About this Episode
In this episode of Panda and Hotpot, we sit down with Nicolas Milonas, a French businessman who doesn’t just visit China—he lived its transformation. With over two decades of experience in the Middle Kingdom and a perspective enriched by his Chinese-French household, Nicolas joins us to peel back the layers of the world’s biggest festival and the world’s fastest-growing economy.
We start with the intimate traditions of Chinese New Year (Spring Festival)—from the chaos of the “Chunyun” travel rush to the quiet warmth of a family reunion dinner. Nicolas shares what it’s like for a Frenchman to navigate the complex social etiquette of Hongbao (red envelopes) and the legendary hospitality of a Chinese mother-in-law.
The conversation then shifts gears to the “Big Picture.” Having arrived in China 20 years ago, Nicolas provides a firsthand account of the country’s dizzying evolution. We discuss the transition from bicycles to bullet trains, the digital revolution of WeChat and Alipay, and what the future holds for international business in an ever-changing landscape.
