About A Trails

Business Development Director

Born and raised in the United Kingdom, Justin has called China his home since 2010. With a distinctive record of sales and marketing–related positions during these years in Beijing and Yunnan, his aptitude of successfully enticing customers to the wonders of greater China is seen as an immense forte for the company. An avid adventurer with a sustainable eye in offering the authentic and diverse side of China, Justin enjoys meeting and bringing people together, thrives off building trust and relationships, but most importantly achieves fulfilment by creating value for people. Contact Justin at justin.culkin@atrails.cn

Department Supervisor

Carrie is a history aficionado and holds a degree in Chinese Culture from Beijing International Studies University. She specializes in local history and culture and enjoys combining these subjects together with China's rich natural splendors to create authentic travel experiences. Carrie has worked in the travel and tourism industry for over 10 years serving for the Beijing Olympic Games and government inspections. She has also organised charter flight arrangements for clients and provided travel consultancy services for a number of multinational companies. Contact Carrie at carrie.xu@atrails.cn

Co-Founder

For Xiaolin, China is a travelling playground of immense proportions, and her vast knowledge in putting extraordinary itineraries has made her our first Chinese national heading our team in this vast country. Since 2008, she has been an Asian Trails’ cornerstone of information, an example of how team spirit is pushing the boundaries, of what initially deems to be impossible, to tailored experiences in both leisure and incentive markets. Fluent in English and French, her operational and advisory skills for discerned travel professionals has seen our China operations grow beyond expectations. Aside from having a travel bug, you can find Xiaolin often being immersed in broadening her knowledge in Chinese history and art. Contact Xiaolin at xiaolin.zhang@atrails.cn

Expert

Jeremiah is a writer and historian based in Beijing since 2002. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, and taught Late Imperial and Modern Chinese History for over 15 years. Jeremiah is frequently asked to speak and lead workshops on history, culture, and cultural adaptation for students, embassies, companies, and community groups. He supports educational programs and historic walking tours of Beijing's most famous sites and less-traveled byways. Along with David Moser, Jeremiah hosts the podcast Barbarians at the Gate.

Expert

Nicolas Grevot arrived in Shanghai in 2008, after having spent 15 years in Taiwan as an editor and a journalist. He now works as a consultant and is also a facilitator for a group of CEOs. In addition, he co-chairs the Society of History of the French in China. A great art lover and collector, he is passionate about China, Shanghai and its people. Nicolas tells us about Shanghai like a fable.  He leads workshops on the move or learning excursions in the urban world of Shanghai, devoted to the history and the culture of this fascinating city. He also regularly gives lectures to local organizations.

Expert

Ben has been guiding adventure travel trips for over 15 years and has participated in and staffed multiple 90-hour Wilderness First Responder trainings.  He lived on the Tibetan Plateau in Xining’s Qinghai Province since 2010 and collected an extensive trekking experience having completed the 2,650 mile (4,240 kilometer) Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada in America.

Award Winning Photographer

Professional photographer from Montreal, François has been selected and invited 5 times at the "World Photographers focusing on Beijing". He worked in Turkey for the project "Izmir, a legacy for tomorrow" organized by the Arkas Art Center and his photos were exposed at the Arkas Museum in Turkey. He also participated in Izmir photo days. He won the first prize at the international photo contest « 2014 Chinese dream in the Eyes of Foreign Friends ». In 2017, he is invited to Photo Beijing Event to present an important exhibition of his work. His book "China: photographic narrative in the Middle Kingdom" is published with Les Editions Cayennes. His photos were published in National Geographic Magazine and also in many magazines and websites. François Nadeau now lives in Beijing where he works on assignments for different magazines and teaches photography.

Award Winning Photographer

Mathias Guillin is a renowned French professional photographer who has been working in Shanghai since 2005. His photographs mostly focus on architecture and landscapes, however, he also features portraits and can do wonders with light! As Mathias explores the outdoors or unknown parts of his city, he always keeps his camera or his drone beside him. We had the rare opportunity to see some of his personal work, and then grew very interested in sharing the opportunity to have such an individual share his passion on his travels and stunning landscapes of China. Drone (aerial) photography is his latest interest, and this kind of traveling workshops is among our offerings. Learn to use your camera, frame your pictures and see things from a different perspective. If you want to create print worthy pictures, join him on a tour ! You may see some of his work visiting his Instagram: love_what_eye_see