Fang Yi's research interests lie in China's international relations history, modern Chinese business history, and the broad field of China and the World from the 17th to the 20th century. She is interested in how cross-border interactions, involving state-to-state relations as well as encounters between individuals, organizations, and societies, have transformed China from an imperial tradition into a globally engaged modern nation. Her current dissertation project focuses on economic and cultural exchanges between China and the United States in the early 20th century, examining China's participation in the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition as a pivotal moment for the nation's integration into the global business system and its economic modernization. Methodologically, she approaches history from a transnational and comparative perspective, blending vivid narrative detail with analytical frameworks to offer fresh conceptual insights. Prior to joining HKU, she earned an MA in History from The Chinese University of Hong Kong and a BA in English from Nankai University.