In 2008, Doug Ma decided to leave Wall Street and prepared to move to China. He traveled to China and Southeast Asia for six months before settling in Beijing, host of the 2008 Olympics. With a country full of possibilities and passion for traveling, Doug made a career change and partnered with Joanne Huang to co-found Tour-ING.
“This country is changing. If you have an entrepreneurial idea, this is the place to be.”
Both finance majors from the University of Texas at Austin, Doug and Joanne focused on budget, eco-driven vacation that involves hostels and tents, energetic 18-35 year olds, and an experience unlike other Chinese tours. The goal is the help visitors experience a country in the midst of historic change.
“We’re American, but we live in China, so we know what people want to eat, where people want to go.”
Doug and Joanne both speak Mandarin fluently and are comfortable bridging the two cultures. Two different itineraries are offered to appeal to travelers who want to shop and others who want to get out of the cities.
The 10-day tour covers major sites in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou and Xian. The 12-day Explorer tour takes an outdoor approach, visiting Shanghai, Guilin, Xian, Flower Mountain and Beijing, with opportunities for bike-riding, rock-climbing and hiking.
All tours include native English-speaking tour operators, knowledgeable local guides, comfortable transportation, comprehensive activities, admission tickets, and Western-style accommodations.
