Chris “Stanley” Li
Founder and Executive Producer, TAN ZONE
Professional Photographer
Marathon Runner, Investor, AvGeek
Chris is the Founder of TAN ZONE, a professional photographer, and a Dean’s List honoree at NYU, majoring in Media, Culture, and Communication with a minor in Economics, on an accelerated three-year graduation track.
A multi-award-winning photographer and cinematographer, Chris is best known for his photography series Urban Frames, which has been exhibited internationally and selected for inclusion in PhotoVogue. In 2023, he founded TAN ZONE, an award-winning media studio that produces newsletters and video content focused on photography, trending tech, vlogging, and aviation from a Chinese perspective.
At NYU, Chris actively produces films and documentaries and directs digital content for global platforms. He is a member of the NYU Run Club and NYU Aviation Club and previously interned at Caltta Technologies (Fortune China 500), supporting brand communication and international marketing initiatives.
Chris began trading at 14 and earned certification as a Young Investment Analyst through YIS at 16. He later gained exposure to investment banking and consulting through experiences with GS, BCG, BofA, and Mastercard.
An avid marathon runner, Chris progressed from sprinting to distance events and earned the Chinese National Level 2 Athlete designation for the 5K and 10K.
Born in Beijing, raised in California, Chris has multinational academic and exchange experience across the U.S., China, Hong Kong, and Singapore. He is fluent in English and Mandarin, with conversational proficiency in Cantonese and Spanish.
Chris currently lives in New York City.
Biographies
2025-Present
Undergraduate
New York University
Undergraduate at NYU, majoring in Media, Culture, and Communication, passionate about exploring how stories, media, and technology shape our understanding of the world.
2023-Present
Founder and Director
TAN ZONE
TAN ZONE, founded in October 2023, is a multi-award-winning media platform exploring photography, innovative tech, and aviation. Through newsletters and videos, the team brings local but fresh perspectives to a global audience.
2023-2025
Honorary President Huijia Student Council
Chris was appointed as the Honorary President of the Huijia Student Council. He proudly holds the title of the first Honorary President in Huijia School's history. Throughout his term, he has been dedicated to strengthening relationships with various clubs, organizing events, and serving students.
2022-2024
Founder and President
Connector Team
Chris founded Connector Team in March 2023.
Connector Gallery provides a space for students to share and appreciate art. All members of the school can post their artwork online for free.
Connector⁺ provides clubs and organizations with event management and technical support.
2013-2025
Primary, Middle, and High School Diploma
Beijing Huijia Private School
Graduated with honors, Chris served in multiple positions during his K-12 education. He accumulated over 800 volunteer hours, recognized by over 20 academic awards, including YIS, SIC, CTB, NEC, YSA, BPA, FBLA, and ABS. He received the Principal Special Scholarship. He featured as a speaker at salons and prominent events, including the 2024 Coming-of-age Ceremony, Sina Education Forum, Press Conference, and Freshmen Conference. He has been successfully admitted to universities, including NYU in the Early Decision 1 round and HKU in the first round.
Honors
Publications
Certifications
Young Investors Society
Certified Young Investment Analyst
National Finals 2nd Place
All-Star Competition Super Gold Award
Student Investment Challenge
Global Finals Overall Gold Award
Global Finals Best Investment Allocation Gold Team Award
Global Finals Best Strategy Showcase Team Silver Award
Global Finals Best Investment Allocation Silver Individual Award
China Thinks Big
Global Finals Individual Challenge Second Place
Global Finals Team Showcase Third Place Award
Global Finals Mini Hackathon Second Place
National Finals Top 5% Research Paper
Paper Published in Harvard Young Scholars Academic Journal
Business Professionals of America
National Overall Individual Bronze Award
National Economics Challenge
National Finals Overall Team Bronze Award
National Finals Qualifying Test Overall Team Bronze Award
Hong Kong Digital Art Design Competition (HKDADC)
Third Award
Vogue Magazine
Featured Photograph
Beijing Huijia Private School
Huijia Principle‘s Scholarship
