Regarding the origins of China’s relationship with World Expo, for a very long period, it was thought the earliest Chinese to personally see World Expo was called Wang Tao, personally experiencing World Expo 1867 Paris. However, the latest research report from the Contemporary History Archives has overturned this viewpoint. The report holds that Chinese took part as early as the first World Expo in England.

Zhang Wei and his colleagues at the Shanghai Library Contemporary History Archives recently discovered in the genealogical records of the Xu family of an overseas products buyer called Xu Deqiong who in 1851 went and took part in the England World Expo and won a gold award. Then, Zhang Wei also discovered an 1852 publication of the British Royal Academy in which there was strong evidence. In this record, there was a special section devoted specifically to China which basically said that Rongji Silk from Shanghai had gained favorable comment from all quarters for its fine quality and that the Awards Committee had decided to grant a prize medal to Rongji Silk. This discovery pushed back the historical origins of China and World Expo a full 16 years. These rare and precious historical records will be shown at the World Expo Knowledge Exhibition.