Local insight, private journeys and personal supportPLAN MY JOURNEY
Snow-capped mountains in Yunnan

China, at Your Pace.

Discover a more personal side of China through journeys shaped by local knowledge, slower travel, and meaningful experiences.Born in Yunnan, Shaped by experiences abroad.

EXPLORE JOURNEYSDESIGN MY YUNNAN TRIP

A more personal way to experience China

Choose a thoughtfully designed private journey or ask Joy to shape one around your dates, interests and preferred pace. Trusted local people make the unfamiliar parts easier.

Why Hidden China Travel exists

“Most travelers remember the places they visited. We want you to remember how those places felt.”Our point of view
Local knowledge, seen from both sides.

Hidden China Travel combines Joy's Yunnan roots with his experience of living abroad and becoming the foreign visitor himself.

Read our story →
Joy Liu, founder of Hidden China Travel

Meet Joy Liu

Born in Yunnan. Shaped by experiences abroad.

Raised in Yunnan, Joy later lived in Japan and the Philippines. Being the foreigner taught him how much trusted local context can change a journey.

He created Hidden China Travel to make China feel a little less intimidating—and a lot more personal.

About Joy →

Why travel with us?

01

Private journeys

Travel with your own party, at a pace that fits you—not a large coach group or fixed sightseeing schedule.

02

No shopping stops

Journeys are built around places, people and experiences, never mandatory shopping or commission-led detours.

03

Licensed local partners

Local travel partners provide the guides, drivers and on-the-ground services confirmed in your proposal.

04

First-time China friendly

We include the practical details that help an unfamiliar first trip feel much easier.

05

Local support

Questions and unexpected changes do not have to become travel-day stress.

What travelers remember

Words from guests who explored Yunnan with Joy and our local partners.

4.8 · From guest reviews

5.0
“This was our second time choosing Joy at Hidden China Travel as our travel planner, and he exceeded our expectations again. This time we went to Yunnan, and it was amazing!”
— Daniel & Sarah L.Singapore
4.8
“We chose this company’s 9-day itinerary. Since we speak a little Mandarin, we decided not to use a guide.”
— The Tan FamilyMalaysia
4.9
“This was our first time bringing our young son to China, and it was truly a wonderful experience. Our main guide, Lisa, was humorous, friendly, and knowledgeable.”
— Rachel & Kevin M.USA
4.7
“As a Muslim couple on our honeymoon, this itinerary involved a lot of walking and usually ended in the late afternoon or evening, so it may be tiring for honeymooners; however, the overall experience was very good, and we were satisfied and happy.”
— Faisal & Aisha R.Indonesia
4.8
“After living in Vancouver for a long time and being used to the beautiful scenery in British Columbia, I still couldn’t resist joining this tour to experience life in Yunnan.”
— Emily C.Canada
5.0
“The Hidden China Travel team was highly efficient and easy to reach both during trip preparation and throughout the journey. There were no downsides: our guide Sébastien was very professional and helpful—always patient and full of humor.”
— Claire & ThomasFrance
4.8
“The private tour was fantastic! We gained a lot—not only beautiful scenery but also exposure to ethnic minority cultures.”
— Mark & Susan T.Australia
4.9
“My guide Lily was truly the best guide I have ever met. She was professional, kind, flexible, and very accommodating.”
— Michelle H.New Zealand
4.7
“We also experienced other guides during our time in Yunnan—none of them compared to Jon. His English is excellent.”
— David & Emma R.UK
4.8
“Not long ago, I finished an 8-day small group tour organized by Hidden China Travel, from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Throughout the whole trip, I felt happy and relaxed every single day.”
— Peter & Jenny K.Germany
5.0
“This was our second time choosing Joy at Hidden China Travel as our travel planner, and he exceeded our expectations again. This time we went to Yunnan, and it was amazing!”
— Daniel & Sarah L.Singapore
4.8
“We chose this company’s 9-day itinerary. Since we speak a little Mandarin, we decided not to use a guide.”
— The Tan FamilyMalaysia
4.9
“This was our first time bringing our young son to China, and it was truly a wonderful experience. Our main guide, Lisa, was humorous, friendly, and knowledgeable.”
— Rachel & Kevin M.USA
4.7
“As a Muslim couple on our honeymoon, this itinerary involved a lot of walking and usually ended in the late afternoon or evening, so it may be tiring for honeymooners; however, the overall experience was very good, and we were satisfied and happy.”
— Faisal & Aisha R.Indonesia
4.8
“After living in Vancouver for a long time and being used to the beautiful scenery in British Columbia, I still couldn’t resist joining this tour to experience life in Yunnan.”
— Emily C.Canada
5.0
“The Hidden China Travel team was highly efficient and easy to reach both during trip preparation and throughout the journey. There were no downsides: our guide Sébastien was very professional and helpful—always patient and full of humor.”
— Claire & ThomasFrance
4.8
“The private tour was fantastic! We gained a lot—not only beautiful scenery but also exposure to ethnic minority cultures.”
— Mark & Susan T.Australia
4.9
“My guide Lily was truly the best guide I have ever met. She was professional, kind, flexible, and very accommodating.”
— Michelle H.New Zealand
4.7
“We also experienced other guides during our time in Yunnan—none of them compared to Jon. His English is excellent.”
— David & Emma R.UK
4.8
“Not long ago, I finished an 8-day small group tour organized by Hidden China Travel, from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Throughout the whole trip, I felt happy and relaxed every single day.”
— Peter & Jenny K.Germany
5.0
“This was our second time choosing Joy at Hidden China Travel as our travel planner, and he exceeded our expectations again. This time we went to Yunnan, and it was amazing!”
— Daniel & Sarah L.Singapore
4.8
“We chose this company’s 9-day itinerary. Since we speak a little Mandarin, we decided not to use a guide.”
— The Tan FamilyMalaysia
4.9
“This was our first time bringing our young son to China, and it was truly a wonderful experience. Our main guide, Lisa, was humorous, friendly, and knowledgeable.”
— Rachel & Kevin M.USA
4.7
“As a Muslim couple on our honeymoon, this itinerary involved a lot of walking and usually ended in the late afternoon or evening, so it may be tiring for honeymooners; however, the overall experience was very good, and we were satisfied and happy.”
— Faisal & Aisha R.Indonesia
4.8
“After living in Vancouver for a long time and being used to the beautiful scenery in British Columbia, I still couldn’t resist joining this tour to experience life in Yunnan.”
— Emily C.Canada
5.0
“The Hidden China Travel team was highly efficient and easy to reach both during trip preparation and throughout the journey. There were no downsides: our guide Sébastien was very professional and helpful—always patient and full of humor.”
— Claire & ThomasFrance
4.8
“The private tour was fantastic! We gained a lot—not only beautiful scenery but also exposure to ethnic minority cultures.”
— Mark & Susan T.Australia
4.9
“My guide Lily was truly the best guide I have ever met. She was professional, kind, flexible, and very accommodating.”
— Michelle H.New Zealand
4.7
“We also experienced other guides during our time in Yunnan—none of them compared to Jon. His English is excellent.”
— David & Emma R.UK
4.8
“Not long ago, I finished an 8-day small group tour organized by Hidden China Travel, from Kunming to Dali, Lijiang, and Shangri-La. Throughout the whole trip, I felt happy and relaxed every single day.”
— Peter & Jenny K.Germany

Guest names may be shortened. Some reviews were translated from Chinese for clarity.

Get China-ready before you fly.

Payments, mobile data, maps and bookings work differently in China. Get the essentials ready before arrival, with practical guides and a complete pre-departure checklist in one place.

Check entry requirements

Check visa, visa-free or transit rules for your passport and route before booking.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →

Set up payments

Link your card and complete Alipay verification before you leave. Prepare a backup way to pay.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →

Arrange mobile data

Choose roaming or a travel eSIM, check phone compatibility and save the setup instructions before departure.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →

Prepare a VPN if needed

Check whether your connection needs one. If it does, install, sign in and test it before you fly.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →

Get your maps ready

Install a map app that works in China and save your hotel’s Chinese name and address.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →

Book arrival essentials

Reserve your first hotel and plan trains and timed-entry tickets ahead of arrival.

GET READY BEFORE ARRIVAL →
OPEN THE PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST →

Explore a topic in more detail

Use these guides when you want a closer look at one part of your China trip.

Planning Your First China Trip

Planning Your First China Trip

Apps, payments and the preparation that prevents day-one chaos.

READ THIS GUIDE
China Hotels for Foreigners

China Hotels for Foreigners

Choose suitable stays and prepare for passport registration.

READ THIS GUIDE
China Visa-Free Guide

China Visa-Free Guide

Check visa-free and transit options before booking flights.

READ THIS GUIDE
Dali Travel Guide

Dali Travel Guide

Where to stay, how long to spend and how to slow the route down.

READ THIS GUIDE
A wooden boat on a highland lake in Yunnan

Private travel, personal support

Start with your dates and rough route. Joy can help shape a complete private journey around how you want to experience Yunnan.

PLAN MY PRIVATE TOUR

Explore Yunnan

Begin with the places and journey we know best, supported by real guides and local context.

Open the complete Yunnan travel guide →
Dali

Lakeside villages, Bai culture and enough time to experience the place beyond its checklist.

Dali

EXPLORE
Shaxi

A quieter Tea Horse Road town that rewards travelers who stay after the day visitors leave.

Shaxi

EXPLORE
Private Yunnan Journey

Dali, Lijiang and two nights at Lugu Lake in a private six-day journey.

Private Yunnan Journey

EXPLORE
Turquoise lake and snow mountains in Yunnan

Ready to plan your first journey through Yunnan?

Tell us your dates, interests and preferred pace. You still travel in your own way—we simply help remove the friction.

SHARE MY TRIP IDEASPrefer WhatsApp? Chat with Joy →