自1851年首届世界博览会在伦敦举行以来,数届世博会都没有中国人的代表正式参加。1876年美国费城举办的世博会上,中国参与的规模有所扩大,赴会的代表人员中总算有了一位中国人,这就是当时在宁波海关任职的李圭(1842—1903)。于是,李圭这个本来名不见经传的小人物,因为偶然的机遇,成为第一个以官方名义参加世博会的中国人。 Since the first World Exposition was held in London in 1851, none of the Chinese delegates took part in the several World Expositions. At the Expo held in Philadelphia, United States in 1876, the scale of China’s participation was expanded. Finally, there was one Chinese among the delegates attending the meeting. This was Li Gui (1842-1903), who was then serving in Ningbo Customs. As a result, Li Kyu, a little-known little man who, by chance, became the first Chinese official to participate in the World Expo.