Julia Zhu Like 0

My wife, my daughter Mila and me visited Beijing this past September (2012) and hired Julia to be our tour guide.  When she first called me at the hotel in Beijing, my guess was she must have studied in America because her English was so perfect. She had a nice itinerary prepared for my family and was very flexible and accommodative when I decided to make some changes to the plans.  My wife’s father decided to fly into Beijing to meet up with us during his business trip to China and Julia was kind enough help him with the train travel arrangements within country, as well as his departure flight out of China.  She is extremely knowledgeable of Chinese history, the culture and history of Beijing and offered a genuine perspective to the popular tourist places.  We saw some truly amazing sites, such as Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Hu-tong, Beijing Zoo and more.  Julia took us to some wonderful restaurants for traditional Chinese food and brought us to see the popular Kung Fu performance and Beijing Acrobat show during two evenings.  Julia even helped take care of our little girl Mila every now and then…which was really nice of her.  From the very first day in Beijing to the last day when she accompanied us on a private van to the airport to catch our departure flight, we were so glad to have Julia there to help guide us around the city and making our first visit to Beijing such a perfect China vacation.  We consider Julia a good friend and expect to hire her again when we visit China in the coming year.  We highly recommend her as a tour guide for those planning to visit Beijing.  Julia’s fees are very reasonable and you get top-notch dependable service.  

For our first visit to China, we flew into Beijing to be met by our tour guide Julia at the airport.
We were agreeably surprised by her pleasant friendly greeting.
Escorting us to the awaiting car she explained our itinerary for the few days that we would be with her.
We were to see the maximum number of the magnificent sites of Beijing and the surrounding area.
Apart from speaking very well Julia has something extra, she really understands the nuances of the English language. Joking with her from the start she replied with her own humour and we laughed a lot whilst we were with her.
During the next few days we were impressed with Julia’s knowledge of the sites that we visited, dates, history and every question that we posed was given a clear and concise answer.
One of the many things that Julia explained to us was that in China there are many ethnic minority groups and in Beijing there are specialised restaurants for the food that they eat. Would we like to try one? That was an experience that we enjoyed very much.
Julia has an easy going nature and is not stressed which made things easy for us, the many places that we visited made for a tight schedule but it was accomplished with the minimum of rush and tear.
We thoroughly recommend Julia to anyone who wants a friendly and efficient tour guide, thank you Julia.
Madeleine & Brian

My last encounter with Julia was a trip to Wuhan. She helped me locate my friend who had a rabbit raising farm. It was outside of the city and a primitive place and hard to find. The dirt road into the farm was like the dirt roads in a small America farming community in the early 1900's. Riding the bumpy road was a roller coaster fun ride. The outing was a great adventure to see rural China, my friend, and of course, the rabbits.  The best was yet to come. Julia took me fishing at a fish farm. Being a city person, I even caught several fish! That is not end of the story. We were able to pick herbs in a vegetable garden to enhance the cooking of the fish by expert cooks. It was well worth the trip and to eat the fresh we had just caught.

My understanding of China will never be the same. I even started talking classes in Mandarin at the local university. Why because Julia instill in me a need to be a lifelong learner. Thank you Julia..... Thank you China! I am truly blessed for knowing Julia and the experience she provide for me!
 

My contact and journey with Julia started about 10 years ago. I had just retired as an educator and my friends from Beijing booked a cruise for me up the Yangzi River to visit the 3 Gorge Dam. When I arrived at the port of entry, I was tired and didn't know what to expect. I was that typical American in a total new foreign environment. I happened to end up on the tour that Julia was the hostess. Julia was this young thing dressed in a cute-as-a-button navel outfit. Her charm and flawless English relaxed me and quickly my anxiety disappeared. My first impression of Julia’s positive attitude never left me during the trip. I was the only American and only English speaking person on the tour group. Conversation with the other passenger was non existence. Julia quickly became my friend and confidant. During the trip, Julia was like my personal tour guide. At every meal with Julia at my table, I learned about the many food of China. Many of the ingredients I had never had before. Today, I now know better the secrets of Chinese cooking. At the table, she spoke endlessly about the culture and history of China. Her patience and thorough understanding of the Chinese culture made China alive for me. What more could I have asked? She quickly introduced the painting artist, the tea ceremony lecturer, the medical cupping and acupuncture expert to me. Her animated translations help me into a new world that I as a westerner did not know or understand. During the evening activities of songs and dance were filled with joy and laughter because Julia was there to accompany me! It was truly on a journey of a life time. During the cruise, the journey into a rivulets going up stream pulled by local fisherman on the rock bed was all inspiring. The songs sung by the young maiden going down stream in small boast, and the melodies echoed through the canyon were all enchanting. The short stops along the way were places of fun shopping. Of course, the 3 Gorge Dam and going through its channels and locks were a sight to behold. But….it was really Julia's friendship and charm that made my trip the 3 Gorge Dam more than special.

Several years later I was invited to the Olympic in Beijing by friends. Unfortunately, my friends had to work. Of course, Julia came to my rescue and aid again. Going through the Olympic Village was amazing because of the outstanding architecture. But Julia knew and understood the details and history to impart to me. She was well versed and prepared in her studies of the Olympic Village. One cold, rainy, and stormy night we were at an Olympic event and the Bird Nest Pavilion was jam packed with people. After the event, I don't know how Julia did it, but she had a taxis waiting for us just at the right place to take me back to the hotel. During that same period in Beijing, Julia was able to arrange at trip to an exciting kungfu demonstration and show with Shoaling Monks. She even plan for me to me with the actors at that event. I am glad she planned that activity instead of going to the Beijing Opera. She took note that Shoaling Monks show was more my interest. But she also helped me locate the street where the beautiful Beijing Opera Costumes were made. I purchased once in a life time out fit from a shop. She negotiated the price and it is hanging on my wall today! What a priceless treasure! She also took me to a fun place....the silk market. Wow... what a fun place! I even had a perfect tailored made silk and vest. It was such a steal because she helped me bargain the price I wanted to pay. We also visit Pun Jai Yuen. Everyone really needs to spend days at this outdoor market. Rows and rows of venders selling art goods at basement bargain prices. Again, Julia was able to help me buy at my desire prices!

I visited China for the first time on April 27, 2012 and by chance met with Julia Zhu as my original tour guide had some family emergency to attend to.

I was initially apprehensive about visiting places in china with a tour guide that I had never communicated with before the trip but Julia made all my fears magically disappear with her soft feminine character.

As I had a rather bad flight due to mid air turbulance on the previous night and had no idea what to do on my first day, she took me to visit the Forbidden City, Tinnamen Square and Beijing Zoo on my first day of tour with a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. She then sent me back just in time for her associate, Mr Billy Zhao to accompany me by high speed train to Shijiazhuang.

Upon my return from Shijiazhuang the next day evening, she arranged for dinner at the original Beijing Duck Restaurant which was delicious within a relaxing atmosphere. She then asked me what I wanted to do the nest day and I told her that I wanted to visit Mutianyu Great Wall.

She brought me to visit Mutianyu Great Wall on my third day in China and enroute we stopped for lunch at a "Green House" style restaurant which served local dishes with very reasonable prices located very near to the Mutianyu Great Wall . She also arranged for an inexpensive china massage which was relaxing and soothing in my room upon returning to Beijing that evening. 

As I wanted to do some shopping before my flight, she took me to several genuine places to shop for China Silk, local T Shirts, travel luggage, tea shop, jade and electronics all in one day and at all times she had negotiated the prices with the sellers for me. I had also asked her to bring me to see a chinese physician and she was very caring to bring me to the best chinese medicine hall with qualified doctors for a free pulse consultation with no obligation nor will they coaxed you to buy anything.

She was at all times very patient with me as I did not speak a single word of Mandarin, always having my best interest at heart including ensuring that I do not eat food that is bad for my health.

I recommend her for anyone looking for an English speaking guide in China as she is very knowledgable about Beijing even though she grew up in another part of China, with a great amount of patience, caring and most important of all value for money.

I am looking forward to having another trip with Julia to Shanghai and Wuhan within the next year or two.