From a Chengdu Dorm Room to Running a China Travel Business: The Real Story

I didn't grow up dreaming of being a travel guide. In fact, I didn't even know what I wanted to do when I went to university in Chengdu. I studied tourism management because it seemed practical — and because it meant I got to live in a city famous for pandas and spicy food.

I was a good student, but not an exceptional one. I showed up, did the work, graduated on time. Nothing about my university years suggested I'd still be in the travel industry 15 years later.

The day I graduated, I walked into a travel agency in Chengdu and asked for a job. They hired me. For the next several years, I did what every junior guide does: I led group tours, followed printed itineraries, and learned the difference between what the guidebook says and what's actually true.

I learned that the best restaurants aren't the ones with English menus. I learned that the Terracotta Warriors are unforgettable in the morning and overwhelming by 2 PM. I learned that travelers remember how you made them feel more than any fact you told them.

After several years, I moved to Chongqing — my hometown. I started working with international clients directly, skipping the agencies. I built relationships one traveler at a time. Each successful trip led to a referral. Each referral led to another client.

I didn't set out to build a business. I set out to help people see China the way I see it. The business happened because I kept saying yes to requests that scared me. Medical tourism? I had no experience, but I said yes. A 21-day custom itinerary across 8 cities? I said yes. A client who wanted to visit China during Chinese New Year — the most complicated time to travel? I said yes.

Every time I said yes, I learned something new. And every time I learned something new, I became a better guide.

WanderPeng wasn't a grand vision. It was the natural result of 15 years of saying yes, learning from mistakes, and genuinely caring about the people who trusted me with their trips.

If you're reading this and thinking about starting something new — a business, a trip, a life change — the only advice I can offer is this: start before you're ready. Say yes before you know how. You'll figure it out along the way.