Marking an inspiring start to the 2026 – 27 academic year, the HKPM – PolyU Joint Chinese Textile Centre (JCTC) PolyU team has kicked off a dynamic series of academic offerings. Ranging from an interdisciplinary General University Requirements (GUR) undergraduate course to frontier postgraduate textile technology research, JCTC continues to bridge profound historical inquiry with cutting-edge digital innovation on campus.
Bridging Classrooms and Museums: Dr. Shi Liu's New Maritime Silk Road Course
On 3 September 2026, Dr. Shi Liu (Research Assistant Professor of JCTC) launched her new General University Requirements (GUR) Cluster-Area Requirement (CAR) course offered by the Department of Chinese History and Culture (CHC), “China and the Maritime Silk Road (中國與海上絲綢之路).”
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A cornerstone of the curriculum is its focus on silk and material culture. Integrating historical artwork, trade paintings, and textile artifacts into lecture presentations, Dr. Shi highlights the pivotal role of silk, alongside porcelain, tea, and spices, in driving global trade and cultural exchange across the Maritime Silk Road. Open to all PolyU undergraduate students, the 13-week course has drawn over 40 students. Through an interdisciplinary lens, Dr. Shi guides students through the vital maritime networks connecting China to the global stage, exploring trade, technology, diplomacy, cultural exchanges, migration, religion, and art. |
Dr. Shi showcasing selected artifacts for the course during the session. |
Enriching in-depth academic exchanges, staff members from the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), including Ms. Sum Yin Yau (Associate Curator), Ms. Judy Zhu (Assistant Curator), Ms. Zofia Zhang (Associate Conservator), Ms. Mengyu Wang (Visiting Research Fellow), alongside Ms. Joyce Tse (Assistant Project Manager), will be joining the classes to foster active dialogue between university scholars and museum professionals. To complement classroom learning, students will also participate in an exclusive guided visit to HKPM to examine curated textile artifacts and heritage collections firsthand.
Empowering Design with Tech: Dr. Feng Qilong Spotlights AI Innovation in Textile Design
As part of the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT)’s postgraduate research course "Guided Study in Digital Printing in Textile Design" led by Prof. Jiang Kinor (Deputy Director of JCTC), Dr. Feng Qilong (Research Assistant Professor of JCTC) successfully delivered an inspiring guest seminar on “3D Printing and AI for Textile Design” on 11 September 2026.
Dr. Feng’s presentation highlighted the transformational power of AI technology in program coding and generative 3D modelling, illustrating how digital workflows are reshaping conceptual development and prototyping across the textile industry. Dr. Feng offers new paradigms for digital prototyping and rapid conceptual development to postgraduate research students. Complementing this computational focus, Dr. Liu Jing (Postdoctoral Fellow of SFT) introduced the core principles of additive manufacturing and evolving material behaviours essential for 3D structural textile design.
 Staff from PolyU’s University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP) introducing industrial fabrication equipment to guests. |
Dr. Feng presenting samples of 3D structural textile design to HKPM representatives, Ms. Judy Zhu (Assistant Curator, HKPM) and Ms. Joyce Tse (Assistant Project Manager, HKPM), during the guided session. |
To translate theory into practice, the seminar concluded with an exclusive guided tour of PolyU’s University Research Facility in 3D Printing (U3DP). This immersive visit gave attendees direct exposure to state-of-the-art industrial fabrication equipment, allowing them to see advanced design technologies in active execution.
The event also welcomed staff members from the Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM), including Ms. Judy Zhu (Assistant Curator) and Ms. Joyce Tse (Assistant Project Manager). Their presence highlighted the strong collaborative synergy between academic research, heritage presentation, and advanced design technologies within the HKPM-PolyU JCTC initiative. By fusing theoretical research with practical, technology-driven applications, Dr. Feng’s session delivered a compelling blueprint for the future of digital textile design.
Cultivating Excellence in Textile Heritage and Innovation
From examining ancient maritime trade networks with museum curators to mastering AI and 3D printing in the lab, JCTC at PolyU continues to champion an educational environment where cultural heritage and frontier technology converge. By connecting broad-based undergraduate education with specialized postgraduate research, the Centre remains committed to advancing and transforming the understanding of Chinese textiles across their artistic, cultural, historical, and technological dimensions.
