A UK-based independent worldwide fellowship
Following the first year of implementing the ‘Reform and Opening-up Policy’ by the Global Chinese Academy Center in 2023, Professor ZHU Guanglei, a Lifetime Fellow of the Global Chinese Academy and former Vice President of Nankai University, visited the United Kingdom from August 2 to 11, 2024. This marked the first time the Academy hosted a Fellow from China. We hope that further exchanges with Professor Zhu will help expand our connections and influence with China and related academic circles, while also promoting the warm reception provided by the Fellows’ Home to Fellows and their families, setting an example for global Fellow receptions. Although Professor Zhu’s visit was brief, the entire experience is worth sharing here for the reference of Fellows and related units of the Academy worldwide.
1. Invitation Arrangements
In early June 2024, Professor ZHU Guanglei contacted me, indicating that he would be visiting the UK during the summer holidays. After communicating with Professor Peter Schröder, the Vice President for Fellowships, we jointly issued an invitation letter to President Zhu [Note 1]. The invitation letter clearly stated that, as a Fellow of the Academy, both he and his family were welcome to stay at our Fellows’ Home for a week free of charge (see item 12 of Fellowship benefits, which also includes several other benefits). Professor Zhu expressed his desire to expand his academic influence through his visit to the UK and interactions with the Academy. He also offered to deliver an academic lecture and provided two topics: ‘The Process and Logic of Government Function Transformation’ and ‘Ten New Characteristics of the Changing Class Structure in China at the Current Stage.’ Since his itinerary also included extensive exchanges with the University of Glasgow, he planned to visit Glasgow first and then proceed to London. While he expressed his gratitude to the Academy, he had already booked a hotel and therefore would not be staying at our Fellows’ Home. We regret this and hope to use this opportunity to widely promote the Fellow benefits offered by the Academy. This way, in the future, Fellows and their families can avoid incurring additional expenses for accommodation and transportation when they visit London, as was the case with President Zhu and his family.
2. Glasgow Activities
Based on Professor Zhu’s itinerary, they were in Glasgow from August 2 to 7, where their activities were hosted and arranged by Professor Jane Duckett, Director of the Scottish Centre for China Research in the Department of Politics at the School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Glasgow. Here, we will share just two examples.
The following photos show scenes from Professor Zhu’s visit to Glasgow City Hall. The photo on the left was taken in a meeting room or council chamber, where the ornate woodwork reflects the Victorian era’s attention to detail, with intricate carvings that represent the architectural style and craftsmanship of that period. Stained glass windows, a major feature of the interior of Glasgow City Hall, depict symbolic patterns or city emblems, showcasing Glasgow’s history and culture. In the photo on the right, the ceiling’s carvings and paintings are exceptionally exquisite, with extensive use of marble and gold leaf decorations, highlighting the authority and wealth of the city government at the time. The large historical oil paintings and intricate iron railings further emphasize the significance of the City Hall as a symbol of urban power. As a symbol of the city, the City Hall reflects Glasgow’s historical and cultural development and social changes over different periods.
Due to Professor Zhu’s visit to South Korea, his vacation in the UK was postponed to early August, overlapping with the visit of Professor ZHAO Kejin, Vice Dean of the School of Social Sciences at Tsinghua University, to Glasgow. With the help and coordination of Professor Zhu, a meeting between Professor Jane Duckett and Professor Zhao Kejin was arranged. The following photo, from left to right, shows: Professor Zhao’s wife, Duo Long (Foreign Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow), Professor Jane Duckett, Professor ZHAO Kejin, Professor ZHU Guanglei, and Professor ZHOU Shen (Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute and Economics Professor at Nankai University). Afterward, they toured the campus with the staff of the Confucius Institute.
3. Activities in Central London and Surrounding Areas
Around 7 pm. on August 8, I visited the hotel where Professor Zhu and his family were staying in Willesden Green to welcome them. Thanks to Professor Zhu’s thoughtfulness, the postcode is NW2, just a 20-minute drive from the GCA Fellows’ Home (NW7). In a city as vast as London, you could almost call us neighbours! Inspired by the traditional Chinese intellectual ideal of ‘reading ten thousand books and traveling ten thousand miles,’ I added two more phrases: ‘dining on international cuisine and making friends from all corners of the world.’ I chose a nearby Turkish restaurant, Lezziz Charcoal Grill, to host them. The restaurant has a simple yet warm decor and offers authentic Turkish kebabs and a variety of Mediterranean dishes. The top left photo shows our ‘big family photo’ (from left to right): Professor Zhu’s son, daughter-in-law, wife, granddaughter, Professor Zhu himself, and me. After enjoying a rich Mediterranean salad, the barbecue feast that followed was about twice the size of what’s shown in the bottom left photo, and the desserts and tea that came afterward were also quite special.
During the meal, we discussed the differences between Chinese and Turkish cuisine, from their forms to their content, and appreciated their attitude of ‘admiring the beauty of others’ and ‘harmony in diversity’ (Fei Xiaotong’s term). Professor Zhu mentioned that restaurants in the UK are livelier than those in China. However, on the way back after dinner, I noticed that quite a few restaurants were rather quiet, which suggests that my choice was not bad, and everyone seemed quite satisfied. I believe that time abroad is precious, and aside from clothing, the experiences of food, accommodation, and travel should all differ from those in our home country.
From August 9 to 10, accompanied by friends and the Academy’s Operations Manager, David Liu, Professor Zhu and his family visited various attractions in London and the surrounding areas.
On the afternoon of the 10th, Professor Zhu and his family came to GCA Fellows’ Home, where they received a warm welcome. The following photos, from left to right and top to bottom, show: me giving a brief introduction to the day’s activities; Professor Zhu presenting a gift to the Academy. He explained that it is a ‘Lotus and Surplus’ New Year painting from Yangliuqing, Tianjin [Note 2], and he wished it would bring good fortune to the Global China Academy. Following this, Professor ZHAO Kejin presented small gifts to both me and Ingrid Cranfield, the former chair of the Academy’s Board of Trustees and the president of Global Century Press.
The following is an expanded ‘big family photo,’ which includes three generations of Professor Zhu’s family (five members) and a friend, Professor Zhao’s family of three, and four staff members from the Academy. In addition to Ingrid and me, the photo also includes Operations Manager David Liu (fourth from the right in the back row) and Project Manager Li Yu (first on the right in the back row). I appreciate both of them for driving and accompanying the two families on visits to Oxford and other places respectively.
Next is free discussion time (see photos below).
The dinner was a Western-style meal, held in two separate dining rooms: 10 people in the main dining room, and Professor Zhu’s son and his family of three in the garden dining room (as shown in the top left and right of the photos below). It was only afterward that we realized the three courses represented a combination of Italian, French, and British flavors.
- The starter consisted of two parts: one part was a Mediterranean-style seasoned avocado, where the avocado was halved and pitted, then drizzled with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, and sprinkled with black pepper. This dish highlighted the creamy texture of the avocado and its subtle nutty flavour, while the tanginess of the balsamic vinegar and the fruitiness of the olive oil added layers of complexity. The other part of the starter was a beetroot salad with basil and cashews, made with beets handpicked from a nearby farm, boiled, and then mixed with fresh basil leaves and cashews, all tossed in olive oil to create a refreshing salad with a hint of nutty flavour.
- The main course: Since Professor Zhu mentioned he wanted to have grilled fish, we prepared gratinéed salmon with samphire, buttered potatoes, and purple sprouting broccoli. This dish incorporated many classic elements of French cuisine and can thus be classified as a French-inspired dish.
- Dessert: Apple and blackberry pie with cream, all homemade by Ingrid. This is a classic British dessert, combining the sweetness of apples with the slight tartness of blackberries. The pie had a crispy crust and a juicy filling, complemented by smooth, rich homemade white cream. The white of the cream contrasted beautifully with the golden pie crust and the deep red-purple of the fruit filling, enhancing the overall dining experience. The combination of the creamy milk flavour and the fruity aroma of the pie created a striking taste contrast, offering a very comforting culinary experience. [Note 3]
Most importantly, every apple and blackberry used to make these two pies was handpicked by Ingrid herself. We hope that our Fellows and their families can truly feel at home at the GCA Fellows’ Home and take away fond memories of familial warmth.
After dinner, having coffee and tea—a dining habit that combines elements of health, tradition, culture, and social interaction—added much enjoyment and benefit to the evening. The following photos show scenes of everyone chatting and drinking from the dining room to the garden, with everyone leaving fully satisfied.
The photo on the bottom right was taken the next morning when I went to Professor Zhu’s residence to bid farewell to his family. When asked if he felt homesick after coming to the UK, he replied, ‘My whole family is here, and we’ve enjoyed the home-like hospitality at the Fellows’ Home, so of course, I’ll miss this home!’ As I watched the minibus take Professor Zhu and his family to the airport, I felt a deep sense of admiration for the seamless coordination among our colleagues and team during this first-time reception of a Fellow and his family at our Fellows’ Home.
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