Born and raised in Yunnan in southwestern China, one of the country’s most biodiverse regions, Zhuyang developed a connection with nature early in life. Growing flowers has long been an important tradition among the Bai, her ethnic group, and some of her fondest childhood memories are of watching birds visit her mother’s garden, vibrant with roses, orchids, hibiscus and fruit trees. She also spent countless hours gathering mushrooms and exploring nearby forests, nurturing a curiosity that would ultimately shape her career.

Zhuyang earned a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Management from Sichuan Agricultural University, with the goal of combining travel, wildlife and nature. Over more than a decade as a guide, her work has taken her across southwestern China's spectacular landscapes, including the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Giant Panda National Park and the subtropical and tropical forests of Yunnan. An avid birder, Zhuyang also leads dedicated birding groups and enjoys sharing the excitement of discovering new species.

Beyond guiding, Zhuyang participates in conservation initiatives and avian research, and she brings this knowledge into the field, helping travelers look beyond individual bird sightings to understand the habitats and ecological connections that bring an ecosystem to life. She is fascinated by wild cats, particularly the distinctive Pallas’s cat, her favorite among China’s felines. When she isn’t guiding, she can often be found hiking or diving, exploring new habitats and the wildlife within them.