In mid-March, a group of students and faculty from the MBA program at the University of Hong Kong embarked on a journey of cultural exploration through TBC’s ChinaContact program, starting with a tour to TBC. They visited various companies in Beijing, immersing themselves in the local work atmosphere and corporate culture. Along the way, they experienced the majestic beauty of ancient palaces at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, feeling the profound history of China. They also visited the Great Wall, experiencing the magnificent grandeur brought forth by this historical monument.
In addition, they visited the Beijing Fenglei Peking Opera Troupe, which boasts a history of over 60 years. There, not only did they enjoy a splendid Peking opera performance, but they also tried their hand at painting Peking opera facial masks, deeply appreciating the unique charm of this traditional Chinese art form.
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.”