The Brief of S4 Harbin Agriculture Study Tour

From July 19 to 23, 2026, our S4 Biology students traveled to Harbin for the “Soyvestors” Service Learning Trip under the Big Education Platform.Students stepped out of the classroom to explore how northern China’s agriculture drives national food security and impacts daily life in Hong Kong.

A major highlight was learning about black soil—often called the “Giant Panda of Arable Land”. Seeing its vulnerability brought lessons on conservation tillage, crop rotation with nitrogen-fixing soybeans, and soil protection laws to life. At Qixing Farm and the Beidahuang Technology Park, Students saw how modern farming has transformed. Watching the using of technology in action completely shifted their mindset: farming isn’t an outdated, backbreaking chore, but a high-tech, data-driven industry.

The trip also connected the dots between Harbin’s fields and Hong Kong’s dining tables.By visiting processing giants like the Nine Three Group and seed-breeding facilities at the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, students realized how high-tech agriculture acts as a vital shield against global food crises.

Beyond science, the trip offered rich cultural and social insights. Students walked along Central Street, admired the Russian-influenced architecture, and explored the Centennial Binzhou Railway Bridge. Seeing how an old railway used for transporting soybeans was repurposed into a scenic glass pedestrian bridge gave students fresh ideas for urban heritage preservation back home. They also visited the Paddy Field Observation Tower, where creative rice art turns traditional farms into thriving eco-tourism spots.

Through meaningful exchanges with peers at Northeast Agricultural University, students gained new perspectives on agricultural careers and scientific research. Ultimately, they returned home with a deeper appreciation for where our food comes from and practical ideas on how Hong Kong can adopt smart farming and urban vertical agriculture for a more sustainable future and the importance of sustainable agriculture in maintaining our country food security. This trip definitely enriched students learning in subject, agriculture, values and national security education.