Are you a First-Time Visitor to China with these Concerns?
- How should I plan my route to be the most logical?
- How do I book high-speed rail tickets? Will my mobile payment work?
- How do I get from the airport to the hotel? Is there a local person I can communicate with?
- How do I order from a restaurant menu? Will I accidentally order something strange?
- What if I encounter an emergency (missed flight, delay, injury)?
For many foreign tourists, China is a destination that is both attractive and comes with a "cost of understanding."
This is why TourPal has launched an all-new service: TourPal Online Companionship Service (OCS)
In China, you will never travel alone.
We have turned the concept of "having a local person with you to solve problems anytime during your trip" into an online service.
You don't need to hire an in-person companion and pay a high fee. You simply purchase an online service to gain complete peace of mind throughout your journey.
What Problem is OCS Designed to Solve?
TourPal OCS (Online Companionship Service) is an online local-companion service designed especially for first-time visitors to China. We handle pre-trip planning, arrival support, on-trip real-time Q&A, and emergency assistance.
Before you depart we’ll clear up every concern — from transport and daily itineraries to payment methods, the best restaurants, and perfect photo spots — and deliver a ready-to-use “Arrival & Itinerary Pack.” While you travel, reach us by chat, voice or video for instant help with maps, transit, menus, tickets, and more. When needed, we can book on your behalf or coordinate local resources.
In short: we’re your on-the-go local advisor and safety net in China.
I. Pre-Travel Free Advice
You can choose one session of Pre-Travel Free Advice. We will provide a 2-hour consultation before you commit to purchasing any of our online accompaniment packages.
We will quickly help you clear any pre-travel anxiety and ensure a smooth start to your journey upon arrival.
Format: Email checklist, video, or voice conference (30-45 min).
We will confirm: Arrival time, travel purpose and preferences, language ability, budget, dietary needs, transport preferences, or special needs such as health restrictions and safety concerns.
Deliverables: A complete, customized itinerary plan (route + timeline), an arrival checklist (SIM/Payment/Currency exchange), and packing & gear suggestions.
Pre-Travel: We will provide the latest visa and entry essentials (non-official visa application service), including required documents, common rejection risks, and entry procedures. For visa application assistance, we can offer a paid referral service.
II. Core Service Content
1. Detailed Itinerary & Arrival Pack
Once the service is confirmed, we will build upon the pre-travel consultation to provide ready-to-use arrival and travel guides.
Content includes: Daily itinerary routes, accommodation suggestions (optimized based on route, time, and foreign guest reception permissions), daily activity schedules, touring routes within scenic areas, recommended restaurants, and must-order menus.
Recommendations for app download and registration, providing online guidance for mobile payment setup, etc.
Attachments: Map annotations, transport transfer screenshots, and key contacts & service vouchers.
Local Destination Practical Guide: (Transportation, currency exchange, SIM/network, basic Mandarin phrases, emergency contac
2. Communication & Liaison (1v1 Service)
Real-time online companionship from a local expert, eliminating travel worries.
After payment, we will arrange a dedicated online consultant for your destination city. They will be fluent in English and familiar with the local area, providing one-on-one accompaniment throughout to ensure real-time tracking of your preferences and travel progress.
All service communication will be conducted via a chat application. We strongly recommend WeChat as it is currently China's largest super app, used by over a billion people, and is the most important tool for mobile payment. It also supports various features necessary during travel, such as inquiries, reservations, ticket purchasing, transportation, and dining.
3. Day-0 Support (Arrival Day Welcome & Initial Support)
"First Hour" support on arrival day to ensure a smooth landing.
We will send an online welcome message and reconfirm contact details after you clear immigration/arrive.
Assistance includes: Best transport options from the airport to the hotel, SIM/eSIM/network connection guidance, suggestions for the first meal, and map navigation.
Optional: Assistance with ride-hailing or arranging airport pick-up.
Online assistance with hotel check-in procedures.
4. On-Trip Live Support
Ask anything, get quick answers throughout your trip.
Channels: Chat / Voice / Video.
Commitment: Normal daytime response 15 minutes, rapid nighttime response 30 minutes.
Typical Services: Route guidance, subway/bus assistance, instant translation, communication with restaurant/shop staff, asking for directions at scenic spots, and ticketing advice.
Working Hours Response: 08:00–21:00 (Local Time); Day Response < 15mins; Night Response < 30 mins.
"24-Hour Support Package" (Optional Upgrade): All-day real-time response (including nighttime).
On-Trip Live Support - Typical Scenario Examples
- Lost/Unclear Map: Stuck in an old town alley, ancient village, or market with no English on th map or multiple similar-named alleys. → Consultant annotates a screenshot with the best path, guiding you "left/right down this specific lane."
- Bus/Subway Transfe Confusion: Multiple exits or transfer lines at a station. → Consultant provides specific instructions like "Take Exit 3, turn left after 25 meters for the escalator."
- Can't Read a Restaurant Menu: Take a photo of the menu and send it to the consultant. → Consultant circles recommended signature dishes, tells you which are spicy/not spicy, and whether the price is reasonable.
- Can't Communicate with Staff: Need a specific preparation (e.g., less spicy, less oil, no peanuts for allergy). → Consultant sends a Chinese text screenshot directly viewable by the staff.
- Sudden Search for a Specific Shop: Want a coffee shop, a niche bar, a massage/SPA, a teahouse, or an artsy bookstore. → Consultant recommends the nearest and most suitable option based on your location.
- Spotting a Long Queue: Consultant quickly assesses if it's worth the wait and suggests an equally good alternative nearby without a queue.
- On-Site Ticket Purchase Issues: QR code not loading, real-name registration error, foreign passport not recognized at the gate. → Consultant provides remote assistance to complete the process.
- Finding Specific Photo Spots in an Attraction: Want to find the "Instagrammable spot" or "best shooting angle."→ Consultant sends photo examples and map arrow guidance.
- Last-Minute Itinerary Addition: See a street event or want to add a half-day city tour. → Consultant quickly assesses feasibility, travel time, and advises on how to fit it in.
- Bargaining in Markets: Unsure of the reasonable price range. → Consultant advises on the fair price range and helps you decide if it's a worthwhile purchase.
- Rainy Day Contingency: Provides an instant "rainy day backup plan," such as switching to indoor experiences, museums, or bookstore routes.
- Etiquette/Cultural Questions: How to express appreciation when buying a souvenir? How to participate in a cultural ritual? → Consultant offers appropriate "behavioral advice."
- Online Shopping Address Filling: Doesn't know the Chinese address format. → Consultant advises on the correct Chinese delivery address format, and can assist with filling it in if necessary.
- Lost Contact Situation: Friend is lost, or the internet disconnects. → Consultant helps locate both parties, coordinates with the hotel, and suggests a nearby meeting point.
- Night Safety Reminder: Want to go to a bar district or old city streets at night. → Consultant advises on the safety of the area and which specific streets are most reliable.
- Hotel Front Desk Communication: Checking out, late check-out, luggage storage, or needing extra amenities. → Consultant assists with remote translation.
5. Online Agentt
With your authorization, we can complete bookings and handle affairs online or via phone on your behalf.
Includes: Train tickets / Show tickets / Restaurant reservations / Ride-hailing / Hotel changes, etc.
Deliverables: Screenshots of all booking vouchers and operation records, and on-site contact person details if necessary.
Note: All expenditures for outsourced services must be paid by the customer. A customer confirmation record will be kept. If a payment proxy is needed, funds can be transferred to TourPal in advance for assistance with payment.
Complex Services: (e.g., peak-time tickets, major event ticket grabbing) 100% success cannot be guaranteed.
"Local Insight" Advice: Recommending restaurants, niche attractions, nightlife, and safety alerts based on client preferences
6. Emergency & Contingency Supportt
We provide emergency coordination and informational support in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Scenarios: Flight delays, ticketing issues, sudden illness, language conflicts, etc.
We will: Rapidly assess the situation, provide local resources (hospital, insurance, translation), and coordinate alternative solutions.
Provide: Local emergency contact numbers and suggestions for partnership channels
Key Typical Scenarios (Designed for immediate empathy)
- Device / Network Failure: Phone breaks, SIM card not reading, 5G eSIM won't activate, electronic ticket voucher won't open.
- Payment Blocked: Foreign credit card suddenly declines, Alipay freezes, WeChat Pay real-name verification fails.
- Language Barrier: Want to communicate late check-out with the hotel, need to tell a taxi driver the destination, or specify desired level of spiciness for a dish.
- Getting Lost in Transit: Driver can't find the hotel late at night, confusion over subway transfer direction, getting lost in a park or scenic spot.
- Health & Medicine: Need to buy fever/stomach medication, allergic reaction to food, minor injury, mild cold, need to find the nearest clinic.
- Accommodation Incident: Wrong room type upon arrival, points room rejected, front desk staff doesn't speak English, elevator access card not working.
- Itinerary Changes: Need to change accommodation last minute, want to switch activities due to weather, want to add a local experience but don't know where to book.
- Safety & Emotional Concerns: Unsure if a street is safe at night, see a crowd and wonder if it’s a demonstration, need to know if an area should be avoided.
- Document Issues: Passport lost, hotel failed to register foreign guest data, passport not recognized by automated train/high-speed rail ticket gates.
7. Checkout & Departure Wrap-upp
Final support before departure, ensuring a complete journey closure.
Includes: Return transportation reminders, check-out and luggage tips, tax refund/logistics assistance (if needed).
Service Conclusion: Brief review, client feedback collection, and provision of a trip summary and photo organization (upon request).
III. Optional Value-Added Items (Add-ons))
These items can be purchased individually or as a package upgrade to enhance the experience or create a lasting memory.
1. In-Depth Cultural Experience Recommendation & Booking
Recommend and book: Niche workshops, private experiences, folk activities, and local artisan studios. Suitable for travelers seeking deep cultural immersion.
2. On-site Interpreter
On-the-ground translation accompaniment (half-day / full-day) for scenarios like markets, dining, visits, or ceremonies.
Can assist in finding local guides with foreign language abilities.The online consultant can pre-prepare keywords and communication scripts for more efficient on-site translation.
3. Private Photography & Short Video Recording
Provides a local photographer or consultant to shoot short films / photos, including post-editing and material package (suitable for social media or photo albums).
If makeup, styling, or costumes are required, assistance can be provided to contact local studios (costs paid by the client). Supports shooting scripts and location scouting suggestions.
4. Shopping & Souvenir Assistance
Recommends authentic handicrafts, assists with bargaining, and handles tax refunds and postal logistics. Provides a shopping list and transparent sourcing information.
5. Multi-Language & Special Needs Support
Offers consultant services in languages such as English, French, Spanish, German, and Japanese; specialized arrangements for elderly travelers, those with children, or clients with mobility issue
6. Content Post-Production & Sharing Package
After the trip, produces a photo compilation, travel short video, or social media caption templates to help clients efficiently share their travel memories.
IV. Pricing Structure
We offer services of varying durations to best meet your different needs for online consulting and companionship.
Upgrades / Value-Added Packages
"24h All-Day Upgrade": An additional 20% charge on the original price for nighttime service (0:00-8:00) — Provides 24/7 support during the service period (0-24h), suitable for clients with cross-time zone travel or late-night arrivals.
Specialized Language Support Package: Starting from US$30 extra (e.g., French / German / Japanese).
On-site Companion / In-person Service Package: Quoted per hour or per project (This is an add-on and is not included in the basic online package).
Other Optional Value-Added Items (Priced on a case-by-case basis).
With the help of OCS, your trip to China will be like having the company of a local friend. You don't have to worry about being affected by various language, cultural or habitual barriers, and can fully enjoy the pleasure of the journey
Check HERE to Book your Local Companion.