MEET STEVE
China surprised me once.
Then it made a habit of it.
I came for the history. I kept returning for the cities, landscapes, food, technology, and—most of all—the people. Somewhere along the way I also acquired several costumes, a panda suit, and a very strong opinion that far more travelers should experience China for themselves.
Here’s how that happened
THE CONNECTION CAME FIRST
China was part of my story
before it became part of my work.
Long before I began working with a Chinese cruise company, China had already earned a permanent place in my travel story.
I returned because every visit complicated—in the best possible way—the version of China I thought I understood. Ancient history sits beside astonishing technology. Immense cities make room for quiet traditions. A country that can feel intimidating from a distance becomes much more human once you are standing in it.
That repeated firsthand experience matters. It means my guidance comes from airports, trains, ships, city streets, meals, meetings, unexpected detours, and the many small details no brochure can teach.
THE BEST PART IS WATCHING CHINA WIN PEOPLE OVER
I know the moment.
The questions give way to wonder.
Escorting and traveling with groups has shown me what first-time visitors actually worry about—and how quickly those worries can fade. One day they are asking how everything will work. A few days later they are navigating mobile payments, debating favorite dumplings, and wondering why nobody told them China would be this much fun.
Watching that transformation never gets old. It is also why I pay attention to pacing, logistics, guides, meals, hotels, and the moments that allow a group to feel connected rather than simply transported.
THE MICROPHONE, THE MEETING ROOM + THE OCCASIONAL SUIT OF ARMOR
Good China journeys are built on relationships.
And very good questions.
I have presented China to rooms full of travelers, met with tourism and cruise leaders, worked alongside ship teams and local partners, and learned from people who understand their destinations from the inside.
Those relationships matter. They help turn a collection of reservations into a thoughtful journey—and give me people to call when a traveler needs an answer, a solution, or a little extra care.
They have also taught me that when someone hands you historical armor or a panda suit, saying no would be culturally insensitive. At least that is the explanation I am sticking with.
THE PART I KEEP BRINGING HOME
The Great Wall photographs beautifully.
Hospitality has a longer shelf life.
China’s scale is extraordinary. Its humanity is what stays with me.
I remember the people who offered help before I knew how to ask, the guides who made history feel immediate, the ship crews who welcomed travelers like honored guests, and the strangers whose warmth required no translation.
That is the China I want travelers to meet: not an argument, an abstraction, or a collection of assumptions—but a vast, complicated, beautiful country filled with people who may surprise you most of all.
WHY I BUILT GO2CHINAWITHME
China deserves more than assumptions.
You deserve more than a generic itinerary.
I created Go2ChinaWithMe to help people understand how amazing China is, expand travelers’ horizons, and match each person with the China experience that is right for them.
Not to tell you what to think about China. To help you experience enough of it to discover your own answer.
My role is to make the complicated feel manageable, connect you with the right people and experiences, and leave plenty of room for China to do what it does best: surprise you.
