Our China in Context festival 2018 culminated in a book fair weekend from 15-18 March at China Exchange that welcomed hundreds of visitors. Alongside talks with leading authors, interactive activities, visitors could also explore a book fair with over 1000 titles.
Audiences explored the world of writing from and about China with talks with writers such as Raise the Red Lantern author Su Tong, British-Chinese writer Xue Xinran, and TV Chef and cookbook author Ching He Huang. In a sell-out event, Dr Malcolm McNeill from Christie’s auction house taught visitors how to ‘read’ classical Chinese painting, and eminent Historian Frances Wood delivered lectures introducing Chinese literature, and exploring the forgotten history of the Chinese Labour Corps.
Also on offer were free Mandarin classes, a drop-in family corner, calligraphy and painting demonstrations, poetry writing workshop, and the ever-popular Yaji – a Chinese cultural salon.