Travel China.Tell your story.Take the prize.
A 10-day trip to China, customized to what you want to see: tell us the companies, universities and people you want to meet, and we build the itinerary around the group.
A small, select group of UBC students exploring China's economic heartland, the Yangtze River Delta around Shanghai, departing around December 24, 2026, plus a creator contest on RedNote and Douyin with one grand prize of C$7,999 cash.
A trip built around you.
The whole trip is customized around you: your interests, your content ideas, your schedule.
Tell us what you want to see and who you want to meet, such as HR leaders, executives, founders, investors, top creators or UBC alumni working in China. We design the 10-day itinerary around the group's top choices and share the draft before you fly.
About ten students. One region.
On the Gongsio Startup Trip, a small group of about 10 UBC students travels to China's economic heartland, the Yangtze River Delta, departing around December 24, 2026. No business or media background needed, just curiosity about China.
Start from zero. Grow the biggest audience.
C$7,999 prize.
See the Official Contest Rules for eligibility and how the winner is decided.
Reserve your place.
Covers round-trip group flights (Vancouver–Shanghai), hotels in twin-share (double/twin) rooms, ground transport, planned visits, all meals and travel medical insurance arranged by Gongsio. Trip cancellation insurance is optional; buy it yourself if you want it. Terms & Refund Policy
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Who's behind
Gongsio
Ronan Ren
Founder · first-year Data Science student at UBC
See China for yourself.
Most of us only know China from headlines. On the Gongsio Startup Trip you see the Yangtze River Delta up close: the companies, the factories, the cities and the food.
Choose what you visit.
You tell us which companies, universities and people you want to meet, and we build the itinerary around those picks.
Get real conversations.
The group stays small, so you can ask questions and talk with people, not just look through a tour-bus window.
Come home with your own creator account.
You'll share your trip on your own social media account as you go. By the end you'll have a real portfolio of content, and a shot at the C$7,999 creator prize.
Travel with someone who's with you all the way.
I travel with the group the whole time, and travel medical insurance is included.
- Operated by Gongsio Education Ltd., a British Columbia company.
- Refunds and terms are in the Rules & Terms.
- Questions? Email hello@gongsio.com.
01Who can apply?
The Gongsio Startup Trip is open to current UBC students aged 18 or older. No business or media background needed, just curiosity about China. The group is small, about 10 students, and the itinerary is customized to what the group wants to see.
02Do I need a visa?
Canadian passport holders can enter China visa-free for up to 30 days until December 31, 2026, and our trip departs in December. Other passports vary, so tell us your nationality when you apply and we'll help you check.
03How do you keep everyone safe?
China is one of the safest countries in the world: 94% of adults there feel safe walking alone at night, third of 144 countries (Gallup, 2025). Gongsio's founder travels with the group the whole time, and travel medical insurance, arranged by Gongsio, is included for everyone.
04What's included?
C$7,999 covers round-trip group flights (Vancouver–Shanghai), hotels in twin-share (double/twin) rooms, ground transport, planned visits, all meals and travel medical insurance. Trip cancellation insurance is not included; you can buy it yourself.
05What's the refund policy?
The C$500 deposit is non-refundable, unless we cancel the trip, China's visa-free policy changes in a way that affects the trip, or you are refused a visa. You can also transfer your spot to another eligible student for free. Full details are in our Terms & Refund Policy.
06Do I need to speak Chinese or have social media experience?
No. A foreigner's point of view is exactly what makes your content interesting. Everyone takes the same platform training course before the trip.
07Which accounts can I use?
A new RedNote or Douyin account with fewer than 100 followers, submitted to us by December 1, 2026. Both platforms accept sign-ups with a Canadian phone number (we've tested it), and we'll walk you through the steps.
08How does the contest work?
Post with the required hashtags and tags. You are ranked on total views and on followers gained, 50% each, up to 11:59 PM Vancouver time, February 1, 2027. A public leaderboard updates every week. Buying views, followers or engagement, using bots, or reposting others' content means disqualification. See the full Official Contest Rules.
09What's the prize?
One grand prize: C$7,999 cash.
10What if I don't win?
You still come home with an audience and a portfolio you built in China. The trip is the same for everyone.
11Will you help me stay connected in China?
Yes. Many foreign apps like Google and Instagram don't work in mainland China, so before departure we help every participant set up roaming or an international eSIM, and we give everyone an internet guide.
12What are the key dates?
Departure: around December 24, 2026. Balance due: November 21, 2026. Contest account submission: by December 1, 2026. Contest ends: 11:59 PM Vancouver time, February 1, 2027.
13How do I contact you?
Email hello@gongsio.com or ronan001@student.ubc.ca.
The Official Contest Rules and our Terms & Refund Policy, together on one page.