A local perspective. A traveller’s understanding.
Yunnan is home, and travelling across China and abroad has shaped how I see it. I understand both the places you want to explore and the questions you may not know to ask.
A local connection.
A more personal China.
I’m Joy Liu. Born in Yunnan, shaped by journeys across China and beyond. I created Hidden China Travel to help you feel confident here—and discover a China that stays with you.
MEET JOY
Yunnan is home.
Travel changed how I see it.
I’ve travelled through most of China’s major tourist cities—from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi’an to Guangzhou, Xiamen, Qingdao, Chongqing, Chengdu and Wuhan—and explored places as different as Guilin and Xinjiang.
Abroad, I’ve watched sunsets in Kota Kinabalu, dived off Bohol, gone sea fishing in Phuket and chased waves at Shirahama in Japan. But the most important thing I brought home wasn’t a longer list of places.
At first, I travelled the way many of us do: following the crowds, moving quickly and making sure I had seen every famous sight. Gradually, I began to care less about how much I could fit in—and more about how a journey made me feel.
A slow coffee in an old town. A stream beside an open field. Blue sky, with nowhere I needed to rush. Leaving an office building behind for a mountain landscape, I was still the same person, but in a very different frame of mind.
That is the feeling I want to help you find in China.
I know how much work goes into feeling carefree.
I know the other side of travel, too: comparing hotel reviews, checking ticket times, wondering whether weather will close an attraction, or realising the last bus from a remote spot may leave before you do.
In a country where you don’t speak the language, even a small problem can feel much bigger. I’ve felt that uncertainty myself.
Hidden China Travel grew from a simple idea: you should arrive in China feeling curious, not overwhelmed. Our free guides answer the practical questions. Our personal trip planning brings your ideas together into a journey you can look forward to.
See how we help you prepare for China →
China has its icons.
And its quieter moments.
The Forbidden City and the Great Wall deserve their place in your imagination. But there is also a China of village markets, mountain mornings, small family restaurants and unhurried afternoons beside the water.
You don’t have to choose between famous places and personal discoveries. The difference is leaving enough time to enjoy both.
We begin in Yunnan, the place I call home: a natural starting point for journeys through old towns, living traditions and extraordinary landscapes.
Explore our Yunnan journeys →“Remember how Yunnan felt,
not just where you went.”
Joy Liu · Founder, Hidden China Travel
Why plan your journey with us?
Personal attention, practical thinking and local insight—so you spend less time figuring things out and more time enjoying where you are.
A real person, not a booking queue.
You speak directly with me about your trip. Your interests, questions and preferences guide the conversation instead of getting lost between sales messages and standard packages.
The details behind a good day.
A beautiful route is only the beginning. We work through driving time, hotel location, walking demands, ticket arrangements and seasonal conditions with the local operator.
A journey built around you.
Private travel gives us room to shape the pace, choose meaningful experiences and leave space to enjoy them. Famous sights and quieter discoveries both belong—when they are right for you.
Personal service.
Clear responsibilities.
Trust means knowing who you are speaking to, what you are paying for and who will welcome you on the ground.
Your planning contact: Joy
I listen to what matters to you, help shape the route and coordinate the proposal with the local operator. You have a named person to talk to, not just a tour listing.
Your trip operator: a licensed local partner
The operator arranges and delivers the booked transport, guiding and accommodation. Your travel contract and payment are handled directly by that operator.
Before you commit, we work through:
- Your route, pace and hotel arrangements
- What the price includes—and excludes
- The operator’s identity, payment and cancellation terms
- Local contacts and arrangements for changes
No pressure to decide before your questions are answered.
A few things you might be wondering
Good journeys begin with clear answers.
Will I speak with Joy directly?
Yes. When you contact Hidden China Travel about a trip, you speak with Joy Liu, the founder. He helps you clarify your ideas and shape the plan with the local operator.
Who operates the trip and handles payment?
Booked tours are operated by licensed local travel partners, who handle the travel contract, payment and delivery of the agreed services. Their details and terms are shared before booking.
Do I need a finished itinerary?
No. Tell Joy roughly when you want to travel, who is coming and what you enjoy. You can start with an existing journey or discuss adjustments to the route, hotels and pace.
What if weather or availability changes?
Weather, attraction access and hotel availability can change. Alternatives and any effect on price or schedule are discussed with the operator; your booking terms explain changes and cancellations.
Let’s start with your kind of journey.
A few dates, a place you’ve been dreaming about, or simply how you want the trip to feel. Tell me what’s on your mind.
CHAT WITH JOY ON WHATSAPPPrefer email? Get in touch →Speak directly with Joy Liu. No commitment to book.