Lingnan University hosts ‘Lingnanian Pop-up Café’ Celebration to connect with Alumni and taste the Lingnan legacy

Lingnan University's Alumni Relations Team of Office of Institutional Advancement and Public Affairs (OIAPA) has organised its first-ever month-long themed café at the Jao Tsung-I Academy (JTIA) in Lai Chi Kok from 24 August till 23 September. With the aim of “Sharing Lingnan History with the community”, the “Lingnanian pop-up café” features unique characteristics of Lingnan's culture, heritage, and development milestones, along with “Red Grey Special Menu” and “Reading Corner” with historical publications. This initiative aims to enable the public to gain insights into the university’s storied history and remarkable achievements while fostering connections among alumni and Lingnanians, inviting everyone to savor the Lingnan legacy while enjoying the aroma of coffee.

To commemorate this special event, a ceremony was held to mark the kick-off of the Lingnanian pop-up café at JTIA today (11 September). The opening ceremony was officiated by Mr Leung Man-kwong, Member of the Legislative Council, Mr Paul Wong Yan-yin, Sham Shui Po District Officer of the Home Affairs Department, and Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan. In his opening speech, President Qin emphasised that the history of Lingnan University is a treasure trove for all Lingnanians, which carries the passion and dedication of numerous predecessors to education. It also witnesses Lingnan’s growth, progress, and brings together the wisdom and emotions across generations of teachers, students, and alumni. “Over the past decade, our postgraduate student enrollment has increased by 9 times, demonstrating the growing reputation and influence of our university as a leading research-intensive liberal arts institution in Asia. Lingnanian pop-up café combines exhibition, social, and interactive elements with the theme of Lingnan history, which not only passes on the legacy of Lingnan but also serves as a window to showcase the treasures of Lingnan culture to the world,” said President Qin.

To immerse visitors in the historical ambiance of Lingnan, the themed café has been transformed into the “Lingnanian pop-up café”. The “Lingnan History Wall” portrays Lingnan’s development milestones from 1888 to the present day; an interactive voting game has also been set up in the café, where visitors can vote on different Lingnan elements, such as the spirit of “blood-red and iron-grey”, Lingnan history, and hostel life. The top three elements with the highest number of votes will be announced on Lingnan University’s official social media platforms after the end of the Pop-up Café.

Within the exhibition area, the Reading Corner houses rare publications and books written by Lingnanians from antiquity to the present day, allowing visitors to delve into the knowledge and history of Lingnan University. The café also offers “Red Grey Special Menu” including “Reading Lingnan’s Minds” and “Once-in-a-lifetime journey at Lingnan” to enable the public to savor the essence of the “blood-red and iron-grey” spirit and gain insights into what it means to be a loyal and steadfast Lingnanians. As a token of appreciation, all Lingnan University alumni visiting Lingnanian pop-up café will receive a complimentary red grey special drink by redeeming the special coupon, fostering alumni connections and a deeper appreciation for Lingnan’s cultural heritage.

In response to the needs of the expanding Lingnan community and student base, LU established the hostel and teaching and learning centre at JTIA in Lai Chi Kok in 2021 and inaugurated “Lingnan@WestKowloon” at M+ Tower of West Kowloon Cultural District in the 2023/2024 academic year, providing platforms for academic research and exchanges, as well as fostering cooperation between the university and the community.