With many Gen IIs returning to China this summer for vacations and internships, Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) hosted two dinner gatherings in Beijing this July to bring members together and strengthen connections within the community. Just one year ago, only three Gen IIs met up in Beijing—this year, more than 10 gathered across the two events, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for reconnecting in China. The first dinner was graciously hosted by TYCon Board Member and TYCon Gen I Liaison Gavin Ye, while the second was organized by TYCon Board member Rachel Ding at the local hidden gem, UH-Huh Bar. Both evenings were filled with great food, lively conversations, and a warm atmosphere as fellow Gen IIs—many whose parents attended Tsinghua University—shared experiences, built new friendships, and celebrated their shared heritage together in Beijing.

By Megan Zhang and Jason He On July 18th, 2026, Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) hosted its second annual Socal Pool Party. Over 20 Gen 2s (children of alumni) and some alumni came together and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon filled with food and community. With kids ranging from elementary school to postgrad (college), everyone was able to get along despite the age at. Thanks to a generous alumni Raymond Fu for hosting Socal TYCon Event! If any parents are interested in helping our hosting in the future, please be sure to fill out our parent interest form! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSca0UpDJrlARdMgKmCM4v5kTB4Y1NI3i0xlD05x2QmDJXz-Rw/viewform?usp=header This is part of TYCon’s core City Meetup series, the event reflected our mission to foster authentic, in-person connections among the children of Tsinghua alumni through inclusive and engaging programs. Please be sure to check out our website and register to be an official member of Tsinghua Youth Connect!

On June 25st, 2025, Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) hosted its first Socal Pool Party. Over 20 Gen 2s and some alumni (accompanying their kids) came together and enjoyed a relaxing afternoon filled with food and community. With kids ranging from elementary school to postgrad(college), everyone was able to get along despite the age at. Thanks to a generous alumni Raymond Fu for hosting our first event Socal TYCon Event! This is part of TYCon’s core City Meetup series, the event reflected our mission to foster authentic, in-person connections among the children of Tsinghua alumni through inclusive and engaging programs. A big thank you to our local organizers: Megan Zhang and Christina Fu! Next City Meetup: Los Angeles, July 26th!
RSVP here: partiful.com/e/q5e1aW7TaF8ACCfaWIXL
Join the Gen2 community: forms.gle/mc3EtNCftAvGMc2J8
Questions? Email us at tycon@tsinghua.org Let’s keep growing together!

by Shelby Xu Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) hosted its DMV Dim Sum & Friends gathering on June 27 at 1983 Chinese Cuisine in Arlington, Virginia, bringing together 19 Gen 1 and Gen 2 members from across the DMV area for an evening of food, conversation, and community. The evening started with boba and ice cream, giving everyone a chance to introduce themselves and get to know one another before heading to dinner together. Around the dinner table, attendees ranging from older elementary school students to young professionals shared stories about school, internships, careers, and personal interests while getting to know others across generations. Conversations flowed naturally throughout the evening, and many attendees had the opportunity to meet fellow members of the local Tsinghua community for the first time. The gathering reflected TYCon’s ongoing mission of fostering meaningful relationships among Tsinghua families and creating opportunities for the next generation to build a supportive and engaged community. Big thanks to our DMV Regional Leads Shelby Xu and Grace Li!

By Anthony Jin (Bay Area Regional Lead) Organized by Anthony Jin, Jialin Chen, Jeffrey Li, Alex Zhang, The Bay Area chapter for TYCon held its largest gathering to date at the Westfield Valley Fair Mall in Santa Clara. This event was aimed at granting a chance for Bay Area Gen 2s to come together and connect with one another in a casual setting. With the large number of students coming to the Bay Area for internships, as well as the recent growth in the Bay Area chapter thanks to the presence at the Tsinghua Alumni Anniversary event on 5/23. This event had a sizable turnout of over 20 Gen 2s, ranging from college-age to well into working life, and enabled the chapter to meet together for an enjoyable night of conversation and community. We hope to continue hosting events throughout the summer to capitalize on the higher concentration of Gen 2s over this summer period. We are incredibly grateful for the recent growth and increased activation within the Bay Area region, and hope to continue this energy throughout the summer. With the Pitch Competition coming up, as well as other events in development throughout the summer, these next few months are looking to be very lively within the TYCon Bay Area community!

On 5/23/26 Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) participated in the 115th Tsinghua Anniversary Event in partnership with the Silicon Valley Tsinghua Alumni Association at the Plug and Play incubator. With six representatives of TYCon volunteering at the event and promoting our various programs, the day was filled with excitement and hope for the future of TYCon in the Bay Area. The TYCon team at the venue included: Megan Zhang (President), https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganzhang188/ Raymond Yao (Director of Regional Ops) https://www.linkedin.com/in/raymond-yao-a8059927a/ Anthony Jin (Bay Area Regional Lead) https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-jin-416b1b247/ Maggie Qian (Director of Outreach) https://www.linkedin.com/in/maggie-weilin-qian/ Christina Fu (Volunteer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/christinafu-ca/ Jeffrey Li (Volunteer) https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-d-li/ The TYCon team arrived with three goals in mind: Spread the word of TYCon (Membership: https://forms.gle/dFAWnGpmqrLiTK7m7) Meet any Gen 2s and their parents Promote the TYCon Pitch Competition (https://www.tyconnect.org/pitchcompetition) happening on 9/12 in Silicon valley with TSVC The team started the day by manning our booth where we enlightened 100+ alumni on our goal of creating a professional and social network for the children of Tsinghua alumni. Our President Megan Zhang and Director of Outreach Maggie Qian gave a speech alongside the other sponsors hoping to cast a wide net and attract even more alumni. After a filling lunch in the pavilion, the President and Director of Regional Operations (Raymond Yao) presented in breakout rooms to give an in depth guide of what programs TYCon has and will offer in the future. Such programs include free city social events, mentorship programs, college consulting and our pitch competition. After the event, we enjoyed a nice dinner full of food and music with the alumni organizers and felt very grateful for the visibility and support we achieved that day. A special thanks to the Silicon Valley Tsinghua Alumni Association for hosting and giving us this wonderful opportunity to engage more with the Bay Area! For more information about TYCon events happening in the Bay Area and accessing the Wechat group, please contact Anthony Jin on Wechat: ant_jrz For more information about city meetups or any general questions, please email raymond.yao@tyconnect.org\

By Alexander Wang Spent the evening with members of TYCon in the LA region for a casual night out that ended up being one of those genuinely great hangouts. We started with dinner at Meizhou Dongpo in Century City next to UCLA, which never disappoints, and just caught up over food before heading back to a friend's place to keep the night going. Once we got there it turned into one of those conversations that just flows naturally, jumping from topic to topic with no real agenda. Good food, good people, good energy all around. Sometimes the best nights are the ones you don't really plan.

By Raymond Yao On May 3, 2026, approximately 15 Gen 2 members joined over 200 alumni at the Caltech Athenaeum Club for the annual Tsinghua Southern California Gala, which also celebrated Tsinghua University’s 115th anniversary. The event began at 10:00 AM with three concurrent forums covering topics such as digital media and online engagement, AI integration in medical devices, and developments in AI hardware. Around noon, a ceremony was held to commemorate milestone reunion classes from 2016, 2006, 1996, and 1986, as well as to welcome new members to the Tsinghua Southern California Alumni Association. Gen 2 attendees enjoyed a three-course lunch banquet held in the Athenaeum’s outdoor atrium, providing a relaxed setting to connect with alumni and peers. During the event, TYCon President Megan Zhang and Regional Operations Director Raymond Yao met with both current and past alumni event organizers to build relationships and explore opportunities for support and investment.

By Patrick Fang On April 26th, Georgia Tsinghua Alumni Association (TAAG) collaborated with Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) to host a large-scale dinner party to celebrate Tsinghua University’s 115th Anniversary at Yifan Restaurant Event Center at Johns Creek, GA. Many Gen I from Georgia and nearby states of South Carolina, Gen II, and young Gen I who graduated from Tsinghua in recent years and are pursuing their graduate’s degree at Georgia Tech and UGA participated in this reunion. Different generations shared their stories and memories connected to Tsinghua, reconnected with old friends, and broadly networked with each other. Many members of the Gen II community demonstrated their outstanding talent and endeavor in the arts and STEM. Performances include piano solo, violin solo, and violin duets. The repertoire ranges from Baroque fugues to Scandinavian and American 20th-century compositions. Team Turtlebots, formed by a few Gen II members, gave a pitch presentation to demonstrate their modified archeology support technological device. TYCon Atlanta Regional Lead, Patrick Fang, represented the Gen II community to give an introductory and fundraising speech for TYCon, and expressed thanks to the whole Tsinghua Gen I community that greatly supported and provided resources, connections, and vision for all Gen II members to grow and thrive. Young Gen II members had a great time meeting new friends and bringing their talent to their audience. Older Gen II and young Gen I members exchanged their past experiences and future plans, enjoying their meeting with other self-disciplined and ambitious youth. At last, everyone sang the Tsinghua anthem, commemorating the Tsinghua spirit and motto “Self-Discipline and Social Commitment” that lasted for more than a century. This anniversary event shared Tsinghua's values, significantly bridged the gap between generations, allowing Gen I to share their stories and Gen II to deeply recognize their heritage and demonstrate their talents and spirits, and has had a long-lasting impact on the Tsinghua community in the American Southeast. Special appreciation to the event organization team: Ms. He Han, president of TAAG, Ms. Ying Guo, and Patrick Fang, TYCon Atlanta Regional Lead, who planned the event, collaborated, and coordinated the Gen I and Gen II community in Georgia to successfully host this anniversary celebration event.

On February 7th, 2026, TYCon hosted a high-energy regional meetup in Irvine, California. As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen the Gen II community in Southern California, this event focused on fostering deep teamwork and problem-solving through a high-stakes interactive experience at the Irvine Spectrum Center. The afternoon centered on a "Challenge and Conquer" theme. Five Gen II community members volunteered for the facility's most difficult escape room mission. The experience pushed the group to their limits, requiring them to navigate "unglamorous" environmental puzzles—including searching through simulated metal toilets—and deciphering complex literary riddles. The group demonstrated exceptional sharp wit and synchronized teamwork, successfully unlocking the final door with only two minutes remaining on the clock. Following the adrenaline-filled victory, the participants gathered for a celebratory dinner, bonding over a vibrant feast of Singapore noodles and Hainanese chicken. The informal setting allowed members to transition from tactical cooperation to personal storytelling, reinforcing the shared values of the Gen II identity. Special thanks to the organizers, Jason He and Raymond Yao, for their meticulous planning and for leading the group to a hard-won victory.

Hosted on 12/13, the Winter meetup of the Philadelphia branch of Tsinghua Youth Connect(TYCon), brought together a total of 12 members, consisting of ten 2nd generation members, and two 1st generation parents. After a delicious meal at E-Mei, the group decided to grab some bubble tea at CHICHA San Chen. Unfortunately, the youngest participating member wasn’t feeling well, and had to leave shortly after, along with his 1st gen parent. Following a quick walk from CHICHA to the Christmas Village, the group took a group photo at the base of the dazzling Christmas tree. After quickly walking through the village, the group then decided it would be of best interest to split into smaller groups in order to visit the vendors they wanted to stop at the most. We said our goodbyes at the ice skating rink, and mostly went our separate ways in groups of 2-4

Tsinghua Youth DMV Meetup: Holiday Dinner Gathering By Shelby Xu The Tsinghua Youth Connect (TYCon) DMV community came together for a regional dinner meetup held as a family-style gathering at a local restaurant, RH Bistro. The event brought together second-generation members from across the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, along with a few first-generation alumni from the Tsinghua Alumni Association in Greater Washington, D.C. who joined to support the evening. Attendees began the night with informal introductions as dishes were shared around the tables. The family-style format created a relaxed environment that made it easy for participants from different academic and professional backgrounds to engage in conversation. The group included middle school and high school students, college students, graduate students, and early-career professionals, reflecting the wide range of ages and experiences within the local Gen2 community. As dinner continued, conversations naturally moved beyond introductions to topics such as school experiences, career paths, and travel experiences. Participants also exchanged thoughts on TYCon’s ongoing efforts to strengthen regional connections and organize future activities, including upcoming city meetups. Overall, the dinner provided an opportunity for members of the DMV TYCon community to connect in person, exchange perspectives, and build relationships that extend beyond a single event.