The Gothenburg – Shanghai stories

During my recent trip to China, after a six-year break, I started noticing how religion quietly shapes everyday life. In this episode, my husband, my friend, and I visit Putuo Shan , one of China’s most famous Buddhist mountains. We share a bit of our experience there on how Buddhist culture influences local life. And how the religious landscape varies across different regions of China. And finall...

We all carry certain stereotypes about people — shaped by where they’re from, what religion they follow, or what social media tells us. But what happens when you step outside your own world and start meeting people face-to-face? In this episode, I share some of the most common (and sometimes surprising) questions I’ve been asked as someone who grew up in China and now lives in Sweden. From “Why do...

After six years away, I return to China with two friends — rediscovering the city I once called home. From high-speed trains and digital culture shocks to a real-life blind dating market in Shanghai, this episode explores what’s changed, what’s stayed the same, and how it feels to come home as both a local and a foreigner. #ChineseCulture

Before I met my husband and decided to stay in Sweden, another important reason was my belief that gay life here would be much simpler and easier compared to China. Swedish society is very open toward gay people, however what does reality actually look like? Is it really the paradise I imagined?

You don't need to be a top student or being rich or a seasoned traveler to build a life abroad. This is the playbook for the rest of us—from how I figured things out with limited English, no connections, and a whole lot of confusion eventually I decided to settle in this beautiful and peaceful country.

Ten years ago, I arrived in Sweden as a student from Shanghai. This is 'The Gothenburg Shanghai story'—my audio diary about a decade of change, navigating identity across cultures, and what it's like to find love and community in the North. It's a story of being Chinese, and becoming... whatever comes next. Subscribe for honest, short reflections.