From a Chengdu Dorm Room to Running a China Travel Business: The Real Story

I never dreamed of becoming a travel guide as a kid. Honestly, I had no clue what I wanted to do when I headed off to university in Chengdu. I picked tourism management because it seemed practical — and because it meant I could live in a city famous for pandas and mouth-numbing spicy food.

I was a decent student, but not a standout. I showed up, did the work, and graduated on time. Nothing about those years hinted that I'd still be in the travel industry 15 years later.

On graduation day, I walked into a travel agency in Chengdu and asked for a job. They hired me on the spot. For the next several years, I did what every junior guide does: led group tours, followed printed itineraries, and learned the gap between what the guidebooks say and what's actually true.

I learned that the best restaurants aren't the ones with English menus. I learned that the Terracotta Warriors are magical in the morning but overwhelming by 2 PM. I learned that travelers remember how you make them feel more than any fact you tell them.

After a few years, I moved back to Chongqing — my hometown. I started working directly with international clients, skipping the agencies. I built relationships one traveler at a time. Each successful trip led to a referral. Each referral led to another client.

I didn't set out to build a business. I set out to help people see China the way I see it. The business happened because I kept saying yes to requests that scared me. Medical tourism? I had no experience, but I said yes. A 21-day custom itinerary across 8 cities? I said yes. A client who wanted to visit during Chinese New Year — the most chaotic time to travel? I said yes.

Every time I said yes, I learned something new. And every time I learned something new, I became a better guide.

WanderPeng wasn't a grand vision. It was the natural outcome of 15 years of saying yes, learning from mistakes, and genuinely caring about the people who trusted me with their trips.

If you're reading this and thinking about starting something new — a business, a trip, a life change — the only advice I can offer is this: start before you're ready. Say yes before you know how. You'll figure it out along the way.