"It's pleasant to listen to you reading English," the teacher would say, firing her interest and enthusiasm. She worked hard and was eventually admitted by the English department at Shandong University.

Wu returned to Yinchuan, Ningxia, in 2016 to work at the Han Meilin Art Museum, where she introduced the works of Han, a renowned Chinese artist, in English to foreigners. Many were surprised to learn of Han Meilin's artistic range, from painting to sculpture, Wu said

When Wu exhibited Han's art in Italy in 2016, she was impressed by the elderly Italian visitors who would stand and study for a long time. They showed great interest in Chinese art, Wu said.

In her spare time, Wu works as an online English tutor.

"If the children of Ningxia can speak fluent English, it will help them see the world and communicate with foreigners," she said.