Testimonial

Hi Jean,

It was nice to meet you.

We enjoyed the tour to Xi'an and Guilin and the most memorable attractions I think are Bike Tour in Yangshuo and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an.

Guide in Guilin, Wei - was very attentive to our needs - bringing us water on the tours, etc. Hotels were okay - would have liked softer mattresses.  Meals were good except for breakfast at  the hotel in Yangshuo.

From the tour, I have some tips for travel to China. They may be useful for other tourists:

Leave lots of time for travel as there is a lot of traffic and people

Find time to explore yourself - don't always rely on the guide

Stay away from anyone who comes up to you offering anything

ALWAYS barter - it never hurts to ask - be prepared to walk away at least 5 times in a transaction.

Regards,

Duke

Hi Sunny,

Thanks again for another terrific China Highlights tour. The four of us had a great time, and having a guide and driver at every stop makes the travel very easy.  We will take more trips with China Highlights and will recommend your company to others.

Our comments are below:
Jerry (Xu Junjie) in Beijing the most outstanding tour guide. 
The accomodations were all great (even the Victoria Queen boat - we were upgraded to suites).  The food was also great everywhere we ate.  There was never a time where the four of us did not eat well. 
The Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors are the big 'WOW' attractions.  Going through the Three Georges Dam ship locks was interesting.  For small 'WOW' was the Huguang Guild tour in Chongqing, and the Yichang pick-up and information.
This was our second tour with China Highlights and it was just as great as the first.  Of course the attractions are worth seeing, but the tour guides, drivers, and local guides have all been friendly and informative.
Some suggestions for your future clients:
Wear comfortable shoes.  There is a lot of walking and stairs.  Nothing strenuous, unless you walk a long way on the Great Wall, but you walk a lot.

Jason

Good Morning Sunny;

I have just arrived home and found your questionnaire.

The most memoriable attractions is the Forbidden City. Jolin is easy to get along with and flexible to my needs. Food was excellent. All places that we went were WOW.  The Birds Nest was my biggest WOW.

I would recommend your services to all my fellow travelers.  We have already past your name on to some friends.

Many thanks for a wonder trip and the memorable experiences

H.R. (Joe) Morris

Hi Sunny,

I think the most impressive location are the terraced rice field at Longsheng. As to the tour guide, no hesitation to say that Lily Guo was my preferred guide. She really answer the most of my request before I have time to ask.

All the hotels was OK. About meals as I understand Guanxi is richer than Guizhou so also the meals were better…

In this space I try to suggest few activities I judge can add value to your already very good offer.

1. About Chinese language: in my experience, western people has a very little understanding of your language, so any activity addressed to a better understanding I think can be appreciated from a lot of persons. The most simple question, as a student of Chinese language, I heard from my friends or colleagues was: How Chinese children can memorize so many characters? I think some kind of small example material or something like a visit to a school to answer the question can be appreciated.
2. Especially in this experience I can see how many development are “in progress” in China: new motorway, railway, bridges, etc. I think that  more explication, some specific visit and, if possible, some documentation material, can be appreciate by western travelers.
3. About the Chinese meals, I think they are a non secondary element of Chinese culture. So I think the choice of meals and the explanation of them can be an occasion of understanding and memorization. For example I remember a lot of dishes I really appreciate but now I have just a generic memory: I can’t remember the name of the dish and theirs most important ingredients.

I understand this few notes can be generic so if you are interested in a more detailed description, let me know.

Best regards
Pierfranco Dutto

Sunny,

Just wanted to write to you about your tour guide Jeff in Beijing. All I can say is fabulous!! We have been on many tours over the years and have had many guides , and by far Jeff exceeds all expectations when it comes to giving a good day's tour. Always prompt, energetic, fun and full of life. English command excellent. He made our stay in Beijing a memorable one that we will never forget. We may forget some of the temples and such, but will always remember Jeff, our tour guide, who made each day fun and exciting and informative. I don't know what else I can say about him, except, next time we get to Beijing, you can be sure we will ask for Jeff!!

The driver, whoes name I do not know, was also excellent! Very courteous and always had the car ready in the right spot at the right time. Jeff also was great at taking photos of myself and wife. We really appreciate that because it is hard to get your photos together. To end, Jeff is a huge asset to your company and is one of a kind when it comes to tour guides and one of a kind when it comes to people themselves. Don't lose this guy as your tour guide in Beijing!!  P.S Please write me back as to you have received this letter. Thank you again for supplying such a great guy in Jeff!!

Sincerely,

Scott and Linda

Dear Michael;

We had a great time in Beijing.  Now we are looking forward to Xi'an.

Thought China Highlights and Jonathan would like a couple of photos for your files.

Regards

Ron

Hi Virginia!  

I am sending  you the attached photo, to show the guide  was working hard for us in spite of the snow! He was a most excellent tour guide, and Christina in Xi'an is following in his footsteps.   We are very pleased with both of them!

Best regards,

Alastair

Hello Michael,

Rather than reply to your inquiry by filling out an impersonal form, I thought I'd just tell you that we were very pleased with the service that was provided to us by you and your company. 

We had a very short time in Bejing as it was a stop over to our final destination Tokyo.  The travel arrangements, transportation and guide that we had in Bejing were wonderful.  Our guide was very personable, knowledgeable, and likeable.  She picked sights, restaurants and shopping experiences for us that were exactly what we were looking for.  She made suggestions and gave us advice for our evenings in Bejing and also offered us her mobile phone number to call her with any questions we may have had when we were not with her.  We thought she was outstanding!  We will definitely refer China Highlights to friends who will be traveling to China in 2010.

Again, Thank you for all of your help.

Sincerely

Lee

Virginia,

First let me begin by saying both our tour guides were great! Harry was on time, friendly and funny. He greeted us at our hotel, went with us to the train station, which I must say it was an experience in it self. Without him, we would have been a little lost.

Our train ride to Xi'an was interesting, we had two coach rooms, there was eight of us. Don't let anyone tell you there is a dinning car on board, it's not, it got discontinued two years ago (smile). Bring food with you before you board, that's the Z19 and Z20 train. New train coming next year which will be a fast train with all the luxury.

The next morning Olivia met us in Xi'an - what a pleasure she was. Took us to breakfast (KFC) funny seeing a KFC in China. Then we were off to the Terra cotta Warriors. Arrive there and what an experience, the pits are awesome. We met the farmer who found the 1st pit, had him sign our books on the Terra Cotta Warriors. On to the next two pits with a great explanation from Olivia on the diggings. If in China, this is a trip you should not miss. After leaving the Terra Cotta Warriors, we were off to enjoy the famous Xi'an dumplings. Olivia arrange for me to have special dumplings for I don't eat beef or pork, what a surprise. The Tang Dynasty Restaurant was the best, can't remember ever eating that much food, it just kept coming out and it was good. After our great meal we headed to the Big Wild Pagoda, beautiful! After a long day of eating and site seeing, Olivia surprised us and took the group for a foot massage; 1 1/2 hours later we were off to the train station for our return back to Beijing. As farewell gift, Olivia purchase some China snacks for us to eat on the train with our tea.

Harry met us at the train station platform with a smiling face and returned us safely to our hotel for another exciting day in China.

Thank you China Highlights and Virginia our China Highligths agent, for an experience we will never forget.

DeLease

Dear Jean,

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner.  However, as I reflect on our most memorable and wonderful trip to China, I am so happy that we visited all the places that we did:  Beijing, Xi’an, Guiling/Yangshuo, Guangzhou/Taishan/Kaping, Hong Kong.  China Highlights made this all possible and we are grateful to all the guides and drivers that accompanied us.  We would like to return to China again to visit Shanghai and other places. 

As you may recall, one of the main reasons for visiting China was to locate the birth place of my father near Guangzhou.  This was the most memorable part of our visit, although it was not an attraction.

Through the Chinese Cultural Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Mr. Mah Fook Yum was suggested as a Guang Dong contact to help us locate my father’s birthplace village.  Our Guang Dong guide Eve was successful in contacting Mr. Mah Fook Yum, Cultural Minister for the Foreign & Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau in Taishan City.  Because of Eve’s diligent work, we not only met Mr. Mah but were hosted at a luncheon by the General Director, Chen Yao Hong of the Foreign & Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Taishan City.  With the help of Mr. Mah and a local high school teacher, President Mah, we were able to go to the very house where by father was born (1st photo attached).  In the evening of that day, Terry and I hosted a supper in Kaiping for Mr. Mah Fook Yum and President Mah who assisted us the whole afternoon.  The Kaiping Dinner photo is left to right President Mah, Mr. Mah Fook Yum, me, Eve, Terry and Yu Zhi Guang of Foreign & Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau of Kaiping City.

The most memorable attraction for us was the Great Wall and the Terracotta Soldier Museum.  There are too many great attractions to choose from.

We liked each guide for a different reason, but Cobing Chen in Beijing and Oscar (Lu) in Guiling/Yangshuo were our favourites.  Chen had a great sense of humour and always had a ready smile.  We enjoyed going to the restaurants that he chose for us where we experienced the local flavours.  He was great company.  Lu in Guiling/Yangshuo was also a very pleasant fellow.  He has a very kind and relaxed manner. Of course, Eve did a lot of research for us and helped locate my father’s village which I am grateful for. In Xi’an, Liu was a very educated and well informed guide. William in Hong Kong was the most professional and had a wide knowledge of Hong Kong’s history.  We did not have a long visit in Hong Kong however, but William managed to get all our requests covered.  He was very good.

All in all, we had great guides and good drivers.  In particular, our driver in Guang Dong drove all over the Taishan/Kaiping countryside to find my father’s village.  WOW!!!  We have to compliment the drivers on their skill in the getting us from one place to another especially in cities like Beijing, Xi’an, Guangzhou and Hong Kong!!!  

The Sunworld Hotel in Beijing was comfortable and the breakfast had a wide variety of Western and Chinese foods. Our favourite hotel was the Guiling Bravo Hotel where we had the most comfortable bed.  The dinner at McFound’s was not our favourite, but in Yangshuo the dinner and lunch were very good.  The hotel in Yangshuo was clean and well located.  The breakfast was adequate. In Guangzhou, the Landmark Canton Hotel had a spectacular view of the Pearl River.  The breakfast was very good with a wide selection and the breakfast room had a great view of the city. The Kaiping Helenbergh Hotel was new and very beautiful.  The shower was especially enjoyed as we had been out in the Taishan/Kaiping countryside all afternoon that day.  Still the hotel itself was very nice with a gorgeous pool area.The Metropark Hotel Kowloon was very well located and had a great breakfast with many food choices.  The room itself was small but by Hong Kong standards is fine.  The Shuttle Bus was very handy.The Sino-Swiss Hotel Beijing (our last over-night stay in China) was comfortable and the Shuttle service to and from the hotel was very efficient.  The breakfast was very good with lots of choices.

The beds in China however were always a little hard, but our request for additional pillows was always met!!!

Beijing was the most exciting city.  Our guide Chen and driver made our visit to Beijing (my first visit and my husband’s second) more enjoyable. To me, the Great Wall was a very special highlight.  We had great weather and the day was very clear (see attached photo).  As I musician, I really enjoyed the Beijing Opera performance at Huguang Huiguan, although I would have liked to have seen a full-scale performance, but we had limited time. We enjoyed the food in Beijing and Hong Kong the most of all.  The food and shopping in China are WOW FACTORS.

Of course, the Terracotta soldiers were of great interest, but we also thought the Big Wild Goose Pagoda was outstanding.  The Tang Dynasty show was very colorful and professional, however a little touristy.  We also found the visit to the Huaqing Hot Springs of historical interest.

The Li River cruise was another highlight even although the day was a little cloudy - very beautiful scenery (see attached photo with guide Lu).  The bike ride through the Yangshuo countryside was another highlight.  One could see the farmers working in the fields. 

We both enjoyed visiting Hong Kong – what a beautiful city (photo William, Terry & me at Victoria Peak).  The day that we toured Hong Kong was rather foggy, but I enjoyed my quickly wandering through the Jade and Stanley Markets.  Also, the visit to Repulse Bay and the Buddhist prayer was enjoyable.  The fast food Hong Kong restaurants were exceptionally good. 

We definitely would recommend our company to your friends or colleagues. We had a very busy schedule and saw many sites in each of the places that we visited, thanks to China Highlights good itinerary. 

All in all, we had a great trip to China and would like to return to China again.

Thanks Jean, Chen, Liu, Lu, Eve, William and the drivers for the excellent service that all of you provided us.  We would do it all again.

Sincerely,

Carol & Terry