From 'Why Would I Go to China?' to 'When Can I Go Back?' — One Traveler's Story

I met Sarah (not her real name) through an email in early 2025. She was a consultant from Melbourne, Australia. She wrote: "I've been to 30 countries but never considered China. I don't know why. It just never felt like a place for me. But a friend went last year and said I was wrong. Prove her right."

I get emails like this more often than you'd think. China has an image problem with travelers who've never been. They imagine crowds, pollution, language barriers, and food they won't recognize.

Sarah's first message was short and direct. She listed four concerns: language, safety, food, and whether she'd be bored visiting "just another big city." She said she had 10 days and wanted to "see something real."

Here's how I responded.

For language, I told her honestly: you won't speak Chinese and most people won't speak English. But that's not a problem. You'll point, you'll use translation apps, you'll smile. Every traveler I've sent has managed fine.

For safety, I told her: I've lived in China my whole life and raised two children here. I walk home alone at midnight in Chongqing without thinking twice. It's one of the safest countries in the world for travelers.

For food, I asked what she liked. She said she loved spicy food but didn't know real Chinese food at all. I told her to prepare for something completely different from what she'd had in Melbourne.

For the "bored in a big city" concern, I designed an itinerary that didn't just visit cities — it connected them by high-speed rail: Beijing to Xi'an to Chengdu to Shanghai. Four cities, four distinct experiences, each one completely different from the last.

Her first email after the trip arrived at midnight my time. She was writing from the Shanghai airport, waiting for her flight home. It was three paragraphs of excitement followed by this: "I was so wrong about China. I need to come back. Can you start planning the next trip?"

She came back six months later with her mother. They did Guilin, Yangshuo, and a Yangtze River cruise. She's emailed me twice since then asking about a third trip — this time to Yunnan.

These are the emails I keep. Not because they flatter me — but because they remind me why I started WanderPeng in the first place. China isn't for everyone. But more people would visit if they knew what it was really like.

If you're reading this and thinking "I don't know if China is for me" — email me. Tell me what you're worried about. Tell me what you're curious about. I'll tell you honestly if China is right for you.

And if it is, I'll help you plan a trip that changes your mind. Like it changed Sarah's.