Loved the Tour
I had never heard of Travel China Guide Tours. I found them through an online search. I was hesitant about using them, but I am glad I took that leap of faith! I was on the 11-day tour, which was very well run Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Shanghai. Candy, the first guide in Beijing met us at the airport. She was very warm and welcoming. We stayed in Sheraton Hotels on most of the trip. The breakfast buffets were outstanding. You could have a traditional Western breakfast, but you could also have Asian items. You could not eat all the choices (although I tried :). We hit the major must-sees at each location. There were different guides in each city. Candy, Carol, Wendy, and Ocean, were knowledgeable, gave a lot of insight on local customs and history, and helped you enjoy your time at each stop. Take advantage of the optional night tour in Shanghai. As an aside, don't be afraid to take the subway in Shanghai. The subway is clean, inexpensive, and everything is subtitled in English. Also the stops are announced in English (after the Mandarin announcement). I would take the subway to the airport using the magnetic levitation train--one of the few in the world. In each city the guides hosted a lunch and or dinner. The food was excellent--a wide assortment of Chinese specialties. However, the highlight was a home-cooked lunch in the apartment of a local Beijing resident. I recommend this company; I really enjoyed my trip and have memories for a lifetime. I think you will as well.