Last month, The Beijing Center hosted a culture event titled “A Taste of Spring: Tea Etiquette and Culture with Dr. Meng” as part of our 25th Anniversary celebrations. This event drew participants from various countries, including the United States, Sweden, and China. Even some friends from Hong Kong were able to make it! The event took place in our newly renovated and redecorated tea room, which is equipped with the latest technology to enhance the learning and class experience.
We were honored to have Dr. Cynthia Meng as our host for this event. With her expertise as a certified tea evaluator and 15 years of experience teaching tea and culture both in China and abroad, Dr. Meng guided the participants in the art of brewing their own tea ceremonies. She shared her expertise and insights into tea cultures from different regions across China, allowing participants to truly immerse themselves in the world of tea. It didn’t hurt that many of the students asked really interesting questions that kept the conversation flowing as much as the tea. Everyone walked away having learned something new, that’s for sure!
Participants tasted a dozen varieties of tea sourced from different regions of China and gained a profound understanding of the rich history and cultural significance associated with every tea variety. To commemorate the event, each participant received a gaiwan (a type of teacup) to continue their tea-tasting journey at home.
The Beijing Center regularly hosts events open to the public, including academic lectures, seminars, and various other activities. We welcome anyone who is interested in our activities, and please stay tuned for upcoming events by following our updates.
This is the first American edition of Anderson’s fascinating account of Britain’s first diplomatic mission to China in 1792. By the end of the eighteenth century the East India Company had been trading with Chinese merchants for two hundred years, but in a strictly limited way.
At the dawn of the Age of Enlightenment, as the 18th century drew to a close, the Western world was eager for knowledge—driven by a philosophical movement that championed reason and science. King Louis XV of France asked for the advice of his trusted Minister of State, Henri Bertin, about how to reform the spirit of the nation, after giving it some thought, Bertin famously responded, “Sire, to inoculate the French with the Chinese spirit.”