Before you go.

KHORA is my field support and cultural mediation practice in China. I work with three kinds of clients: researchers and institutions preparing fieldwork, photographers and curious travellers looking for meaningful journeys, and companies that need an interpreter or a local liaison, for example at trade fairs.

You can use one service or combine them: a research mission can include a photography week, a trade-fair trip can end with a few days in the field.

I am based in Shanghai and work across the country. I know Yunnan, Sichuan, Gansu, Xinjiang, Fujian, Guangdong and Jiangxi particularly well, from repeated time in the field. The main trade fairs take place in Shanghai and Guangzhou.

For other regions, ask: I will tell you honestly whether I can help directly or through a trusted local partner.

I interpret between French and Mandarin Chinese, and I also work with clients in English. In regions where Tibetan, Uyghur, Kazakh or other local languages are spoken, I work with trusted local partners when needed.

Every project is priced individually, because a week of interviews in a Tibetan village, a ten-day photography journey and two days at the Canton Fair have very little in common. The price depends on the duration, the region, the number of people, transport and accommodation, and the local partners involved.

Send me a few lines about your project and you will receive a detailed written quote before anything is committed.

Every project receives a detailed written quote. The payment terms, schedule and accepted payment methods are set out clearly in it before anything is booked, so there are no surprises.

Ideally two to three months ahead for a journey or a research mission, so there is time to arrange contacts, permits and accommodation. Allow more time for Tibet and for festival dates, which fill up fast.

For trade fairs such as the CIIE or the Canton Fair, get in touch as soon as your dates are confirmed. Last-minute requests are sometimes possible, so just ask.

Yes, that is at the heart of my work. Over the years I have built relationships with families, artisans, monasteries and local organisations, especially among Mosuo, Tibetan, Tajik, Kazakh and Uyghur communities. I introduce you, explain your project in a way that makes sense locally and mediate during interviews.

Access is never guaranteed: it depends on people's willingness, and a refusal is always respected.

It depends on your project. The visa-free entry scheme covers tourism, business, visits and exchanges, but formal academic fieldwork by foreigners generally calls for an appropriate visa and, in many cases, a Chinese host or partner institution.

Requirements vary with the topic and the region, so we look at your case together early on, before any fieldwork is planned.

Yes. Send me your protocol before we leave: informed consent, how interviews are recorded, anonymity, data storage. I organise the fieldwork around it, translate the explanations and consent documents, and make sure participants understand what they are agreeing to.

Yes. In 2026 I worked on a documentary and photography project in Xinjiang for Shanghai's Aid-Xinjiang Program. I can scout locations, arrange access, transport and accommodation, and interpret during filming.

Filming may need extra permissions depending on the place, and drones must be registered and are restricted in many areas, so tell me early what equipment you are bringing.

For anyone curious about the people and traditions of China, with or without a camera. Photographers come for access and timing; others come for the encounters. Each journey is built around your interests, your pace and your dates, privately or in a small group.

Yes, with their agreement. Before photographing someone, we introduce ourselves and ask, and I translate and explain. Some rituals and sacred places cannot be photographed, and we respect that. This is what makes the portraits in my portfolio possible.

It depends on the itinerary. Tibetan areas are often above 3,000 metres, remote regions mean long drives, and some visits involve walking on uneven ground.

Tell me about your fitness and any health concerns: I adapt the pace, plan time to acclimatise and suggest alternatives where needed.

In cities, comfortable hotels. In remote regions, accommodation is often simpler: family homestays or small guesthouses, which are also where the best encounters happen.

Local food is part of the experience. Vegetarian diets, allergies and other needs can usually be accommodated if you tell me in advance.

Journeys are designed for individual travellers and small groups, so that each encounter stays respectful and personal. My first tour in Gansu, for example, was a private group of four.

Tell me your group size and I will adapt the itinerary. For larger groups, I work with trusted local partners.

China is generally a safe country to travel in, including its remote regions. The main challenges are practical: altitude, long distances, changing weather and frequent identity checks in some areas.

I plan routes with realistic travel times, work with licensed local drivers and partners, and stay with you in the field. Travel insurance covering medical care and repatriation is strongly recommended.

For the Tibet Autonomous Region, yes. Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit, which is only issued through a licensed travel agency, and must travel with a guide on an organised itinerary. The Tibetan areas of Gansu, Sichuan and Qinghai, where I often work, do not usually require this permit.

In Xinjiang, most areas are open without a special permit, but some border areas, such as the Pamir road towards Tashkurgan, require an additional border pass. Access rules can change at short notice, so I check the requirements for your exact itinerary and arrange permits through licensed local partners.

Mainly the China International Import Expo (CIIE), held every November in Shanghai, and the Canton Fair in Guangzhou, which has a spring and an autumn session. I also accompany meetings, company visits and institutional delegations elsewhere in China.

French and Chinese liaison and consecutive interpreting: on your stand, in negotiations, during factory or site visits and at business dinners.

I also help you read the cultural side of a conversation: what is said, what is implied, and how to respond.

Yes. I coordinate with local partners for transport, meetings, visits and accommodation, and I can find and brief speakers or talent for your events. You have one contact who speaks both languages and knows how things work on the ground.

Yes. Everything I hear during an assignment stays confidential, and I can sign a non-disclosure agreement if your company requires one.

It depends on your nationality. French citizens, like those of many European countries, can currently enter China without a visa for stays of up to 30 days (tourism, business, family visits or exchanges). This measure currently runs until 31 December 2026.

Rules change often, so always check with the Chinese embassy or consulate in your country before booking. For longer stays, a visa is required, and I can advise you on the documents you will need for your project.

China runs on mobile payments. Alipay and WeChat Pay now accept foreign Visa and Mastercard cards, so set them up before you leave, and I can help. Keep some cash and a bank card as a backup, especially in remote areas.

Google services, WhatsApp, Instagram and many Western apps are blocked in mainland China. Most travellers use their home roaming or an international eSIM, which usually still gives access to them.

Install WeChat before you arrive: it is how we will stay in touch on the ground, and how most of China communicates.

They often do: weather, roads, festivals and local events all play a part. I keep alternatives ready, adapt the programme on the spot and keep you informed. That flexibility is part of the job.

Yes, as long as I am available. Write to me or call me on WeChat with your dates and location, and I will quickly tell you what is possible.