GloPen launches tech tourism tours, hosting over 1,000 visitors in 18 months

Boyang Shen moved to Shanghai after a decade as a business consultant in Europe and initially aimed to start a market‑research consulting firm. Two clients then asked him to design custom tours around electric‑vehicle factories and livestreaming commerce, revealing a demand for immersive tech experiences.

Shen applied for a tourism license, launched GloPen in Shanghai and began offering curated tours that include factory visits, robotaxi rides, drone demonstrations and Q&A sessions with executives. In 18 months the agency has welcomed more than 1,000 participants, charging up to $9,000 per tour and drawing customers from Southeast Asia, India, Europe, the United States and Brazil.

GloPen has hosted over 1,000 visitors in 18 months, with tours priced up to $9,000, generating significant revenue from SE Asia, India, Europe, US and Brazil.

Clients expressed interest in bespoke EV and livestreaming tours, indicating a market gap.

Existing consulting offerings lacked immersive, on‑site experiences that could convey China’s technological advances.

Shen’s consulting background gave him the ability to design logistics‑heavy tours and negotiate access with companies.

The tech tourism gap for all-inclusive, immersive experiences can be filled by leveraging firsthand factory and startup visits to sharpen investment judgment and client trust.

GloPen now operates as a dedicated tech tourism agency, continuing to run tours in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Hangzhou. The model has inspired similar offerings and demonstrates how firsthand exposure to manufacturing and innovation can translate into a viable tourism product.