Meet Yiyi
“Love is not simply giving to others until you lose yourself. Love is a shelter. It is within. It is everywhere. When we truly understand love, we find ourselves, and we never get lost again.”
Hello, I am Yiyi. Welcome to my world~
A Youth Dedicated to the World
I was born into a strict military family in Shanghai. Despite my upbringing, my heart was always drawn to art, music, and the pursuit of freedom. From a young age, humanitarianism and environmentalism became my guiding beliefs.
At 16, I began practicing yoga and embraced a vegan lifestyle. By 20, I was a certified yoga instructor. Instead of following the traditional path my parents expected, I embarked on a journey of freedom—teaching yoga, volunteering, and advocating for animal rescue. My passion even led me to the Miss Universe China finals in 2011, not for beauty, but for a larger platform to support women’s causes and charity.
In 2013, I opened a vegan restaurant in Shanghai. It was a beautiful, bustling time. I had the privilege of collaborating with Google and Intel to promote healthy vegan diets, speaking on educational TV networks, and co-founding “Vegetarian Planet,” which grew to become China’s largest vegan community with nearly a million followers. I was constantly on the move, fiercely advocating for the Earth.
Returning to the Heart
But in 2016, a sudden realization hit me. I had been working so tirelessly for my career and public causes that I had forgotten to pause. I hadn’t truly paid attention to my own needs, nor had I deeply cared for my partner and family. I needed to stop and ask myself: Who am I, really?
I made the bold decision to step away. I sold my thriving restaurant and my shares in the platform, left the city of Shanghai, and moved with my partner to live in seclusion among the tea mountains of Hangzhou. For two years, we slowed down, traveled the world, and reconnected with the simple joys of life.
The Birth of yiyihandmade
Life has a beautiful way of guiding us. In 2018, just as I was planning to restart my career, I discovered I was expecting. I chose to embrace motherhood wholeheartedly. In 2021, our family moved to the Cangshan mountains in Dali, Yunnan, to give our child a childhood surrounded by nature. Then, in 2022, life surprised me again with twins!
For years, my world revolved around nurturing my three children. It wasn’t until 2025 that I finally found quiet moments to return to the craft I have always loved: making eco-friendly cold process soap. For a year, I quietly crafted soaps for other boutique brands, pouring my 20 years of vegan and natural living philosophy into every batch.
Now, in 2026, the timing finally feels right. I have the space to sit down and create my own brand: yiyihandmade.
After two decades of searching, running, and finally settling down, I have found myself. Moving forward, I will dedicate my time to developing pure, natural cold process soaps for you and your loved ones.
Thank you for reading my story, and for being a part of this journey.