Rediscovering China: A New Window for International Recruitment Travel
In 2026, ground game will matter most for recruitment in China. China remains a core source of self-funding undergrads and grads. Demand for overseas study is resilient, pulled by higher-quality programs abroad and pushed by a tough job market and a stressful domestic university system. After the pandemic and policy swings in the Big Four Anglophone destinations, students now compare more options and expect face-to-face engagement for clarity and reassurance.
Sunrise is lowering the barrier to get back on the road. For the 2026 cycle, we’re offering discounted tours across Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities to make in-person travel simpler and more affordable.
Why Ground Game Wins
Countries don’t recruit students; people do. In 2026, in-person outreach is the biggest driver of outcomes. Chinese families want strong educational and career pathways, clear guidance, and confidence on cost and ROI. Live conversations with admissions teams build trust, contextualize what families read online, and surface honest answers to tough questions.
The Competitive Reality
Since COVID, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Southeast Asia have surged by competing on cost, visas, and a more welcoming vibe. Volatility has been most visible in the US, from State Department rhetoric to Trump’s proposal to double Chinese enrollment. Yet I-94 data for Fall 2025 shows China holding up better than other top markets (-12% vs. India’s -44%). Institutions that stayed visible in China performed best: several Sunrise partner universities in the US grew China applications by ~30% last year, anchored by frequent travel. Rivals didn’t wait either: Hong Kong and Singapore recruit year-round on the mainland, and UK universities maintained in-country reps through the pandemic. By contrast, many U.S. schools paused travel for three years and only tiptoed back to Beijing or Shanghai, overlooking Tier-2/3 growth hubs that host 60% of China’s 972 international schools.
Policy headlines come and go. What you control, tactics and face time, matters most. Prioritize consistent, in-person engagement where families actually are.
Early Registration Opens with Up to 50% Savings
We're offering significant savings (up to 50%) for institutions that plan ahead. Register early to lock in the best rate for our 2026 tour.
The tiered pricing model is designed to reward early commitment and provide flexibility for universities planning ahead for the 2025–2026 recruitment cycle.
Reconnecting People and Possibilities
Geopolitics and travel limits changed outreach, but China’s student pipeline proved resilient. With borders open, this is the moment to replace online-only touchpoints with personal conversations. Sunrise’s 2026 China Tours go beyond Beijing/Shanghai/Guangzhou to momentum markets like Chengdu, Nanjing, and Wuhan, home to top schools and families eager for direct dialogue.
At Sunrise, in-person engagement is more than marketing; it rebuilds relationships and restores confidence in global mobility. Join us as we welcome the world back to China.
Join us as we welcome the world back to China.
Register early and save up to 50% on your 2026 Tour participation.