What is Haoabout
Haoabout produces original media and cross-cultural initiatives in China for international audiences. We introduce places, practices, and ways of life through real experiences, working across different regions and communities to understand how people live today and how their habits and traditions continue to evolve.
Our work combines media production, field-based programs, and long-term partnerships with destinations, institutions, and brands. Through a network of bilingual correspondents based across China, we engage directly with people and environments, allowing us to work in diverse contexts and build relationships over time.
Why we started
Much of what we see about the world today is fragmented. Food becomes a quick reaction. Heritage is presented as something fixed or staged. Everyday life is reduced to highlights and spectacle. These pieces are often separated from the people and conditions that shaped them.
We are interested in what sits behind these surface impressions. How things come into being, how they continue to evolve, and why they matter in the present. Rather than trying to explain a place from a distance, we spend time, ask questions, and learn through participation. The goal is not speed or hype. It is perspective.
Our approach
We begin with curiosity. We listen, observe, and engage directly. We do not claim expertise where we do not have it. The people who live within a place usually understand it best, and our role is to learn from them and share what we encounter in a way that is clear and grounded.
We focus on context, process, and lived experience. This might involve food, craft, language, daily routines, or contemporary culture. The form depends on the place and the people. If someone comes away with a clearer understanding and a stronger desire to see a place for themselves, the work has succeeded.
Principles
These principles guide how we work and who we work with.
Sustainability
We aim to build work that lasts. This means long-term relationships, thoughtful pacing, and respect for the places and communities we enter.
Respect & Fairness
We collaborate in transparent and mutually beneficial ways, including fair compensation, clear communication, and proper credit.
Animal Welfare
We do not treat animals as props. When animals appear in our work, we pay attention to how they are treated and avoid encouraging harm or irresponsible behavior.
Depth & Integrity
We prioritize real experience over speed and attention, and avoid oversimplifying complex places and cultures.