Transportation Beyond 2030
A one-week immersive study tour through China for ITS-Davis students and faculty — exploring the future of sustainable, multi-modal transportation firsthand.
This December…
ITS-Davis students and faculty travel to China for one transformative week — gaining a new perspective on transportation systems that are already operating at scale, and that may soon define global standards.
5 Cities
Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, and Macau
5 Universities & Corporations
China's top transportation research institutions & transportation enterprises
1 Week
Intensive, immersive, and action-oriented
Key Destinations
The program visits China's most influential hubs for sustainable mobility research & practice — each offering unique expertise and partnerships. Cultural landmarks round out the experience. (Tentative program, subject to substitution/change)
Macau (Dec 10-11)
- 6th Annual Macao International Conference on Smart City Technologies at the University of Macau 1.
- Cross the 55-km HongKong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge (HKMB), the world's longest open-sea bridge. 2.
Guangzhou (Dec 12-13)
- South China University of Technology School of Future Tech - Research Exchange 1.
- CATL Heavy-duty truck battery swap station demo 2.
- High-Speed Rail demo at Guangzhou South Station 3.
Hong Kong (Dec 14)
- Hong Kong Society for Transportation Studies 30th Annual Conference: Multi-Modal Transportation for the Next Era (The Hong Kong Polytechnic University) 1.
- "Low-altitude Economy" eVTOL demo for personal & cargo transport 2.
Shanghai (Dec 15-16)
- Tongji University's College of Transportation & Clean Energy Automotive Engineering Center - Research Exchange 1.
- Electric Vehicle Public Data Collecting, Monitoring and Research Center (Shanghai Int'l Automobile City) 2.
- Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Hall; walk the famous Nanjing Street pedestrian mall and historic Bund. 3.
Beijing (Dec 17-18)
- Tsinghua University's School of Vehicle and Mobility Emerging Transportation Solutions Lab - research exchange 1.
- Robo-taxi demonstation at the Chinese ride-sharing giant, Didi Chuxing. 2.
- Walk the Great Wall of China 3.
In Between University Visits
The learning doesn't stop at the campus gate. Travel between cities becomes its own lesson in transportation innovation.
Ride Every Mode
High-speed rail, metro, autonomous shuttles, e-bikes — first-hand experience with technologies rarely seen in the U.S.
Observe Policy in Action
Examine how China's transportation policies play out on the ground — what works, what doesn't, and why.
Cultural Immersion
Historic sites and local experiences build the cultural fluency essential for lasting international collaboration.
Program Goals
Student Learning
Students gain an up-close view of China's rapidly expanding, decarbonizing multi-modal transportation system — in both theory and practice.
Faculty Relationships
UC-Davis professors build trust with leadership at top Chinese research institutions — planting seeds for long-term partnership.
Cultural Competence
All participants strengthen their ability to communicate and collaborate across cultures — an essential skill for global research.
A Mobile Classroom
This trip is more than a study tour. It is an investment in the future of international transportation research — and in the people who will lead it.
About Jonathan Weinert, PhD
Jonathan has lived, researched, and worked in China since 2005 — beginning with a two-year research exchange at Tongji University as an ITS-Davis graduate student.
In the past three years as a consultant, he has led international media delegations through Chinese cities big and small, visiting trade shows and factories.
⏰ Deadline
Early-bird registration opens September 3rd, 2026
📅 Departure
December 10, 2026
📍 Duration
One Week in China