Our Story
Because travelers never have enough time to discover all the secrets which make Shanghai so unique...
Because they think they have no other choice than visiting the "must-see" attractions like the Bund or Yu Garden...
& most of all because we think the best way to get a real immersion into the Chinese culture is by meeting the locals...
We created Culture Shock Tours!
Founded in 2015 by young entrepreneurs who wanted an alternative to standard/touristy bike tours, together with Shanghainese local experts they looked into a new option for both short-term visitors and expats living in Shanghai.
Culture Shock experiences are multi-theme & off the beaten path tours allowing guests to enjoy China History/Culture/Food and much more, with an experienced tour leader speaking Mandarin or English, in just a Half day!
We believe that the discovery of a city and its culture cannot be limited to a few buildings and historic dates.
It requires meeting with its people and letting interactions happen naturally for a full immersion.
Charlie (Kangli)
Owner and General Manager
Charlie is a native Shanghainese, who grew up in typical Shikumen (a traditional Shanghainese architectural style), and knows a lot of insider anecdotes. After studying and working in hospitality industry for 5 years in the US, she gained rich experience from leading corporations such as Walt Disney World and Panda Restaurant Group. Knowing the fact that guests from abroad are still unfamiliar with China and Chinese culture, she considers Culture Shock as a bridge which connects people from all over the world and this amazing land. She can’t wait to let more guests know about Shanghai and fall in love with this city!
Languages: Chinese, English
Q (Junxi)
Expert
Q is one of our Shanghainese experts. He's a language lover and is fluent in 5 languages. After leaving international coporations as an account manager, he started to focus on Chinese culture studying. Q loves to wander in the beautiful streets, discovering historical buildings and digging the stories behind. His knowledge, humor, passion and patience are loved by tons of Culture Shock guests. As a Shanghai local, he feels it’s his duty to bring the Shanghai to you in a way that memory wouldn’t fade.
Languages: Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Japanese
Mathias
Expert
When we call him an "expert", this is not a joke! Mathias is a renowned professional photographer, and he has gathered a huge amount of archives on Shanghai. He will be more than happy to share his passion for this city and for photographing it. He loves spending time "pushing doors" and exploring the unknown, always having his camera or his drone with him!
Languages: French, English
Jenny
Senior Tour Leader
Growing up in Sydney, Jenny loves the great outdoors and meeting new people. In Shanghai since 2012, fluent in Chinese language and stories, Jenny loves to share her insights on Chinese history, current affairs and the best places to eat vegan food! She is currently working on a video documentary witnessing the tremendous change of the urban landscape of Shanghai.
Languages: English, Chinese
Suskita (Xiaofang)
Senior Tour Leader
Our super friendly and smiley local Chinese tour leader Suskita traveled to more than 10 countries with a handmade bamboo bike. She enjoys creating unique and fun travel experiences through interactive activities and storytelling.
Languages: Chinese, English
Raph
Senior Tour Leader
Raph is always energetic and ready to provide you with the half day of most fun you could enjoy in Shanghai. He will guide you both night and day through the hidden lanes of what he calls his second hometown with a local insight. Keep your eyes opened when strolling in Shanghai, it is likely that you could see him riding along Shanghai streets on his own vintage bike.
Being considered half-Chinese by his local Shanghai friends, Raph is passionate about China and its culture. Don't hesitate to share any of your opinions and curiosity about China with him!
Languages: French, English, Chinese
Work with us
We are hiring Tour Leaders (Freelance)
Job description:
We are looking for a dedicated and passionate bike tour leader in Shanghai to ensure a unique and smooth experience to our customers.
Your mission is not only to share your passion of the local culture but also to bring the visitors to love it too. We will teach you how to conduct a tour safely, show you our favorite spots and share our anecdotes, we only require from you to be resourceful, autonomous, very professional and show empathy to the guests.
This is a freelance job meaning we expect you to be available when needed as much as possible
You must be:
Good at riding a bike in Shanghai
Speak HSK 3+ (Other languages a bonus)
Resourceful, autonomous, professional, very curious and fast learning
Good public speaking skills and flexibility
You need to have a health insurance & a working visa for China already
APPLY NOW
Please send your resume to bookings@culture-shock-shanghai.com and tell us about how you match the description and what makes you a wonderful person to be around. Please include your resume as well as the things you like to see or places you like to go to in Shanghai.
