Ryan Yan
Chinese history | Cultural Immersion
English | Mandarin
ABOUT US
We are a team of passionate globetrotters, professional guides and drivers, and local experience curators — united by one belief: that the best way to know China is to live it.
Founder's Story about Locale China
I've traveled to every province in China, and over 40 countries, hundreds of cities. For a while, my travel threshold kept rising and I barely felt the joy of travel anymore. Then I changed my approach: I stopped rushing and started living. I flew to Dali in winter, jogging at dawn, exploring local markets, foraging in the mountains, and singing guitar on the ancient city streets with travelers. I explored Xi'an, Luoyang, and the Mogao Caves, many places with over 5,000 years of civilization and countless stories. I climbed to the peaks of Zhangjiajie, Laojun Mountain, and Fanjing Mountain. Sat in silence at a Tibetan monastery. Travel whispered back to me when I slowed down in local life. As I saw more and more Western faces coming to China, curious, excited, but also uncertain and lost. I wanted to grab each one of you and talk. Not the stories from guidebooks, but the ones I had felt deep in the mountains, in the alleys, in the temples. I realized what I truly wanted wasn't to see the world myself, but to let the world see China.
"Locale" comes from Italian, meaning "in place" — local. This name holds the belief I've carried through ten years of custom travel: Travel like a Local. Your trip may not be long, but we hope that for a few moments, you feel less like a tourist and more like a local, even just briefly. Also as a certified English tour guide, I see first-hand client feedback, product pain points, and market needs. That's why Locale China doesn't do "check-the-box" tours. Our team has professional language skills, deep local knowledge, strong resources, and a distinct aesthetic and sensibility. We believe a good journey doesn't need to satisfy everyone's expectations. It only needs to touch that hidden flutter in your heart. That's enough.
OUR GUIDES
We hand-pick every licensed tour guide for their knowledge, warmth, and ability to make your China trip feel like home.
Chinese history | Cultural Immersion
English | Mandarin
City Wander | Culinary Journeys
English | Mandarin
Nature & Hiking | Wellness & Retreat
English | Russian | Spanish | Mandarin
Nature & Hiking | Photography Tour
English | MandarinOUR FLEET & OUR HOTELS
From the moment you land, we take care of the details,
so you can focus on the wonder.
OUR FLEET
OUR HOTELS
We don't book just any hotel. We choose properties that tell a story — whether it's a restored courtyard home in Beijing, a boutique lodge overlooking Lijiang's old town, or a modern high-rise with skyline views.
We would love to tell you more about who we are and how we craft journeys. Drop us a line — we are always happy to chat.
Get in Touch