This talk will unpack the Qianlong Emperor's audience with the Macartney embassy in 1793.

This historical image captures the journey of the British Macartney Embassy to the Qing court, an endeavour aimed at opening a new chapter in Sino-British trade relations. This event was not only a milestone in East-West diplomacy but also a reflection of the Qing dynasty's cultural and politcal attitudes toward foreign relations.

Through this talk, you will transcend time and space to experience the diplomatic maneuvers of the 18th century firsthand, and reevaluate this profoundly influential moment of cultural exchange.

Drawing upon original images, manuscripts, and archival materials preserved in the British Library and the British Museum. The exhibition focuses on the visual records produced during the Macartney Embassy’s journey through China. It examines how these images were created, mediated, and circulated within specific historical contexts, and how they helped shape China’s image in early modern Europe.

Talk Information

• Time/Language: Saturday, January 31, 2026, 10:30 AM – 11:45 PM (Putonghua); 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM (English)

• Venue: GuWei Museum, 33/F, Global Trade Square, 21 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong

  / GuWei Library Lounge, 12/F, Unit 1206, Global Trade Square, 21 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen

• Speaker: Dr. Shanshan Chen

• Admission: Free (Registration required: Please refer to the event flyer and scan the QR code to register.)

Speaker Profile
Dr. Shanshan Chen is an art historian whose work explores the complex artistic and cultural interactions between China and the West. She holds a PhD in Art History from the University of Hong Kong, where she studied under Professor Greg M. Thomas. She was also awarded a fully funded doctoral fellowship at Princeton University’s Department of Art and Archaeology.