The 2026 London Book Fair was recently held at Olympia London. The English edition of Beyond the Teacup: 18th Century Sino-British Tea Trade and Design Cultural Exchange, compiled by Zhang Chi, an associate professor at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology, made its global debut at the event. Zhao Fei, Minister-Counselor at the Chinese Embassy in the UK, and Niels Peter Thomas, Managing Director of Springer Nature, engaged in discussions on Sino-British academic exchanges.

2026 London Book Fair

Translated by Li Tianqi and Zhang Chi, the book delves into the 18th-century Sino-British tea trade, examining the spread and evolution of tea culture and design in Britain, and exploring the cross-cultural influence of Chinese design.

English Edition of the Book

Zhang Chi shared her insights on the study of tea and design culture. The global launch of this English edition marks a significant achievement in the international academic publishment at Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology (BIFT). It reflects the institute's promotion in design disciplines and international exchanges, while also contributing to the discourse on Chinese design scholarship and the innovative development of traditional culture.

Zhang Chi's Speech