AI, frontier research, tech policy, and real-world deployment collide. Join a hand-picked crew of founders, corporate leaders, investors, and innovators, guided by China insider Ashley Dudarenok.
DECODE THE COMMAND CENTER OF CHINA’S AI FUTURE.
Beijing is not the easiest China story to explain from the outside. That is exactly why you need to be there.
This is where China’s AI ambition meets the hard machinery of execution: world-class universities, research institutes, large-model companies, policy pilots, autonomous-driving infrastructure, robotics applications, enterprise AI, and the government frameworks that shape how technology actually scales.
Beijing is home to Zhongguancun Science City, the core area of the city’s International Center for Science and Technology Innovation. It brings together Peking University, Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, global R&D centers, and companies such as Baidu, Xiaomi, Lenovo, ByteDance, Cambricon Technologies, and Megvii.
The numbers tell part of the story. Beijing ranked fourth in WIPO’s 2025 Global Innovation Index innovation cluster ranking, which measures patent activity, scientific publishing, and venture-capital activity. The city has also retained the top position in the Nature Index Science Cities ranking for sci-tech research for nine consecutive years, according to Beijing’s official investment portal citing the Nature Index 2025 Science Cities report. Beijing’s own AI industry is accelerating too: official city sources reported that its AI core industry scale was expected to reach RMB 450 billion in 2025, with more than 2,500 AI enterprises, nearly 60 listed AI companies, and around 40 AI unicorns.
But this trip is not about collecting big numbers. It is about decoding the system behind them. How do large models move from demo to enterprise deployment? How does policy open or close application scenarios? Why does Beijing matter in China’s AI map when Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou each have their own innovation logic? What should global leaders learn from a city where research, capital, regulation, infrastructure, and enterprise adoption sit so close together?
While others are still debating whether AI will change their industry, Beijing is testing how AI gets embedded into industries. To lead in the next decade, you need to understand not just the technology, but the ecosystem that makes it real.
YOUR GUIDE IS AN INSIDER
Meet Ashley Dudarenok
To truly get China, you can’t just watch from the sidelines — you need an insider by your side. Ashley Dudarenok, a naturalized Chinese entrepreneur, doesn’t just study this ecosystem — she and her team live, build, consult, and run businesses within it every day.
The Real Deal: Recognized by Thinkers50 as a “guru on fast-evolving trends in China”.
The Playbook Author: Wrote 11 books on digital China.
The Trusted Advisor: Founder of ChoZan, the go-to firm for companies like Disney, LVMH, and Shiseido when they need to understand China.
The Community Builder: Leads a global tribe of 500,000+ professionals who follow her daily, no-BS insights.
“Beijing is where you see the serious side of China’s innovation engine. It’s not only the glossy consumer tech story. It’s research, policy, infrastructure, enterprise adoption, and founders building around real constraints. For leaders who want to understand where AI is going next, this is one of the most important cities to experience up close.” — Ashley Dudarenok
WHAT THIS REALLY IS: A 4-DAY TRANSFORMATION
HIGH-INTENSITY CHINA INNOVATION IMMERSION FOR LEADERS WHO NEED TO UNDERSTAND AI BEYOND THE HEADLINES.
We don’t do passive. We don’t do generic. We do deep-dive immersion. Over 4 focused days, you’ll be plugged into Beijing’s applied AI ecosystem: the people building it, the policies shaping it, the infrastructure enabling it, and the commercial use cases proving what is already possible.
THE FOUR CORE EXPERIENCES
BEHIND THE CURTAIN
We’re not just visiting impressive buildings. We’re getting you closer to the people and institutions shaping Beijing’s AI future: founders, researchers, ecosystem builders, policy experts, enterprise leaders, and application teams who can explain what is working, what is still hard, and what global leaders usually miss.
POLICY-TO-PRACTICE SAFARIS
Beijing is one of the best places to see how policy turns into pilots, pilots turn into infrastructure, and infrastructure turns into business opportunity. We’ll explore applied AI in real settings, from large-model use cases and enterprise adoption to autonomous mobility, robotics, healthcare, education, and urban services where relevant access can be secured.
BUILD YOUR TRIBE
The people you travel with matter. You’ll be part of a curated group of sharp, curious leaders — founders, C-level executives, VPs, investors, and innovation drivers. These are not just contacts; they are the people who will challenge your assumptions over dinner and keep the conversation going long after Beijing.
GET THE REAL STORY
You can’t understand the “what” without the “why”. Through expert briefings, closed-door conversations, guided field experiences, cultural context, and honest group reflection, you’ll get the deeper operating logic behind Beijing’s innovation ecosystem: how incentives, institutions, talent, capital, and policy work together.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
This is for people who don’t just follow AI trends — they need to make decisions because of them.
We’re building a small, powerful cohort of leaders who are ready to look under the hood. You’re a perfect fit if you are:
THE CORPORATE EXECUTIVE
You’re expected to separate signal from noise. You need to understand how AI is being adopted in the real economy, what China’s approach can teach your organization, and where policy, data, infrastructure, and speed change the rules of competition.
THE FOUNDER
You’re building in a world where AI has already changed the cost of creation, distribution, service, operations, and decision-making. You want a sharper view of how Chinese founders move from idea to application, and what that means for your own growth playbook.
THE INNOVATOR
You’re the person inside your organization pushing for what comes next. You need fresh fuel, real examples, and the confidence to bring back ideas that go beyond another AI workshop or trend report.
WHAT YOU’LL WALK AWAY WITH
You won’t just leave with a notebook. You’ll leave with a sharper operating lens.
And no, this trip won’t be about collecting business cards or taking polite photos in reception areas. We’ll changing how you think about applied AI, ecosystems, and the role of policy in innovation.
A NEW PLAYBOOK FOR APPLIED AI
See how AI moves from model to market in China: where companies are deploying it, where institutions are enabling it, and where the real bottlenecks still sit.
AN ECOSYSTEM MAP YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
Understand why Beijing matters in China’s broader tech landscape, how it differs from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, and which parts of the ecosystem are most relevant to your industry.
A CLEARER READ ON POLICY AND INNOVATION
Policy is not background noise in China. In Beijing, it is part of the operating system. You’ll learn how policy signals, pilot zones, compute infrastructure, data, and industry priorities shape what gets built and scaled.
A GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATORS
You’ll build real relationships with a curated group of peers who are asking serious questions, making serious decisions, and looking for serious inspiration.
PURE, UNFILTERED INSPIRATION
Nothing beats seeing the future with your own eyes. You’ll return with sharper questions, stronger conviction, and ideas you can actually bring back to your team.
WHAT LEADERS SAY ABOUT CHOZAN & ASHLEY
The Proof is in the Results.
We’ve been doing this for a long time. Here’s what happens when leaders join us:
THE INVESTMENT
Nope, this isn’t a cost. It’s an investment in your relevance.
This is your chance to understand Beijing’s AI ecosystem from the inside: not as a spectator, not through a report, but through a carefully curated immersion designed for leaders who need the real story.
PRICING
What’s Covered:
Well-rounded 4-day programme: company access fees, expert and speaker arrangements, curated field experiences, and private briefings.
Insightful and high-energy moderation from Ashley Dudarenok and the ChoZan team.
On-site curation and support by the ChoZan team.
5-star hotel stay in Beijing, selected meals, and in-city programme transportation.
What’s Not Covered:
Your flight to and from China.
Your visa, if you need one.
Personal expenses outside the official programme.
THE FUTURE WON’T WAIT. NEITHER SHOULD YOU.
There are only 20 spots.This will move fast.
Don’t be the one who hears about it later.
Faq
Who exactly should sign up for this China Study Tour?
Senior leaders with decision-making authority: founders, C-suite executives, VPs, investors, strategy leads, innovation heads, and anyone who needs to grasp how AI, tech ecosystems and policy are changing business. If you’re eager to explore what’s next and welcome challenges, this is for you.
What differentiates this China Innovation Tour from other China learning journeys?
This isn’t a sightseeing trip with a handful of company stops. It’s a tailored executive deep dive focused on Beijing’s unique innovation framework: applied AI, research strength, policy impact, pilot infrastructure, enterprise uptake, and ecosystem trends. We provide context before, during and after each activity to turn experiences into real insight, not just busywork.
How many people are in the group for this China market immersion?
The group is limited to 20 leaders. Small enough for meaningful dialogue, exclusive access and authentic connections, but large enough to foster a robust peer-learning atmosphere.
What language is used for this China Inspiration Tour?
The programme is delivered in English. When local experts or company reps speak Chinese, ChoZan offers interpretation and context to ensure no key information is missed.
Do I need prior China expertise to join this China Tech Tour?
No. All you need is curiosity, an open attitude, and a willingness to reconsider what you already know. We’ll provide all the context required to understand Beijing’s AI and innovation ecosystem, whether it’s your first or tenth deep dive into China.
What types of companies will we visit on this China Innovation Tour?
The final list depends on availability and relevance, but the programme centers on Beijing’s applied AI, tech ecosystem and policy landscape. You’ll have company visits, expert briefings, ecosystem discussions, and field experiences in areas like large models, enterprise AI, autonomous mobility, robotics, healthcare, education, research commercialization and innovation policy.
Will there be a lot of walking?
Yes, a moderate amount. This is an immersive experience, not a series of indoor meetings. We’ll visit company locations, innovation parks, cultural spots and live application sites — comfortable shoes are a must.
Do you offer visa assistance?
We’ll strive to provide supporting documents and practical advice where possible, but each participant is responsible for their own visa application. Requirements differ by nationality, so please check early.
What’s appropriate to wear?
Smart casual is suitable for most of the programme. Bring comfortable shoes for field visits, and slightly dressier attire for private dinners or senior-level meetings. Beijing is usually warm in early September, so pack accordingly.
What are the payment details?
The investment is US$ 7,888. Final payment terms, deposit rules, and any early-bird offers will be confirmed when applications open.
Can I cancel at any time?
No. This is a limited-seat, high-commitment experience. If you can’t attend, you may send another approved leader in your place or join the next tour. For force majeure, contact us and we’ll do our best to assist.
Will I have real opportunities to meet people?
Absolutely. The cohort is intentionally small and carefully selected. You’ll connect with peers during briefings, meals, field experiences and reflection sessions — many valuable conversations happen outside official sessions.
Is this tour relevant to my industry?
Yes, if AI, digital transformation, innovation strategy, policy, China or new growth models are important to your work. Beijing’s ecosystem is particularly relevant for leaders in tech, consumer, healthcare, education, manufacturing, mobility, finance, professional services, venture capital and corporate innovation.
Is the tour safe?
Yes. ChoZan designs and manages the programme carefully, with on-site support throughout. As with any international business trip, follow local guidance, keep personal items secure and use common sense.
How can I apply for this China Inspiration Tech Tour?
Express your interest through the application form. We’ll review your fit, confirm availability and share next steps. Since the group is capped at 20 leaders, we strongly recommend applying early.
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