Participants visit a lab at Westlake University. [Photo/WeChat account: hangzhouweekly]

More than 100 young representatives from universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Tsinghua and Westlake University recently gathered in Hangzhou for the fourth Tsinghua Global Youth Dialogue.

Over four days, participants explored the city's innovation ecosystem, visiting research laboratories, startup hubs, smart logistics facilities and technology companies.

At Westlake University, they toured cutting-edge laboratories and learned about the university's international outlook. At the Hangzhou Global Youth Talent Center, they discussed entrepreneurship, AI and support for international talent. At Cainiao's global headquarters, they saw AI-powered logistics in action, while at BrainCo, they experienced brain-computer interface technologies and discussed their potential applications and ethical implications.

The visit also highlighted Hangzhou's ecological and cultural side. In Qingshan village, participants explored traditional crafts, ecological education and rural conservation initiatives, gaining insights into China's approach to sustainable rural development.

The journey concluded at West Lake, where the misty landscape offered a striking contrast to the high-tech facilities visited earlier.

From AI and brain science to traditional crafts and ecological conservation, the four-day program gave young people from around the world a glimpse of a Hangzhou where technological innovation and cultural heritage coexist.

Participants experience brain-computer devices. [Photo/WeChat account: hangzhouweekly]