Coco ZHANG

Coco, taken in Nanjing, 2023

My name is Zhang Rufan. The English name which my mother gave me is Coco. “CO” has the same pronunciation as a Chinses word which means button, so the name means she regards me as the bond of our family. Interestingly, I usually compare journalism to bridge because I think it helps connect people when facilitating the exchange of information on the world. I would like to see this as a lovely coincidence.

Since Shenzhen is a city of immigrants, I should introduce myself like this: My grandparents are from Sichuan and I lived with them in central-western China until I grew to the age of primary school. At the age of six, I came to Shenzhen where I spent my primary and middle school years and started my new life with my parents. Thanks to my experience in both Sichuan and Shenzhen, I am now a trilingual talent who has mastered Sichuanese, Mandarin, and English.

In my leisure time, I like reading and writing novels, which cultivates my interest and ability in telling stories. During my college years, I was exposed to fan works and had a lot of fun with them. Lately, I have read more books in the field of social sciences, especially the ones about gender equality, and my recent work reflects my exploration of gender relations accordingly. To create stories with better plots and structure, I am naturally eager to learn more professional methods.

Another important piece of entertainment is the work I did at the broadcasting station of my school. From middle school to university, I learned a lot of skills in this student organization and enjoyed the production process of every program. It was so rewarding.