Reference News Network, January 6 report. According to the website of the U.S. "Wall Street Journal," on January 3, Yang Xingyue (phonetic) heard that the tech company Xiaomi offers free visits to its electric vehicle factory, and immediately put everything aside to apply for the visit.

The chance of being selected is not high. In January 2025, Xiaomi launched an online lottery activity, opening its highly automated factory in the suburbs of Beijing for people to visit, which attracted a large number of local residents and tourists. The news spread quickly on social media. Internet celebrities hoping to take eye-catching photos, as well as parents hoping to inspire their children's interest in technology through the robotic production line, all joined the battle for the visit.

From December 2025 to January 2026, more than 100,000 people participated in over 200 rounds of lottery visits, making it harder to enter this electric vehicle factory than to get into some competitive universities.

Yang Xingyue, an automobile enthusiast, wanted to bring her two-year-old son to visit the factory up close. To her surprise, she was selected in March 2025, allowing her to bring up to two people with her.

The 35-year-old content creator said, "I was really lucky."

However, her son couldn't go with her, as Xiaomi requires children to be at least six years old to visit. She brought a friend and planned to come back when her son was older.

This was Yang Xingyue's first visit to a factory. During the tour, she saw automated robotic arms in the workshop. According to Xiaomi, the factory produces a new car every 76 seconds. She said the visit gave her a new understanding of the speed of China's technological development.

She said, "This is a very advanced factory. At that moment, I thought, 'Oh, this is how cars are made.'"

This is one of the reasons why industrial tourism is rising in China. This country, once known as the "world factory," has now become a leader in the global high-tech field, using this to stimulate people's pride in its high-tech manufacturing. Beijing has also set a goal to reach 20 million industrial tourism visitors annually by 2027.

At the same time, in a fiercely competitive market environment, Chinese companies are seeking new ways to connect with customers. People are flocking to factory tours offered by companies such as NIO electric vehicles, Mengniu Dairy, and Tsingtao Beer.

Xiaomi launched its first electric vehicle in 2024. Considering the increased demand for student visits during winter break, the company added more visit sessions in January 2026.

A mother who successfully booked a visit last month said that they came from Hebei Province nearby to visit, and the trip was worth it seeing her daughter's eyes light up while in the factory.

She wrote on the social platform Xiaohongshu: "The best education is to let children witness the power of technology firsthand, which is more effective than telling them 'study hard' 100 times."

Parents hoping to spark their children's interest in science and engineering exchange secrets about how to secure a visit. One tip is: be sure to answer Xiaomi's call.

Before entering the workshop, visitors must place their phones in sealed bags, and photography and video recording are prohibited inside the workshop. Tour buses take visitors through the high-speed mechanical arms and machines.

Afterward, visitors have many opportunities to take photos and can even test drive the Xiaomi SU7. Visitors can also eat in the factory cafeteria, where meal sets are available for about $2.

The exhibition hall has become a popular spot for "checking in." "Checking in" refers to tourists specifically going to certain places to take photos and then posting them on social media to gain online attention.

Ma Rui, founder of the website "China Tech Trend," organizes Chinese study tours for global investors. She has been invited to visit Xiaomi and NIO factories. Seeing Chinese children visiting tech companies and industry exhibitions inspired her to organize science and engineering education trips for outstanding middle and high school students around the world.

Ma Rui, who currently resides in Silicon Valley, also hopes to take her children to visit factories like Xiaomi, but she has to wait a few more years because her children are three and one years old respectively. (Translated by Liu Zongya)

Original: toutiao.com/article/7592070405641437759/

Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.