How 3 Shipping Containers Became a Campus Coffee Hub

When students returned to Nanjing Arts Institute this fall, they found an unexpected addition between the dorms: a bright, buzzy new coffee spot built from three steel shipping containers. But this isn’t your typical student hangout — it’s a fully operational café, art showcase, and retail space rolled into one, all built in less than a month by recent graduates.

Nanjing Arts Institute students now have a 60-square-meter café made from three shipping containers, designed and built in just 32 days by 12 young designers. Since opening August 28, it’s already pulled in around $10,000 USD in revenue.

A New Kind of Campus Café

The “Nanyi Afternoon Tea” café sits in a previously empty 300-square-meter lot between the international student dorms and female residences. The space now features eight white umbrellas shading tables under blooming flowers, while the main draw — the café itself — is built from three repurposed containers.

The café’s large street-facing windows and laid-back seating make it an inviting place for students to sip drinks, browse student-made goods, or just relax between classes. With its minimalist white-and-glass design, the container structure feels both industrial and modern.

What’s On Offer

Beyond coffee, tea, and milkshakes, the shop sells a rotating selection of quirky student-designed merchandise. Many items come directly from graduation projects, including cucumber- and sushi-shaped erasers, T-shirts and pencils printed with the school logo, and other imaginative takes on campus life.

The second floor adds to the charm: shaded lounge chairs, hanging plants, and a quiet book nook offer students a peaceful escape just steps away from their dorms.

How It All Came Together

The project was spearheaded by Liu Weidong, dean of the Art Design Institute, who envisioned a creative space that would engage students. After visiting design hubs in Shanghai and Taiwan for inspiration, a team of 12 young designers — most in their 20s — got to work.

In just 32 days over the summer break, the team transformed the raw containers into a functional, stylish café. The project kicked off as a hands-on learning experience and quickly became a campus landmark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who designed the Nanyi Afternoon Tea café?

The café was designed by 12 young designers from the Art Design Institute at Nanjing Arts Institute, most of whom are in their 20s. The project was led by Dean Liu Weidong and assisted by Assistant Dean Wang Yi, with inspiration drawn from creative districts in Shanghai and Taiwan.

How long did it take to build the container café?

The entire transformation from concept to completion took 32 days. The work was carried out over the summer break by the student design team.

What is sold at the Nanyi Afternoon Tea café?

The café serves coffee, green tea, and milkshakes, and also sells a variety of student-created cultural and creative products, many of which are based on graduation projects, such as stationery and apparel featuring original or school-themed designs.

How much revenue has the café generated since opening?

Since its opening on August 28, the café has earned approximately 70,000 RMB (around $10,000 USD) in revenue in just over two weeks of operation.

Where is the Nanyi Afternoon Tea café located?

The café is located between the international student dormitory and female dormitories on the east side of Nanjing Arts Institute campus, in a previously vacant lot that formerly spanned about 300 square meters.

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