Taissia Haas is a student from the Faculty of Law at Universität Hamburg in Germany. She participated in the CESL Chinese Law International Summer School 2025. In this article, Taissia Haas shares her experiences in summer school.
From June 30 to July 11, 2025, I had the privilege of taking part in the CESL Chinese Law International Summer School organised by the China-EU School of Law (CESL) at the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) in Beijing. This unique programme brought together law students from across Europe and Asia to explore the Chinese legal system through a combination of academic study, cultural experiences, and practical engagement.
The programme began with a warm welcome and an orientation session at CUPL’s Changping campus, where we stayed during the Summer School. Experiencing everyday campus life at a Chinese university gave us an authentic impression of student life in China.
The campus at CUPL provides is fantastic and provides a great environment with plenty of opportunities for students to socialise and engage in sports activities. As the international students, we especially enjoyed using the tennis courts in the evenings.
Academically, we attended insightful lectures by esteemed professors on topics such as China’s legal traditions, constitutional law, and market regulation. These sessions deepened our understanding of the philosophical foundations and structural dynamics of Chinese law, and provided valuable comparative perspectives for our own legal education.
Our learning was further enhanced by visits to leading institutions, including Zhong Lun Law Firm, Xiaomi Corporation, and the Beijing Arbitration Commission. These visits allowed us to observe Chinese legal practice first-hand and engage with professionals from various fields.
Seeing how lawyers at an international law firm like Zhong Lun Law Firm experience work life in Beijing, the challenges they face and the solutions they find in different situations was really interesting.
Moreover, it was great to gain comprehensive insight into an international company such as Xiaomi, and to attend presentations held by Xiaomi’s legal employees from around the world. The presentations provided insights into real cases as well as their solutions and sparked engaging discussions with professionals about the role of law in a fast-changing economic and global context.
Culturally, we explored China's heritage through guided visits to places such as the China National Archives of Publications and Culture, the China Archaeology Museum, the National Arts and Crafts Museum and the Summer Palace.
A particular highlight for me personally was visiting the Great Wall at Juyongguan. Standing at this historical monument was both humbling and inspiring. This is a moment I will never forget.
Beyond the official agenda, we made the most of our time in Beijing. We visited the Temple of Heaven and the Forbidden City, explored local shopping malls, and had a lot of good conversations. We even had the chance to enjoy traditional Chinese cuisine, including a hotpot dinner that brought us all together in a spirit of laughter, curiosity, and shared experiences. What began as a group of strangers became a community of friends.
We also built connections with the Chinese student ambassadors who accompanied us throughout the programme. As many of the Chinese students will be studying in Hamburg starting in September, we are truly looking forward to welcoming them. We hope to offer them an equally memorable and meaningful experience in Germany.
It is worth highlighting that the entire summer school was extremely well organized, from the academic schedule and cultural excursions to transportation and daily communication.
The CESL Summer School has left a lasting impression on me. It has inspired me to continue exploring comparative law and to foster dialogue across legal cultures. It was more than just an academic programme, it was a transformative journey of learning, connection, and friendship.
Thank you to everyone involved in the organising this program. I am extremely grateful for this experience.
Photo and text: Taissia Haas
Assistant Editor: Shen Weiqi
Responsible Editor: MA Anna
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