NewHack in China
Travel journal, October 2026
Rodrigo Terron shares insights and records from his trip to China, including iRTE 2026, connected to Agora and the RTE community. A journal exploring how technology, artificial intelligence and business come together in the Chinese ecosystem.
Insights from the journey
Campus and hospitality educationShanghai Business School, October 12
The campus, hands-on learning, coffee, tea and wine at the first academic stop of the trip. A connection between Shanghai, Swiss education and the service industry.
Read the article
Class 1: innovation and entrepreneurshipShanghai Business School, October 12
The class at Shanghai Business School connected education, entrepreneurship, business challenges and long-term planning. A perspective for Brazilian founders, with public context and 2026 data.
Read the article
Class 2: Chinese business cultureShanghai Business School, October 12
A class at Shanghai Business School on mutual benefit, collective motivation and long-term relationships. Lessons for founders who want to build bridges between Brazil and China.
Read the article
AI applications showroomShanghai, October 12, 2026
The iFLYTEK visit connects translation, education and support for doctors with a perspective on models, distribution, hardware and applied AI. Public context and lessons for founders.
Read the visit insights
Robotics and programming in educationShanghai, October 13, 2026
Kits, drones, curriculum, teachers and competitions: the WhalesBot visit shows how technology can become a learning experience for children and young people.
Read the visit insights
Real-time communication and conversational AIShanghai, October 13, 2026
Network infrastructure, listening, turn-taking, business knowledge and human support: the Agora visit in Shanghai shows the work required to take voice agents from demonstration to production.
Read the visit insights
Multimodal AI, products and distributionShanghai, October 13, 2026
During the MiniMax visit in Shanghai, multimodal models, internal agents and business context showed how to turn AI capability into products, operations and distribution.
Read the visit insights
Sensing, AI and real-world operationsHangzhou, October 15, 2026
A visit in Hangzhou connects computer vision, acoustic sensing and industrial robotics to a practical question: how does a captured signal become a useful decision?
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AI agents, OPCs and business executionHangzhou, China
The visit in Hangzhou connected specialized agents, work coordination and one-person companies with concrete examples of commercial operations.
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Technology, data and patents at scaleShenzhen, October 16, 2026
The visit in Shenzhen connected distributed architecture, data-informed decisions and AI governance with running a bank that serves hundreds of millions of customers.
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Batteries, research and industrial capabilitiesShenzhen, October 17, 2026
The Shenzhen visit connected BYD’s battery origins, around 900,000 employees, more than 120,000 R&D engineers and decades of industrial capability building.
Read the visit insights
AI hardware, brands and market entryShenzhen, October 18, 2026
In Shenzhen, the conversation with Ken Hsu connected products, brands, distribution and a central question for entrepreneurs: how do technical capabilities become something people want to use?
Read the visit insights
Agents, simulation and the organization of workShenzhen, October 19, 2026
The Shenzhen visit connected specialized agents, simulation, voice and governance with a practical question: how do people and processes change when AI becomes part of operations?
Read the visit insights
Smart glasses, translation and AI interfacesShenzhen, October 19, 2026
The Shenzhen visit connected translation, apps and smart glasses with a product question: when does it make sense to place information directly in front of our eyes?
Read the visit insightsRecords from the journey
The campus, hospitality education and two classes on innovation, entrepreneurship and Chinese business culture. 32 selected photographs.
The visit to iFLYTEK in Shanghai, including demonstrations, spaces and conversations with the group. 15 selected photographs.
Educational robotics, demonstrations and a tour of the production area. 17 selected photographs.
Presentations, conversations and records on real-time communication and conversational AI. 12 selected photographs.
The reception, spaces and group discussions at MiniMax. 6 selected photographs.
Sensors, computer vision and automation demonstrations in Hangzhou. 11 selected photographs.
Alibaba spaces and facilities during the visit in Hangzhou. 11 selected photographs.
Spaces and patent certificates from the visit to WeBank in Shenzhen. 7 selected photographs.
Battery origins, research and vehicles at the BYD museum in Shenzhen. 22 selected photographs.
Wapitee and Fountain work and gathering spaces in Shenzhen. 6 selected photographs.
Reception, presentation and conversations about agents and the organization of work in Shenzhen. 8 selected photographs.
Presentation, showroom and smart-glasses models in Shenzhen. 9 selected photographs.
Scenes of Hangzhou, from streets and waterside paths to gardens and traditional architecture. 9 selected photographs.
Urban landscapes, architecture and everyday scenes from Shanghai, captured throughout the trip. 26 selected photographs to view and download.
Before the journey
Background reading on how technology, infrastructure and business connect.
Read the preparation article (in Portuguese)The context of the journey
Insights and records from meetings, classes and journeys across China.
Conference on the itinerary
Real-time intelligence
A conference organized by Shengwang and the RTE Developer Community, with Agora contributing talks, program curation and developer tools. The program brings together conversational AI, voice agents, smart hardware and infrastructure for real-time experiences.
Explore the conferenceSchedule
The updated itinerary covers October 11 to 20, followed by iRTE on October 23 and 24. All times are local, UTC+8, and the schedule is subject to changes by the organizers. Travel arrangements without a defined time window will be coordinated with the group during the trip.
Organizations on the planned itinerary
Arrival in China and first connections with the group.
Arrivals throughout the day
Planned18:30 to 20:30
Location: Floor 20, No. 10 Yangshupu Road, Hongkou District, Shanghai
PlannedEducation, business and artificial intelligence applied to voice and language.
08:30 to 12:00
An introduction to the campus and hospitality education, followed by classes on innovation, entrepreneurship and Chinese business culture, with questions from the group.
Location: 121 Caobao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
The morning combined a tour of the hospitality teaching spaces, including wine, coffee and tea, with classes on innovation and Chinese business culture. The Shanghai Lausanne institute is part of Shanghai Business School and was established in cooperation with EHL, the Swiss hospitality school. Content and photographs from the program are available above.
Explore Shanghai Business SchoolThe partnership with EHLCompleted12:00 to 14:00
Location: No. 10 Cangwu Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
Planned15:00 to 16:00
A showroom visit and Q&A on translation, education, support for physicians and the delivery of AI solutions.
Location: 1st Floor, Tower A, Zhongshan International Plaza, No. 789 Tianshan West Road, Changning District, Shanghai
Founded in 1999, iFLYTEK develops voice and language technologies and has expanded into AI models such as the Spark family. Its products connect research, software and devices to communication and productivity applications. For entrepreneurs, the visit offers a chance to observe how a technological capability becomes a range of products and distribution channels.
Explore iFLYTEKCompletedFrom 18:30
Location: No. 242 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
PlannedTime to be confirmed
A walk through the historic district. The timing and admission to the garden itself will be confirmed by the organizers.
Location: No. 218 Anren Street or No. 168 Fuyou Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
Begun in 1559 during the Ming dynasty, Yu Garden is a classical garden connected to the history of Shanghai. The area brings together a garden, a temple, commerce and local traditions, offering a cultural perspective alongside the technological city.
Explore Yu GardenPlannedEducational robotics, real-time communication, conversational AI and a view of the city from the river.
10:00 to 11:30
A visit to the educational robotics and production spaces, with demonstrations of assembly, programming and challenges.
Location: No. 188 Zixu Road, Maqiao, Minhang District, Shanghai
WhalesBot develops robotics and artificial intelligence education systems that combine hardware, programming tools, curricula and practical challenges, including connections with competitions such as ENJOY AI. For entrepreneurs, the opportunity is to observe how products, teacher training and community can work together to support technology adoption and distribution.
Explore WhalesBotCompletedA visit and conversation about real-time communication infrastructure, voice agents and business applications.
The meeting covered audio and video transport, conversational turn-taking, the move from demonstrations to production, cost and handoffs to people.
Explore AgoraCompletedTime to be confirmed
Location: No. 93 Caobao Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
Planned15:30 to 16:30
Multimodal models, voice and video, agents in business workflows and distribution to companies and developers.
Location: 25th Floor, Building B, No. 391 Guiping Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
The meeting explored the difference between the model, tools and customer context. The visit article and photo album are available above.
Explore MiniMaxCompleted17:00 to 18:00
PlannedFrom 19:30
Location: Shiliupu Wharf, No. 551 Zhongshan East 2nd Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai
The Huangpu separates Puxi to the west from Pudong to the east. Its banks offer a view of the historic buildings of the Bund alongside the Lujiazui skyline. The route provides a perspective on Shanghai’s urban transformation and the relationship between infrastructure, the movement of people and economic activity.
Shanghai from the HuangpuPlannedFrom connections between cities to the cultural landscape of Hangzhou.
10:56 to 12:00
A high-speed train connection. The time is listed in the updated guide; confirm the details with the organizers.
Planned13:30 to 15:00
Planned15:30 to 17:00
This time window includes both stops. Their order and the time spent at each site may change.
The West Lake Cultural Landscape was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011. Gardens, temples, pagodas and paths form a landscape that has influenced garden design elsewhere in Asia. Nearby, the history of Lingyin Temple dates to the fourth century. This visit broadens the view of Hangzhou beyond its companies: history, place and urban experience also help us understand the city.
West Lake on UNESCO’s listThe history of Lingyin TemplePlanned19:40 to 21:00
Location: No. 82 Beishan Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou, opposite Yue Fei Temple
The show adds to the cultural experience of Hangzhou, bringing the West Lake landscape into an evening performance. The itinerary connects observations of companies with the way the city presents its history and its surroundings.
PlannedFrom 21:00
Location: No. 78 Beishan Road, West Lake District, Hangzhou
PlannedVideo, data from the physical world, commerce, cloud and artificial intelligence.
09:30 to 13:00
Location: No. 555 Qianmo Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou
Hikvision develops video, artificial intelligence and automation technologies, connecting sensors, software and applications for physical environments and business operations. For entrepreneurs, the perspective is to observe how data captured in the real world can become products, operational efficiency and new services, with attention to security, privacy and governance.
Explore HikvisionCompleted13:30 to 15:20
Planned16:00 to 17:30
Location: No. 969 Wenyi West Road, Yuhang District, Hangzhou
Alibaba was founded in 1999 and now brings together commerce, cloud and artificial intelligence businesses, including the Qwen model family and tools that help companies operate and reach customers. For entrepreneurs, the perspective is to observe how infrastructure, platforms and distribution connect to create services and expand market access.
Explore AlibabaCompletedEvening
PlannedConnections with Shenzhen, digital financial services and urban experiences.
From 08:00
The group’s planned departure. The organizers will confirm meeting points and local travel arrangements.
Planned10:55 to 13:15
The time is listed in the updated guide; confirm transport details with the organizers.
PlannedVisit completed in Shenzhen, with presentations on technology, data, patents and banking operations at scale.
Location: No. 88 Jingang Street, Guiwan Community, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
The visit connected proprietary technology, research and intellectual property with running a digital bank. Presentations covered distributed architecture, data in credit decisions, testing with groups of customers and governance of artificial intelligence applications. The record distinguishes registrations, effective customers and monthly activity, and discusses adapting models to other markets.
Read the record of the WeBank visitCompletedEvening. Time to be confirmed.
A planned evening activity. Its timing and availability are subject to local confirmation.
Location: No. 1 Fuzhong 3rd Road, Futian District, Shenzhen
PlannedTime to be confirmed
PlannedMobility, energy and the integration of technology, industry and the city.
09:00 to 13:30
Visit to the BYD museum in Shenzhen, covering batteries, research and vehicle development.
Location: No. 3009 BYD Road, Jiangling Community, Maluan Street, Pingshan District, Shenzhen
BYD operates in vehicles, batteries, electronics, energy and rail transit, connecting energy generation, storage and use to mobility solutions. For entrepreneurs, the opportunity is to observe how capabilities in components and technological integration can lead to different products, supply chains and paths to scale in international markets.
Read the record of the BYD visitCompleted15:00 to 17:00
Sea World is a cultural, commercial and leisure complex in Shekou, built around the Minghua ship and spaces for art and social interaction. It offers a perspective on the connection between experiences and urban life. The itinerary reserves the afternoon for the complex and The Deal theater.
Explore Shekou Sea WorldPlannedEvening
PlannedSandbox, product development and access to components in Shenzhen.
Visit covering AI hardware, brand building and international markets.
Location: Nanshan, Shenzhen
The conversation explored how manufacturing, marketing, product experience and partners connect on the path to market. Sandbox is a shared venue for Wapitee and Fountain.
Read the record of the Sandbox visitCompleted09:30 to 11:30
Location: 6030 Hongli Road, Futian District, Shenzhen
The park visit places the Shenzhen experience in the context of the city: shared public spaces, urban landscape and the scale of a metropolis connecting technology and industry. It is a chance to observe everyday life beyond company visits.
Planned12:00 to 14:00
Location: No. 3031 Shennan Avenue, Futian District, Shenzhen
Planned14:00 to 17:30
Location: Northeast of the intersection of Huaqiang South Road and Fuhua Road, Shenzhen
Huaqiangbei, in the Futian district, is a hub for electronics and components trade. It broadens the discussion of innovation beyond software: where to find parts, suppliers and possibilities for turning ideas into devices. A chance to observe the relationship between commerce, experimentation and physical product development.
The Huaqiangbei electronics marketPlanned18:00 to 20:00
Location: No. 5001 Huanggang Road, Futian District, Shenzhen
PlannedZhuiyi, smart glasses and the connection between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
Visit covering specialized agents, simulation, voice and the organization of work.
Location: Shenzhen
The discussion explored coordinated agents in customer service, employee assistance and system operations. It covered implementation, partners and changes to processes and team roles.
Read the record of the Zhuiyi visitCompletedFrom 09:15
The group’s planned departure. The organizers will confirm meeting points and local travel arrangements.
Planned12:00 to 14:00
Location: Kelu Building, Baoshen Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
PlannedVisit covering smart glasses, translation and AI interfaces.
Location: Room 1002, Building G2, TCL International E City, No. 1001 Zhongshan Yuan Road, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
The visit brought together the product presentation, a showroom tour and questions about how smart glasses, phone apps and AI services work together.
Read the INMO visit recordCompleted17:00 to 19:00
The journey connects two complementary environments: Shenzhen and its industrial base, and Hong Kong and its international connections. Hong Kong’s public strategy includes AI, robotics, microelectronics and digital services, in connection with the Greater Bay Area. During the trip, the focus is on how technology, capital and market access come together.
Technology and innovation in Hong KongPlanned20:00 to 22:00
PlannedThe conclusion of the Cubo itinerary and a review of the trip’s insights.
Morning
Planned12:00 to 14:00
Location: OTE401, Ocean Terminal, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
PlannedTime to be confirmed
The group itinerary ends. Rodrigo remains in China for iRTE on October 23 and 24.
PlannediRTE 2026 conference. An additional leg beyond the Cubo itinerary.
09:00 to 18:00. Opening session, voice agents, conversational AI and demonstrations. The program has parallel tracks and is subject to change.
The program connects research, products and real-time AI experiences. A perspective for the day is to understand what changes when models begin to converse, listen and respond in everyday applications. Records published after the conference will identify the sessions actually attended.
Official iRTE programPlannediRTE 2026 conference. An additional leg beyond the Cubo itinerary.
09:00 to 17:30. Smart hardware, AI embedded in devices, audio, video, developer tools and real-time infrastructure. Tracks run in parallel.
The second day broadens the perspective to hardware, development tools and infrastructure. The focus is on how intelligence moves beyond demonstrations into devices and services. As the tracks run simultaneously, the journal will record only the meetings and content actually attended.
Official iRTE programPlanned