My partner and I just finished a three…
My partner and I just finished a three week trip to major sites in China and thanks to Nora at China Culture Tour every day was an exciting adventure. We traveled from Beijing to Xian, Chengdu, the Yangtze River cruise, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Guilin, Yangshuo and finally Hong Kong. Nora worked with us to find a mix of 4 and 5 star hotels and in each city planned special activities, such as cooking lessons in local homes. She organized excellent and personable guides in each city, as well as private cars with experienced drivers. The restaurants selected offered excellent food as well as cultural experiences. It's hard to single out the best guides--they were all great. In a couple of cases the English could have been better, but generally they were professional and enjoyable, adding to insights about China's recent past and present. It was almost like touring with a knowledgeable friend. I would give special nods to Sophia in Beijing, Jessica in Chengdu, Linda in Guilin, Fei in Shanghai and Cecilia in Hong Kong. Recommendations: Book First Class bullet train tickets. More comfortable and more space for luggage. If you need to go by air, consider business class for flights over an hour and a half. Chinese planes don't have much leg room in economy and if you are average to large you will not be comfortable. When you arrive, book a five-star hotel to catch up with jet lag. In Beijing we stayed at the New World Hotel and it was top-notch and convenient for exploring on foot the central neighborhoods of the city. The four-star hotels she selected were all fine, but treating yourself here and there is a nice present to yourself. If you take the Yangtze River cruise, start from Chongqing and consider the Victoria Jenna and upgrade to an executive suite if you want a little extra room and your own table at dinner. In Beijing take in the standard wonders--Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, but don't expect to be alone. Chinese domestic tourism has exploded and the mass of tourists can be crushing in key tourist sites. Be ready for that and patient and you will still have a lot to marvel at. The 798 Art District is lively and fun and filled with young hipsters and artists. The same goes for the Terra Cotta Warrior site in Xian. Wonderful but crowded. A special treat there was a lesson in dumpling making and a marvelous home-cooked lunch in a private home. We adored our time with Lily and her family. In Chengdu the pandas are a must. So is the Jinsha Museum if you have an interest in early Chinese history. And a trip to Leshan to see the giant Buddha was awesome. On the Yangtze cruise, take the excursions, especially the awesome Three Kingdoms evening spectacle at Chengdu. The trip up Goddess stream is not to be missed. In Hangzhou, West Lake is awesome both in the day and evening. Break out of your hotel and go to the light and water show on your own. We paid for an expensive tea but got a ringside seat at water's edge, rather than stand in the crowd. Shanghai Museum is totally awesome. We had two hours there and only got through two of the four floors. Don't miss the Shanghai Acrobats. Ask Nora to include tickets in your itinerary. Amazing. Then taxi to the lively/trendy Xitiandi district for an outdoor meal and people watching. Maybe the highlight of the trip was the Guilin region, especially the cruise on the Li River. The scenery is so beautiful. End up at Yangshuo Mountain Retreat, isolated and rustic. If you have time for an extra day to relax, bike or hike, take it. There's another huge outdoor spectacle in the evenings there, which is worth seeing. Finally Hong Kong and the magnificent view from the peak. Although there's a lot of turmoil and unrest there, we didn't encounter any problems on our stay. Again, I couldn't recommend China Culture Tours (and Nora) more highly. They provided a flawless experience--a trip of a lifetime.