Mr. Wu shared with the audience that it was necessary to uncover the hidden colonial past of Guangzhouwan not only because it was the meeting point between the French colonists and local Chinese merchants during the maritime period in South China but also because it vividly reflected dynamic interrelations between the Chinese, French, and Vietnamese individuals during the IndoChina period. He demonstrated to the audience the colonial records he had collected from the French archives and libraries.

Figure 1 & 2: The guest speaker, Mr. Wu Ziqi and his work, "Oral History of Guangzhouwan: A Territory with Plural Narratives"

The lecture was hosted by Dr. Wei Chin Wong and supported by Professor Jocelyn Ford, Dr. Yegor Grebnev, and all the students from a major required course “CCGC3033 History of Sino-Foreign Cultural Exchange” from the Communication Department; Prof. Chao Huang from the Jinan University, Dr. Feng Cui and Miss Xun Wang from the National University of Singapore.

Figure 3, 4, 5 & 6: The attendees asked questions during the Q & A session.

As the lecture concluded, the audience gained valuable insights into the fascinating history of Guangzhouwan and its significance in the context of dynamic interactions between China, France, and Vietnam. Through Mr. Wu Ziqi's engaging presentation, they explored the hidden colonial past of Guangzhouwan, its role as a meeting point for different cultures, and the diverse narratives it encompasses. The audience also appreciated the importance of oral history as a research method in recording local history and preserving cultural heritage. Overall, this speech deepened the audience's understanding of the history of Sino-Foreign cultural exchange during the colonial period and sparked their interest in further researching the history of Sino-Foreign cultural exchange. 

Figure 7: A group photo

Acknowledgment:

Department of Communication, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Reporter: Frida Zhang

Photos: Kasy Wei & Feiyu Chen

Editor: Wei Chin Wong