Nanjing Art Institute Unveils Campus Coffee Spot in Shipping Containers

When students at Nanjing’s top art school wanted more than just another classroom corner for caffeine, they didn’t just ask for a café — they built one from scratch. Over a single summer break, a team of young designers transformed industrial shipping containers into a vibrant new hangout that blends coffee service with creative expression.

In just 32 days over the summer of 2015, a group of post-90s designers from Nanjing Art Institute’s School of Art and Design turned three shipping containers into "Nanyi Afternoon Tea," a multi-use coffee shop and creative hub now open on the university campus.

What Is the Nanyi Afternoon Tea Container Café?

The café, dubbed "Nanyi Afternoon Tea," is a three-container structure located on the Nanjing Art Institute campus. It combines coffee and tea service with a retail area for creative and cultural merchandise. The project was initiated by Professor Liu Weidong, the institute’s president, and executed entirely by students.

Why Did Students Build a Coffee Shop in Shipping Containers?

The initiative grew out of a desire to create a new kind of student space — one that serves drinks and doubles as a platform for art, innovation, and casual interaction. Shipping containers were chosen both for their industrial aesthetic and their practicality as modular, affordable building blocks. The project gave students hands-on experience in design and collaboration while giving the campus a fresh social anchor.

How Was the Project Built and What Does It Offer?

Over 32 summer days, the student design team assembled and fitted out the three containers to create a single cohesive venue. The finished space serves coffee and tea, and also displays and sells student-made cultural and creative products. It’s described as a “fashionable leisure creative space” — part café, part gallery, part innovation lab.

Who Was Involved and How Long Did It Take?

The project was led by Nanjing Art Institute President Professor Liu Weidong and carried out by a team of young designers — all post-90s students from the School of Art and Design. They completed the entire build during their 32-day summer break, transforming raw shipping containers into a functional and atmospheric campus destination.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Nanyi Afternoon Tea container café located?

The café is located on the campus of Nanjing Art Institute (Nanyi), in Nanjing, China. It’s a student-designed project situated within the university grounds.

Who designed the container café?

The café was designed by a team of post-90s students from the School of Art and Design at Nanjing Art Institute. The overall project was initiated and guided by Professor Liu Weidong, the institute’s president.

How long did it take to build the café?

The entire construction and interior fitting took 32 days, completed during the students’ summer break in 2015.

What does the café sell besides coffee and tea?

In addition to coffee and tea, the café features a display and retail area for creative and cultural merchandise, including student-designed products.

What was the goal of the container café project?

The project aimed to create a multifunctional space that offers more than drinks — it serves as a creative hub, an artistic platform, and a new social model for campus life.

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