Shelley Tame
English-Speaking Local Help in Suzhou
苏州中海御湖西岸
Royal Lakefront
LiGongDi, Suzhou
About Shelley
Originally from Xuzhou in northern Jiangsu, Shelley has lived in Suzhou for many years and has extensive experience with the city's international community. She has been married to her British husband in Suzhou for 20 years, speaks excellent English, and they have a teenage daughter who attends an international school in Suzhou. This gives her a good understanding of the everyday needs of international families living in the city.
She offers a range of flexible, personal services, including private Suzhou tours, Mandarin lessons, Chinese cooking experiences, translation and practical help with everyday life.
FAPIAO CAN BE PROVIDED WHERE APPROPRIATE
Contact
Call 18662157997Private Suzhou Tours
Explore Suzhou with a local. Shelley offers private, flexible tours that can be tailored around what you'd like to see and do, whether you're new to the city, want to discover more of Suzhou yourself, or have friends and family visiting.
Tours can include classical gardens and historic areas, local neighbourhoods, markets, food and some of the more everyday sides of Suzhou that visitors might otherwise miss.
Price: ¥100/hour · ¥400 up to 4 hours · ¥600 up to 8 hours
Availability: Monday–Friday, 08:00–17:00 (Weekends by arrangement)
Transport, entrance tickets, meals and any other costs incurred during the tour are paid separately by the customer.
Chinese Cooking Classes
Experience authentic Chinese home cooking with Shelley at her home near Ligongdi. Classes are relaxed and hands-on, with three dishes chosen from a menu and prepared together step by step.
Chinese Cooking Class — ¥500
For 1–2 people and approximately two hours. All ingredients are included, and you'll prepare enough food to take home and feed a family of four.
Full Cultural Experience — ¥800
For 1–2 people. Start with a visit to one of Shelley's favourite local food markets in Suzhou Old Town to shop for ingredients, with the opportunity to practise some useful Chinese along the way if you wish. Then return to Shelley's home to cook three dishes together before enjoying the meal with her family — or take the food home if you prefer.
Classes can also be arranged at your home. Your kitchen will need suitable cooking equipment and basic Chinese condiments, and pricing will depend on location and requirements.
Children are welcome to join a cooking class, but a parent or guardian should participate with younger children because Chinese cooking can involve sharp knives, high heat and open flames.
Mandarin Classes
Shelley has many years of experience teaching Mandarin to international residents, from complete beginners to more advanced learners. Lessons can be tailored around the Chinese you actually want to use, including practical communication for everyday life and work in China.
Individual lessons at Shelley's home: ¥100/hour
Standard hours: Monday–Friday, 08:00–16:00
Lessons outside these hours, weekend lessons and classes at the student's home can also be arranged, with prices agreed according to the circumstances.
Group Mandarin classes are also available, with pricing depending on group size and requirements.
Translation & Everyday Help
Shelley offers Chinese–English translation, interpretation and practical assistance for situations where having a bilingual local can make life in Suzhou easier.
This can include help communicating with Chinese speakers, Taobao shopping, paying bills and dealing with other everyday situations where language or local knowledge can be a barrier.
Prices vary according to the service and time required.