Soap queen

She did many jobs before, including as a modeling agent, advertiser and book editor. In 2015, she decided to devote all her time to soap collection and making.

Chen says it took her one year to make the decision. Her husband once asked her what she would want to be in 20 years. She answered that she would like to be an old lady making soap happily. It was then that she finally decided what she would want to do for the rest of her life.

After collecting so many soaps, she rented a house with a garden in a Beijing suburb to start making soap on her own.

"It's like a lab experience. I try various materials and enjoy the whole process," says Chen.

One ingredient she is proud to make soap with is huadiao, a high-grade rice wine produced in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province. She makes "love soaps" for her friends. She also makes different soaps themed on traditional Chinese festivals. In return, her friends buy soaps when they travel abroad. Even some strangers have contributed bars of soap to her collection after hearing her story.

Chen says soaps allow her to meet lots of interesting people and make new friends, and it has become her lifestyle.