The Department of Mechanics and Aerospace Engineering (MAE) at Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) was invited to bring undergraduate students on a two-day field trip to Zhuzhou City, Hunan Province from 22 to 24 November. Students explored China Aviation Development’s Southern Industry Co., Ltd, and their Hunan Institute of Power Machinery (the 331 Factory and the 608 Institute, respectively). 46 undergraduate students at all levels were led by Deputy Head and Associate Professor Yu Peng, and Assistant Professor Zhou Bo.

November 23 saw the MAE students first go to the 331 Factory. They visited its museum, where they discovered the important role that the 331 Factory has played in developing China’s aerospace industry in the last 70 years.

The MAE students traveled to the 608 Institute on November 24, where they were shown around specialized and professional testing equipment. Engineers provided the students with an insight into the cutting-edge science and engineering being conducted. It was hoped that the attending students would form a better understanding of their future career directions.

Later that day, the MAE students took in a lecture from the engineers at the 608 Institute, who went over the history of China’s aviation industry, relative to the rest of the world. While China is starting from further back, it is rapidly catching up and striving to improve its aero-engine technology to meet the benchmarks of other first-tier nations.

As the students returned to Shenzhen, they buzzed with excitement. The practical and detailed understanding they had learned had given them more knowledge about their future paths. Several students indicated that they were now looking at how they could better align their dreams with the strategic needs of modern China.