The people who actually take you there
Every 71Asia Tours itinerary is led by a licensed guide who works in English or Spanish — not a translator, and not a driver reading from a script.
"Spanish-speaking guide" is the most abused phrase in this business
Most agencies that advertise Spanish-language tours in China are selling you a Chinese-speaking guide plus a translation app, or an English guide who once did a semester abroad. Travellers notice. One guest from Colombia, choosing an operator for a family of ten, wrote on TripAdvisor that most of the companies she contacted "answered with AI and translators — they did not really speak Spanish".
We cannot prove a language by writing about it, so here is the specific person most of our Spanish-language guests end up travelling with.
David — lead guide, Chongqing
David guides our Chongqing tours in Spanish and English. He spent more than twenty years living in Madrid before returning to China, which is why his Spanish behaves the way a language behaves when you have actually lived in it: he answers questions directly in Spanish, keeps the jokes and the tangents in the right places, and does not translate from English in his head first.
In practice that means he knows the things visitors from Spain and Latin America actually ask about before they ask — whether the hotpot can be made not-spicy, where to find bread that is not sweet, why there is no jamón anywhere, how to explain a Chinese city's growth to someone who has never left Europe. He explains Chongqing's migration history, economy and daily life the way a friend would over a beer, and he handles the tickets, the timings and the logistics so that the day belongs to you.
He guides most of our Chongqing programme, including the city walking tour, Ciqikou Ancient Town with the Chongqing 1949 theatre show, the evening walk with the Two Rivers night cruise, the Wulong Three Natural Bridges and Fairy Mountain day trip, and the three-day "Chongqing in a Nutshell" itinerary.
One honest note: David is one person and his calendar fills up, especially around Chinese New Year, Golden Week (1–7 October) and Easter. If having a specific guide matters to you, tell us when you book and we will confirm his availability before you pay.
What guests have written about David
"Our guide David speaks fluent Spanish, having lived in Madrid for over 20 years."
— TripAdvisor review, August 2026, three-day Chongqing tour
"Our Spanish guide David is outstanding: fluent Spanish from 20+ years living in Madrid, patient, knowledgeable, and gave in-depth explanations of Chongqing's culture, economy and society. 100% worth booking."
— TripAdvisor review, July 2026, Ciqikou & Chongqing 1949 Theater day tour
"David was excellent, very kind, punctual, and had great knowledge about the karst heritage of the area. He organized the itinerary perfectly, without rushing and without mandatory shopping. 10/10 experience!"
— TripAdvisor review, September 2026, Wulong day trip (written in Spanish)
"Congratulations to David, the guide, and his companion, photographer Haisho, for their excellent work. Their professionalism, knowledge, and friendly manner made all the difference."
— GetYourGuide verified review, March 2026, Chongqing city walking tour
The wider team
Beyond Chongqing we work with a set of long-standing licensed guides and drivers across Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie and Tibet. All of them guide in English or Spanish, all of them are licensed to work with foreign visitors, and all of them are booked by us directly rather than subcontracted to a coach operator on the day.
Because the same guide normally stays with you for the whole itinerary, you get one person who already knows your dietary requirements, your walking pace and what your children are bored by — instead of a new stranger at every city.
On the Tibet programme the guide requirement is not optional: foreign passport holders must travel with an official guide and a Tibet Travel Permit, which we arrange for you.
Want a specific guide, or a specific language?
Tell us when you enquire. We will confirm who is available on your dates before you book — and if the guide you wanted is not free, we will tell you rather than quietly substituting someone else.
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