Hanyu was born and raised in China and lives in London.
She graduated with a BA in Archaeology where her research focus was on digital heritage. Hanyu has a keen interest in digital methods and cultural heritage and thus examined the representation of cultural heritage in video games as her dissertation topic. Drawing on her love for Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
After graduation, she had obtained rich theoretical knowledge but lacked practical experience. As a result, she joined the Creativity Works programme to gain the skills to apply her interests. In her personal time, Hanyu enjoys traveling, visiting exhibitions, and playing video games.