history

A new book examines a quirky 1907 Peking to Paris car race

Kassia St Clair’s The Race to the Future (John Murray, 2023) might just be the perfect read for the China…

6 months ago

The British man who helped the Communists fight Japan

David Law, Academic Director of Global Partnerships at Keele University, shares a touching story of commitment, courage and cross-cultural romance…

7 months ago

Doing Business in China’s Hidden Century

A new exhibition at the British Museum encompasses China's transformation as it suffered through two Opium Wars, the colonial occupation…

10 months ago

Is Hong Kong still a thriving multicultural city?

As she releases her new book, Fortune’s Bazaar, author Vaudine England meets up with Paul French in Hong Kong’s famous Foreign…

11 months ago

In conversation with Unilever: 100 years in the China market

In the lead-up to two events in Beijing and Shanghai celebrating the 50th anniversary of UK-China ambassadorial relations, FOCUS speaks…

1 year ago

Britain’s hidden debt to the Chinese in WWI

The story of the Chinese Labour Corps (CLC) during World War One is both touching and fascinating. As the political…

1 year ago

Jiang Zemin’s history of relations with the UK

Following the death of former president Jiang Zemin, we take a look at the leader's relations with the UK; from…

1 year ago

The challenges and opportunities of shipping fine art to China

The story of the return of two priceless Ming artefacts to the Shanghai Museum demonstrates the challenges – and importance…

2 years ago

How China saved the treasures of the Forbidden City during WW2

A new book by former BBC correspondent and novelist Adam Brookes describes the daring rescue of ancient treasures from the…

2 years ago

When was the first British Airways flight to China?

The first British Airways flight to Beijing was a key moment for the airline and for British business in general,…

2 years ago