In 1891, Crown Prince Nicholas of Russia, who later became Tsar Nicholas II, visited Hankou. This was a significant event in the modern diplomatic history between China and Russia. When the Russian Crown Prince arrived in Hankou for the visit, he inspected places such as the Newchang Brick Tea Factory owned by Russian merchants. The Newchang Brick Tea Factory is the predecessor of the Hankou Tea Factory under the group and was founded by Russian tea merchants in 1874. The Newchang Brick Tea Factory, along with the Shunfeng Brick Tea Factory and the Shintai Brick Tea Factory, were the three well - known tea factories in the Hankou Concession at that time. During the visit, Nicholas attended the 25th anniversary celebration of the Shintai Brick Tea Factory, and his cousin, Banov (the owner of the Newchang Brick Tea Factory), introduced the achievements of the tea trade. Nicholas gave an impromptu speech, calling Hankou ‘the great Oriental Tea Port’
