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, Nanjing, and Macau
5 Universities
China's top transportation research institutions
1 Week
Intensive, immersive, and action-oriented
Key Destinations
The program visits China's most influential transportation research hubs — each offering unique expertise and partnerships. Cultural landmarks round out the experience.
Tongji University — Shanghai
China's premier institution for civil engineering and urban transportation planning.
Tsinghua University — Beijing
Ranked among the world's top universities, with deep expertise in smart mobility and policy.
South China University of Technology — Guangzhou
A leader in electric vehicle research and southern China's innovation corridor.
Southeast University — Nanjing
Renowned for intelligent transportation systems and traffic engineering research.
University of Macau
A pioneer in research on Internet of Things for Smart Cities
Proposed Structure of University Visits
Each university visit follows a deliberate rhythm — balancing mutual learning, relationship building, and informal discovery. The structure ensures both sides walk away with new knowledge and new contacts.
This format reflects a philosophy of reciprocal exchange — not a one-way lecture, but a genuine dialogue between peers.
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 1,
📅 Departure
December 10, 2026
📍 Duration
One Week in China