Take Some Time to get to know us ..
Michael & Georgia
Hi there! I'm Michael and standing next to me is my wonderful wife Georgia. Thanks for taking the time to get to know us.
We are an active & adventurous "bi-cultural" couple, me being a Kiwi and Georgia coming from China. We consider ourselves fortunate that we can divide our "retirement" time between New Zealand and China.
When we are in NZ we live in the Taupo district, surrounded by the beautiful rivers, mountains and lakes of the Central North Island. When we are in China, and not on adventures Beyond the Yangtze, you can find us at our base in Xiangtan City, Hunan (Georgia’s home town).
We are a tight husband & wife team that share a deep love for both our respective birth countries. We are motivated both by our shared love for China, and building bridges between East and West. We love introducing our friends to China and all the adventures waiting Beyond the Yangtze.
For more information check our Bio's below.....
Michael & Georgia
Michael Queree
Michael, like many New Zealanders, is an avid traveller with a particular attraction to East Asia. In 2012 following a self-guided tour of Sichuan and Yunnan, the flora & fauna-rich provinces of S/W China, Michael developed a deep love for China and its people. As well as being moved by the hospitality of the people he met, he made a strong connection to the stunning landscapes.
Since 2012 he has returned to China many times, indulging his passions for travel, meeting new people and, developing a deep curiosity for Chinese history and language. In 2014 Michael's curiosity led him to sign up for a language exchange program in Anhui province, where he taught English and began his Mandarin learning journey. This was followed by further exchanges and volunteering in Sichuan province between 2015-2018.
With volunteer work there was plenty of time off to explore the wider regions! In well over 100 train and bus journeys, Michael traversed 50,000km + in his China adventures. His adventures took him to many “off the beaten path” destinations making numerous friendships and connections along the way.
Michael has discovered that China is much more than the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, and the bright lights of Beijing and Shanghai. In planning and escorting light adventure tours across Southern China, Michael gets great joy in sharing the China he has discovered.
Michael Queree
Michael, like many New Zealanders, is an avid traveller with a particular attraction to East Asia. In 2012 following a self-guided tour of Sichuan and Yunnan, the flora & fauna-rich provinces of S/W China, Michael developed a deep love for China and its people. As well as being moved by the hospitality of the people he met, he made a strong connection to the stunning landscapes.
Since 2012 he has returned to China many times, indulging his passions for travel, meeting new people and, developing a deep curiosity for Chinese history and language. In 2014 Michael's curiosity led him to sign up for a language exchange program in Anhui province, where he taught English and began his Mandarin learning journey. This was followed by further exchanges and volunteering in Sichuan province between 2015-2018.
With volunteer work there was plenty of time off to explore the wider regions! In well over 100 train and bus journeys, Michael traversed 50,000km + in his China adventures. His adventures took him to many “off the beaten path” destinations making numerous friendships and connections along the way.
Michael has discovered that China is much more than the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, and the bright lights of Beijing and Shanghai. In planning and escorting light adventure tours across Southern China, Michael gets great joy in sharing the China he has discovered.
Jie Guo (Georgia)
Georgia’s working life began in her home province Hunan. As a confident and adventurous woman she always sought travel opportunities through work! Her later career traversed China, with stints in Beijing, Shenyang and Taiyuan in the North, and Xinjiang out West.
In 2002, after a diverse and successful career in planning and procurement, Georgia was fortunate enough to start her own government procurement consultancy in Shanxi, North China. Alongside her main career she somehow found energy for side-hustles in restaurant ownership and merchandising electric generation equipment!
Being resourceful, adventurous and beautiful it’s not surprising that, in 2020, Michael got down on bended knee and proposed to her! Georgia, is now enjoying her early retirement sharing Michael’s passion for travel and cross-cultural learning.
Georgia’s deep knowledge of Chinese history, culture, language and food combines with Michael’s travel knowledge and love of China, to provide the perfect combination of skills to accompany groups visiting her country of birth.
The Beyond the Yangtze adventure far exceeded my expectations. Travelling with Michael and Georgia enabled access to regions and local people that, as a first-time traveller to China , would have been impossible to achieve by myself. Their itinerary had great balance, with a mix of the ancient and modern, rural and city-life, 500-year-old paved mountain trails and 300km/hr bullet trains!
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US
The Beyond the Yangtze adventure far exceeded my expectations. Travelling with Michael and Georgia enabled access to regions and local people that, as a first-time traveller to China , would have been impossible to achieve by myself. Their itinerary had great balance, with a mix of the ancient and modern, rural and city-life, 500-year-old paved mountain trails and 300km/hr bullet trains!
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT US
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