BootsnAll Travel Community

We like to hire private english speaking guides. We have found that many times you get to see things and learn things you would never otherwise have the chance to do.

We have been in China for 10 months (yes, we are tired of the spitting, really really tired of it). Both of these guides were passed on to us by experienced China travellers/residents

We have 2 recommendations for guides in Yangshuo and Jinghong.

Yangshuo: Freeman Pan. Email: xpan2008@yahoo.com.cn Phone: 13878376227

He is in his twenties, his english is good, his manner is relaxed (he goes as fast as you want and talks when you want him to)> He is very knowlegeable about the area as he grew up there. He is a licenced full time guide. He loves the outdoors and photography. Among other things, he took us to weddings, helped us interview farmers, and helped us wander around places you could never find in a guidebook. His fee was modest and we would have paid him triple for what we saw. He speaks several local dialects and had a warm respectful manner with the villagers.

Jinghong: Sara, owner/operator of the Forest Cafe (www.forest-cafe.org) email: sara917731@yahoo.com.cn
Her website is easily found on Goggle by searching for forest cafe, Yunnan.

Sara, with her younger brother, operate a cafe and trekking service in downtown Jinghong. We took 3 of her treks in January of 2006. We spent 5 days with her or her brother. These are small group rambles in remote parts. A very well traveled Swedish couple with us on one trek said it was the most off the beaten (best) trekking they had done in Southeast Asia (and they have spent many years traveling in the area).

Sara speaks at least one of the local dialects, and excellent English, and is very interesting in her own right. Women travelers will love her. She showed us places and told us things that made her worth far more than the modest set prices per person she charges. For some reason she has been dropped from the latest LP (everyone makes mistakes. Tied with Freeman Pan for the best time we had in China. 1 day to 3 day treks. Travel services also.

Thanks, you really enjoyed your trekking in Xishuangbanna area.