My China Story

It’s been months since Tatum Nzinzi Joseph a Yenching Academy scholar made her first trip to Beijing to specialise in Politics and International Relations. Like many of her peers at the academy attached to Peking University, the South African national has been learning and discovering China’s role in the world through her research on the country’s response to social development issues, while at th...

For the better part of his life, French archaeologist Phillipe Bouvet has called China home. Like many other long-term expatriates, his initial plans were to come here short term - to study Mandarin, but as fate would have it, those plans went out the window.

She is an American performer regularly consulted by the Chinese Ministry of Culture for her expertise in contemporary performing arts. The founder of Ping Pong Productions - a cultural exchange organization - Alison Friedman has worked closely with governments from around the world to further dialogues and foster mutual understanding amongst stakeholders.

He is a Swiss-German national whose China story is not only captivating but intriguing. And although Christian Herzog’s presence in China hasn’t exactly been a continuous long-term expedition, he still manages to soak-in the vast wonders of this country every time he visits. 23 years on since his first China trip, Christian admits that he will never stop being fascinated by the speed of developmen...

In 2015 the BBC urged the world of readers to make some shelf space for Carly J Hallman’s book Year of the Goose – as one of the best reads to close the year with.

For foreign entrepreneurs, China as a country can be a little intimidating if not an overwhelming experience- at least for a novice business person. But for founder and former CEO at LNP China, a company that helps small companies set up and operate in the country, it doesn’t always have to feel that way.

In 2015 the BBC urged the world of readers to make some shelf space for Carly J Hallman’s book Year of the Goose – as one of the best reads to close the year with.

From a tiny little city in the beautiful south of Italy to the mega-metropolis in east-central China, Domenico Palasciano is about to clock in two decades of his China experience.

As a seasoned journalist and expat in China, Patrick Flanary has had a dosage of what life in China could bring while living here. Two years since moving to Beijing, this American citizen has gathered some interesting anecdotes from his experiences meeting people, travelling in and out of China and sampling out local food. In this edition of the programme, he speaks with me about these experiences...

After years of living in China, most foreigners might have to face the big question of moving back to their home countries at some point. But for Jessica Luo, going back to America hasn’t been such a hard challenge. 10 years of living here, she is finally and swiftly making the move back - bringing along the love of her life, a rich China experience and perhaps the best version of herself.

It’s been quite an eventful year for South African journalist Wendyl Martin, whose almost year-long break in China has been packed with nothing but a lot of travel, learning new things, while at the same time still managing to squeeze in a bit of fun. Part of his tight schedule has also included working with us at CRI. Nillah Nyakoa caught up with him to talk about his experiences and what lessons...

To most people having a wild adventure means going on an African safari, participating in survivalist-type of a television reality show or simply, travelling solo in a completely dissimilar culture or society, hopefully where nobody speaks your language and you don’t speak theirs. But for Katarina Rankovic, from Serbia, that adventure spirit also includes traversing China with absolutely no phone...

In this episode, Cynthia Martinez- an American citizen whose time in China has been one of her greatest adventures yet, talks to Nillah Nyakoa as they look back at her thrilling expat life in the country. She reveals how the experiences she's gathered here have influenced the way she views the country.

Italian national and wine connoisseur Maurizia Galvan counts herself among the many foreign experts today crisscrossing China in a bid to help fans learn more about wine. In this episode, she speaks with Nillah Nyakoa about her passion in introducing Italian wines to the Middle Kingdom – a market of aficionados who've historically leaned in favour of French wines - and her long-time fascination wi...

A seasoned film maker and historian, Aladin’s fascination with China was triggered at a very tender age - paving way for his eventual move to China in 2015. Today he is part of a growing group of film makers articulating untold China stories to the world. In this episode, he talks to Nillah Nyakoa about his work and life in the Middle Kingdom.

Over the years the number of Chinese nationals learning English as a second language has skyrocketed attracting many foreign entrepreneurs to enter the market and grab a slice of this pie. Anikin Goh is one such entrepreneur. He runs a language teaching center in the West of Beijing. He talks with Nillah Nyakoa about his relocation to China, the challenges he has encountered and the major differen...

In this episode, British national and Etiquette expert Alistair Warwick- Nelson talks with Nillah Nyakoa about the significance of good decorum and how this can help one gain respect and create a good, as well as lasting impression not just for you as a person, but for your country as well.

In this episode, Nillah Nyakoa speaks with Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) enthusiast and trainer Rhio Zablan. They discuss his inspiration and quest to bring the FMA to China as well as what stimulates its fans to practice this highly sophisticated and comprehensive martial art form, from Rhio's native home - the Philippines.

In this episode of the programme, Nillah Nyakoa speaks with Filipino Martial Arts (FMA) enthusiast and trainer Rhio Zablan. They discuss his inspiration and quest to bring the FMA to China as well as what stimulates its fans to practice this highly sophisticated and comprehensive martial art form, from Rhio's native home - the Philippines.   

From tacos, burritos and enchiladas to fajitas, and quesadillas, Mexican dishes just like their Chinese counterparts have always been popular around the world. That’s perhaps the reason why Chef Bollo Rodriguez of Beijing’s El barrio restaurant has had much success in introducing his recipes to China in recent months.  Just like the vast Chinese cooking, Mexican cuisine equally stems from a long a...

Serbian National Nikola Stojanovic is living his Chinese dream in Beijing; a city he acknowledges makes him feel right at home with its rich history and culture. A former scholar at the Yenching Academy of Peking University, Nikola is very passionate about geopolitics and diplomatic history, with a keen interest on China and its role on the world stage. In this edition of the programme, he speaks...

For many expat parents helping your children adjust to a new environment and adapt to a new school can be quite a challenge that sometimes also takes a toll on not only the kids themselves but parents as well. But lucky for them, when the going gets too tough, psychology experts like Rachel George are ready to step in and offer some help while sharing their much-needed wisdom. Since joining the Ye...

Cameron Hack

Matteo an Italian national is also one of the few foreigners in the middle Kingdom, working in the Chinese banking industry.  In this episode of the program, Nillah Nyakoa sits down with Matteo to talk about his experiences and aspirations in a period of time that's increasingly seen a strengthening relationship between Italy and China along the Belt and Road route. 

He is an actor, host, VJ and former model best known for being the host of 3 different editions of the popular reality TV franchise, The Amazing Race where he’s taken teams all across Asia on The Amazing Race Asia, and all across China on The Amazing Race: China Rush among others. We’re talking about Chinese American celebrity host Allan Wu. Allan was recently in Beijing where Nillah Nyakoa caught...