What happens when a 12-year-old girl celebrates her birthday in Shanghai while traveling across China on crutches? Add two Spanish families, four enthusiastic children, handmade soup dumplings, a birthday crown, and a song sung in Spanish, and you have a celebration none of us will ever forget.

A mother and daughter from Poland joined our vegetarian Chinese cooking class during their family trip to China. From practicing knife skills to discovering authentic Chinese vegetarian dishes, the afternoon became much more than just a cooking lesson—it was a chance to slow down, laugh together, and experience Chinese food culture.

Three teenagers from a Hong Kong international school spent an afternoon learning to make xiaolongbao in Shanghai—with plenty of laughter, a little teenage sweetness, and one very enthusiastic 13-year-old who declared his dumplings better than Din Tai Fung.

An American family spanning three generations discovered Chinese calligraphy together in Shanghai. From Traditional Chinese characters to first brushstrokes, their private workshop became a meaningful cultural experience shared across the family.

Some travel memories don't end when the trip is over.

A year after joining our Shanghai soup dumpling class—and later returning for a second workshop during the same trip—one guest came back to Shanghai once again. This time, we created a completely new experience combining a local market visit, Chinese home cooking, and another round of her favorite soup dumplings, with a few extra surprises along the way.

Flying home to Australia after traveling in Italy, Nick and April decided to spend five days in Shanghai during their stopover. Their second day in China turned into an unforgettable soup dumpling experience—and a new appreciation for Chinese food, high-speed rail, and local life.

Looking for unique things to do in Shanghai beyond sightseeing? Discover authentic Chinese cultural experiences including cooking classes, calligraphy, tea ceremony, traditional crafts, and local lifestyle activities with Yin Studio.

A reunion forty years in the making, a vegetarian Chinese cooking class, and the small moments that made one afternoon in Shanghai unforgettable.

A Brazilian exchange student came to our Shanghai bamboo weaving workshop alone. He wasn't good at crafts, but he wanted to make a handmade bamboo jewelry gift for his girlfriend instead of buying one. His choice of a red bamboo camellia led to a heartfelt conversation about love, Chinese culture, and family history.

A father and daughter from the United States joined our Shanghai dumpling cooking class as part of their global tradition of learning local cuisine together. Having already taken classes in six countries, the young traveler created an imaginative octopus dumpling—making this experience their most memorable cooking class so far.

Many first-time travelers arrive in China well-prepared but rely on outdated digital tools like Google Maps. This guide explains which apps you truly need in 2026, which popular apps require a VPN, and why local platforms offer a more accurate travel experience. Includes practical insights from real guest experiences in Shanghai.

She first visited YIN Studio as a new employee attending a company Xiao Long Bao team-building event. Over time, she returned with family and friends for Chinese calligraphy, and eventually came back once more—this time as the organizer of her own company's dumpling workshop. Some guest journeys don't end after one visit; they simply continue to grow.

From arranging spring flowers to returning for a second Xiao Long Bao class, this returning guest's journey reminds us that the most meaningful cultural experiences are the ones worth sharing—with friends, family, and the people we care about.

What started as a soup dumpling class in Shanghai became an unexpected conversation about food, family, and tradition.

When an Italian mother shared that kneading dough is considered "a very sensual movement" in Italy, we discovered how two different cultures can find common ground through flour, water, and handmade cooking. Over a pot of Liubao tea and homemade Xiao Long Bao, a simple cooking class turned into a meaningful cultural exchange between Italy and China.

A guest from Delhi, India, joined our Vegetarian Soup Dumpling class during her visit to Shanghai.

As a doctor and a vegetarian, she was especially happy to discover a version of Xiao Long Bao that aligns with her lifestyle without compromise. Beyond cooking, the experience became a moment of cultural exchange, sharing stories about food, family, and everyday life.

A simple class turned into a meaningful connection through handmade food.

A ceramic artist from Seattle joins our Soup Dumpling class during her first trip to China, sharing stories about Chinese ceramics, culture, and a heartfelt Dragon Boat Festival experience at Yin Studio.

Originally from Germany and now living in Shanghai, this guest first discovered Yin Studio through a Tai Chi class booked on a travel platform. After joining our membership community, she returned with a friend for a private calligraphy workshop, showing how one cultural experience can lead to another.

Three exchange students from Germany and Austria spent four months exploring China, visiting cities like Beijing, Hangzhou, Chongqing, and Zhangjiajie. Despite their love of cooking, they had never taken a cooking class in China—until their final weeks in Shanghai. Their first Chinese cooking experience? Learning how to make authentic Xiaolongbao at Yin Studio.

On Anna's last day in Shanghai and just before her flight back to Sweden, she joined our Vegetarian Chinese Cooking Class with her daughter Lina. While Anna was saying goodbye to the city, Lina was beginning a new chapter—returning to Shanghai for work after falling in love with the city during her exchange program 2.5 years ago. A story about family, food, and the meaningful moments that connect endings and new beginnings.

A husband from the United States secretly booked a bamboo jewelry workshop for his wife, knowing how much she loved handmade accessories. What neither of them expected was that he would become one of the most skilled participants of the day. A story about surprises, creativity, and handmade gifts made with love.