Peking University, 18 December 2024: Organized by the Office of International Relations, a group of international students from Peking University (PKU) had the rare opportunity to visit People’s Daily, China’s largest newspaper with a history spanning over seven decades. The visit offered the students valuable insights into the newspaper’s rich history and its day-to-day operations.

The group of 35 students includes undergraduates and postgraduates, primarily from the School of Journalism and Communication, the School of International Relations, and the Yenching Academy. Many of these students have prior experience in the media industry and aspire to enter the field upon graduation.

Led by Jiang Xiaotao, Deputy Director of the Office of International Relations at PKU, the group was received by the newspaper’s Director of the Office of External Communications and Cooperation, Liu Chenzi. During a guided tour of the People’s Daily Museum, students learned about the newspaper’s founding, its expansion of target audiences, and the evolution of its operations.

As part of its commitment to media convergence, People’s Daily has grown into a major multimedia entity with over 10 outlets, including print newspapers, periodicals, websites, mobile apps, and social media platforms. At the New Media Center, students toured the broadcast studios and met with the team behind the People’s Daily English Language App, learning about the newspaper's efforts to better connect with overseas and younger audiences via digital media.


The visit concluded with a vibrant discussion featuring meaningful exchanges between aspiring students and the staff of People’s Daily. In her opening remarks, Liu Chenzi emphasized the strong connection between People’s Daily and PKU, noting that over 230 PKU alumni are currently working within the People’s Daily Group. She expressed hopes to further strengthen collaboration with PKU in areas such as talent development and international communication.

Jiang Xiaotao extended his gratitude to People’s Daily for hosting the visit, underscoring the importance of international students in understanding China more deeply. He highlighted how the visit serves as a valuable platform for students hoping to gain a broader perspective of the country. “With their unique experiences studying in China, international students can share China’s stories overseas, fostering meaningful cross-cultural exchanges,” he remarked.

Zhang Dingyuan, an undergraduate student from the School of International Relations with a keen interest in international communication and the news media industry, shared his thoughts on the visit. “This experience has given me a more comprehensive understanding of how the media industry operates today, particularly in coordinating across multiple platforms to present an authentic and multi-dimensional view of China.”


Reported by: Huang Junheng
Edited by: Megan Huang