In October 2025, I set out for my second international trip, and it was in China. Being my second trip, I was not so green but still it was my first in China.
On arrival I was amazed by the smooth airport operations, aided by technological advancement. Then as we left for the hotel I couldn’t help but see the towering beautiful buildings, and trees planted all over making the city of Beijing a trail of amazing nature.
The training started and we had a mix of theory and field visits which were extensive and eye opening for me as a journalist, given the disruption in the media industry by the innovation of Artificial Intelligence, where we now need to embrace technology in almost all the aspects of media.
At ZOOXER Technology I saw the reality of how AI can operate a studio with intervention of very few human beings to even run a show or a bulletin and it got me thinking, it is the high time we embrace AI in media, learn how to bridge the gap and how to not miss out or be faced out due to lack of knowhow back in my country.
The IFLYTEK the insights of AI application was more expansive, I learnt how the use of AI is actually improving lives in various sectors like telemedicine, where it enables remote medical consultation, and in education, to hasten marking of student exam scripts and recommends areas of improvement, how translation tools across diverse languages are a resourceful package to various occupations and even how AI has been incorporated to make operations seamless especially at airports and other sectors dealing with huge numbers of people.
What stood out for me was the tutorial on the cutting edge 5G technology and how it will transform media landscape by facilitating face to face interviews across different geographical locations as well as the special coverage of events like typhoons and earthquakes will be enhanced. I long to see my media company embracing the 5G technology since it will promote media revolution.
Oh I have always watched the Great Wall of China tours on television, this time I got to experience it myself.
The feeling was overwhelming as I climbed though I was not able to even reach first watch tower due to panting, I laughed at myself, I however took many pictures that were splashed all over my social media platforms which received a lot of responses.
The visit to Yunan Province was amazing, the visit to the lakeside where we even had freshly cooked fish was an experience to remember. It got me thinking I want that technology when I build my house where I can cook in less than 10 minutes. I loved the different scrumptious meals I had with the different spices.. ooh my!
The people of Beijing and Yunan were so warm to us, even as we walked on the streets with other colleagues they gladly took time to answer our questions and even offered to take pictures of us as we posed in the streets.
Lets just say China was good to me, my perspective of China and the Chinese people changed instantly, all propaganda I have heard got erased. The staff who accompanied us throughout the programme embodied the warmth, kindness and loving spirit. For me a lady called Mandy stood out, from the first day when she received us at the airport to the final day, she was constantly checking on us, answering all of our many questions about China, where to buy what, where to get our nails done, she made us feel at home.
Chinese people are hardworking, I loved that the systems are all working, the train, the airports, the bikes; I was amazed by how people rent bikes on the streets from a mobile application and the way they just get parked on the streets and no one steals. Kudos!
The safety as well that I felt even when taking strolls in the dark as I experienced the feel of the street foods was a remarkable thing to experience, where I come from there are streets one can’t walk at night, I long for the day we shall get where China is as a country.
