A Returning Traveler’s Experience with a Personal Concierge in Shanghai
This time, she didn’t come alone
If you’ve read her first story, you’ll remember Ms. J came to Shanghai on her own.
(You can read it here)
Backstory: This trip almost didn’t happen.
She first came in October 2024, and we had already talked about her returning in April 2025. But she fell ill, and everything had to be put on hold. During that time, I still had some of her items with me—things I ordered over Taobao but hadn’t arranged to send yet. I kept them for her, and they ended up staying with me for almost a year.
This time, she came back with her best friend.
We didn’t spend a lot of time planning this trip. We had two calls, and that was enough for me to understand how they like to travel, what they enjoy, and the kind of pace they wanted. From there, I designed the itinerary around them, and once they arrived, we adjusted things naturally along the way.
Nothing felt fixed or staged, and that was exactly the point.
So when I finally saw her again, it didn’t feel like meeting a client. It felt like reconnecting with someone I had been waiting to see again.
She also brought me gifts from home, which I truly appreciated. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot.
There were, of course, many moving parts behind the scenes—logistics, deliveries, transportation, timing—but those are things I naturally take care of. My role is to make sure none of that becomes their concern, so they can focus on being present and enjoying their time together.
There were even moments when they were simply too tired to head out again, and instead of pushing through, I arranged food delivery to their hotel so they could rest comfortably. Small things like this matter more than people realize when you’re traveling.
As she later shared with me, “You just don’t think. Everything is handled, and you can actually be present.”
What felt different this time was their rhythm.
First, they flew in separately. Her best friend’s flight ended up being delayed by four hours, and she only arrived in Shanghai after 1am. Originally, Ms. J told me to just continue with the chauffeur arrangement for herself, and that her friend could take a Didi on her own.
But I couldn’t bring myself to do that.
After a long delay at the airport and arriving this late, she would have been a solo traveler in a new city, using an app she had never used before. It didn’t feel right to leave it that way.
So I arranged another airport transfer for her.
She arrived at the hotel close to 2:30am, and they were able to reunite without any stress.
This is also why I let them flow, get enough rest, and things moved more slowly with a later start. As they wished, they spent more time in places they enjoyed, and allowed the day to unfold without rushing from one stop to another. We adjusted plans as we went, whether it was for shopping, photos, or simply staying a little longer somewhere that felt right.
“It didn’t feel like a tour,” she told me afterwards. “It felt like exploring the city with someone who really understands you.”
Traveling with someone you’ve known for 18 years brings a different kind of energy. There’s a level of comfort and ease that changes how you experience a place. The trip becomes less about checking off locations and more about sharing moments—conversations, small discoveries, and the feeling of being somewhere new together.
At some point, it became one of those trips - the kind you know you’ll talk about for years.
“This is one of those ‘remember when’ trips we’ll always come back to.”
And when they left, I felt it too. We missed each other and still crack insider jokes along.
Below are some of my favourite moments from this trip. Out of more than 1,700 photos we captured together, these are the ones that stayed with me.
I’m sharing these with their permission, which I truly appreciate.
Below is a review that Ms. J shared with me, which I cherish as I see that my service is of value to them:
I had used Genie before on a solo trip, so I already knew she was great—and somehow, she still managed to surpass all of our expectations.
Calling her a “guide” doesn’t really do her justice. Yes, she showed us around and gave us an incredible experience, but she also handled everything behind the scenes. She coordinated our Taobao deliveries, made sure anything we needed got to the hotel, and took care of all the logistics so we didn’t have to think about them—which is a huge luxury when you’re traveling. When my friend’s flight got delayed, she even arranged a complimentary airport pickup like it was no big deal.
She takes care of things before you even realize you need help. Less stress means more headspace to actually experience the city.
The experience itself never felt like a formal or overly structured “tour.” She brought us to places we never would have found on our own, and it felt more like exploring the city with someone who genuinely loves it—and understands what you love too. Everything felt thoughtful and intentional, without ever feeling forced or checklist-driven.
And I really can’t overstate this—the photos are amazing. She has such a great eye and captured so many moments throughout the city that I’ll probably end up printing someday. I traveled with a close friend, and now we have all these small, beautiful moments captured in a way that feels natural and real. We wouldn’t have anything close to this without her.
One of my favorite things was something I didn’t even ask for—after the trip, she sent us a custom map of everywhere we had been together so we could revisit it later. That kind of detail says everything about how much she truly cares about your experience.
I’ve known the friend I traveled with for 18 years, so we’ve done a lot together—but this trip to Shanghai became one of those experiences we’ll keep coming back to. One of those “remember when” trips that I started missing the moment I left.
We came away with so many new memories because of Genie. She has a way of making you feel genuinely special and taken care of, simply because she is so invested in your experience.
Thank you for reading this. If you’re curious about Ms. J and her friend’s itinerary, leave a comment below and I’d be happy to send you a clean sample to take a look.
About Genie Yip’s Services:
Personalized Trip Planning
Private Transportation Booking or Referral, Highspeed Trains / Domestic Flights / Accommodation and Attractions ticket booking
Travel Companionship and personal concierge in Shanghai: You will be safe and taken care of without worry
Exploring Art, Food, and Neighborhoods Like locals do as a traveller, not a foreign tourist.
Personal Interpreter/Translator with local people and vendors; A souvenirs hunter
Curated restaurants and other experiences with a personal touch (stay away from overpriced and bad experiences)
A Story Teller, Culture and Experiences Exchange: Chinese history, entrepreneurship, advertising and creative industry
Private Transportation, a car for a full day, or transfer between airports, hotels and train stations
Complementary Photography during your tour, just you or with your partner or family, and post-production processing by Adobe Lightroom are included
Are you ready to explore Shanghai beyond the guidebooks and what you saw on social media?Reach out to start planning your tailored Shanghai adventure.