All events listed here are manually curated for readers of What’s on Weibo, with a focus on Chinese (digital) culture, language, society, history, and broader China insights. Many of these events are hosted around the world.
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📅 Date: Saturday, August 9, 2025
🕒 Time: 1:00 PM (Doors open at 12:30 PM BST)
📍 Location: The Court House, 16 Quay Street, Bangor
🎟️ Tickets: £10 (incl. all fees) – Unreserved seating
🌐 Organizer: Open House Festival
Topics: History, China, Biography, Royalty, Literature
🏷️ Description:
Historian and bestselling author Paul French joins the Open House Festival for a captivating conversation on his latest book, Her Lotus Year, offering new insight into Wallis Simpson’s mysterious time in China. Known for his mastery of 20th-century Chinese history, French unpacks how this formative year shaped one of the most controversial women in British royal history. The talk draws on unique archival research and firsthand expertise from his years living in Shanghai.
📚 Her Lotus Year reveals untold stories of Simpson’s travels through 1920s Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Beijing—at a time of revolution, warlord rule, and cultural upheaval. Signed copies will be available for purchase at a 10% festival discount from Waterstones.
👥 All ages welcome (under 18s must be accompanied by an adult). Train-friendly location. Seating provided. For accessibility requests, please contact the festival in advance.