China has tens of thousalds of trained and licensed tour guides. Some of them are professors, librarians, and teachers. Some of them work part time but all of them mush pass a strict examination to be qualified to work as a tour guide.

China's travel companies are categorized into three classes. Class 1 can work directly with foreigh tour operators. Tour guides working for this class are usually more experienced. English language is the first foreigh language spoken by the tour guide. They work according to pre arranged schedules arranged by the employer.


Generally, tour guides in the less developed areas such as along the silk road, in Tibet, in parts of Sichuan and Yunnan are less qualified then those working in the east especially in terms of quality of their spoken English.

When you book travel with travel agency in China, you can request if they provide the tour guide service.

http://silkwise.com:8080/chinatravel.html