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China is an amazing place to visit. We got to see the contrast between the new bustling city life and the traditional farms, along with all the iconic images of China.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The Great Wall of China takes your breath away. Just outside Beijing, the wall is crowded with tourists. Our trip took us about 3 hours outside Beijing to a section of the wall where you could look in both directions at the Wall snaking its way along the mountain tops without seeing any one walking on it. I'd love to go back when all the autumn colours are out - I bet it is even more beautiful.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader, Emma, was great fun although she did get lost a few times. She was well informed and good to be around.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This holiday is rated as leisurely to moderate. It is hard work with its almost constant travelling. Pack as light as you can as you will be carrying your cases up and down a lot of stairs. I found there were some activities that sounded really good but that I was not fit enough to do, like a 16 mile bike ride in Yangshuo. But with a really good group and some creative thinking, it is possible to join in - it is easy to hire tandem cycles or electric cycles. Don't settle for being left out of things. With a bit of imagination and support from your fellow travellers, you should be able to do just about everything.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't be surprised if the pandas catch you unawares. You might think you are seeing them becacuse you are, after all, in China but they are completely charming.
Take some time to do something still if you can. In Yangshuo, you can try things like Tai Chi in the park, painting with Chinese brushes or calligraphy. After so much moving around, doing quiet, gentle activities really helps you to appreciate where you are and to take stock of all the things that you have seen.
Christine Rose
IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Written
A great trip with something for everyone. History and culture, beautiful countryside, activities, time for relaxation on the cruise and a touch of the 'brave new world' in Shanghai.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Yangshou;Cycling, kayaking and seeing the light show.
Seeing how the country is developing so fast.
Getting to know my travelling companions.
What did you think of your group leader?
Bruce was exceptional. He was perceptive,proactive, really well organised, polite, entertaining and really went out of his way to help us have a relaxing and trouble free holiday.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are travelling in August be prepared for the heat, humidity and crowds of Chinese tourists everywhere. There was very little 'peace and quiet' but it's all part of the adventure. Definately go to the show in Yangshou, it is breathtaking and the activities there are good too. The climb up Emeishan was SO crowded...you have been warned!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is a fast developing country and not always pretty(apart from Yangshou area), but it is very interesting and well worth a visit.The trip is very well paced; relaxing on the cruise after a week of sightseeing and travelling was very welcome, followed by activities such as cycling,caving and kayaking, then another burst of city life in Shanghai.
The train journeys are great and the last and longest trip was updated when we travelled (Aug 2012)so there was no problem with cleanliness or inferior facilities at all.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It is difficult to choose. I think the Great Wall. It was worth the time spent travelling to explore the wall away from other tourists. It was in parts a steep walk, on a very hot day, but it was breathtaking.
Another highlight for me was the Terracotta Warriers. Unbelievable.
Yangshuo was such a contrast to the first two weeks of travel. Much more rural and very interesting. I loved the bamboo raft cruise. It was definately worth taking.
And...I nearly forgot the Panda's!
What did you think of your group leader?
Susan was really helpful and well organised. Had a good sense of humour and was fun to travel with.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
It is not by any means a restful holiday. There is so much trravelling to do and so much to fit in. It is worth it though.
The train for the third rail trip was not of a particularly good standard but I knew this from checking reviews. Do take a small travelling pillow and a sleeping bag liner would have been a good idea on the thrid travel.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I just loved the whole experience. I booked on one of the solo trips and I could not have wished to travel with a nicer group of people. This was not my first holiday with Exodus. So far they have all been really good. This trip was just the same. The holidays are described well, "you get what is says oin the packet". I am looking forward to booking my next one.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The scale of the warriors was immense. The details shared with us as to the lives of those building them and their fate was thought provoking.
The scenery and opportunity to explore the scenery around Yangshou was the best part of the trip for me. It was so beautiful and was the most peaceful part of the trip.
What did you think of your group leader?
The group leader was fantastic; he was very cheerful, very helpful and made the trip for me.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
An umbrella- I've travelled a bit and thought that I wouldn't walk around with an umbrella but the weather was so humid there was no way we could wear waterproof jackets ( August). Also consider dark shorts - one day it looked like I had wet myself through sweat!
Be ready for crowds, travelling and humidity (in August) and if you have always wanted to see these highlights of China then you will love this trip.
I asked Exodus to arrange a 5 day trip to Datong and area before the main tour began. This worked really well as we were acclimatised ready for the tour. I had high expectations for the trip and I can honestly say that other than the weather I was not disappointed.A trip packed with such a variety of experiences!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There is something truly awe-inspiring seeing the terracotta warriors from close range, the pandas were just adorable particularly the mother with 4 active and playful youngsters, the scenery in Yangshou takes your breath away and then of course the Great Wall. Unfortunately we did the latter in miserable weather which meant that the hoped for grand view was invisible. The Hanging Monastery near Datong was well-worth the additional cost. What I also greatly enjoyed was the two meals we shared with local people - very simple cooking but so tasty.
What did you think of your group leader?
Jerry is very knowledgeable and was keen to do all he could to make the trip memorable. With a very mixed group of people with different wishes it wasn't always easy to please everyone.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I don't eat meat and found it very difficult in the first half of holiday. Our leader had been advised that I am a vegetarian so only presented simple vegetable dishes. If like me you eat fish make this known before you go as Chinese generally classify fish as meat which leads to confusion.
Everything on the Yangtze cruise is really expensive so keep your shopping and beauty treatments for either Yangshou or Shanghai - there is plenty of choice.
There is a lot of carrying of luggage in railway stations so ensure you can carry your bag and take plenty of reading material for those long train journeys.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go with the flow.
Be prepared to be waiting in railway stations long before departure time - they operate in a way similar to airports, meals arrive in stages usually with the rice at the end!, if you drink tea take some tea bags - it may sound like coals to Newcastle but black tea bags are really difficult to come by and all hotel rooms and trains have facilities for making drinks.
This is a great trip for those that want to have many and varied experiences packed into 21 days. The itinary is full on and involves a great deal of internal travel. Overnight trains were probably the low points but were coupled with the brilliant highs of walking on The Great Wall, visiting the Terracotta Armies and seeing some very cute baby pandas!
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
I was very much looking forward to visiting The Great Wall and it did not disappoint in any respect. We travelled to a quiet part of the wall and for most of the time were the only people on it. This was a terrific start to the trip!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was great, full of energy and very clearly wanted us all to have the very best trip possible. He balanced the needs of the group well and his own energy and enthusiasm was infectious.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Anyone considering this trip should be prepared for an unrelenting itinary that requires some stamina. Toilet facilites are of a varied nature! You will not spend many nights in one place so packing needs to be given careful thought along with ensuring you can carry/wheel your bag in/out/onto planes, trains and buses.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip has huge potential for fun and really delivers the experiences of a life time you might expect!
Steen Pagh Petersen
IMPERIAL CHINA & YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE
Written
China is amazing, and on this tour you will get so many highlights. There are fantastic places as the forbidden city, the Great Wall, the Terracotta warriors, the hiking at Emaishan, the pandas in Chengu, the Yangtze cruise, the wonderful landscape around Yangshuo, modern Shanghai and much more. Meeting the openminded Chinese people and having a guide, who did more than anyone could expect for giving her travellers the best holiday ever, are other highlights making this tour to the best you can imagine.
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It was fantastic to walk on the Great Wall, to visit the many temples in Beijing, to see the historic terracotta warriors, to hike at Emeishan to the most beautiful view I have ever seen, to see the amazing 3 gorges on the Yangtze Cruise and to bike around the beautful landscape near Yangshuo. But, the highlight for me on this tour was visiting the pandas in Chengdu. It was amazing to see so many pandas in different sizes and ages, how they played with each other, climbed trees and enjoyed their life in the nice sorroundings in the breeding center, and the most inspirational moment was for sure when I had one of the young pandas sitting with me and touching it when feeding. This was once of a lifetime experience.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was unik. We were her family from the beginning to the end of the tour. She did everything for us, and used her great personality to solve all problems.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I can only say, go for it. This tour will be one of the highlights in your life.
from 39 reviews.
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