Shanghai and Beijing Tour Guides

There are no good guides, and you don't need one anyway. Use the search box above and you'll find many threads on this topic, such as:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/beijing-tour-guide-needed-and-how-many-tours.cfm

Two years ago we used a guide in Beijing by the name of Konglin. I thought he was very good. He was still polishing his English at the time, but we could understand him fairly well. by now he should be just about perfect. I do think a guide in Bejing is necessary. But not one in Shanghai, tho we did have the hotel concierge book an afternoon guide for us that was very good. If you want to see an overly long report, see a listing for me a couple of years ago titled something like A Grouchy Old Mans Report in the China or Japan section. I don't know if Konglin is still in the business. He had a couple of run ins with the govt. in China as they wanted all the guides to be State, not privat. If you want to try contacting him his email was konglin316@hotmail.com We have corresponded a couple of times last year, but don't know if he is still around.

To put a few points right:

Konglin (and girlfriend) are notorious spammers of this and other sites, and on those grounds alone do not deserve the patronage of anyone here.

Complaints (utterly commonplace to guides) have been posted here by other users concerning overcharging and substitution of other personnel.

The government has for many years required guides to be licenced, and if Konglin has been operating without a licence then he has been doing so illegally. Woe to you if something goes wrong.

Tens of thousands of people visit Beijing every year without a guide, including many who have posted to describe their experiences. You are ill-advised to take a guide anywhere in China on various grounds to do with their cupidity, corruption, and ignorance of their own culture and history (and if licenced, their training to tell you the Party line--that's mainly what the training is for, and indeed the entire tourism industry is part of the overall propaganda effort). But even supposing they were devastatingly honest, extremely well-informed, and fairly priced, Beijing is the last place in China you'd need a guide.

Peter N-H

For more info on successfully touring China on your own, see http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/trip-report-17-days-through-china.cfm?99 and http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/china-our-way-a-23-day-trip-report-of-independent-travelers-in-may-2009.cfm?29

I don't agree with Peter regarding a tour guide. (Though I've seen some of his other excellent post and he is a superb resource.) I visited Beijing from June10-16th, 09. I was traveling with my wife and another couple. I found Justin (Wang, our guide) thru research on the web. His English was very good, gave us in depth historical information, had a new Buick van that accommodated us comfortably, and took us to all of the tourist sites which we thoroughly enjoyed. We also went to some outstanding restaurants which he arranged. Could a hotel concierge make such arrangements? Certainly. Could you use audio/book guides instead? Absolutely. But, for us, it was most efficient and the recommendations he had were excellent. We're in our late fifties in age, and we are very well traveled. I have used guides in many of the South American, Asian, and European cities I've visited. I suppose if I were younger I might hoof it on my own. And, a guide is more expensive, no doubt about that. But I can highly recommend Justin, should you desire a guide in Beijing. I'm happy to provide details off forum via email at gwilson@wilsonbrown.com. Again, this is in no way disputes Peter's Beijing acumen. I just simply disagree with him on this point.
Gary

My original response was brief probably because I've been over the same material many times. While appreciating the kind remarks on other information provided, I have to point out that the situation with guides is far more complicated than it appears, and many of those complications are not apparent to those who take them (which partially accounts for their success).

The claims that are being disagreed with seems to be the brief one that there are no good guides and that you don't need one anyway. The concrete grounds given for dispute amount to:

'His English was very good'

Many guides have very good English, and they are also charming, engaging, and apparently very helpful. Unfortunately this isn't much to the point when considering the deceptions routinely practiced on those who use them, or the quality of the advice and information provided.

'gave us in-depth historical material'

This is a claim that's often made about guides, but it has to be recognised that anyone not themselves very well-versed in Chinese history is actually in a position to make such a claim. Volume and detail are not the same thing as accuracy, and in fact the chances that much of what was said was true are vanishingly small.

The problems begin with the Chinese educational system, which purveys one view and one view only, with no opportunity for debate, of Chinese history. This account is at best bowdlerized, but for the most part plainly false, and written to suit the needs of the Party and its policy of promoting Chinese nationalism to unite people behind the government and against outside influences. Most Chinese have no inkling whatsoever of the truth, and those who do keep quiet. Publishing contrary views on even the most trivial points is enough for you to lose your job, and for the publication concerned to be shut down (e.g. in recent times, 'Freezing Point', for daring to compare and contrast the content of Hong Kong Chinese history books and mainland Chinese ones, and to suggest that the Qing dynasty might be partly responsible for the 1860 invasion of Anglo-French forces). In short, Chinese cannot for the most part provide you with accurate historical material because they have been taught entirely mendacious accounts and have no access to alternative viewpoints.

Then there's the guide training, which all officially licensed guides have to go through (and in theory all guides are indeed so licensed, although if you [very unwisely] go shopping for them at random that's not guaranteed). This is specifically designed to make sure the Party view is put across at every opportunity.

And in general the aim is to give you as positive a view of China as possible, to impress the socks off you, in fact, and the truth is the first casualty of that. Use assorted guides across China and you'll be amazed to find that the tallest pagoda can be found in several cities at once; that the waterfall you're viewing is the biggest in Asia but on what measurement isn't clear; that the Great Wall is visible from Moon (this canard might possibly recently have died); and so on. Guides will tell you that stele rest in the back of tortoises, whereas they rest in fact a primitive dragon called the bixi (note the teeth and claws). They know nothing of basic architectural clues that differentiate Tang from Song from Ming from Qing, and so on. None of this has any propaganda angle, and accuracy isn't important if no one can catch you out: just making a good impression.

In short, your chances of getting a complete and accurate account of anything much from a Chinese guide are as near zero as makes no difference, although this isn't entirely their fault. If that's what you hire a guide for, then your money is wasted even if you were paying a reasonable local rate, which is itself highly unlikely.

This is all very sad, but it's just the way things are.

> had a new Buick van that accommodated us comfortably

Vehicles in Beijing are plentiful. You don't need to pay for a guide on top, and indeed the best and vastly more economical way to get about is by taxi.

> We also went to some outstanding restaurants which he arranged

Outstanding restaurants are ten a penny in Beijing, for the most part don't need 'arranging' (you just turn up), and can easily be found from guide books, local magazines, advice posted here, Beijing food blogs (e.g http://eileeneats.com/wordpress/ currently featuring a list of this Beijing resident food expert's favourites), and so on. None of these sources are choosing their recommendations according to the kick-back it provides. It would be highly unusual if your guide was not.

> Could a hotel concierge make such arrangements?

Naturally, but he'd be pressing on you choices that gave him kick-backs, too. And you've no need of such 'assistance'.

> And, a guide is more expensive, no doubt about that.

Indeed. And in more ways than users may be aware.

In short, while taking a guide may be preferred, there's nothing here that makes a case for it being necessary, and I'm afraid that the expectation that guides in China are the same as guides elsewhere (although other destinations certainly have some of the same problems) simply leads to being misled.

No one should be booking any tourism services whatsoever from Chinese agencies or individuals found at random on the Web, and should be equally suspicious of recommendations posted here. While the self-recommendation common to other sites is mostly kept to a minimum by vigilance of various kind, those who with the best will in the world and with the very best intentions post recommendations for guides are often completely unaware of what has been practiced upon them. Those taking guides should be extremely cautious, should be extremely clear on payments (always well above local norms) and services to be received, should allow no deviation, should not take recommendations on shopping or eating or the 'right' price for anything, nor allow the guide to be an intermediary in any transaction whatsoever.

Beijing can easily be tackled using the metro system and/or taxis, and for a fraction of guide prices (none mentioned above), and supplementary historic and cultural information is best found in resources brought from home, not through any medium under the control or influence of the Chinese authorities.

Peter N-H

Peter has a chip on his shoulder about guides in China.

Visitors to this website should be given a choice, not the viewpoint of one man's crusade against Chinese guides.

"The problems begin with the Chinese educational system,"

Yes, well, one could say that of the US, Iran, and just about any country on earth, that the source of all of a country's woes begin with its educational system.

If a visitor doesn't speak Chinese, it's difficult to get the right services unless one is willing to pay big prices to live in an ultra-fancy hotel and even then the quality of the service of the concierge desk can be questionable. That's not the concierge's fault, it's because China has been growing exponentially and no concierge can keep track of all the train/plane schedule changes, which section of a particularly popular tourist site will be closed for repairs, etc.

As a bilingual person who has travelled with many a Western colleague to China, I can assure you that even I need help and that my colleagues are almost completely dependent on me to guide them around(That wasn't in my job descriptions! ). Over the years it's gotten better and better in China, but travelling in any country where one doesn't speak the local language means that one's choices and abilities are limited. A good guide can be great help to smooth over all the little unexpected ( and possibly unwanted) bumps in the travel road.

I, too, have used guides in China and they are not the ignoramuses that Peter would have you believe. The ones that I used in Xian, at the Hanging Monastery, and in a number of other Chinese locations have all been excellent and very knowledgeable. People tend to know their local history and traditions regardless of who's in power in Beijing.

If people want a guide in China, I do believe that it's infinitely better to help them find one than to engage in a long-winded rant against Chinese guides for whatever strange cause this serves.

trumped: I hope you find a good guide in both Beijing and Shanghai and that you will come back and report on your experiences.

>"There are no good guides" is a fair statement.

The entire travel industry in China that deals with tour groups desparately need an overhaul.

In early 1980s, Chinese tour guides considered themselves as embassadors to show their country to foreigners, they looked at gratuities as insults and would turn them in their working units.

The practice of accepting gratuities & kickbacks began in China almost at the same time in late 1980s, at a time when China International Travel Service, China Travel Service & China Youth Travel Service were still running all tours.

Gratuity is a normal practice for service business but kick back is unethical and illegal.

Today all Chinese tour guides & Chinese tour directors are trained in the tourism school.
Teachers in the schools are retired CITS, CTS & CYTS guides who taught gratuity & kickback to their students as one single entity. French fries always comes with ketchup.

Tour operators like Ritz, Grand Circle, Oat, & Pacific Delight tour PDT using Chinese Tour Directors & local guides take people to shopping stops they get enormous kick-backs (typically 40%, Junk Antiques & Grade B Jades 50%+) on any purchase tour members make, on prices which may be 10 to 15 times more than is actually reasonable.

People who join tours are usually non frequent travelers or retire seniors.
They go where the guides lead them and do what the guides tell them.
They never thought of going to another country thinking everthing being shown or told is a scam.
There will always be some tourists who believe that they're smart enough to avoid all the traps.

It is pathetic to see the Chinese tour managers and guides cheating on the seniors, a country traditionally treat their elders with enormous respect and dignity.

It is still worth paying more for a tour company that has a foreign tour manager who will accompany the group throughout the entire trip.

He would act as the “bad guy” to keep an eye out for attempts by the local operatives to add in extra shopping stops, provide smaller size tour bus to sardine passengers, downgrade group meals, and other shenanigans.

Nothing can be done in China without the collusion between Chinese Mafia and corrupt officials from behind.

"If a visitor doesn't speak Chinese, it's difficult to get the right services unless one is willing to pay big prices to live in an ultra-fancy hotel and even then the quality of the service of the concierge desk can be questionable."

Funny, I managed to travel on my own in China, for several weeks, without speaking Chinese, without staying in fancy hotels, and without ever speaking to a concierge. And mostly without a guide. I did have a guidebook and a phrasebook.

And then there are those two reports I linked above, from independent travelers doing fine on their own.

Most independent travelers are frequent travelers.

Most tour group participants are non frequent travelers or retire seniors.

I'm not disputing that you can do China as a independent traveler, but what you get out of it is what you put into it - you could easily bypass a great historical site if you don't do the correct research. That's what tour guides are for.

I can do Neuschwanstein on my own too - if I've read about each painting and knew all about Germanic legends and Wagnerian operas - but the tour guide (mandatory in the case of Neuschwanstein) gave us the relevant information in the compressed time that we had.

That's what a tour guide is for.

Independent travel has its drawbacks, too. Why not admit those instead of constantly bashing Chinese guides?

yes, there are kickbacks galore in China (how else are these merchants going to find potential purchasers?), but if you haven't heard, the Chinese government no longer provides a social net to help its people and it's capitalism that has been adopted, so it's each man/woman for himself/herself. That's the difference between a socialist system and a capitalist system. People have to make a living completely on their own and there's more than a billion other people all trying to make a living too. That's a lot of competition. I neither espouse nor condemn the Chinese system. It is what it is.

It's so tiresome and boring to have this forum so dominated by one point of view, as if China has no diversity in its tour guides. It's as if someone in China were to constantly write about the gun culture in the US - as if nothing else existed.

The whole point of this thread is that the OP wants a recommendation for a GOOD guide. If you know of one, recommend him/her. If not, stop bashing an entire group of people.

BTW, talking about the mafia, here in the States, besides the famous Italian mafia, we have Jewish mafia, Chinese tongs, and Wall Street, to name just a few.

"Gratuity is a normal practice for service business but kick back is unethical and illegal."

People should steal if they can't make ends meet.

Stealing is alright, stealing is not bad and two wrongs make a right.

Shoplifting petty things isn’t as bad as stealing someone’s car which isn’t as bad as burning down someone’s house which isn’t as bad as murdering someone.

Cool!

I don't know why I bother to waste my breath given the usual torrent of irrelevance, ignorance, and lack of logic from this poster (sounds ad hominem, but merely points out there's a history of such postings), but for the sake of other readers:

> Peter has a chip on his shoulder about guides in China.

Indeed, let's start off with the usual complete lack of logic and commit the fallacy of attacking the man rather than the arguments and information presented.

> Visitors to this website should be given a choice, not the viewpoint of one man's crusade against Chinese guides.

And here, as usual, we have an argument against a position that no one has espoused. Other contributors, in postings clearly visible above, are having a civil conversation which contains conflicting views. Anyone who wishes, may, self-evidently, post to say whatever they like about guides, and no one is suggesting (until now, at least) that any one viewpoint be censored.

There's also the difference between viewpoint and facts presented to be considered (another logical point I know it's difficult to grasp). Observations on guides made here are based on extensive study by myself and colleagues over more than 20 years; on interviews with guides; on interviews with numerous domestic and foreign tour companies; on taking dozens of trips with guides in all parts of the country'; on sitting drinking tea with guides while their kick-back is delivered; and on possibly hundreds of occasions by now sitting listening silently to the nonsense they spout (of which examples were quoted).

> Yes, well, one could say that of the US, Iran, and just about any country on earth, that the source of all of a country's woes begin with its educational system.

A false and indeed self-evidently fatuous claim, certainly not derivable from any observation already made concerning the Chinese education system's impact on the historical knowledge of guides (but actually following the line of the argument is always hard, I know). And, of course, yet another logical fallacy (look up 'tu quoque'). Whether this absurd statement is true or false, it has no effect whatsoever on the observations concerning China already made, China (easy to overlook, I know) being the destination currently under discussion.

> If a visitor doesn't speak Chinese, it's difficult to get the right services unless one is willing to pay big prices to live in an ultra-fancy hotel

Utter rubbish, as demonstrated by tens of thousands of budget travellers to China every year, not a few of whom have posted here (and indeed links have already been provided). Not that 'services' are much required beyond a map and a guide book, and the occasional use of a walk-in travel agent for convenience if required.

> and even then the quality of the service of the concierge desk can be questionable. That's not the concierge's fault,

On the contrary it's entirely the concierge's fault. The number of concierge desks in Beijing that actually function as they would in the West can be counted on less than the fingers of one hand. The rest only recommend venues and services providing kick-backs to themselves, and indeed (and this direct from restaurant PR people) won't even visit outside locations without a cash incentive to do so. Free dining and a chance to become familiar with a new restaurant doesn't interest them, for instance. Nor, lazy and hopeless as most are, will they even make much of an effort to answer many queries unless pressured, and then even if successful fail to note the answers they obtain, so that if anyone else asks the process starts all over again. General Managers always fulminate entertainingly on this topic. There are a few good ones, but precious few.

> it's because China has been growing exponentially and no concierge can keep track of all the train/plane schedule changes,

Utter rubbish. Setting aside that there are travel desks for this (also best avoided in big hotels) the railway timetable and airline timetables are revised twice a year, and both are available on-line in Chinese. Keeping up is hardly arduous. Anyone, concierge or not, can do it very easily. Even at simple hotels it only takes a single phone call to a local agent.

> which section of a particularly popular tourist site will be closed for repairs, etc.

No one can keep up with this, and even guides don't bother, so there's little reason to criticise concierges in particular for this failing, nor has anyone suggested they should be consulted on such matters in the first place anyway.

> As a bilingual person who has travelled with many a Western colleague to China, I can assure you that even I need help

'even'?

Tens of thousands of monolingual (in European languages) visitors every year do not. Some people may prefer guides, but they are not needed. Those of us familiar with the territory and able to speak the language inevitably end up helping out those who aren't. This is further evidence, of course, that those who aren't can use a variety of resources to achieve success.

Getting around is achieved quite simply be anyone with the slightest gumption. But even if this wasn't the case it wouldn't suddenly convert guides from con-men to saints, nor suddenly make available the benefits for which they are hired but that they for the most part spectacularly fail to provide.

> and that my colleagues are almost completely dependent on me to guide them around(That wasn't in my job descriptions! ).

But tens of thousands unfortunate enough not to have you available, somehow seem to manage. Try looking at Lonely Planet's site for an almost infinite number of accounts. Shanghai and Beijing are the last places in China anyone needs a guide.

> Over the years it's gotten better and better in China, but travelling in any country where one doesn't speak the local language means that one's choices and abilities are limited.

Come again? I can only speak three languages, so like most people I frequently find myself in countries where I don't speak the local one. Nevertheless I neither give up travel nor constantly resort to guides. I ask intelligent questions of English speakers I meet, and use maps and guide books. What on earth is the problem? Guides have their uses in some circumstances, and especially where there are tied to a specific experience at which they are expert. But not usually in China and for reasons already set out at some length.

>A good guide can be great help to smooth over all the little unexpected ( and possibly unwanted) bumps in the travel road.

Can be, but in China is more often busy adding them.

> I, too, have used guides in China and they are not the ignoramuses that Peter would have you believe. The ones that I used in Xian, at the Hanging Monastery, and in a number of other Chinese locations have all been excellent and very knowledgeable. People tend to know their local history and traditions regardless of who's in power in Beijing.

None of which addresses the explanation already given, but simply contradicts it without tackling any of the issues set out. And again, none of this statement about 'knowledge' is worth a bean if the praise is coming from someone who is not themselves well-informed. I've taken guided tours at both places (having studied Silk Road history rather extensively) and the commentary was the usual mixture of historical inaccuracy, gross exaggeration, and pure fantasy usually to be found in such situations.

> If people want a guide in China, I do believe that it's infinitely better to help them find one than to engage in a long-winded rant against Chinese guides for whatever strange cause this serves.

Again the ad hominem, and as usual a complete failure to address the arguments and facts set out. What serves people best is warning them against difficulties and dangers they may encounter, so that they may, if, in the case, determined to have a guide, proceed more shrewdly when selecting one and avoid assorted pitfalls. Making postings principally to attack other posters for holding contrary views is a little less helpful, perhaps. If there aren't any good guides in China (and I've certainly despite very extensive exposure indeed, never come across one that's 'good' in the sense most would mean it) then obviously it's difficult to recommend one. Just a little.

But have it your own way by all means: I'm a complete ninny, with an incomprehensible psychopathic hatred of Chinese guides who has no clue what he's talking about and no relevant experience and who is just making all this up just to annoy people, make them miserable, and give them a hard time in China. (Not that that affects in any way the need to address the arguments set out with a mixture of logically coherent, fact-based arguments, rather than bluster, of course.)

Peter N-H

Might as well deal with the rest of the nonsense, I suppose:

> I'm not disputing that you can do China as a independent traveler, but what you get out of it is what you put into it - you could easily bypass a great historical site if you don't do the correct research. That's what tour guides are for.

You could easily bypass a great historical site if you are a complete idiot. The number of English-language sources to China's great historical sites is innumerable. I recently counted more than 30 English-language Beijing guidebooks in a single bookshop, for instance. Tour guides are less interested in taking you to the great historical sites because these know they are great and don't pay kick-backs. They like lesser sites, most of which, even in Beijing and Shanghai, do pay up. They do not, for the most part, have your best interests at heart.

> I can do Neuschwanstein on my own too - if I've read about each painting and knew all about Germanic legends and Wagnerian operas - but the tour guide (mandatory in the case of Neuschwanstein) gave us the relevant information in the compressed time that we had.

And this is relevant to the situation in China how? Not in any way at all.

> Independent travel has its drawbacks, too. Why not admit those instead of constantly bashing Chinese guides?

Because the dichotomy is only found in the entirely illogical mind. Independent travel does have some drawbacks, and how serious these are found to be will be entirely a reflection of the tastes (in some cases the gumption) of the people travelling. Either way, this has no effect whatsoever, as I'm sure will be obvious to most, on any of the observations made about guides, who will continue to fail in the ways outlined entirely independently of the real or perceived difficulties of independent travel, and who will not miraculously become honest overnight if suddenly everybody rushes to use them.

Furthermore, there are, of course, middle ways involving third parties (but not guides) in various processes. It is not a matter of two choices only.

> yes, there are kickbacks galore in China (how else are these merchants going to find potential purchasers?),

Er... Is this a serious question? The same way honest businesspeople usually do in similar situations globally? Someone who defends kick-backs is hardly to be listened to as an advocate for guides, which is presumably the point Cat12345 is making above.

> but if you haven't heard, the Chinese government no longer provides a social net to help its people and it's capitalism that has been adopted, so it's each man/woman for himself/herself.

Indeed. And therefore society rightly sanctions thievery and corrupt business practices. I'm sure everyone sees the connection, especially since we all no doubt, living in capitalist systems as we do, also consider everybody else fair game.

The situation with the social safety net is anyway inadequately represented here, but that doesn't affect the absurdity of the position taken.

> That's the difference between a socialist system and a capitalist system. People have to make a living completely on their own and there's more than a billion other people all trying to make a living too. That's a lot of competition. I neither espouse nor condemn the Chinese system. It is what it is.

Er... right. So there seems to be an admission after all that some of the criticism of guides is actually accurate. And the argument is that rather than pointing out these dangers to prospective visitors, we should just shut up and agree that guides are as cuddly as they want us to believe.

> It's so tiresome and boring to have this forum so dominated by one point of view, as if China has no diversity in its tour guides.

Again, there are (an increasing number) of different points of view, and some of the postings are actually dealing, logically and factually, with the arguments presented. Everyone is free to post here, not just those who please one particular poster.

> It's as if someone in China were to constantly write about the gun culture in the US - as if nothing else existed.

Actually it's as if someone was to write to warn about how guides in China generally fail to live up to expectation, when that specific topic comes up, and posts extensively on many other aspects of travel in China when those are relevant to the query made.

> The whole point of this thread is that the OP wants a recommendation for a GOOD guide. If you know of one, recommend him/her. If not, stop bashing an entire group of people.

I don't think I've noticed any requirement to ask for permission to post from one particular poster. And if I have the time I'll continue to post warnings and information where I believe these to be in the best interests of those new to travel in China, without asking permission.

> BTW, talking about the mafia, here in the States, besides the famous Italian mafia, we have Jewish mafia, Chinese tongs, and Wall Street, to name just a few.

Next, just to keep completely to the point, a statement about where is the best place to buy liquorice in Baltimore!

The rest of us may possibly continue to discuss the pros and cons of hiring guides in Beijing and Shanghai, although I don't think I've anything more to add.

Peter N-H

We were 3 weeks in China and never used a guide or tours. With the help of Fodors and Tripadvisor forums and Lonely planet & Eyewitness guides we got all the info we needed and researched the places we were going to visit before we left. Even places like the great wall and the Warriors in X'ian we did using public transport which was a lot of fun.

Here's an Englishman fulminating and fulminating and fulminating...

Over the past several years, that's all you've done, Peter, is to fulminate, most particularly about Chinese tour guides.

You just can't admit that your knowledge of China is incomplete and inadequate or that other people can have differing views on China.

I dislike people who try to present themselves as experts about a part of the world that has been mostly in the shadows for travelers who are seeking to have an enjoyable experience there only to have people like you coming in and acting like a "great expert" to "warn" them of "dangers". A Chinese tour guide is "dangerous"?

"Some people may prefer guides, but they are not needed."

That's the whole point, "some people may prefer guides",

it is your responsibility to provide for a good guide on this thread, not to fulminate constantly against Chinese tour guides. You are using this forum as a platform to vent your personal idiosyncrasies, not to help the traveler to China.

"Utter rubbish, as demonstrated by tens of thousands of budget travellers to China every year, not a few of whom have posted here...."

And the functional word here is BUDGET

I've met "budget" travellers in China who thought that the few dollars spent in a youth hostel was "much too high" a price to pay.

Why don't you preface what you're saying by specifying that your long posts are designed only for those who want to travel on a budget and to recommend that they use Lonely Planet or Let's Go?

You are forgetting that there are plenty of people wealthy enough to pay for tours and tour guides and who don't have to do all the work themselves but prefer to pay someone else to do all the work. It's a matter of CHOICE which you are totally unwilling to give the average traveler to China.