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Guest Reviews & Travel Notes
47 published guest reviews
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EBTraveler
Helpful Guilin guide and smooth private journey
Ping was extremely thoughtful during the Guilin portion of the trip and helped us handle an unexpected medical situation. The whole private route felt well organized and reassuring.
Claudio Panarello
Best China trip
The guides were knowledgeable and the itinerary balanced history, scenery and city experiences very well. We would gladly recommend this route to first-time visitors to China.
Susana Dominguez
Wonderful private tour
We booked the tour from Argentina without knowing the agency and it turned out to be a wonderful experience. The organization, hotels and excursions exceeded our expectations.
Sarah Mitchell
Everything ran smoothly from start to finish
We booked the 14-day route and it was paced very well for our family. Beijing and Xi'an were the big highlights, but I also loved the quieter moments in Guilin and Yangshuo. Airport transfers were always on time and our guide adjusted sightseeing when my parents needed a slower morning.
Andrea Rossi
Helpful team for a custom itinerary
I wanted a private trip focused more on history museums and older neighborhoods, and the tailor-made team listened carefully. They revised the plan twice before I booked, and the final route matched what I had in mind. I also appreciated that restaurant suggestions were practical rather than overly touristy.
Michael Chen
Zhangjiajie was even better than expected
We joined this route mainly for Zhangjiajie and Guilin, and both delivered. The mountain views were fantastic, but the trip felt comfortable rather than exhausting. I liked that the guide gave us practical advice for the glass bridge and helped us avoid the busiest times where possible.
James Cooper
A well-planned first trip to China
This was our first time visiting China and the route made a lot of sense for first-time travelers. We especially appreciated having the same contact person before and during the trip. The Terracotta Warriors day was excellent, and the hotel locations made evening walks easy in both Beijing and Shanghai.
Michael & Jennifer Walsh
The terracotta warriors are even more staggering in person ? see the photos
We're both teachers and have shown our students photos of the Terracotta Army for years. Finally seeing it in person on the 10 Days China Highlights Tour was surreal ? you almost don't believe it's real. Pit 1 is the size of an aircraft hangar filled with 6,000 life-size soldiers, each with a unique face. Our guide arranged access to the conservation lab where we watched archaeologists painstakingly piecing together fragments. The detail on each warrior ? the armor rivets, the boot soles, the hairstyles ? is extraordinary. My photo of looking down the length of Pit 1 from the far end is now my phone wallpaper. Beijing was equally spectacular but Xi'an was the emotional highlight. Post-Army dinner at a local noodle restaurant the guide took us to ? biang biang noodles, 3 yuan a bowl ? was perfection.
Aiden & Mei-Ling Fitzgerald
Our honeymoon in China ? romantic, magical, and perfectly organized
My wife grew up in Beijing but had never seen China through a tourist's eyes before. Choosing the 16 Days China Highlights tour for our honeymoon let her rediscover her homeland and let me see it for the first time simultaneously. Our guide David seemed to understand this perfectly and kept finding moments for us ? a private rooftop sunset view of the Forbidden City from Jingshan Park, a table by the window at a restaurant in Yangshuo with the karst peaks lit up at night, arranging a paper-cutting workshop with a local artist as a surprise on our anniversary evening in Xi'an. The Li River section was outrageously beautiful. My photos of the karst peaks reflected in the still water of the river in the early morning look like paintings. I'm sharing a few here ? absolutely untouched, shot on a phone.
Thomas & Claire Beaumont
Standing on the Great Wall at sunrise ? I couldn't stop crying
We did the 14 Days Classic China Tour and the Great Wall moment at Mutianyu at 7am before any other tourists arrived was the single most emotional travel moment of my life. The mist was still in the valleys, the watchtowers disappeared into clouds. Our guide had arranged early access specifically for this. I have attached the photos ? no filter, no editing, this is just what it looked like. Xi'an's Muslim Quarter at night for lamb skewers and pomegranate juice was another highlight we talk about constantly. The Li River cruise section genuinely looks like a traditional ink painting come to life. This company delivers experiences that feel curated and personal, not tourist-assembly-line.
Samantha Kowalski
Solo female traveler ? I felt safe, supported and amazed every single day
I was nervous traveling solo through China for the first time and genuinely did not need to be. From the airport pickup in Beijing to the farewell transfer in Shanghai, every single handoff was flawless. My guide Jenny in Beijing took me to a tiny tea house inside the Hutongs run by a retired professor ? we drank pu-erh and talked about Chinese history for two hours. The Forbidden City with a knowledgeable guide is a completely different experience from wandering alone ? she knew exactly where to stand for the light, which courtyards were always empty, and which doors led to hidden gardens tourists miss. I've uploaded my actual photos. That one of the Hall of Supreme Harmony reflection in the courtyard puddle after rain? Pure luck, but the guide knew exactly when to be there.
Margaret & David Thompson
The trip of a lifetime ? 14 days of pure magic
We chose the 14 Days Classic China Tour for our 30th anniversary and it exceeded every expectation. Starting in Beijing with the Great Wall at Mutianyu (far less crowded than Badaling!), then the terracotta warriors in Xi'an, the dreamlike Li River cruise in Guilin, and finishing in modern Shanghai ? the contrast between ancient history and today's China is breathtaking. Our guide Leo was knowledgeable, patient with our many questions, and even arranged a surprise anniversary dinner at a Hutong courtyard restaurant in Beijing. The hotels were all 4-5 star and immaculate. Worth every penny.
Sophie & ?tienne Leblanc
Tibet changed how I see the world ? profoundly moving
The 10 Days Tibet Explorer was the most spiritually meaningful trip of our lives. Arriving in Lhasa and seeing the Potala Palace for the first time ? I actually cried. Our guide Tenzin (a local Tibetan) brought depth and personal connection that no guidebook can replicate. He took us to a monastery at 5am to witness the monks' dawn prayer session ? an experience money cannot buy. Namtso Lake at 4,718m was otherworldly. The company managed our altitude acclimatization schedule perfectly ? no sickness for either of us despite going to 5,200m at Everest Base Camp. The permit paperwork was handled entirely by them. Truly faultless.
Dr. Hans M?ller
The Silk Road exceeded all my historical expectations
I have been interested in Silk Road history since university, so the 12 Days Silk Road Adventure was a dream come true. The Mogao Caves at Dunhuang are one of the most astonishing things I have ever seen ? 492 caves filled with Buddhist art spanning 1,000 years. The guides had specialized knowledge and our cave tour felt like a private lecture from a museum curator. Jiayuguan Fort at sunset, camel trekking at the Singing Sand Dunes, the ancient city ruins of Jiaohe near Turpan ? each stop outdid the last. The logistics were flawless despite covering remote areas. This company clearly has deep relationships with local operators.
Kevin O'Sullivan
Zhangjiajie is not of this planet ? absolutely surreal
The 8 Days Zhangjiajie & Guilin Nature Tour blew my mind. I'd seen the Avatar mountains in photos but nothing prepares you for standing on the glass bridge and looking at those sandstone pillars disappearing into the mist. Our guide insisted we skip the cable car one morning and hike the Old Tianmen Road instead ? 4 hours that felt like walking through a Chinese ink painting. The Guilin section with the Li River was equally stunning. Stayed in a boutique guesthouse in Yangshuo with a rice terrace view ? woke up to mist and bamboo groves. Pinch-me-I'm-dreaming stuff. Already recommended to 10 friends.
Robert & Linda Patterson
Perfect introduction to China ? 10 days well spent
As first-time visitors to China, the 10 Days China Highlights Tour was exactly what we needed. The itinerary hit all the must-sees: Tiananmen Square at sunrise (genuinely moving), the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, then Xi'an for the Terracotta Army, and finally Shanghai where the Bund at night made us both speechless. What sets this company apart is the small group size ? only 8 people ? which meant we could move quickly and get into places before the crowds. Our guide Amy spoke flawless English and had a wonderful sense of humor. We're already planning the Yangtze River cruise for next year!
All Reviews
Ryan S
Australia
✉️ DirectExcellent first-time China itinerary
This 11-day private route gave us exactly what we wanted for a first trip to China: Beijing history, Xi'an wonders, Guilin scenery and the energy of Shanghai. Everything felt smooth and professional.
Allessandr0
Italy
🦉 TripAdvisorCarefully planned private China route
Janet planned the full route carefully and the private service made every transfer and city visit easy. We especially enjoyed how the itinerary balanced history, scenery and free time.
Lucia Fern?ndez
Spain
💬 WeChatGood support before and during travel
We had several visa and arrival questions before the trip, and replies were always clear. During the journey, the WhatsApp support was useful when our train platform changed at short notice. It gave us confidence that someone was paying attention behind the scenes.
Peter Walsh
Ireland
👍 FacebookReliable service for senior travelers
My wife and I wanted a comfortable route with less hotel switching, and the consultant suggested a revised version that suited us better. The pace was sensible and the drivers were consistently punctual. That reliability matters a lot when you are not looking for an overly adventurous schedule.
Grace Lim
Singapore
✉️ DirectShort trip but we covered a lot
We only had limited vacation time, so the 10-day highlights route suited us well. The days were full, but not chaotic, and we never felt pushed through attractions too quickly. Shanghai at the end was a nice contrast after Beijing and Xi'an.
Daniel Brooks
New Zealand
✉️ DirectThe private tour format worked very well
We were traveling with my mother, so flexibility mattered. Being able to start a little later on two mornings and spend extra time at the Summer Palace made a real difference. The team handled those adjustments without any friction, which made the whole trip feel very personal.
Emma van der Berg
Netherlands
🔍 GoogleStrong overall trip with a few long transfer days
Overall we had a very good experience. Guilin and the Li River day stood out the most for us. A couple of transfer days were longer than we expected, but the local team always met us on time and helped keep things smooth. I would book again, especially for a slower-paced route.
Sophie Keller
Germany
✉️ DirectBeautiful scenery and easy logistics
The scenery around Yangshuo was my favorite part of the trip. Bikes, river views, small villages ? it felt very different from the big cities earlier in our vacation. Everything was arranged clearly, so we could just enjoy the days instead of worrying about transport details.
Fran?ois Dupont
France
✉️ DirectTr?s bonne organisation sur place
Le circuit de 10 jours ?tait bien ?quilibr?. Les transferts ?taient ponctuels, les h?tels ?taient pratiques pour visiter, et le programme ?tait clair chaque soir pour le lendemain. Xi'an a ?t? notre ?tape pr?f?r?e, surtout la visite des remparts et du quartier musulman.
Helen Morris
Canada
🔍 GoogleGreat guides and clear communication
The planning team answered questions quickly before departure, which helped a lot because we were traveling with teenagers. Our Beijing guide was excellent at keeping the day moving without making it feel rushed. We would happily use the company again for a longer route next time.
Rachel & Simon Goldberg
Israel
🦉 TripAdvisorYangshuo on a bicycle through rice paddies ? a memory that will last forever
The 13 Days from Li River to the Yangtze Tour included a free afternoon in Yangshuo and our guide Emily arranged bicycle rentals and drew us a hand-drawn map to a route through rice paddies and local villages that no tour group visits. We cycled for four hours through a landscape that looked completely unchanged from 500 years ago ? karst peaks all around, water buffalo in the paddies, farmers in conical hats, kids running alongside us shouting hello. We stopped at a farmhouse and the family made us rice wine and fried eggs without speaking a word of shared language ? just smiles and gestures. I took the photos of those rice paddies with my phone through tears. Then the Yangtze cruise section afterwards felt like an entirely different China ? epic, industrial-scale, historically massive. One trip, two Chinas.
Yuki Tanaka
Japan
✉️ DirectHuangshan Yellow Mountain clouds ? I understand Chinese painting now
I studied Chinese art history at university and always wanted to understand why the Yellow Mountain appears in so many paintings. Now I know. We joined the 11 Days China Wonders Experience which included a Huangshan extension, and waking before dawn to hike to the Western Sea of Clouds was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed. The clouds fill the valleys between the granite peaks and the pine trees, and as the sun rises the light turns everything gold and pink. I stood there for two hours just watching it shift. My photos don't fully capture it ? no photo can ? but I'm sharing them anyway because even 60% of the real thing is extraordinary. The rest of the tour (Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin) was excellent as always, but Huangshan was my personal revelation. Book the sunrise hike.
Brendan & Fiona Murphy
Ireland
🔍 GoogleTibet at altitude ? the Potala Palace against a blue sky is worth the flight alone
We spent weeks preparing physically for the 10 Days Tibet Explorer and the preparation paid off ? not a hint of altitude sickness for either of us, thanks in part to the careful acclimatization schedule built into the itinerary. The company had emailed us a detailed preparation guide six weeks in advance. The Potala Palace on a blue-sky morning is simply one of the most visually perfect buildings on earth ? 13 stories of white and red rising from a rocky outcrop above Lhasa. Our guide Tenzin's grandfather had worked in the palace before 1959 and his stories made every room come alive. Namtso Lake at 4,718m with the Nyenchen Tanglha mountains reflected in the water ? I've put the photo as my laptop wallpaper and people ask me if it's a painting every single time. Real China tour, real moments.
David & Carol Reynolds
United Kingdom
🦉 TripAdvisorChengdu pandas up close ? the most joyful morning of our trip
We added the China Panda & Nature Tour specifically because our daughter (12) has loved pandas since age 3. The Chengdu Research Base visit delivered beyond all expectations. We arrived at 7:30am when the pandas are most active and watched the keepers prepare their breakfast ? enormous piles of bamboo. Two juvenile pandas were wrestling in the enclosure right next to us, literally 2 meters away. My daughter's face in the photos ? genuinely the purest joy I have ever seen on a child. Our guide had arranged the early morning volunteer slot which meant we were there before the crowds. Jiuzhaigou National Park the following days was equally magical ? those blue-green lakes stacked in layers through forests, with prayer flags above. We took about 1,000 photos. Sharing a few of the best.
Anna Korhonen
Finland
🔍 GoogleHa Long Bay to Beijing ? two countries, completely different, both breathtaking
The China & Vietnam Combo Tour was my first big solo adventure and it set the bar impossibly high. Ha Long Bay on a two-night junk boat ? waking at 5am and climbing to the deck to watch sunrise between the limestone islands in total silence ? was one of the most peaceful moments I have ever experienced. Then back to China and the contrast was electric: the energy of Shanghai's Bund, the scale and history of Beijing. I've shared a few of my Ha Long photos and one from Guilin because the karst landscape is remarkably similar but the atmosphere is so different. Both beautiful for completely different reasons. The guide who arranged kayaking through the caves in Ha Long was incredible ? her knowledge of the local geology was like having a geologist friend with you.
Omar Al-Rashidi
UAE
✉️ DirectThe Silk Road camel trek at Dunhuang ? my most shared Instagram post ever
I travel extensively for work and rarely get genuinely surprised anymore. The 12 Days Silk Road Adventure managed to surprise me at every stop. The Crescent Moon Lake at Dunhuang ? an oasis lake surrounded by giant sand dunes, completely intact after 2,000 years ? is one of the strangest and most beautiful things I have ever seen. We did the camel trek at sunset and the light on the dunes was extraordinary. The photo I took from the dune top looking down at the lake has been shared over 4,000 times on Instagram. The Mogao Caves visit the following morning was the intellectual counterpart ? 1,000 years of continuous Buddhist art in carved rock, with a specialist art historian as our guide. The company clearly chooses its guides at every location for expertise, not just language ability.
Dr. Amira Hassan
Egypt
🔍 GoogleThree cities, three completely different Chinas ? brilliant routing
The 9 Days Beijing, Xi'an & Chengdu Cultural Tour was my first China trip and the routing is genius. Beijing is overwhelming imperial power. Xi'an is silk road mystery and underground armies. Chengdu is completely different ? laid-back, spicy, full of teahouse culture and pandas. Visiting all three gave me a much fuller picture of China than a simple Beijing-Shanghai trip would have. Our guide Grace had studied history at Peking University and her knowledge elevated every single stop. The Sichuan opera face-changing show in Chengdu on our last night was a magical finale. I am already planning to return for the Yangtze cruise.
Nicole Chambers
United States
🦉 TripAdvisorGreat value group tour ? a few small improvements would make it perfect
I did the 7 Days Best of China Group Tour as a budget-conscious solo traveler and got much more than I expected for the price. Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai in one week is a lot of ground to cover but guide James kept energy high with humor and great stories. The Great Wall section was crowded but James found us a quiet spot away from the main crowd for photos. One suggestion: the farewell dinner in Shanghai felt rushed as everyone had different departure times. But for the price point and quality of guiding, this is excellent value. Would recommend for first-time visitors on a tighter budget.
Barbara & Richard Stevenson
United States
✉️ DirectAt 72 and 75, China was our most ambitious trip ? it was flawless
My husband and I are both in our 70s and had reservations about whether China was manageable. From the very first email, The Top China Tour team put us at ease. They arranged the 16 Days China Highlights tour with specific modifications: a slightly slower pace, ground-floor hotel rooms where possible, and a guide who knew all the least-crowded entry times for each attraction. The Great Wall at Mutianyu has a cable car and a toboggan return ? perfect! Our guide Angela was endlessly patient, carried my camera bag without being asked, and knew exactly which temple steps had handrails. We covered six cities across 16 days and returned home exhilarated, not exhausted. Do not let age hold you back.
The Johnson Family
Canada
🦉 TripAdvisorA multigenerational family triumph ? grandparents to teenagers all thrilled
We traveled as three generations ? grandparents (70s), parents (40s), and two teens ? on the 12 Days China Golden Essence Tour. The grandparents loved the Forbidden City and Xi'an. The teens went wild for the Yangtze cruise ship (a swimming pool! great Wi-Fi! fascinating history lectures!). Everyone was united in awe at the Three Gorges. The company understood multigenerational travel perfectly ? wheelchair access was arranged in advance for grandmother without us asking, teen-friendly activities were added at several stops, and guides were brilliant at pitching commentary to different ages at once. Extraordinary service. Our most successful family holiday ever.
William & Patricia Chen
Singapore
✉️ DirectFrom Li River karst to Yangtze gorges ? China's two great rivers in one trip
The 13 Days from Li River to the Yangtze is a beautifully conceived itinerary connecting China's two most iconic river landscapes. The Li River bamboo raft from Guilin to Yangshuo in morning mist with karst peaks ? being there in person made me understand why people fall in love with China. Then the Yangtze Three Gorges cruise: completely different in scale ? epic rather than delicate. The combination makes perfect sense. Our guide arranged a cooking class in Yangshuo where we went to the morning market first and chose our own ingredients. The French chef at our Three Gorges cruise ship dinner was a welcome surprise. An absolutely world-class trip.
Raj & Sunita Patel
India
🔍 GoogleSeamless, enriching, and better than any China tour we considered
We compared five China tour companies before choosing this one for the 11 Days China Wonders Experience. The deciding factor was the quality of information and the quick, detailed response to our enquiry. In person it was even better than promised. The private tour format meant our guide David could adapt each day to our pace ? when he discovered I am interested in traditional Chinese medicine he arranged an impromptu visit to a 200-year-old pharmacy in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter. Guilin's Reed Flute Cave illuminations are surreal. The company's network of contacts across China means you access things simply not available to independent travelers. Book them.
Lars & Ingrid Henriksen
Norway
🦉 TripAdvisorTwo countries, one unforgettable journey ? superb value
The China & Vietnam Combo Tour is an outstanding idea brilliantly executed. We started with China's highlights ? the Great Wall, Beijing's imperial core, the Li River ? and then crossed into Vietnam for Hanoi's Old Quarter, Ha Long Bay (two nights on a wooden junk among the limestone islands ? extraordinary), and Hoi An's lantern-lit ancient town. Two completely different cultures and landscapes back to back makes each feel more vivid by contrast. The cross-border logistics were handled entirely by the company ? not one headache for us. The guides in each country were exceptional. Our Ha Long Bay boat captain took us to a cave most boats never visit. Brilliant trip.
James & Sarah Norton
United Kingdom
✉️ DirectShort on time? This 6-day tour is pure gold
With only 6 days to spare, the 6 Days Beijing & Shanghai Tour was perfect. Two of the world's great cities, beautifully contrasted. In Beijing our guide took us to a dumpling-making class in a real Hutong family home ? completely off the tourist trail and absolutely delicious. The Forbidden City at our own pace and Tiananmen Square at dawn with almost no other tourists. Then high-speed train to Shanghai ? one of the most exciting train journeys in the world at 350km/h. The contrast with modern Shanghai was electric. Our guide arranged rooftop cocktails overlooking the Bund for our last evening. Perfect trip, perfect service.
Isabella Rossi
Italy
🔍 GoogleChina's UNESCO sites back to back ? spectacular cultural immersion
The 12 Days China Cultural Heritage Tour through Beijing, Xi'an, Luoyang and Pingyao felt like a living university course in Chinese civilization. Seeing the Forbidden City knowing it housed 24 emperors, then the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an where Tang Dynasty monks translated Buddhist scriptures, then the White Horse Temple in Luoyang (China's first Buddhist temple, 68 AD!), then Pingyao's intact Ming dynasty merchant quarter ? the depth of history is humbling. Our guide Teresa had personal family connections to Pingyao and her stories about life there before tourism added irreplaceable texture. One of the best cultural travel experiences of my life.
Professor Mark Sullivan
Australia
✉️ DirectFor history lovers, this is the definitive China tour
As a history professor who has read about China's ancient capitals for 30 years, finally seeing them in person on the 13 Days Explore Ancient Capitals tour was overwhelming. Luoyang's Longmen Grottoes with 100,000 Buddhist carvings ? staggering. Nanjing's city wall, the world's longest surviving ancient city wall, at sunset was deeply moving. Pingyao's perfectly preserved Ming dynasty merchant quarter where our guesthouse had been operating since 1755. The guides at each location had specialist knowledge at PhD level ? one was actually a published archaeologist. I have done tours on every continent and this company's cultural depth is unmatched.
Emma Chen
Canada
🦉 TripAdvisorHand-feeding pandas at Bifengxia ? a moment I'll treasure forever
The China Panda & Nature Tour was a dream for a wildlife photographer. At Bifengxia Panda Base we were arranged as volunteer keepers for a morning: cleaning enclosures, preparing bamboo, and watching two young pandas wrestle in front of our cameras from about 3 meters away. My photos are incredible. Jiuzhaigou in early autumn with the changing leaves was absolutely peak beauty ? the Five Flower Lake and the Long Lake are among the most photogenic places on earth. The guide arranged perfect golden-hour positioning each day. This company genuinely understands what photographers need and I returned home with the best images of my career.
Jonathan & Fiona Clarke
New Zealand
🔍 GoogleThe ultimate China experience ? 16 days, zero regrets
The 16 Days China Highlights including Hong Kong was the most ambitious trip we have ever taken, and The Top China Tour made it feel effortless. Six cities across three weeks: Beijing's imperial grandeur, Xi'an's underground army, Chengdu's pandas and blazing hot pot, Guilin's karst paradise, and then Hong Kong as a spectacular finale ? the harbor light show and dim sum in Kowloon were the perfect ending. Every single hotel was excellent. What impressed us most was the seamless logistics: internal flights always on time, private transfers always waiting, itinerary always perfectly paced. A masterclass in tour organization.
Charles & Elizabeth Hartley
United States
✉️ DirectThe Yangtze cruise was the highlight of our entire China trip
We booked the 11 Days Best Yangtze River Cruise and the river section was even better than we hoped. Watching the Three Gorges unfold from the deck of the Victoria cruise ship, passing through the enormous locks at the Three Gorges Dam, and taking a wooden sampan up the narrow Shennong Stream with local trackers ? these are images I will carry forever. The pre-cruise portion in Beijing and Xi'an was excellently paced. Our guide arranged a private behind-the-scenes tour of the terracotta warrior restoration laboratory ? not normally open to tourists. The cruise itself was first-class: five-course dinners, enrichment lectures on Three Gorges history, and a very friendly international group.
The Williams Family
United States
🦉 TripAdvisorOur kids are still talking about the pandas ? magical family trip
We did the 6 Days Chengdu & Jiuzhaigou Tour with our two daughters (ages 9 and 13) and it was absolutely perfect for families. The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the first thing we recommend to every friend with children ? arriving early morning and watching the pandas eat breakfast is genuinely one of the cutest things in human history. Then Jiuzhaigou National Park left us speechless ? turquoise lakes stacked like mirrors through forests, waterfalls, and snow-capped peaks. The tour company arranged a private guide for us the whole time which made logistics with kids so easy. Hot pot dinner in Chengdu on the last night was unforgettable. Five stars!
Priya Nair
India
🔍 GoogleYunnan is China's best-kept secret and this tour revealed it perfectly
I chose the 10 Days Best of Yunnan Tour after seeing photos of Lijiang's old town and I was not disappointed. But it was the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike that truly stole the show ? two days of trekking with jaw-dropping Yangtze River views and staying in guesthouses run by local families. Our guide arranged a home-cooked Naxi dinner in Lijiang where we sat with the family and tried a dozen local dishes including the famous Yunnan goat cheese. Shangri-La's Songzanlin Monastery was spectacular. The ethnic diversity of Yunnan ? Naxi, Bai, Tibetan, Yi ? is unlike anywhere else in China. This region deserves to be on every traveler's list.