China: the distinction between guides and travel companions?

I suspect I know the answer to this, but can somebody let me know for sure.

I am looking for a guide when I go to China in early 2008.

Some internet sites have guides.

Other sites have people they call "travel companions." These travel companions are almost always young women, college-age or just a little older, and they are usually quite well-dressed, well-groomed, and beautiful. They look more ready to attend a cocktail party than hike the Great Wall.

My suspician is that these "companions" are not just guides; I can't think of how to put that more delicately.

I do not want to make arrangements expecting one experience and being offered quite a different one!

If anybody can clear this up for me, thank you.

Sounds like China could be fun after all!

I think you can use you own judgement to discern the meaning of companion.

Ha ha ha, sorry to disppoint. It's not what you think. They really are tour guides.
The "travel companion" is a literal translation of Chinese, indicating that the same person accompanies you to the various cities, instead of hand you off to a different tour guide in a new city.
They take a room in the hotel, sometimes sharing with other tour guides. (They get great deals with hotels cos they have agreement.)
And these young women have to be educated in languages and history, so they can explain to you what you are looking at. They have to look good to make it in that business the same reason that Asian airline stewardesses are young and attractive. The companys make no secret of their employment policy: pick pretty young women. But that doesn't mean those stewardesses would offer you anything else but a cup of coffee.

There is a difference between guides and travel companions. Travel companions are aplenty on website and expats magazines offerring their "services".

2 of my male Caucasian friends decided to get a "travel companion" during their holiday in Shanghai last year. They were looking for someone to guide them around the city and neighboring Hangzhou and thought maybe a local girl would be more suitable, thrust worthy and safer.

Well, they got more than they bargain for. The girl is beautiful, no doubt about that, but she also took them to very expensive restaurant for meals. My friends were expected to pay for all her meals, hotel and train fare in exchange for being shown around the cities. The last straw was when the girl wants to be more than a travel companion, she wanted to recommend them her other "services".

I would strongly recommend that you forget about those so-called "travel companions" and stick to those legal tour guides if you don't want to get yourself in any sticky situations. Most of these girls are out to have a good time and to seduce foreigners with bad intentions. Word of caution, be careful and don't let any of these girls spoil your holiday in the end.

hello,
from my experience living in china for a year ,here it is:

YOU DECIDE IF THE COMPANION IS GOING TO BE MORE THAN THAT.

i established an office in there and usually searched for a companions ,it is quite normal for them to try to SEDUCE you so you can get involved with them ,but you draw the line for them and they tend to understand

Actually female companions are more fun and you will enjoy your visit,so be careful!!

you should be very careful, I live in Shanghai and a friend of mine knows two foreigners that were jailed for 5 days for having a "Companion", if you are looking for a guide, maybe I can help you in some way, I have lots of Chinese friends, good, honest, moral people, they may be interested or can help you find a guide, feel free to email me