Testimonial

Ms. Rebecca
As you know I was a tour guide in the US for 10 years - traveling to 46 states, Canada and Mexico - I know what a guide and a tour service can and should provide. Ms. Helen, the tour guide and Mr. Summer, the driver and the tour were excellent. My tour guide in the Xi'an area was excellent - Ms. Helen not only was knowledgeable about all the sites we visited - she knew how to conduct a tour. Her planning was well - she knew when to speak, when to listen, and she went out of her way to inform me and make my stay as nice as possible. If I would return I would request her again. She was prompt - met me at the airport gate- and help me check into the hotel to make sure all was correct, she confirmed my next flight and again escorted me throughout my time in the area, and provided me her cell phone number if I had a problem when she was off duty. She was friendly and a great representative of your country and company - her English was excellent. I can not possibly list all her assets - she was terrific. The driver Mr. summer was also very good and happy. He made me feel safe and help coordinate the trip with Ms. Helen to accommodate the tour stops. Again, I would request them - both- as a pair to my friends who may visit this area in the future. I am only sorry I didn't not allow for another night , or two in Xi'an city - were was so much to do and see. the lunch stops were very good and the meals were excellent - I enjoyed the food - the places were clean and the service was fine. The tour allowed for plenty of time to visit the sites, and I was never placed into a position that I felt uncomfortable to see things or buy things or felt unsafe. I felt the personal tour I paid for was well worth the price.
All the best!
Mike Azzolino

Hi Grace
We had a really fantastic time on our trip, many thanks for organising it for us at such late notice! Betty was a great guide, she helped us so much whilst on the trip and also with our plans for our own travels after the trip was finished, which made our entire holiday so much easier. I have completed the feedback form below as requested and will be happy to recommend you to any friends that travel to China in the future. Thanks again for everything,
Katie

Hi Jay:
After the trip in Beijing and Xian.I found that bohh tour guide,Vivan & Echo were extrememly good.All the meals are good espceially enjoyed the meal at the restaurant on the way to the Great Wall.I will recommend you to my friends and colleagues.
Judi

Dear Karen,
I got back home yesterday. I want to thank you and congratulate you once again for an enjoyable and trouble free tour whilst in Shanghai. We all enjoyed our time their immensly. The tennis was good...probably not as great as last year when Federer won but nevertheless most enjoyable......pity you did'nt arrange the tennis too !!! Both Jasmine and the driver were very patient and looked after us extremely well. Once again thank you for giving us a wonderful vacation again. Regards to all at China Highlights especially in your 10th year.
Sudesh

Dear Eva
In general we are very happy about the China Highlights service and had no disappointments with the arrangement in Beijing. The Great Wall visit, but many sights we visited on our own in Beijing were great too. The Sunworld hotel was fine value and excellent situated. Before going to a business meeting in April 2008 I had no intention or wish to visit China, but after that visit (which was extended with the China Highlight arrangement - boat trip on Yangtze and some extra days on our own in Nanjing, we wanted to come back and see and experience more of China. Our trip to Beijing was the next tour and we already want to come back again.
Kind regards
Erik Rasmussen

Hi,Carol
I had a very interesting time in China. Prior to the tour with China Highlights I made a tour with China Comfort Travel Group Co., Ltd and visited under others the park Yu Yuan in Shanghai. The guide showed us round but did not explain us the characteristics of a Chinese garden with its rocks and the water which should be a symbols for Yang and Yin. Also the typical Chinese house form was not explained to us with the individual houses regrouped in a court yard. I read on these topics somewhat later in a guide of China (Dumont). On the tour of the dam of the 3 Gorges we were explained that the dam is 185m high; I think I found out that this figure indicates the top of the dam crown above sea level however says nothing of its real height I think it is 120m. Also various figures on statistics seemed to me wrong. It seems to me that the guides should go deeper into history and understand more on Chinese culture. An other thing was surprising to me as for the meals. In Switzerland and even more in France a dinner is a long process taking several hours. However on the boat a normal dinner took about 45 to 60 minutes. I had to hurry up. But probably most of your guests come from the United States and have a different culture. I was some 25 years earlier in China, but the quality of a special dinner was meanwhile reduced. At the time the dinner was more structured and we had beer, wine and Moa Tai offered at the same time. Also the Peking Opera goes more in the direction of artistic performances then to present traditional music. I admit these are very general remarks, which are not even in the context of the tour which you arranged, but may be they are helpful for you.

Hi Carol,
The trip was wonderful, filled with many wonderful moments. I am sorry for the confusion regarding the air fare. I did not read your proposal completely, hence the misunderstanding. However, Tony was able to get us on the right track. I returned home yesterday, and just getting back to my routine today.I would definitely recommend your firm. I will send some photos later. I can not find one specific thing that outshines the others. I wish I had booked more time for Xishuangbanna. Also all accommodations were nice. One item in Lijiang that was difficult for me was the hard bed. We softies from USA, it make the body hurt. I know for others, it will also be difficult to sleep. It has happened before and I used an extra comforter under me for more softness. Also the restaurant in Lijiang that served breakfast didn’t seem ready for a rush of people that over filled the dining area. I enjoyed all the tour guides and all are such nice people. James Shi needs more exposure to verbal English, since his pronunciations were sometimes difficult to understand. I mentioned this to him. He is a very nice young man. The best was Tina in Lijiang. Her personality, her knowledge, and her command of English were all top quality. This is my third trip to China since 2004. She is above all other translators or guides. I shared that with her. By the way I do not want to be contacted by others; Thank you for your assistance and your firm for such a great trip.
Dave

Hi Carol
To answer your questions will be very difficult since there was so much about china I enjoyed and found very little unenjoyable. In fact the only comment I can think of is at the Days Inn Forbidden City in Beijing, if you have to catch a taxi after 5pm you will need to go around to main street since it is difficult to get taxi to come to side main entrance in evening hours So if you have to be some place on time plan early to catch taxi from that hotel. Other then that I would stay there again. very good accommodations for 3 star. Please do not ask me to make best comparison to tour guide and driver. I found each to have there own unique and professional methods of making you feel comfortable and pleased with the area and tour itinerary for that location. I only seen Tony on first arrival yet I know he was working through communications with my friends and translator and tour guide Anna, and last but certainly not least our driver Xiong Lu. Please tell Tony thank you so very much for the friendly greeting and all his help on my stay in Wuhan. In Beijing my translator and tour guide Mary with her professional upbeat enthusiasm and energy made me feel years younger, and confident that I was in good company with her, and knowledgeable driver who was more quiet but very courteous. Again I consider both friends. As for the highlight of my trip I would have to say the Great Wall. One of the seven wonders of the world. Although each item on my itinerary I found to be very enjoyable and interesting. Again last but not least seeing the difference in our cultures and making new friends through out my stay. I have you Carol and China Highlights and all there colleagues and the flexibility of your services to thank for a very safe, pleasant and memorable stay in China. Yes I will recommend your services to others. In fact I have already started recommending China Highlights to those who have already inquired about my trip and arrangements in China. I hope to return to China in two years or maybe sooner.
Sincerely,
Wayne E Wolfgram

David,
Here a a few pictures for you. I will write to you in more detail and tell you how I enjoyed my China trip. It all worked very well, thanks to you. China is a facinating country. And thanks for the dinner with you and Wendy and Nini. Thanks again and I value your friendship.
Robert David, A few more pictures of my trip to China. Hope there aren't too many. I really enjoyed my visit, and thank you for making all the arrangements, which worked very well. It was nice to be met and looked after so well. Your guides were very good, particularly Lola, who I mostly called Wei. Of course she was the guide who I spent the most time with and I enjoyed her company too. Please thank her for me. Guilin is a very picturesque city, I could have spent more time there.The hotels were great, 3 star is all I ever want. The cruise was marvellous, I was quite facinated with China, particularly the Yangtze, I couldn't take my eyes off all the activity on the river, and the scenery. The weather was mostly cloudy, some light rain, but it didn't matter, I thought it added to the atmosphere of China and is how I like to remember it. The books for sale showed everything is bright sun, which is not what I wanted. The side trips were good too and I found the crew very friendly and helpful. It was great to have a cabin to myself. I also enjoyed the company of the others at my table, all Aussies as it happened. Preferable to Americans, whom I find a bit noisy. I couldn't get over all the development in China, it was quite different to what I had expected. I would like to see more. Trouble is the Aussie dollar is now only 64 cents to the US dollar and I don't think I could afford it again. Perhaps it will get better one day. I didn't have long enough in Shanghai, but I made good use of my short time there, even managed to get to a Chinese Tea Ceremony, which was very interesting. Taken by two young Chinese couples who were visiting Shanghai. Had to transfer to Air China for the flight home, Qantas was delayed. Quite impressed with Air China, very comfortable. Things are not going too well in the financial world, I see that even in China the government is having to step in with more money. I hope it doesn't affect your tourism business too much, but I am afraid it will the world over. Well, it's late and I am to go to work tomorrow, so I had better finish off and send this. Your Aussie friend, Robert

Hi Eva,
Eva, I will send the photos of us together at the agency in the next day or two as well as some panda photos. EVA DID A FANTASTIC JOB IF MAKING OUR TRIP PERFECT FOR US. SHE LISTENED TO WHAT WE WERE INTERESTED AND FILLED OUR TIME WITH THINGS THAT WE MOST ENJOYED. WE WOULD RECOMMENT CHINA HIGHLIGHTS TO ANYONE PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA. SOME OF OUR FAVOURITE ATTRACTIONS WERE THE GREAT WALL, SERA MONESTARY IN LHASA, HONESTLY EVERYTHING IN TIBET, DEFINITELY VOLUNTEERING AT THE PANDA BASE WAS THE TOP HIGHLIGHT, THE SHOW IN YANGSHAO, THE RIVER CRUISE IN GUILIN.CHRISTINA IN XI'AN WAS FANTASTIC BECAUSE SHE GAVE US SO MUCH HISTORY AND INFORMATION AND SHE WAS AWARE OF SIMPLE THINGS LIKE TELLING US WHEN WE WERE NEAR A TOILET. SHE ALSO GAVE US MORE SPACE AND ALLOWED US TO WALK AROUND A LITTLE ON OUR OWN AT MOST OF THE ATTRACTIONS INSTEAD OF STAYING RIGHT BESIDE US THE WHOLE TIME. RAINEY IN SHANGHAI WAS ALSO VERY GOOD, VERY FRIENDLY AND INFORMATIVE. THE ONLY GUIDE WE WOULD NOT RECOMMEND WAS MICHELLE IN HONG KONG. WE FELT THAT SHE WAS CONDESCENDING ABOUT MAINLAND CHINA AND CONTINUALLY MADE JOKES ABOUT CHINA. WE ABSOLULETLY LOVE MAINLAND CHINA, MUCH MORE THAN HONG KONG AND WE DID NOT FEEL THE JOKES WERE APPROPRIATE, RATHER THEY WERE DISTASTELFUL . WE ENJOYED THE MEALS WE HAD AT LOCAL RESTAURANTS THE MOST, WE DID NOT ENJOY THE MEALS THAT WERE JUST FOR TOURISTS AND HAD A SET PREPLANNED MENU. WE PREFERRED TO EAT WHERE THE LOCAL PEOPLE EAT. THE MEAL AT THE RESTAURANT IN BEIJING CONNECTED WITH THE JEWELRY FACTORY WAS THE ONLY PLACE WE REALLY WOULD SUGGEST NOT GOING TO. WE DID NOT ENJOY THE FOOD AND DID NOT ENJOY BEING PRESSURED TO BUY PEARLS THERE. WE LEFT QUICKLY. EVA DID A FANTASTIC JOB IF MAKING OUR TRIP PERFECT FOR US. SHE LISTENED TO WHAT WE WERE INTERESTED AND FILLED OUR TIME WITH THINGS THAT WE MOST ENJOYED. WE WOULD RECOMMENT CHINA HIGHLIGHTS TO ANYONE PLANNING A TRIP TO CHINA.  ONE RECOMMENDATION IS NOT TO GO TO THE GREAT WALL ON THE FIRST DAY AFTER ARRIVING IN BEIJING. WE FELT A LITTLE OVERWHELMED BECAUSE WE WERE TIRED AND HAD NOT ADJUSTED TO THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CANADA AND CHINA AND THAT DAY WE FELT LIKE WE MISSED OUT A LITTLE. I WOULD SUGGEST GOING TO THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN AND SUMMER PALACE FIRST AND THEN THE 2ND OR 3RD DAY TO THE GREAT WALL. I WOULD ALSO SUGGEST TO CHINA HIGHLIGHTS TO INCLUDE THE SHOW IN YANSHAO IN THE ITINERARY AND COST OF THE TRIP. IT IS PHENOMENAL AND WORTH THE PRICE BUT BECAUSE OF THE PRICE OF THE TICKETS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE CONVIENT TO PAY FOR THEM WITH OUR PACKAGE. MY LAST SUGGESTION IS FOR THE TOUR GUIDES TO GIVE THEIR CLIENTS A FEW MINUTES OF FREE TIME AT EVERY ATTRACTION TO BE BY THEMSELVES AND LOOK AROUND. SOMETIMES IT FELT LIKE WE WERE BEING RUSHED AND WE THOUGHT WE HAD TO GO THAT FAST TO BE FINISHED IN TIME BUT THEN AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WOULD ACTUALLY BE DONE EARLY. I KNOW SOME ATTRACTIONS THIS MAY BE DIFFICULT BUT WE WOULD HAVE LIKED TIME ON THE GREAT WALL WITHOUT OUR GUIDE SO WE COULD EXPERIENCE IT TOGETHER AND JUST TAKE IT ALL IN AND IN MANY PLACES IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT TO HAVE JUST 10 OR 15 MINUTES TO WALK ON OUR OWN AND MAYBE TAKE A COUPLE EXTRA PHOTOS. MY LAST SUGGESTION IS FOR THE GUIDES TO TELL US HOW MUCH TIME WE COULD TAKE AT EACH PLACE SO THAT WE KNEW IF WE COULD TAKE LONGER. IF WE WERE TOLD WE HAD ____ HOURS AT THE SUMMER PALACE THEN WE COULD DECIDE HOW LONG WE WANTED TO TAKE A CERTAIN PLACES WITHIN THE PALACE. FOR YOUNGER TRAVELLERS LIKE OURSELVES (30'S) I WOULD RECOMMEND THE KUNG FU SHOW IN BEIJING INSTEAD OF THE OPERA, WE ASKED FOR THE OPERA TICKETS BUT DID NOT ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I THINK WE WOULD HAVE THE KUNG FU SHOW. TANG DYNASTY SHOW IS A MUST SEE, WE LOVED IT.
Tammy