Meet Rui

My Story

I'm Chinese, but I spent years living abroad. Whenever China came up in conversation, I realised how different the country people imagined was from the China I knew.

Most people had heard of Beijing, Shanghai and the Great Wall — but not the road trips through western Sichuan, the villages of Yunnan, the grasslands of Xinjiang, or how completely the food, landscapes and culture can change from one region to the next.

I started sharing the trips I was already taking: long drives, small towns, mountains, local food and places that many people outside China had never heard of.

That eventually became China with Rui — a way for me to help people see a side of China that goes far beyond the usual itinerary.

Why China with Rui

Travelling in China isn't necessarily difficult once you know how things work. The difficult part is often planning it from outside the country.

The apps are different, English information can be limited, distances are huge, and some of the best places are surprisingly hard to research.

China with Rui exists to make that easier. I help travellers build realistic routes, find local experiences and understand how to actually make the trip work — while showing you a version of China that feels more local, surprising and personal.

My Favourite Places

• YunnanRice terraces, ancient towns, mountains, rainforest and some of China's richest ethnic diversity.
• SichuanEpic mountain roads, Tibetan culture, dramatic scenery and some of my favourite road trips in China.
• XinjiangGrasslands, deserts, snow mountains and landscapes so huge they barely feel real.
• TibetHigh-altitude landscapes, monasteries, remote roads and some of the biggest skies in China.

Follow My Travels

After leaving my banking job in the UK, I'm starting a new chapter of travelling and living around China — spending more time with family and friends, while exploring more of the country along the way.

Sometimes I'll travel solo, sometimes with friends or family. I'll be sharing the places I discover, new routes, lesser-known destinations, practical travel tips and honest notes from the road.

Follow along and see China with me — one place, one journey and one story at a time.