Routes
Trips we run ourselves, not trips we resell.
Every route below is operated by our own guides and drivers in Guangdong, Yunnan, Guangxi, Hunan, Gansu and Shaanxi. English-speaking throughout. No shopping stops, no forced commission factories, no "optional" extras that aren't optional.
Guangdong & the south
Our home base. The food here is the reason to come, and almost no English-language itinerary covers it properly.
Chaoshan food route: Shantou & Chaozhou
Beef hotpot at 11pm, oyster omelette at 7am, and a tea ceremony that isn't a performance. Built around eating, not sightseeing.
See the route →Nan'ao Island from Shantou
Across the bridge, along the coast road, and out on a fishing boat. Best done on weekdays — weekends belong to domestic tourists.
Itinerary in progressGuangzhou & Foshan
Dim sum mornings, the Cantonese trade history, and a Foshan day trip most itineraries skip entirely.
Itinerary in progressDanxia Mountain from Shaoguan
Red sandstone pillars, a cable car that saves two hours, and a trail most visitors never find.
Itinerary in progressYunnan & the southwest
The most requested region, and the easiest one to do badly. We route around the tour-bus circuit rather than through it.
Kunming → Dali → Lijiang
The classic line, rebuilt: fewer old towns, more market mornings and mountain villages.
Itinerary in progressLijiang & Tiger Leaping Gorge
Which old town to stay in, which to skip, and the gorge hike done in one comfortable day.
Itinerary in progressGuilin & Yangshuo
Li River cruise or bamboo raft — we'll tell you which one is worth the money for your dates.
Itinerary in progressSilk Road & the interior
Longer transfers, bigger landscapes, and ticketing systems that reward booking early.
Dunhuang & the Mogao Caves
A/B/C ticket types explained, plus the desert at the right hour rather than the crowded one.
Itinerary in progressXi'an: terracotta, walls, and food
The army in the morning, the city wall at sunset, and the Muslim Quarter after dark.
Itinerary in progressZhangjiajie & Wulingyuan
Which of the four gates to use, and how to see the pillars without spending the day in a queue.
Itinerary in progressXiamen & Gulangyu
The right ferry pier, the booking window, and why the island is better at 7am.
Itinerary in progressHow we work
No deposit to get a plan. No obligation after you see the quote. If part of your trip is cheaper to arrange yourself, we'll tell you which part.
| Group size | Private departures from 1 traveller. Small-group dates capped at 8. |
| Language | English-speaking guide on every day of the route. Not a translator app, not a driver reading from a script. |
| What's never included | Shopping stops, commission factories, "cultural performances" sold at the door, and meals where the guide picks the restaurant for a kickback. |
| Pricing | Quoted per group, on your dates. Mid-range to premium, depending on hotels. We send the number with the itinerary, not after. |
| Licence | Licensed inbound travel agency, Shanghai. L-SH-XXXXX. |