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China Focus: Young Chinese sip cocktail of knowledge in "academic pubs"

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E-mail Xinhua, November 01, 2024

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by Xinhua writers Huang Yuzhang, Jiang Shengxiong

BEIJING, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- When Lin Si'an, 27, attended a lecture in a pub in Beijing, an unexpected venue for such academic events, she never imagined it would ignite her passion for the history and culture of Central Asia.

It was a lively setting where a well-dressed audience sipped cocktails and watched large screens as the speaker, who has rich experience in field research in Central Asia, shared his findings amid the dim lighting and the sound of clinking shakers.

Lin, who works in the automotive industry, noticed that many attendees appeared to be college students. Their engaged expressions evoked her memories of campus life.

"It was an amazing experience to engage in a cultural discussion that scholars brought from the classroom to this venue," said Lin, praising the speaker for weaving interesting stories with professional insights. She actively participated in the session and had the opportunity to pose questions to the speaker.

This lecture is part of the growing trend known as "academic pubs," where experts from various fields, particularly the humanities and social sciences, are invited to deliver lectures and engage in discussions with the audience, a format that already exists in countries like the United States.

The concept began gaining traction in China this June, and as these pubs continue to emerge in large cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, they have become a popular choice for many young Chinese in their free time.

On the Chinese lifestyle-sharing platform Xiaohongshu, the hashtag "academic pub" has garnered over 2.6 million views, with some trending posts receiving thousands of comments.

Many came to know of these pubs through social media recommendations. "I was really curious to find out how academic discussions unfold in a bar setting," said Zhang Yunkai, a postgraduate student in Beijing.

Caidao (pseudonym) is the co-founder of "Universe Lounge," an academic pub based in Beijing that aims to blend contrasting elements. The pub's location in Wudaokou, a neighborhood famous for its popularity among college students and proximity to Tsinghua University and Peking University, gives it a significant edge. Caidao believes that with this location, he gets to understand the needs of scholars and students, who make up a large portion of the visitors.

Unlike typical establishments, the pub's walls are adorned with posters promoting lectures from nearby universities, while chairs and stools are arranged to face screens displaying PowerPoint slides. The shelves are filled with hundreds of carefully selected books, and stone or metal statues of historic figures are thoughtfully placed throughout the space.

Caidao explained that the interior decor is designed to foster an environment conducive to exchanging knowledge and ideas in his academic pub, which has seen a growing number of customers.

"Without the lectures, we could sell about 40 glasses of cocktails on a weekend night, but the figure has doubled since we began hosting such academic events," he said.

To date, 13 lectures have been held in this academic pub, covering a wide range of topics from the evolution of Chinese-American immigration history and literature to the ethical risks of embedding artificial intelligence in medical diagnostics, with the venue packed with visitors each time.

The reasons young people are drawn to academic pubs vary. For many, the combination of studying and relaxation is appealing. "This place allows me to leave all my work stress behind and gain new perspectives in a carefree manner," said a 24-year-old college graduate surnamed Lyu.

For Zhao Yuancheng, who works at an internet giant, the charm of academic pubs lies in their ability to foster in-depth conversations and bring people together. He participates in events that pique his interest and seeks to meet like-minded individuals, describing this experience as a "recharge" for his spirit.

According to Li Xiaokai, a doctoral student at Beijing Normal University, it is fascinating to see how academic pubs foster bonding among people. He said he was once invited to host a lecture named "Quantitative Research on Intellectual History," where he met students from various universities and disciplines who shared a passion for the subject. "They engaged with one another during my lecture and still maintain contact online."

According to Dong Chenyu, an associate professor at Renmin University of China, the rise of academic pubs reflects young people's growing desire for high-quality social connections. He noted that such pubs have the potential to serve as a "third place," a social setting outside of home and workplace where people gather to equally engage in public discussions.

For Lu Ziqi, who teaches economics at a university, academic pubs also serve as a unique platform for young scholars like him to share their research with a broader audience and enhance its impact. "If you manage to cook a delicious meal, you'll be happy to share it with others," he said.

Guan Mengting, an academic pub organizer in Beijing, believes that the primary purpose of an academic pub is to ensure more people gain access to scholarly studies.

However, challenges remain for this emerging cultural offering. "It is not easy to keep finding good topics and lecturers," Guan admitted, adding that a sustainable profit model for academic pubs is still lacking, with most organizers driven largely by passion.

Despite the challenges, academic pubs continue to grow in popularity as the intellectual and cultural demands of young people increase. "There are many places for me to learn new things, but I still find academic pubs to be a great way of cultural communication," said Lin. "I hope more people will engage in this cultural form and benefit from it."

After attending a lecture at an academic pub recently, Lin described her experience as "magical" in a long social media post. Soon after, she saw a comment from a friend she had met in a dance class: "I will join you next time." Enditem