Oh Anhui, My Hometown
Introduction
I was born in Wuhu, a small riverside town on the Yangtze in Anhui. Our city is known as a land of fish and rice. Here, I have had the love of my grandparents and parents, as well as a romance in my youth, the joy of gatherings with classmates, and the leisure of playing with my children.
My favourite journey used to be taking the steamer from Wuhu to Shanghai to visit relatives
Oh Shanghai – I came here by steamer as a child, went to university here, and now my best friends work here.
My furthest journey was when I set off for East China Normal University in Shanghai. Starting from here, laden with my parents' expectations and my teachers' blessings, I embarked on the road to study Management Psychology for my bachelor's and master's degrees.
The period of fastest growth was during my PhD at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. At that time, I learned more about management research around the world. In my first year, I went to a conference in Singapore; in my third year, I went to one in the United States – both gave me very good inspiration.
Taking a beautiful photo with my mum and dad!
My favourite season is autumn in Beijing. In my very first month joining Renmin University, I taught Organisational Behaviour to a whole class of undergraduates in English. The autumn breeze was cool, the sports field was full of people exercising, and that enthusiasm of the new semester stayed with me for fourteen years.
Beautiful ginkgo trees and people taking photos on a campus in northern China
The most wonderful invitation came from the University of Leeds. In 2018, I was invited to visit Leeds University Business School for two weeks. The letters from the Associate Dean for Research and the Associate Dean for International were from strangers, but very sincere. The Head of Department, Professor Kerrie Unsworth, gave me the warmest welcome and the strongest support and encouragement.
My husband joined me in the UK after the COVID travel restrictions
One of the photos is particularly special to me, as it was taken after my husband was finally able to join me in the UK following the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending an extended period apart due to travel restrictions, this reunion was a powerful reminder of the importance of family, resilience, and gratitude.
From 2021 to 2023, I volunteered as a Chinese language teacher at New Vision Education and Leeds Chinese Community School at weekends.
Another meaningful part of my journey has been volunteering as a Chinese language teacher with New Vision Education and Leeds Chinese Community School at weekends. Teaching and supporting young learners has reinforced my belief in the value of giving back to the community and helping the next generation grow with confidence and pride in their heritage.
Today, as I continue my teaching and research at the University of Leeds and promote Sino‑British exchanges, standing here, I still wish to call out softly: Oh, Anhui – my