Monday, December 7, 2026, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
Have you ever wondered where the tea thrown into Boston Harbor came from? The answer leads far beyond the American Revolution. In 1776, while George Washington fought for American independence, the Qianlong Emperor ruled one of the world's wealthiest empires. Though separated by vast oceans, America and Qing China were already connected through tea, porcelain, silk, and global trade. Step into these two remarkable worlds and discover how people lived, governed, traded, and dreamed on opposite sides of the globe. Learn why Chinese tea helped spark the Boston Tea Party, how global trade connected continents, and listen in on an imagined conversation over tea between Abigail Adams and the Qing poet Luo Qilan.
Leave with one unforgettable image: America's founders raising cups of Chinese tea from delicate Chinese porcelain while their wives wore elegant gowns fashioned from Chinese silk. Without realizing it, they were already part of a global network linking two great civilizations. Discover the surprising connections between Washington's America and Qianlong's China—and see 1776 through a global lens.
This live event will involve both a presentation as well as a live performance.
Our presenters are Dawn Li, Ph.D. and Janis Harless. Dawn Li is a writer, educator, author and entrepreneur. Born in China and educated in both China and the United States, she taught at Peking University and later taught Chinese culture at The George Washington University. Her presentations bring China's rich cultural traditions to life through history, storytelling, and a cross-cultural perspective.
Janis Harless is a historian, educator, and living history interpreter with more than two decades of experience bringing eighteenth-century America to life. She taught U.S. history in Fairfax County Public Schools before becoming a docent and living history interpreter at Gunston Hall.
This in-person event will take place in the Auditorium at Arlington Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy Street. Parking is available in the adjacent outdoor lot entered on 10th Street or the parking garage entered from Quincy.
This event is free and open to all. Registration is required as seating is limited. If you are not an Encore Learning member, email info@encorelearning.net to register.
This is an Encore Learning Presents event, co-sponsored with the Arlington Public Library.
We look forward to seeing you there! Please email questions to info@encorelearning.net.