Panda and Hotpot

In this episode of Panda and Hotpot, Zhang Yajun reflects on her seven years at the World Economic Forum, offering a behind-the-scenes look at its lesser-known work and real-world impact, before sharing her current journey across Asia observing China’s rapidly advancing technology landscape, particularly in AI. Blending global insight with personal experience, she also opens up about her perspective as an East Asian woman, exploring identity, self-understanding, and growth in a changing world, in a conversation that is both thoughtful and deeply human.

In this Part 2 instalment of Panda and Hotpot’s Bazar International special, we bring you more heartfelt stories from the devoted volunteers of the China Stand, whose passion and teamwork make the China Stand shine year after year. This episode features a warm and insightful roundup conversation with Julia, Vice-President of the Yue Club and founder of Panda and Hotpot, as she reflects on the meaning of community, cultural exchange, and collective effort. We end the programme on a joyful note with a choral performance — a musical tribute to their unity, dedication, and shared spirit.

Part 1 is out! Step behind the scenes of the China Stand at the Bazar International and meet the volunteers bringing Chinese culture to life.

In this Panda and Hotpot episode, host Victoria speaks with Yin Yemin and Shi Tianyi, the artist–architect duo behind Y.S.ONENESS, an art and design studio in Luxembourg that bridges Eastern philosophy and global aesthetics. Rooted in traditional Chinese brush painting yet open to modern creative exploration, Yin and Shi share how their paths intertwined through design, leading them to create a space where art, architecture, and mindfulness meet. Together, they discuss their belief that true art awakens the heart, true design shapes the spirit, and every creative encounter can become a journey of oneness and self-discovery.

Xiao Xiao is a remarkable woman in tech whose career spans global giants like Amazon, TikTok, and China’s Meituan. In this episode, she reflects on her journey through China’s fast-evolving digital era — from the early days of web browsing to the explosive growth of e-commerce and AI innovation. Now a startup founder harnessing AI technology, Xiao shares insights on navigating the waves of technological change, building success across industries, and balancing life as a mother, entrepreneur, and daughter — offering an inspiring perspective on how women can thrive while wearing many hats.

Julia Zhang — author, podcast host, women’s development advocate, and experienced telecom professional — returns to Panda & Hotpot for a powerful conversation with Victoria on how artificial intelligence is reshaping education. Speaking as both an industry insider and a mother of a teenager, Julia shares practical insights on guiding young people to use AI as a supportive tool rather than being overwhelmed by it. A timely and inspiring episode for parents, educators, and anyone navigating the AI era.

In this episode, host Victoria chats with two media veterans — Jacques van Luijk, a former RTL broadcaster now based in Shanghai, and Adrian Wells, an international journalist and news editor with a background at the BBC and Sky News (and Victoria’s husband!). Together, they share personal stories from China and Asia, reflect on how the media shapes perceptions of the region, and offer fresh insights — plus Jacques’ practical tips for anyone planning a trip to China.

In this episode, we sit down with Jacques Bortuzzo, President of the ChinaLux Chamber of Commerce, to hear his remarkable journey from a small Luxembourg village of 300 residents to the bustling heart of Beijing, where studying Chinese became one of the most transformative experiences of his life. Jacques reflects on how these experiences shaped his passion for China, offers his perspective on the current state of China–Luxembourg and China–EU relations, and shares the personal reasons why he continues to be inspired by China’s energy, openness, and sense of possibility.

In this episode, host Victoria sits down with sibling pianists Zala and Val Kravos to explore their unique musical journey—from childhood lessons and multicultural influences to international performances and studying at Europe’s top conservatories. With warmth and insight, they discuss the joys and challenges of playing as a piano duo, the evolving world of classical music, and how to nurture a love for music in young learners. Featuring selections from their album Mozart, Schubert and Others: Piano Duets, this heartfelt conversation is a celebration of sibling harmony and the timeless power of music.

In this episode of Panda & Hotpot, host Victoria speaks with Melody Chang, a Taiwanese FinTech professional leading innovation in sustainable finance in Luxembourg. From her global journey through Taipei, Shanghai, New York, and the World Economic Forum to her current role integrating ESG and digital platforms, Melody shares valuable insights on sustainability, regulation, and gender diversity in tech. She also reflects on the cultural shift from global cities to Luxembourg, and the importance of everyday actions in shaping a more sustainable future. A thoughtful conversation on finance, technology, and purpose.

In this episode, we chat with Junn Loh, a Chinese Malaysian entrepreneur whose love for coffee has taken her from Kuala Lumpur to Paris, Copenhagen, and ultimately Luxembourg. After falling in love with specialty coffee, Junn turned her passion into a global online business during the pandemic, eventually opening Curious Buds, a growing café brand with two locations and a third on the way. She shares her journey of building a business from the ground up, the lessons learned along the way, and her advice on breaking big ideas into small, actionable steps — all while preparing to welcome a new chapter as a soon-to-be mom.

As part of our Women in Tech and Finance series, this episode features cybersecurity expert Lannie Hu, who shares her journey of breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry. From overcoming cultural and gender-based challenges to balancing motherhood with a demanding career, Lannie offers honest insights and empowering advice for women pursuing tech careers. Her story is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the importance of pushing past limitations to achieve your goals.

In this episode, we talk to Angela Tang, an adventurous traveller from Luxembourg whose passion for exploring off-the-beaten-path destinations has taken her from the depths of the Amazon River to the peaks of Kilimanjaro and the Himalayas. With nearly every country in Europe under her belt and countless U.S. national parks explored, Angela shares how travel has become a lifestyle rooted in endurance, curiosity, and a deep appreciation for discovering the hidden layers of every place she visits.

In this insightful episode, educator and HR development expert Celine Liao shares her deep knowledge on various education systems—including the IB, EB, A-Levels, BAC, and Luxembourg’s local curriculum—explaining their differences and what they mean for students’ futures. She offers practical guidance for families, particularly within the Chinese community, on how to make informed decisions based on their unique goals and values. Drawing from her rich professional background, Celine provides a broader perspective that connects education planning with long-term personal and professional development, making this episode a must-listen for any parent looking to support their child’s educational journey.

Discover the inspiring story of Liu Yan, the musician and educator who brought the ancient sounds of the Gu Zheng to Luxembourg’s Conservatoire and beyond. Through her performances and teaching, Liu Yan has become a beloved ambassador of Chinese culture in Europe. Tune in to hear her journey — and don’t miss the special video of her stunning live performance featured in this episode!

In this episode, Professor Zhao Jing (Crystal Zhao) – a medical doctor, WHO consultant, and expert in Chinese Medicine – demystifies this ancient practice by explaining its differences from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), addressing common misconceptions, and sharing practical health tips. With her expertise, she provides valuable insights into holistic healing and how Chinese Medicine can benefit modern lifestyles. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation!

Cathy Xiao’s journey from Shanghai to Europe is a tale of bold decisions and personal transformation. Leaving behind a traditional Chinese family life, she ventured to Italy, learning a new language and culture from scratch. Her years in Italy not only honed her academic and professional skills but also ignited a passion for finance, prompting a career leap to Luxembourg. Throughout her adventures, Cathy has evolved into a confident, independent woman who proudly embraces her Chinese heritage while thriving in a multicultural world.

In this episode, we have a fascinating guest who has built a career bridging cultures through language and education. Jauffrey Bareille, the Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Luxembourg, joins us to share his journey of learning Chinese, immersing himself in Chinese culture, and leading one of Luxembourg’s key institutions for cultural exchange. From his first Chinese lessons in France to studying and working in China, and now fostering cross-cultural connections in Luxembourg, Jauffrey’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and discovery.

Luxembourg-born Laura Haas left her quiet university town in Germany for an unexpected journey in Shanghai. Despite initial family hesitations, her exchange year in the vibrant city transformed her life, igniting a lifelong passion for China’s culture and people. Now a legal advisor for CEC Luxembourg, she fondly recalls her time in Shanghai—a chapter so influential that even her mother grew to love the city in the end.

Join us as we explore the meaning and impact of the Arts with Rose Jiang, a seasoned professional whose insights may surprise you. Through personal stories and thought-provoking perspectives, she reveals how the Arts can transform lives—including yours.

Victoria Wei, our new host of the show, is a former international TV journalist and documentary producer based in Beijing. She has now transitioned from a fast-paced career covering major news across East Asia to a quieter life in Luxembourg for love and family.

Only when we were in the conversation of this episode, I got to know from Xianqing that she has just hosted the medical specialist graduates ceremony in the University of Luxembourg in Dec. 2024. As a project manager in this program, which is the first medical specialization doctoral project in the history of University of Luxembourg, I could not respect her more for what she had achieved in this domain. Other than that, in this episode, she has unfolded a lot of interesting milestones in her pursuit of medical education and the challenging stories in the COVID period as a

For many people, it’s a dream to buy a property in a very expensive city like Luxembourg. Pony Ma, a girl born in late 90s has bought her first property after arrived at Luxembourg for three years. This episode is quite informative. Pony will talk you through her entire journey from scouting the properties to closing the deed. It was a bumpy road, but she had made it and she was very happy to share her experiences and stories. She would like to take the chance to wish all of us ‘good luck in 2025 and realize a lot of

More than 30 years ago, a young lady, Jin Li followed her husband to Luxembourg. She needed to learn a lot of new things from languages to different lifestyles. Among all of them, she picked up her passion of music despite she had to overcome many challenges in this new country, back then the Chinese community was very small. She studied music comprehensively for more than 10 years from different teachers and then she started to organize Chinese choir, music salon… She has dedicated her time to the musical world and spread her beautiful soul to the Chinese community and

Mme Che Lijie is a mother of two young pianists, Zala Kravos and Val Kravos. She will share with us some untold stories about the two brilliant young persons and also talk a bit about herself, the great parents behind the great children! Also you will have the chance to listen to the beautiful lyrics of their piano albums. Please find more information about Zala Kravos in the following link https://zalakravos.eu and search ‘88键音感洞察’on Wechat for the most recent message for both Zala and Val.

Lisa Lin (xiaoshan) and Yan Wang are the honored guests who are the key members of the Chinese Women’s Association of Luxembourg (Yue Club) and managing the Club on daily basis and organizing big events. They have detailed what they had done in the past years in order to bring this Yue Club to more Chinese Women and people in Luxembourg especially every year by participating the two large events, The Immigrant Culture Festival in Spring and The International Bazaar in Winter.

In this very first episode, Julia did a solo show, talked about a bit of everything, about China, Luxembourg, Panda and Hotpot… Welcome to this cosy show for anyone who can understand Chinese! And also don’t hesitate to contact me if you want to be the guest!