Young innovators unite at Beijing science exchange

The 2026 Science and Innovation Exchange for Chinese and International Young People, which brought together more than 1,000 participants from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Cuba and other countries, concluded in Beijing recently.

Young participants jointly took part in science and technology innovation challenges while enjoying science demonstrations and exhibitions.

Hosted by the China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People, the event featured activities such as creative coding contests and hands-on robot control challenges, giving children opportunities to sharpen their logical thinking and problem-solving skills through code creation and robotics applications.

Chinese and international families were also invited to attend a science show, where a science educator demonstrated how compressed air stores potential energy in a sealed chamber and releases it within milliseconds. The resulting high-pressure airflow expands at supersonic speed, transforming pressure energy into a powerful impact force that toppled a triangular tower built from paper cups.

In addition, free workshops such as calligraphy and painting sessions and abacus-making activities attracted hundreds of families, allowing children to engage with both science and traditional arts through interactive, hands-on experiences.

"When I was a child, I learned math using an abacus. Now, children use calculators and rarely get to touch these old tools," said Liu, a participating parent.

"As soon as I saw the event registration, I signed up. Making an abacus with our own hands not only lets my child appreciate the ingenuity of traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, but also gives him a feel for the charm of ancient technology. It's far more interesting than just reading about it in a book."