Internships in Beijing, China

I'll be completely honest — moving halfway across the world for an internship when you don't speak a word of the language is terrifying. The first week, I genuinely wondered if I had made a huge mistake. Navigating a new city, the sheer volume of people, the culture shock... it’s a lot. But the GAC team was the safety net I desperately needed. They didn't just dump me in an apartment and disappear. My local coordinator literally helped me set up my SIM card and showed me where to buy groceries on day one. My placement was at a fast-paced tech company. The work culture was intense and completely different from what I was used to back home — meetings were direct, and expectations were high. But my supervisor actually cared about my learning. By week three, I wasn't just fetching coffee; I was running data reports and sitting in on client strategy calls. The friends I made in the shared housing were the highlight of the whole thing. We were all in the same boat, so we became a little family, exploring night markets and surviving the language barrier together. Looking back, it was the hardest and most rewarding three months of my life. It forced me to grow up, adapt, and figure out what I actually want to do with my career. If you're on the fence because you're scared, I get it. But just go. You'll figure it out.

I'll be honest — the first week was rough. The language barrier hit me harder than I expected, and I remember standing in a supermarket in Shanghai completely lost, trying to figure out which bottle was shampoo. But that's exactly why I chose this. I wanted to be pushed out of my comfort zone, and GAC made sure I had support while I figured things out. My placement was with a business consulting firm, and my team was surprisingly patient with me. They'd slow down during meetings, write things out for me, and invite me to lunch even when I could barely keep up with the conversation. By week three, something clicked. I started understanding more, contributing more, and actually enjoying the chaos of it all. My manager even let me lead a small client presentation toward the end, which terrified me but ended up being the highlight of my time there. I left China with more than work experience — I left with a completely different mindset about what I'm capable of.

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to expect before going. I'd never been to Asia, and the idea of working in a Chinese company felt intimidating. But from the moment I landed, the GAC team was there — airport pickup, apartment sorted, everything. My placement was with a consulting firm in Shanghai, and within the first week I was already sitting in on client meetings and helping with research. My manager didn't treat me like "the intern" — she actually trusted me with real work. The office culture took some getting used to (meetings can be long!), but my colleagues were patient and always willing to explain things. I also took Mandarin classes twice a week, which helped more than I expected — by month two I could order lunch on my own. Three months flew by. I came home with actual experience on my CV and a lot more confidence.

I joined the program as a final-year business student from Zagreb, eager to gain international experience before graduating. GAC placed me with a consulting company in Shanghai, where I assisted with market research, competitor analysis, and client presentation preparation. My mentor was patient and always willing to explain how business relationships work in China, which was completely new to me. The team arranged my visa, comfortable accommodation, and even helped me navigate the metro system during my first week. I returned home with practical skills, a global mindset, and a much clearer idea of the career I want to pursue. I would recommend this to anyone serious about working internationally.

I joined the program as a recent business graduate from Rotterdam, hoping to gain international exposure before starting my career. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Shanghai, where I worked on market research and helped prepare client presentations for companies expanding into Asia. My mentor was supportive and always made time to explain how business is done in China — from relationship-building to negotiation styles. The team arranged my visa, accommodation, and even helped me settle into the city during my first week. I came home with practical experience, a wider perspective, and a job offer within two months.

As an economics graduate from Athens, I wanted to gain international experience before starting my career. GAC placed me with a business consultancy in Beijing, where I contributed to live market research projects for European clients looking to expand into Asia. My mentor guided me through every step — from data gathering to presenting findings to senior stakeholders. The GAC team made the entire process smooth: visa support, airport pickup, and a comfortable apartment in a central location. Weekly Mandarin lessons helped me navigate daily life with ease. After three months, I returned to Greece more confident, globally aware, and with a strong addition to my CV. I highly recommend this program to any young professional ready to grow.

As a management graduate from Poland, I wanted to see how business works in Asia. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Beijing, where I worked on real market entry strategies for international clients. I was involved in client meetings, data analysis, and presentation preparation. My mentor was incredibly supportive and explained the nuances of Chinese business culture. The team handled my visa, accommodation, and even organized weekend trips to the Great Wall. I returned home with confidence, new skills, and a job offer. Highly recommend!

As a business student from Amsterdam, I wanted to understand how global companies operate in Asia. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Beijing, where I worked on real strategy projects for international clients. My mentor gave me hands-on exposure to market entry plans and client presentations. The team handled everything — visa, housing, and even helped me set up a local bank account. Three months later, I returned to the Netherlands with practical skills and a clear career direction. Highly recommend this program.

After finishing school in Ireland, I didn't want to just travel — I wanted to do something meaningful. GAC's gap year program in Shanghai was perfect. I interned at a marketing agency in the mornings and studied Mandarin at Fudan University in the afternoons. The team arranged everything — my internship, classes, shared apartment, and weekend trips. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Highly recommend.

As a finance graduate from Zurich, I wanted hands-on experience in global markets. GAC placed me with an investment firm in Shanghai's financial district. I worked on real client portfolios, helped with market research, and sat in on strategy meetings. My mentor taught me how Chinese financial systems work — completely different from Europe. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment near the office, and organized weekend trips. Three months later, I landed a job in international banking. Worth every franc.

After finishing school in Denmark, I wanted something meaningful before university. GAC's gap year program in Beijing was perfect. I interned at a consulting firm in the mornings and studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons. The team arranged everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, and even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Best decision I ever made. If I get to do it again, I will certainly go with GAC's program.

As an engineering graduate from Milan, I wanted hands-on experience in manufacturing. GAC placed me with a tech company in Shenzhen where I worked on real production projects. My colleagues were incredibly supportive, and my mentor taught me how Chinese factories operate at scale. The team handled my visa, found me a modern apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I returned to Italy with practical skills and a job offer. Highly recommend for any engineering student. I came back knowing what would be next step in my career.

I graduated in international business from Lyon and wanted real experience in Asia. GAC placed me with a logistics company in Shanghai's Pudong district. I worked on real projects – analyzing supply chains, negotiating with suppliers, and presenting to clients. My mentor taught me how Chinese business culture works – fast, direct, and relationship-driven. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I returned to France with a job offer. Best decision I ever made.

After high school in Sweden, I wanted something more meaningful than just traveling. GAC's gap year program in Shanghai was perfect. I interned at a trading company in the mornings and studied Mandarin at Fudan University in the afternoons. The team handled everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, and weekend trips to Hangzhou. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Best decision I ever made and I will do it again If i get the chance to do so.

As a marketing graduate from Berlin, I wanted international experience before starting my career. GAC placed me with a PR agency in Beijing's central business district. From week one, I was working on real campaigns for international brands. My mentor taught me how Chinese social media works – completely different from Europe. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I landed a job in international marketing back in Germany. My China experience was the main topic in every interview.

I joined GAC's internship program as a marketing graduate from Milan. They placed me with a tech startup in Shenzhen, where I worked on social media campaigns and market research for Southeast Asian markets. My colleagues were incredibly supportive and patient with my limited Mandarin. The weekly language lessons helped me navigate daily life, and the weekend trips to Hong Kong and Guangzhou were unforgettable. The team handled everything from visa to accommodation. I returned to Italy with practical skills and a global network. Worth every penny.

As a business graduate from Paris, I wanted international experience before starting my career. GAC placed me with a consulting firm in Beijing's central business district. From week one, I was helping with market research, client presentations, and strategy meetings. My mentor taught me how Chinese business culture works – fast, direct, and relationship-driven. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I landed a job in international business back in France. My China experience was the main topic in every interview. Worth every euro.

After finishing high school in Norway, I wanted something more meaningful than just traveling. GAC's gap year program in Shanghai was exactly what I needed. I interned at a trading company in the mornings and studied Mandarin at Fudan University in the afternoons. The team arranged everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, and weekend trips to Hangzhou and Suzhou. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and a clear direction for my future. Best decision I ever made.

After finishing school in Sweden, I didn't want to rush into university. GAC's gap year program in Beijing was perfect. I interned at a marketing agency in the mornings and studied Mandarin at BLCU in the afternoons. The team arranged everything – my internship, classes, shared apartment, even weekend trips to the Great Wall and Xi'an. I came back with real work experience, improved Chinese, and job offers. Best decision I ever made.

After graduating in business from Madrid, I wanted international experience before settling into a career. GAC placed me with a logistics company in Shanghai's Pudong district. From week one, I was working on real projects – analyzing supply chains, negotiating with suppliers, and presenting to clients. My mentor taught me how Chinese business culture works – fast, direct, and relationship-driven. The team handled my visa, found me a great apartment, and checked in regularly. Three months later, I returned to Spain with a job offer and a whole new perspective. Best decision I ever made.