About me
Who is NanNan?
Where Business Meets Mandarin: My Journey Turning a city into a Classroom
Hey,This is NanNan.
When I first started teaching Mandarin 13 years ago, I quickly realized that most adult learners didn’t struggle because the language was hard — they struggled because the learning felt disconnected from their real lives.
That’s when I decided to change the way I teach.
Instead of keeping lessons inside four walls, I began bringing my students outside — into cafés, offices, markets, and streets. A coffee order became a confidence boost. A business lunch turned into a speaking opportunity. A walk through the French Concession became a lesson in both Mandarin and culture. Shanghai itself became the classroom.
Over the years, I’ve coached executives preparing for boardroom presentations, entrepreneurs building partnerships in China, and expats simply wanting to connect with the world around them. My lessons are always practical, personalized, and rooted in real-world interaction — because that’s where the language lives.
Now, through my program Mandarin Plus, I offer tailor-made business Mandarin coaching and immersive learning experiences for professionals who want more than just survival phrases. I help you speak with clarity, connect with confidence, and navigate China with ease — one conversation at a time.
From Mandarin to Mountains: A Journey Through Shanghai and Beyond
It all started with my Mandarin classes. Every day, I moved from one student to another — walking, biking, sometimes just wandering — between cafés, homes, and offices all across Shanghai. During those in-between moments, I began to really see the city. I’ve walked almost every corner of Shanghai, and since 2019, I’ve been quietly documenting it — through my lens and my footsteps. I call this personal journey “Lost in Shanghai.”
I know the smell of morning soy milk steaming from a hidden alley, the quiet charm of a teahouse tucked behind a shikumen wall, the best xiaolongbao shops only locals know. These aren’t just places — they’re stories. And now, I share them with my students and travelers, turning lessons into experiences and city walks into cultural deep dives.
But my journey doesn’t stop at the city limits.
Over the past decade, I’ve traveled across every province of China and every country of SEA countries myself as I am a huge fan of travel. And I’ve also led expat hikes through deserts and oases, wandered ancient villages, climbed snow mountains, and stood beneath the stars near Mt. Everest. From the silence of Tibetan lakes to the colorful prayer flags along the Annapurna Circuit, I’ve seen the breathtaking range of China and its neighbors.
I’ve brought curious Chinese high schoolers to Europe, watching their eyes light up as they discovered new cultures and perspectives. I’ve roamed the vibrant streets of Southeast Asia, drawn by the scent of spices in night markets, the rhythm of life in jungle temples, and the kindness of strangers who felt like old friends. I hike for the silence, stay for the stories, and always come back with something more than just memories.
Travel has taught me what language always reminds me: connection is everything.
So whether we’re practicing Mandarin over skewers at a late-night street stall, hiking through a misty bamboo forest, or sketching out your next adventure into China’s wild corners, I’m here not just to guide you through places — but to help you discover the moments that stay with you long after the journey ends.
From Mountains to Cities to Global:
Designing China Experiences for International Teams, Delegations & Innovation Programs
After leading trekking and hiking trips almost everywhere in China,I went back to city and started with simple Shanghai breakfast walks.
In the early mornings, I guided international visitors through local neighborhoods to experience everyday life in China - ordering breakfast in Mandarin, exploring wet markets, discovering hidden food streets, and learning how local residents communicate, live, and interact inside one of the world’s fastest-changing cities.
These experiences gradually expanded into historical walking tours, cultural decoding experiences, food explorations, city scavenger hunts, and real-life Mandarin learning programs across Shanghai.
But over time, something interesting happened.
More and more international companies, universities, innovation teams, and global organizations began reaching out - not for traditional tourism, but for deeper China understanding.
They wanted to understand:
how modern China works
how Chinese professionals think and communicate
how innovation ecosystems operate
how younger Chinese consumers behave
how international teams can better navigate China’s business and cultural environment
That shift transformed my work from local city experiences into global experiential learning and delegation program design.
Today, I design and coordinate:
China business immersion programs
Shanghai innovation learning journeys
corporate delegation support
executive cultural immersion experiences
international team-building programs
China market exploration experiences
cross-cultural communication workshops
educational city explorations
family relocation and Shanghai adaptation experiences
experiential Mandarin learning programs
scavenger hunts and urban collaboration challenges
modern China decoding experiences for global professionals
My projects have included experiences and program support connected to organizations such as:
BASF global training experiences in Shanghai
Siemens modern business and China market decoding experiences
Nivea China consumer and market understanding programs
Audi family settlement and Shanghai integration support
Henkel innovation-focused city explorations, scavenger hunts, and team experiences
innovation collaboration support connected to ESMT Berlin
delegation support connected to PwC groups
local business delegation coordination connected to German Chamber of Commerce in China
educational exploration programs connected to Shanghai American School
What makes my work different is that I combine:
on-the-ground China experience
real-life Mandarin communication
cultural intelligence
urban exploration
experiential learning design
international facilitation
local network coordination
modern China business understanding
Rather than offering standard tours or classroom-based programs, I create immersive experiences that allow international teams and visitors to experience China directly through interaction, observation, movement, food, conversation, and real-world scenarios.
Participants might:
navigate Shanghai using Mandarin
visit innovation districts and local business ecosystems
decode consumer behavior in supermarkets and convenience stores
explore traditional lilong neighborhoods beside futuristic business districts
complete team challenges across the city
discuss modern Chinese workplace culture with local professionals
experience how technology, urban life, and social behavior intersect in China today
Over the years, my work has evolved into a bridge between international organizations and modern China - helping global teams move beyond surface-level impressions and develop practical cultural understanding through direct experience.
From breakfast tours and historical walks to innovation delegations and executive immersion programs, the goal has always remained the same:
Helping people understand China through real human experiences.
Learn. Speak. Explore.
“Every city has a language. Every language tells a story. Join me, and let’s uncover the rhythm of Mandarin and the soul of China together.”
Get in touch
Not sure where to start? Let’s talk!
Book a free 20-minute call to discuss your Mandarin goals, travel interests, or how I can tailor an experience just for you.
Let’s make your time in China meaningful.