About
Dr Frances Wood is a Researcher affiliated with SOAS University of London and the British Library. She holds a PhD in Chinese domestic architecture from SOAS (1984) and a BA from Peking University. Her career spans over 35 years, focusing on Chinese cultural heritage, historical preservation, and the Silk Road.
Education: PhD in Chinese Domestic Architecture (SOAS, 1984), BA in Chinese (Peking University), and foundational studies at Cambridge University and Beijing Language Institute.
Research interests center on Chinese architectural history, Silk Road cultural exchanges, and the preservation of historical collections. She pioneered digitization of the Stein Dunhuang collection at the British Library and authored over 20 books including Did Marco Polo Go to China? (1996) and The First Emperor (2007). Recent work explores transnational intellectual networks through Mah-jong in Maida Vale (2021).
Awards include the 2023 Special Book Award from China’s National Press Administration. She lectures globally and holds leadership roles such as Vice-president of the Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding (SACU).
