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.

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

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.

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.

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.