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LoPair Cultural Exchange

Why choose LoPair Cultural Exchange?

LoPair Cultural Exchange, founded in 2011, LoPair is dedicated to promoting mutual understanding and intercultural learning using its core program Au Pair China. We connect host families throughout China to a diverse pool of au pairs coming from different countries worldwide. LoPair exposes Chinese host families to a variety of customs, cultures, and languages, while introducing au pairs to the millenary history and tradition of China. We are the leading receiving au pair agency in China. LoPair is a professional and fast-growing company located in the beautiful city of Hangzhou. Our program is focused on our core values:

- Learn: Mandarin classes, Chinese culture, arrival orientation and training camp;
- Care: Our mentors, local coordinators and staff are there for consultation and support;
- Explore: Live in one of the most important and vibrant metropolitan areas: Beijing, Shanghai, or Hangzhou.

Reviews

Clara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience ever

I highly recommend this agency to anyone looking for a safe and inspiring au pair experience.
They have proven to be extremely reliable, and the staff is always available to help with any questions or concerns, providing constant support that truly makes a difference. Living here is an incredible opportunity: it’s not just about work, but a deep dive into a new culture, fascinating traditions, and daily life—perfect for improving the language naturally. A professional, caring, and exceptionally well-organized agency!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
A quick word of advice: trust the agency’s guidance during the matching process. They are experts at finding the right fit, and their constant availability ensures you feel at home right from the start.
N
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Do it for the growth and being uncomfortable

This program is not for the weak hearted. But it will certainly leave an impact.

China is gaining a lot of popularity more than ever for the food, quality of life, beauty and culture, but it goes without saying holidaying there vs taking care and teaching a child whilst living with a group of strangers you have never met are completely different experiences.

You will encounter conflicts in this program. You will discover a lot about yourself - good and bad, what you can handle and not, and your values in life might even shift. You might find your path going forward might even change as a result of this program.

From the moment of contact, interviewing with host families, to applying for visa and eventually landing in China has been a seamless experience from the team. Very organised and could not be more stress free. I also loved my Chinese classes with my teacher.

I do wish there was more organised events with other appliants during my stay though.

The real challenge is getting along with the child/children, and integrating with a family you've never met - but once you pass that third month mark (even sooner for some), things become better overall. The resilience will pay off.

During conflicts with the family I was with, the 24/7 support given from the LoPair team was immediate and that sense of being lost was soon forgotten.

The team will feel like a massive anchor in these times to ground you and remind that these kinds of experiences is part of the program. It's not about you having done something wrong, but perspective.

I still think of the family and the kid, and will always be grateful I chose this program. If you are afraid or hesistant of going, why is this? Afraid of failing, or thinking if it's a bad experience?

This is one of the things you'll end up discovering, you'll naturally end up reflecting what is really important in your life.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
This dish called "Yu Xing Cao" (it's like a plant that's green and purple in colour) and it ended up being my favourite dish ever. The family is shocked I ended up craving it because foreigners might find the taste weird lol. It's crunchy and satisfingly sour.
Pros
  • Growth
  • Learning how to navigate conflict
  • Childcare experience
Cons
  • Upfront costs (visa, agency fee)
  • Language barrier
Vittoria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Perfect Balance: Work, Study, and Travel with LoPair

If you’re looking for a safe way to travel while earning some money, I think being an au pair is one of the best options.

You get a great homestay, your meals are covered, and there’s a good balance between duty hours and free time.

With LoPair in particular, you also have the chance to seriously study Chinese at one of China’s most popular universities, especially if you’re placed in Shanghai.

It is an such an amazing opportunity for both personal and even professional growth.

Shoutout to Alison and Erica, who have always supported us whenever we faced any kind of issue, from visa problems to host family situations.

Leena
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

By far the best Aupair Agency

Choosing an Au Pair agency is always a daunting task but I must tell you guys, Lopair really was there for me even when me and my Host family went through some tougher times! I do not think any other agency is as engaged as they are! So if you're looking for safety and security as well as a good agency that always has your back, you should definitely choose Lopair. Other than that, Lopair also is a really affordable option. They literally payed for almost everything. Flights and accommodation if things go wrong, really it’s great! So if you’re still unsure, this can be your push in the right direction! Also a shout out to Alison and Erica my Coordinators here in Shanghai, they’ve been so helpful and kind to me throughout the entire time I was here! Love them to bits!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be open to the culture and don’t worry about your attitude towards other people too much, many families are so open and great and I know it’s generic advice but be yourself!
Acha-Mint
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

This experience changed my life

Hi ! My name is Acha and I was Au pairing with Lopair from February to November 2025. To say this experience changed my life is an understatement, I had one of the best host family one could ask for and we definitely hit it off ! I traveled with them for months going to amusement parks with the kids and having the time of my life. My Chinese improved a lot and by the end I could maintained a full conversation! And after this I loved Shanghai so much I came back to work here with the help of my host family which I am still in contact with to this day :)

Thanks to Alison for organizing very fun outings, always trust her for food, she knows her stuff! And thanks to Erica for always being here when needed <3

Take a chance and come in China with Lopair !!!

What was your funniest moment?
When I got lost in the Chinese country side and got surrounded by a bunch of Chinese people who saw a foreigner for the first time ! But they were very helpful in helping me find my way 😆

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I choose to be an Au Pair in China with Lopair for many reasons. First, I wanted to go to China to discover this country and learn to speak Chinese, but because I'm only 18 and I haven't started studying yet, I could come as an exchange student, neither could I come to work because I don't have any qualification, and volunteering is about nonexistent in China. So being an Au Pair was the best way for me to come.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Lopair helped me a lot to get the visa. It is also they who take care of the plane ticket and the assurance. They put me in contact with the families in order for me to choose with which one I was going to live in.

It was very nice to have an organization that takes care of everything. I basically just have to pack my things and go. But before that, there is a selection where we need to provide many files and show a lot of motivation.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If you are interested to be an Au Pair in China, here some advice for you: think about what you expect from this experience and, once you're there, do everything to accomplish it.

I saw a lot of other Au Pair here who, after one month, got bored, don't speak Chinese, and just waited for the program to be over. Don't be like this: this program is a great opportunity but you have to take the better from it.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

It depends a lot of your host family, and better to speak with them about that before to arrive in order to have a clear idea of what going to be your schedule.

Generally, an Au Pair weekday looks like this: put the kid at school at 7:30 am, then free time while the kids are at school till 4:00 pm (pick up the kids). Then supervise the kids' homework or give them English / foreign language teaching.

Some days, kids have extracurricular activities. Some day the Au Pair can be asked to work till 9-10 pm.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Before I arrived, I was really worried about making friends of my age in China. When I arrived, I couldn't find any young people around me, so I decided to go to a university campus and there I met a lot of wonderful people who were going to become my friends.

I spent all my free time at this university, join many clubs and enjoy a lot the normal life of a Chinese student.

What did this experience bring you?

I think that to be an Au Pair in China was a great opportunity for me. I really get another vision of the world thanks to the family life and my friends there. I can also now speak fluently in Chinese (not thanks to the classes but because I was speaking Chinese every day with my friends who were a lot of patient with me).

I will come back to China to see my friends and I hope to see them come to France too. Those friendships are the best thing I get from my experience.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Kitty Qian

Job Title
Placement Manager
Kitty has been a dedicated member of the LoPair team for nearly a decade, having joined back in 2015. As the Placement Manager for the program, she oversees the entire placement process and skillfully resolves any related challenges. With a year of firsthand experience as an au pair in the U.S combined with her professional background, Kitty has developed a keen ability to understand customer needs. She is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities for young people to immerse themselves in Chinese culture and build cross-cultural connections.
Kitty poses for a photo in a train station

Staff Spotlight: Kitty

What is your favorite travel memory?

I used to be an au pair in U.S for one year and lived with my host family in Boston MA.Besides the U.S., I’ve also visited countries like Australia, the UK, Singapore, and the Philippines. But of all the places I’ve been, Boston remains the most memorable—not just for its rich history and beautiful scenery, but especially because of the family who welcomed me as one of their own. Although more than a decade has passed since my au pair days back in 2014, I still cherish the bond we share and keep in touch with them to this day.
 

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

I have been dedicated to LoPair for a decade. Whether through the Au Pair in America program or the Au Pair in China program, what I cherish most is the opportunity to connect with young people from diverse backgrounds around the world. It brings me a deep sense of fulfillment—not merely “working,” but truly helping to build bridges of friendship between China and other cultures. Through these meaningful interactions, I have the privilege of sharing insights about China with these inspiring individuals, while they also continually enrich my understanding of the world.
 

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

A lot people are not familiar with China before they actually come once. We have a student who loved China so much after he joined the program, and he decided to apply for the university in Beijing. He has finished his study now and also wants to stay here for getting a job. Chinese culture was so attractive to him and he almost decided to stay here in the future. This is very amazing!
 

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

Our company also has an au pair program for the U.S and Germany. Since I already joined au pair in America program, I would like to spend some time to learn about Europe's culture. Although they both belong to Western culture, they definitely are different. I would like to see the difference, experiencing the difference and enrich my life experience.
 

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

Our company is one of the first Au Pair companies in China and we are the only agency in China that has won the IAPA international Au Pair award so far. This shows the professionalism of our service and our advancement.
I'm proud to see our company's growth in the recent years, and we have successfully developed a lot of different programs. We're able to offer all these valuable opportunities for all the youth from all over the world.
 

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Positive attitude, creativity mindset , team spirit, and patience
A group of people can share ideas and work closely together, making every step more firm and steady. At Lopair, everyone always tries to help one another and contribute their thoughts to inspire each other. This kind of collaboration is incredibly helpful for broadening your perspective and solving problems from different angles.