We Are BeforeChina
A small team of China specialists designing private journeys for travellers who want more than a tour.
Our Story
BeforeChina was born from a simple frustration: every China travel website for Westerners was either a faceless OTA listing the same five hotels, or a government tourism portal covered in propaganda about "5,000 years of civilisation."
Richard, our founder, grew up in China and has spent the last decade living in the UK. He has guided friends, family, and strangers through China trips for years — and kept hearing the same thing: "I wish I had known this before I went."
So he built BeforeChina. Not as another booking engine, but as the resource he wished existed when his British friends asked, "Where should I go in China?" — with real local knowledge, honest advice, and journeys designed by someone who knows both sides of the cultural gap.
Today, BeforeChina designs private tailor-made journeys for travellers from the UK, the US, Australia, and across Europe. Every itinerary is built from scratch — because no two travellers are the same, and neither should their journeys be.
Our China Specialists
Richard Du
Chinese native, based in the UK. 50+ trips back to China. Knows the hidden dumpling shop in Beijing, the best sunrise spot on the Great Wall, and which Silk Road guesthouse has the softest beds.
Yunnan & Southwest Specialist
Has spent the last eight years exploring every corner of Yunnan, from the tea mountains of Xishuangbanna to the Tibetan foothills of Shangri-La. Knows the best guesthouses in Shaxi and which Tiger Leaping Gorge trail has the fewest crowds.
Silk Road & Northwest Specialist
Grew up in Xinjiang and has driven the Karakoram Highway more times than he can count. Speaks Uyghur and Mandarin, and knows every melon stall at the Kashgar Sunday Bazaar.
How We Work
Every journey is built from scratch. We don't have a catalogue of fixed departures. When you tell us what moves you — the food, the landscapes, the history, the people — we design an itinerary that's yours alone.
We work with locals, not chains. Our guides are from the places they show you. Our guesthouses are family-run. Our drivers know the back roads. We believe the best travel experiences come from real human connections, not corporate contracts.
You're never alone on the road. From the moment you land to the moment you fly home, our team is on WhatsApp. Train cancelled? We'll rebook you. Not feeling well? We'll find an English-speaking doctor. Plans change? So does your itinerary.
Ready to Plan Your China Journey?
Tell us about your dream trip. We will send you a personalized proposal — no obligation, no pressure.
Or call us: +44 20 XXXX XXXX