2026 Academic Exchange: ZJU Physics Undergraduates Visit Hong Kong

From January 18 to 24, 23 faculty members and students from the School of Physics at Zhejiang University visited Hong Kong for a week-long academic exchange and tour, including visits to prestigious institutions such as the University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University.

Exploring CUHK: Experiencing a Frontier Research Atmosphere

The first stop was The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). Led by Professor Lu Yunhao, the delegation visited the Department of Physics at CUHK, where Professor Chun-Yi Zhu delivered a welcome address and introduced the department and its postgraduate admission policies. The group then toured the laboratories of Professors Jianfang Wang, Lei Xu, Yufan Li, and Xinhui Lu, covering cutting-edge topics such as nanomaterial fabrication and characterization, simulation methods in soft matter physics, and perovskite optoelectronics and organic solar cells. Through on-site visits and discussions, the students gained in-depth insights into the latest research advances in condensed matter physics and materials science, while also experiencing the rigorous and focused academic atmosphere of CUHK’s Faculty of Science.

Visiting PolyU: Theoretical Insights and Applied Frontiers

The exchange at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) featured a more diverse agenda. Professor Haitao Huang introduced relevant PolyU departments and joint training programs. Professor Shengyuan Yang sparked a lively discussion with a philosophically intriguing study: his team’s theoretical calculations revealed that the band structure of a certain material makes its optical response mathematically analogous to the effects near a black hole horizon. Professor Ming Yang presented high-throughput design research on high-k dielectric materials for two-dimensional electronic devices—a highly advanced and application-oriented topic. The group also toured the laboratories and the campus, gaining a more intuitive understanding of PolyU’s research environment.

In addition, the students attended a graduate program information session at PolyU’s Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology (ABCT) and, led by Professor Yu, toured the labs. In the chemistry labs, doctoral students explained the physical principles behind techniques such as infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance, including energy level transitions and spin relaxation, and demonstrated instrument operation and precautions. In the biology labs, the focus was on the application scenarios and aberration correction techniques of optical and electron microscopes, with discussions also covering cost control in instrument upgrades.

Visiting HKU Medicine: Experiencing the Vitality of Interdisciplinary Research

Led by Professor Zhu Yanan, the delegation also visited the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKU). Through campus tours and presentations of cutting-edge research achievements by various teams, HKU Medicine offered the group diverse and open academic perspectives. The professors’ expert explanations and advanced laboratory equipment deeply impressed upon the students that scientific research requires not only rigorous scholarship but also the dynamic thinking of interdisciplinary innovation.

Team Building: Hiking at Dragon’s Back Brings a Successful Conclusion

On the final day of the visit, the faculty and students from Zhejiang University, together with some faculty and students from HKU, went on a team-building hike at Dragon’s Back. In the relaxing natural setting, they exchanged ideas on academics and daily life, further deepening mutual understanding and friendship. The visit concluded joyfully amidst laughter and good cheer.