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Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai

By News Desk 3 min read

Source Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror

Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai

As the “China Travel” hashtag goes viral across global social media platforms, China has witnessed a sustained boom in inbound tourism, with Shanghai as the first leg.

Liu Lichao discovered something unexpected while cycling with his overseas clients when he still worked in the financial sector. People from different cultural backgrounds tend to relax naturally during cycling, which makes communication easier.

Liu became a full-time inbound tourism planner in 2024, designing tailored tours that unveil the authentic and vivid side of Chinese cities to international visitors.

For Liu, cycling is an ideal way to expose foreign tourists to the real Shanghai. He takes his clients to the romantic former French Concession area, the historic alley houses, and garden villas on Nanchang Road, as well as eateries that serve freshly made snacks. Rather than dashing among landmarks and places of interest, he lets the ride unfold organically, chatting about whatever catches their eyes along the way.

“It’s a bilateral cultural exchange,” Liu says, adding, “What I want to show is the genuine and daily side of my country.”

Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao reads at the Shanghai Library in east China’s Shanghai, May 15, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (L) cycles with an American tourist along the Wukang Road in east China’s Shanghai, May 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (L) takes an American tourist for a walk on the Wukang Road in east China’s Shanghai, May 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (L) takes a selfie with an American tourist on the Hunan Road in east China’s Shanghai, May 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (R) tells the story of the Wukang Building to an American tourist in east China’s Shanghai, May 23, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (1st R) briefs his clients on the tour route before their departure in east China’s Shanghai, May 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (1st R) leads his clients to visit the People’s Park in east China’s Shanghai, May 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Liu Ying)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Clients of Liu Lichao try Tai Chi at Fuxing Park in east China’s Shanghai, April 15, 2026. (Photo by Liu Lichao/Xinhua)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (1st L) leads his clients to visit Fuxing Park in east China’s Shanghai, May 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao (1st L) leads his clients to visit Tianzifang art area in east China’s Shanghai, May 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Tourism planner leads foreigners to explore the true nature of Shanghai
Liu Lichao leads his clients to visit Fuxing Park in east China’s Shanghai, May 16, 2026. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)■

Reference Link:- https://english.news.cn/20260526/7fed0a4e766c4ce3b5b3d0b02d81b088/c.html

Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan
Prof. Engr. Zamir Ahmed Awan Founder & Chair, Global Silk Route Research Alliance

Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…

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