Danyan is a renowned author known for her impactful contributions to both fiction and non-fiction, particularly focusing on youth and urban narratives in China and the overseas Chinese language community. Her works have been translated into multiple languages She’s also a prominent travel book writer and has ventured into documentary film-making. In 2021, she directed a 93-minute documentary entitled Storage, that investigates how to safely store collective memory which made waves internationally with its premiere at the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, followed by screenings at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Belgrade International Film Festival in Serbia.
Many of her books have been recognised with awards and have achieved best seller status. Her novel Nine Lives earned prestigious literary awards in Europe, including the UNESCO Gold Medal for Tolerance Literature.
Danyan is a Cultural Director at the Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Gardens, overseeing the rose garden recognised by the World Federation of Rose Societies as one of the world’s finest.
During her eight week residency Danyan spent time researching some ideas for her next works and went to Wellington to appear at Verb Literary Festival.