On-the-ground China travel guide for international visitors
The first time I guided a traveler around West Lake in my hometown of Hangzhou, he stopped, looked across the water, and said quietly, “This is the China I hoped to see.”
That moment has stayed with me for decades.
I was born and raised in Hangzhou — often called China’s “garden city,” just two hours from Shanghai. Long before high-speed trains and mobile payments transformed the country, I grew up exploring its streets, landscapes, and quiet corners. Even as a student, I knew I wanted to connect China with the outside world.
In 1980, I passed the National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) and was admitted to Nanjing International Relations Institute of PLA to study English. At the time, foreign language education was highly competitive. For me, English was more than a subject — it was a bridge.
But travel would become my life’s work.
From English Teacher to Travel Professional
After graduation, I taught English for four years at Guangzhou Navy College of PLA. Teaching was meaningful, yet I felt drawn back to Hangzhou — and to something more dynamic.
I joined CITS Hangzhou, one of the leading travel agencies in the region. That decision shaped the next four decades of my life.
Working directly with international visitors taught me an important lesson:
Travelers don’t struggle with attractions.
They struggle with logistics, language, payment systems, transportation, and uncertainty.
How to choose the right hotel location.
How to navigate a train station.
How to avoid losing half a day because of a small misunderstanding.
That is where real guidance matters.
Building a Career in Beijing
In 1994, I moved to Beijing to continue my career in China’s capital — a city layered with history and complexity.
I joined Beijing Xinhua International Tours as a division manager and later became managing director. Over the years, I handled private tours, business delegations, customized itineraries, and countless unexpected travel challenges.
Beijing taught me to think ahead — to anticipate problems before travelers even noticed them.
In 2000, I founded one of Beijing’s earliest travel websites:
www.tour-beijing.com.
At that time, few agencies believed detailed online travel information mattered. But I had already seen how much confusion travelers faced before arriving in China.
Clear information reduces anxiety.
Preparation creates confidence.
Later, I established Beijing Champagne International Travel Service, guided by one principle:
We no longer just satisfy our valued customers — we must totally impress them.
That standard defined my entire career.
A New Chapter: Ruqintravel.com
In October 2022, I retired from running the tour company and handed tour-beijing.com to two capable young professionals who continue serving travelers today.
But retirement did not mean stepping away from travel.
Instead, it allowed me to return to something more personal.
On May 11, 2023, I launched Ruqintravel.com — not as a large agency, but as my own platform dedicated to clear, practical, experience-based China travel guidance.
After more than 40 years in the industry, I noticed that much of the online information about China had become generic and repetitive — often written without real on-the-ground depth.
China is not difficult.
But it is different.
Payment apps.
Rail booking systems.
Regional variations.
Cultural nuances.
These details cannot be understood through summaries alone. They require lived experience.
My Approach to Guiding You
Every guide on Ruqintravel.com is personally researched, written, and updated by me. I focus on clarity over marketing language and practical decisions over abstract descriptions.
If something is confusing, I explain it.
If something is unnecessary, I say so.
If something could save you time or stress, I make it clear.
Large platforms summarize.
I guide.
My goal is simple:
To help you arrive in China prepared, confident, and ready to experience it well.
After four decades in China’s travel industry, I still believe the best trips happen when preparation meets curiosity.
If you are planning your journey to China, I’m here to help you think it through — calmly, clearly, and realistically.
— Ruqin