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Shine shares her cozy room with a cat, and the rest of her hutong house with anyone who wants to better understand China and its rich culture.
The venue offers workshops on tea appreciation, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), cuisine from across China, tai chi, kungfu and much more.
Shine and her friend, Mark Thirlwall, are the brains behind The Hutong, which Shine says is "a creative space for people to learn".
The two Australians are driven by different interests - Shine is passionate about art and Thirlwall loves tea and cooking - but they are both keen on learning about and absorbing different cultures.
Both were exposed to different cultures when they traveled extensively in China and across Asia because of their jobs as tour leaders for an Australian tour company.
By 2004, Shine, who has been in Beijing since 2001, had moved on to managing tour operations and training local and international guides in better understanding the needs of foreigners.
Thirlwall's interest in tea compelled him to shift base from India to China.
It was only in late 2006 that the two came up with the idea to get into events that would serve an educational and cultural purpose.
"I realized there were stiff borders," says Shine. "There was no nice place where people could feel comfortable, exchange thoughts and learn."
The Hutong was the result of this realization, which dawned on Shine when she was training local guides.
She and Thirlwall knew well that many of those who visit China are interested in taking back more than just pictures of the Forbidden City and the Great Wall.
"The Hutong is for people to see another side of China," says 31-year-old Thirlwall. "To know that people are taking something back is one of the high points. The idea isn't to make money but to create a community."
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