🌟 Fun Fact: Did you know that even though China's rulers were like "Nah, we don't need trade," their trade actually went up by 4% every year? It's like saying you don't like ice cream and then secretly eating it every night! 🍦

• The 18th and early 19th centuries saw a 4% annual rise in foreign trade.
• The result? Coastal and river ports in China became the "cool kids" on the block! 😎

• Furs - Fluffy and fashionable!
• Tobacco - The 18th-century vape.
• Porcelain - Fancy plates and more, perfect for posh dinners.
• Silk - The smooth, stylish fabric of the elite.
• Tea - Ah! The champion! Especially white tea.

🕰 Throwback: By the late 18th century, Brits were so crazy about white tea that in just ONE generation, it became China's top money-making export. Imagine the craze for avocado toast, but for tea!

• Europe was having a major fangirl moment for all things Chinese. This craze (called Chinoiserie) was like the olden times' version of K-pop fever!
• Result? China's silk and porcelain exports boomed. Because who wouldn't want a silky robe with a cup of tea on a porcelain plate? 🍜