behind-the-scenes

I walked into a travel agency in Chengdu the day I graduated. No plan. Just needed a job. 15 years later, I’m still here. I didn’t set out to build a business. I just wanted to help people see China the way I see it—not through a tour bus window, but with a local’s instinct for what’s real and special. The business happened because I kept saying yes to things that scared me. Medical tourism? Never done it. Said yes. A 21-day custom itinerary from Beijing to Yunnan? Terrifying. Said yes. A family of six wanting to hike Tiger Leaping Gorge with two kids under 10? I didn’t sleep for a week planning it. Said yes. **Start before you’re ready. Say yes before you know how.** That’s the advice I still give myself. And it’s the same energy I bring to every trip I plan now—whether you’re booking flights on Google Flights or Trip.com, or finding a cozy guesthouse on Airbnb or Booking.com. If you’re a first-time visitor to China, you might feel overwhelmed. Visa forms, train tickets, language barriers. I get it. But here’s the thing: China is incredibly traveler-friendly once you know a few tricks. For example, booking high-speed rail tickets on Trip.com is as easy as ordering coffee. And most major attractions now have English signage and QR codes for audio guides. I’ve helped travelers from New York to London to Sydney plan trips that feel less like a checklist and more like a story. A mother from Melbourne wanted to show her kids the Great Wall without the crowds—so we went to a lesser-known section near Mutianyu, had a picnic, and watched the sunset. That’s the kind of moment I live for. So whether you’re dreaming of the Li River in Guilin, the food stalls in Xi’an, or the neon lights of Shanghai, I’m here to help you see it all—the way I do. And if you’re feeling nervous? Good. Say yes anyway.