In ancient China, people used tea as means of social interaction and entertaining guests. While having tea, people relax their mind and live an artistic and poetic way of life. In this October, China National Tea Museum and EXPO Museum join their effort to create a 2-months special exhibition with the topic of “The delicacy of tea culture——Tea, EXPO and Life”. This exhibition was held in EXPO Museum.

　　Wu Xiaoli, the curator of China National Tea Museum claims that “the direct motive of collaboration between China National Tea Museum and EXPO Museum is to bring Chinese tea culture to metropolis Shanghai, and create an opportunity for visitors to intimately experience tea culture. The exhibition is very successful in terms of effect which is expressive. This is a combination of two Museums with complementary advantages.”

　　“it’s an privilege to cooperate with China National Tea Museum, there has been mutual corresponding between two museums, we integrate the research achievements of both museums and select representative collections to co-curate this exhibition.” Said by Liu Xiuhua, curator of EXPO Museum.

　　The exhibition join the advantage of both museums, it shows the history and connection between tea and EXPO. The exhibition reviews the glorious history of tea’s participation in EXPO as the symbol of traditional Chinese agricultural product and culture. Tea has won many prizes and honors in EXPO. The exhibition also provide experience for tea trade and marketing nowadays. The exhibition present everything about tea using six sectors: the history of tea; the spread of Chinese tea; tea’s reputation in the word; tea and EXPO; tea lifestyle; the future of tea;

　　The first section of the exhibition is about tea’s history. It enables visitor to understand the history of Chinese tea. The story goes that it was Shennong Ye who first discover and exploit the use of tea. Tea was used as medicine and food before its final usage. It was not until Jin dynasty that tea set was made. The handled celadon glaze small cup which emerged in Jin, southern and Northern Dynasties can be viewed as the first tea set.

　　country try that discover tea tree and made use of tea around the world. Tea and its culture in every corner of the world were originated in China.

　　Chinese tea mix with different culture after crossing boundaries. It has many variation and transformation in different countries. World’s tea culture was initiated by china and uphold by other nation and regions, such as Japanese Hojicha and English afternoon tea.

　　World EXPO is the product of modern western civilization, which was first held by European countries. In late Qin dynasty and early china republic era, Chinese people called EXPO “religious processions”. China’s connection with EXPO can be traced back to mid-19th century, and so was tea’s, the relationship between expo and tea was deeply rooted. In tea and EXPO section, the tea-set exhibited in every EXPO is presented.

　　Old Chinese sayings indicate that tea plays a very important part in Chinese people’s lifestyle no matter what their social status. The tea lifestyle section vividly shows the tea life from ancient time to nowadays.

　　In the last section: the future of tea, visitors can appreciate the most creative tea-set design, and look forward to future tea culture development. The spread of tea is not limited to just a cup of tea. Chinese people’s selection of tea; preference of tea-set; perseverance of tea seat; and exploration of tea space all contribute to the transcend of tea to share tea via aesthetic and design.

　　The curator of china national tea museum introduces :”We will hold a tea and EXPO exhibition in china national tea museum using a different perspective. This creates an double exhibition concept. Chinese tea culture goes to Shanghai, and on the other hand is the relation between EXPO and tea. It is abundant and characteristic to show traditional chinese culture and tea culture communication via the collection of EXPO museum.

　　This exhibition ended at Oct 31st, the 2.0 version of this collaborate effort between china national tea museum and EXPO museum will be held at china national tea museum in Hangzhou.