Explore Beyond China was founded by Belgian-born Maxime Tondeur in 2019 . As a child, he recreated the adventures of great explorers in the countryside. After studying journalism, he grew restless with theory and set out to discover the world for himself, eventually settling in Shanghai early 2010. Over the following decade and a half, Maxime hosted travellers on behalf of premium tour operators, building a deep understanding of China's history, culture and people, as well as the details that make a journey truly rewarding.
He founded Explore Beyond to share the country that captured his imagination: a China beyond the guidebooks and familiar stereotypes, revealed through its regional traditions, remarkable places and personal encounters. The aim is to offer a more meaningful alternative to conventional sightseeing tours, with the time, local insight and personal attention to experience China in greater depth.

Travel should change the way you see a place.
For us, discovering China means going beyond its celebrated landmarks to understand the people, traditions and stories that shape the country.
Its remarkable regional diversity rewards those willing to look closer. From local customs and traditional crafts to regional cuisines and everyday life, there is always more to discover than first impressions suggest.
This belief shapes every journey we create. We want travellers to return home with more than photographs: a deeper appreciation of China, its people and the many ways of life that make it extraordinary.
Personal involvement, from beginning to end.
We believe the quality of a journey depends as much on how it is organised as on the places it takes you. That is why we deliberately limit our destinations to regions we know intimately, where trusted local relationships and carefully selected experiences meet our standards.
We remain closely involved in the planning and delivery of every journey, working directly with the people who bring each experience to life. Our Personal Explorers adapt to your interests, share their perspective on China and help you navigate the unexpected.
By remaining personally involved throughout, we maintain the flexibility, consistency and attention to detail that make each journey feel considered from beginning to end.

After years in China, we still find places that surprise us, traditions that intrigue us and people whose stories change the way we see the country. There is always another road to follow, another local speciality to discover or another perspective to understand.
Through Explore Beyond China, we invite travellers to share that sense of discovery. Our hope is that each journey reveals something unexpected, creates lasting connections and leaves you with a deeper appreciation of the country.