Gallery

Haonan only went to this cat café because Allison really wanted to… (She missed Darwin!) but secretly he loved it. This cat was named 尿尿 😂

Allison and Haonan by the sea after walking the entire circumference of Star Island in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.

Allison singing in Haonan’s ear during a late-night karaoke date. Their karaoke styles are very different… Haonan likes Chinese ballads, and Allison likes singing Missy Elliot, Black Eyed Peas, etc.

Allison had a rough day… it was very hot outside when touring the Forbidden City in Beijing. So Haonan bought her favorite iced tea drink (at the inflated tourist price!)

Stopping to enjoy the flowers near the beach in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.

浩男 (Hao•Nan) + 艾莉森 (Ai•Li•Sen)

Taking a tour of the Tsingtao Beer Museum in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. It happened to be the company’s 125th anniversary, so they got to see the CEO speak!

Allison’s friends Kacha Fischer and Laura Pham gifted her an InstaX camera before her trip to China in May 2023. It came in handy!

Exploring the Beijing Zoo on 网络情人节, or 5/20. This is a couples’ day in China, as the date 520 in Chinese is pronounced 五二零 (wǔ èr líng) which sounds very similar to I love you 我爱你 (wǒ ài nǐ).

Haonan is an excellent cook! He thinks he will convert Allison into liking eggs because he thinks he makes the best 番茄炒蛋 (stir-fried tomatoes and scrambled eggs) - a common comfort food.

Waiting at the airport for the flight home. Hard to say goodbye.

Life as a long distance couple: morning / night.

Double date! (Sort of)

A photobook that Haonan made of their first adventures together in-person. Cover photo: playing on the exercise equipment in Beijing.

The best egg tarts (蛋撻) in China are surprisingly from KFC!

The double happiness symbol, "囍" (pronounced shuāngxǐ) in Chinese is two copies of the Chinese character 喜 (pronounced xǐ), which means joy and happiness. This is a common symbol for marriages.

Haonan and Allison at their engagement party in Qitaihe, Heilongjiang Province, China (Haonan’s hometown). The place was decorated with 囍 the double happiness symbol.

The proposal!

L-R: Haonan’s father’s younger brother (with his son, wife, and daughter); his paternal grandparents, his father’s older sister’s family (daughter Wanlin and husband, then her), Haonan’s parents.

Haonan and Allison with Haonan’s parents, Yu Hua (his mother) and Lyu Xiaodong (his father).

Haonan and Allison with cool cousin Wanlin (姐姐). She lives in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province and runs a clothing store. She and Haonan are close in age and were raised almost like siblings.

Haonan in front of his parents’ apartment building in Qitaihe - it was decorated for Lunar New Year 2024. In this photo, he is very proud of his new transition sunglasses (Allison made fun of them).

Cousins Xiran and Chenyang, Haonan’s mom, Allison and Haonan. The family went to the museum of Qitaihe, and got a personal tour! Allison liked looking at the pictures (she didn’t understand a word).

Allison and 妈妈！(Mama in Chinese)

妈妈 Mama (Haonan’s mom), Haonan, Allison, and 大姑 Dagu (Haonan’s father’s older sister / Haonan’s aunt). Celebrating the first day of Lunar New Year 2024 festivities.

Haonan and Allison at the Snow and Ice Festival in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. It’s a massive landscape of carved ice with lights, activities, and tasty food.

Big hats like this, fashioned after animals, are very popular in Harbin. Haonan bought one for Allison before she even arrived because he knew she would love it. He didn’t want to match, though.

Haonan and Allison making a wish and enjoying the wishing trees.

Enjoying 中央大街 (zhōng yāng dà jīe) or Central Avenue in Harbin.

Harbin’s famous church - Saint Sophia (圣索菲亚教堂 / shèng sǔo fēi yà jiào táng).

“Turtle pot” is a famous dish in Qitaihe, Haonan’s hometown. Although the story behind it seems to be lost - since nobody could explain how this tradition began!

妈妈 (mama) making some delicious wontons for lunch.

One of the best things about dongbei (东北) - the northeastern region of China: barbecue!

Having hotpot (火锅 hǔo gūo) with all of Haonan’s mother’s best friends. Allison calls them all auntie (阿姨 āyí). All their kids came too!

Both Heilongjiang Province and the state of Wisconsin are snowy in the wintertime!

Year of the Dragon - celebrating 2024 together with Haonan’s family in Qitaihe. It’s traditional for unmarried children to receive red packets (红包 hóng bāo). Guess they won’t get any more!

Lunar New Year celebrations with Haonan’s family. This is his father’s side of the family, all wearing matching dragon shirts for 2024. Haonan was tired of taking so many pictures.

Lunar New Year celebrations with Haonan’s mother’s side of the family. Center is 姥姥 LaoLao and 姥爷 LaoYe, his grandparents. Mama’s older brother and his family, and her younger brother and his family.

Enjoying family karaoke time for Lunar New Year 2024. Good singing runs in the family!

Travel day. Goodbyes are never easy - thankful to be done with them!