The 8-year-old Girl Who Couldn't Stop Talking About Xiaolongbao

Soeun’s family making soup dumpling at Yin Studio in Shanghai

One of the most memorable guests we've welcomed to our Shanghai cooking class wasn't a professional chef, a food blogger, or an experienced traveler.

She was an 8-year-old girl from South Korea.

When her family arrived in Shanghai, there was one food she was especially excited about: xiaolongbao.

Like many children, she had foods she loved. Unlike many children, she was determined to learn how to make them herself.

So her parents joined her for a soup dumpling class at Yin Studio.

At first glance, she seemed very quiet.

She didn't speak much and rarely tried to draw attention to herself. But as the class began, another side of her personality quickly appeared.

She was focused.

She was observant.

And she knew exactly what she wanted to do.

Focus on making soup dumpling at Yin Studio in Shanghai

That day, something unusual happened.

Another Korean family had also joined the same class. A mother and her son were visiting Shanghai for a special reason. The boy's younger sister had come to the city for a performance, and while she was busy preparing for the event, the mother and son decided to spend part of their day learning how to make xiaolongbao.

Before arriving at the studio, the two families had never met.

Two korean families met in our soup dumpling making class at Yin Studio in Shanghai

Considering that Korean guests are still a relatively small part of our visitors, it felt like quite a coincidence that two Korean families happened to book the same class.

As everyone worked on their dumplings, we noticed something heartwarming.

The older boy was trying hard, but some of the folding techniques were challenging for him.

The young girl, however, quickly understood the process.

And instead of focusing only on her own dumplings, she quietly walked over and began helping him.

She showed him what she had learned.

She demonstrated the folding steps.

She encouraged him when things didn't go perfectly.

No one asked her to do it.

She simply wanted to help.

For the rest of the class, the two children worked side by side, sharing smiles, mistakes, and small victories as their dumplings slowly took shape.

Friendship between two kids during soup dumpling making at Yin Studio in Shanghai

Watching them together, it was easy to forget that they had been complete strangers only a short time earlier.

The boy's mother was especially fond of the young girl. Her kindness, confidence, and willingness to help left a lasting impression on everyone in the room.

Her parents, meanwhile, watched proudly as their daughter not only learned a new skill but also shared it with someone else.

So proud of Soeun’s working on making soup dumpling by herself at Yin Studio in Shanghai.

For us, this experience was a reminder that cultural activities are about much more than food.

Yes, we teach guests how to make xiaolongbao.

But sometimes the most memorable part of the day isn't the dumpling itself.

Sometimes it's the friendships that begin around the table.

And sometimes it's an 8-year-old girl who reminds everyone that kindness doesn't need a common language.

Thank you to both Korean families for sharing this special afternoon with us in Shanghai.

We hope the dumplings tasted wonderful, the performance was a success, and the memories of that day stay with you for many years to come.

Lovely memory with Soeun at Yin Studio in Shanghai

A Message We Still Remember

"I can say this is my best memory and experience done with my family during my current visit to Shanghai.

Still, Soeun is mentioning about the time we had today and your kindness.

Thank you so much for your great teaching and guidance, as well as the memory and moment you shared with us."

— Soeun's Father, South Korea