2026 The 7th Oxbridge Students' China Tour Concludes Successfully
2026 The 7th Oxbridge Students' China Tour Concludes Successfully
The 7th Oxbridge Students' China Tour has concluded successfully, marking a full decade of the pioneering Sino-British Youth People-to-People Exchange initiative. A 10-strong student delegation from the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge completed their nine-day visit on 5 April 2026, having built new academic and cultural ties with schools and pupils across six Chinese cities.
Designed to foster intellectual exchange and cross-cultural understanding, the tour has become a landmark fixture in Sino-British youth engagement. Since its launch in 2016, the programme has reached 51 cities, partnered with 130 schools, and directly benefited more than 15,000 Chinese students.
The programme is hosted by the China Centre for International People-to-People Exchange,Ministry of Education, supported by The Association of Education and Technology (AET), and co-organized by First Landing Education (FLE) and Beijing Anzhuoshiji Education & Technology Company Limited.
Grand Launch in Shenyang
This year’s tour began on 29 March 2026 in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, with an official launch ceremony held alongside the 2026 International Basic Education Collaboration & Innovation Conference. The event welcomed more than 400 guests, including educators from nearly 100 schools nationwide.
Addressing the conference, Mr. Yu Changxue, Director-General of the China Centre for International People-to-People Exchange, praised the programme for its ‘fruitful achievements’
in advancing youth exchanges over the past decade, and set out high hopes for its future growth.
He was joined by senior dignitaries including Mr. Wang Qingdong, Director-General of the Department of Education of Liaoning Province; Mr. Liu Zhihuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shenyang Municipal Committee, Director of the Publicity Department, and Secretary of the Education, Science and Technology Working Committee of the CPC Shenyang Municipal Committee; Mr. Kiran Petal, Senior Director Commercial & Deputy Head, China of China-Britain Business Council; Mr. Geoff Hayward, Emeritus Professor of Education,University of Cambridge, Vice Chair of The Association of Education and Technology; and Mr. Liu Kebin, Vice Mayor of Shenyang.
Cross-Cultural School Exchange
Over the subsequent nine days, the student delegation completed an intensive tour of 33 schools across Beijing, Shenzhen, Shenyang, Dalian, Zhengzhou and Jincheng.
Through a series of keynote speeches, academic salons and interactive Q&A sessions, the Oxbridge students shared their personal academic journeys and insights into student life at the UK’s top two universities.
The sessions sparked lively, in-depth discussions, with Chinese pupils asking questions on topics ranging from degree course selection and time management, to campus cultural life and social practice opportunities.
The initiative offered a direct window into world-class higher education, inspiring Chinese students and igniting their academic ambitions.
Delegation feedback and cultural visit
On the eve of their departure, the Oxbridge delegation held a formal debriefing meeting with the AET China team to reflect on their experiences and put forward constructive suggestions for the programme’s future development.
The tour culminated in a visit to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall on 5 April. The Oxbridge delegates described the experience as turning a‘textbook definition into a tangible, immersive experience,’ and said it offered a vivid insight into the profound heritage of Chinese civilisation.
The Association of Education and Technology (AET) views the successful 2026 tour not only as a celebration of past achievements but also as a new starting point. AET reaffirmed its commitment to using education as a bridge to support steady, long-term development in Sino-British relations, driven by the youth of both nations.
