Is your WeChat basically a running list of restaurant recommendations?
Is your camera roll 90% noodles?
Is your love language feeding people?
Be honest, did you ask “What are we doing for dinner?” while still eating lunch today?
If this is you, hi. We should talk.
UnTour Food Tours is hiring food tour guides in both Beijing and Shanghai, and if you’re the kind of person who can’t walk past a baozi shop without peeking inside, this might be your dream side gig (or your next main thing).
Who we are
UnTour Food Tours is China’s top-ranked food tour operator, and we’ve been showing visitors and expats how locals really eat since 2010. Our tours aren’t “touristy”, they’re a deep dive into the city’s most delicious neighborhoods, the kind of places you’d never find without a local friend.
That’s where you come in.
The role: What does a food tour guide actually do?
As an UnTour guide, you’ll lead informal three-hour walking tours through some of the best food areas in the city. You’ll:
- Host a small group of guests (tourists and expats)
- Introduce the foods, explain how to order, and share the “why” behind what you’re eating
- Tell stories about the neighborhood, local life, dishes and culture
- Keep the tour flowing smoothly (timing, pacing, transitions between stops)
- Make people feel comfortable, welcomed, and excited to try new things
No scripts, but plenty of support
We don’t do robotic, memorized scripts. Instead, we want guides who can hold natural conversation and share what they know in a way that feels like going out to eat with a friend who has excellent taste.
You will be supported with:
- Training
- Written materials
- Tour structures and logistics guidance
So you’re never winging it, you’re just not reading from a script.
What we’re looking for
We care more about hosting skills and personality than sounding like a walking encyclopedia. The best guides are warm, confident, and genuinely excited to connect with people.
Requirements (must-haves)
- Fluent in Mandarin and English (other languages are a plus)
- Flexible schedule, with availability 4–20 hours per week
- Passionate about food
- Have lived in China for 2+ years
You’ll probably love this job if you…
- Never stop talking about food
- Enjoy meeting new people (and can manage a group without being awkward about it)
- Love explaining things in a fun, non-lecturing way
- Are calm under pressure and can problem-solve if a stop is crowded or something changes
- Care about details, but can keep the vibe light
What we offer
- Competitive per-tour pay
- You keep 100% of your tips
- Performance-based bonuses
- Flexible schedule
- Training provided
This role works well for people who want something part-time and social, with a team behind them and a job that’s actually fun.
Beijing and Shanghai: Same job, different cities
We’re hiring in both cities, and the tours are different, the food is different, the neighborhoods are different, but the core role is the same: being the person who turns a meal into a story.
If you’re based in one of these cities and you’re the friend everyone texts when they’re hungry, you’re already halfway there.
How to apply
Ready to throw your name in the dumpling basket?
Apply here: untourfoodtours.com/hiring
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