Essential China

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Emma Bardsley

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written April 2012

  A very hectic trip, lots packed in. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  This question assumes every tourist on an Exodus trip gets inspired. This isn't true. I didn't get inspired, I just had a nice time.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very good and reliable, I was glad to have her around.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Though Western food is available (the usual fast food places for example), don't go if you don't like Chinese food. I love Chinese food; the food was fantastic so I enjoyed the food a lot. Toilets generally very bad, unless you are in a hotel or a Western Chain.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I would have liked more time in Hong Kong.

  The first question needs to be amended - one of the potential answers is "we'll be ..." - lots of people go on holiday alone. The third question assumes every Exodus holidaymaker gets inspired, so it needs to be amended to something like, "were you inspired and if so, why? For you what was the most inspirational moment of the trip?"

   
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  Lucy Woods

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written October 2011

  A great introduction to a wonderful and varied country.  A mixture of old and new, accompanied by a fantastic group of people. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  My “I can’t believe I’m here” moment was on the Great Wall (and on returning to the UK, I still look at my shoes and think to myself “wow, these shoes have walked on the Great Wall of China”!!).  The holiday provided many other highlights, particularly the terracotta warriors, the cookery class in Yangshuo and the bamboo raft ride along the River Li.  Oh yes, and my first experience of Tai Chi on a very early and wet morning.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  “Charlie’s Group” couldn’t have been in better hands.   Charlie was well organised and informative and looked after us from start to finish.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I would suggest adding a couple of days onto the holiday to wind down a little and to see more of Hong Kong (or at least a day or two at home before heading back to work!).  As the length of the holiday was relatively short for such a vast country, the itinerary was packed with very little relaxation.  This was fine as I knew this would be the case, but a day or two to recharge the batteries before heading home would have been welcome.

  Also, a suitcase on wheels would have been really useful when walking to catch the overnight trains and the ferry to Guangzhou.  The length of walk to each was not long, but would have been easier if I could have wheeled along a case behind me!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Could I suggest to Exodus that instead of visiting the cave near Yangshuo, the nearby rice terraces (which we saw advertised at the cave) are included on the itinerary. The terraces provide the classic snapshot of Chinese countryside and several of us exclaimed as we left the cave that we would have preferred this as an alternative.

  Finally, if you buy a Chairman Mao watch from a street trader in Tiananmen Square, don’t expect it work for more than 5 minutes!

   
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  Patrick Butler

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written October 2011

  As they say "Does exactly what it says on the tin" A great way to see highlights of China. Having travelled to a few countries over the years I thought I was becoming a custom to the varvious life styles from around the, but China open my eyes further. Nothing in a negative way. Getting your picture taken by total strangers with their was unusual!! Love to return and explore more!  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  seeing the great wall plus walking on it. Plus the teracotta soliders, hearing how they were found and story why they were made.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Great group leader, always there for the group

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If stuck for time it is a fantastic way to see Essential parts of China in a short period.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Had a great time, Exodus trips are great way to meet people from different back grounds!

  So anyway... time to look at where I can go next!

   
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  Andrew Miller

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written June 2011

  A full on way to see the best China has to offer this trip covers all the major bases and a couple of unknown suprises although this means lots of long days and almost constant travelling. All in all a top trip! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The Great Wall and the Terracotta Army do not disappoint and are both well worth their status as world wonders but equally as exciting was watching the Cormorant fishing and learning to cook authentic Chinese dishes in the Guilin countryside.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Mark was a very good team leader who always bent over backwards to give each member of the group the best possible experience and spoke about his country with genuine enthusiasm, pride and detailed subject knowledge, he always had ideas of how to fill any spare time and was well prepared for each days events.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Leave a couple of days free after you travel back to the UK, although this trip is marked as leisurely the busy days, late nights and a few overnight sleeper trains mean that you don't get much rest time and will need some down time when you get back.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  China is a really incredible place to visit and this trip fits in all the best bits in a very short space of time.

   From the manic and crazy sights, sounds and smells of Beijing, through the old world charm of Xi'an to the unique natural beauty of Yangshou and finishing in the skyscraper forest of Hong Kong this trip shows every side of China.

   
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  Merlyn Pauley

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written May 2011

  Excellent short trip to China covering the main attactions but also giving some free to do the other activities. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walking the Great Wall

  Seeing Cormorant Fishing at night on the Li River.

   Hong Kong at night

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Excellent, went out of his way to ensure everyboby had a great time. Also worked hard to ensure the trip ran very smoothly, solving problems as they occurred with out a fuss.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Just go for it!!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you want to see alot of China at a reasonable price and your short on time, this is the trip for you.

   
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  Matthew Osborn

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written January 2011

  A good trip that gave you an insight in to China and it's history. A fantastic place with warm friendly people, should definitely be one for the bucket list. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The Terrecotta soldiers were incredible and totally breath taking, we went over a Chinese national holiday so it was on the busy side.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group I was in was fantastic and I met some simply wonderful people, all of whom bonded well. Unfortunately the group leader, although knowledgeable, had a drink problem which meant on two occasions he was late meeting the group, one of which was by an hour or so after which time the group had arranged their own activities as they weren't willing to wait any longer.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don't let my comment put you off, the trip was excellent and covered most of the main sites.

   
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  Bela Gor

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written October 2010

  A great trip if you are short of time and want to see some of the 'highlights' of China or if you want to tack on a few extra days in Hong Kong. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Walking along the Great Wall of China on a beautiful Autumn day and then taking the tobogan down. Late September and early October is definitely a good time to go (later Beijing can be freezing as we discoved the next day. Temperatures can plummet overnight)

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our group leader Mark was something of a worrier. He became very anxious if any of the group did not want to participate in a group activity. He also didn't seem to understand the concept of 'free time' and tried hard to organise our free time for us. I think he'd had a bad experience of 'losing' one of his group in the past - but that didn't stop him leaving one of our number behind at the airport! He was sweet natured but it was occasionally like being on holiday with your mum - for example when he rang our hotel room in Hong Kong at ten past Midnight to make sure that we'd got back safely from our night out. We were in bed but unfortunately for his nerves some of the group had decided to stay out until the early hours!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This is not a relaxing trip. The flight is long and the time difference great and there is no time for a recovery day. There is also a lot of travelling (two overnight trains and a flight) which means that there is little time to catch up on sleep - especially if you want to get the most out of your evenings and there is a lot to do at night in China and Hong Kong. Beware, however that Hong Kong at least is not cheap (£6 for a beer but you do pay for the view).

  I recommend going in Autumn but if it is late Autumn/Winter but be aware that temperatures can drop suddenly. Take warm clothes for Beijing as well as lighter stuff for further south.

  I would also recommend booking your own flights or asking Exodus for alternatives as the flight back from Hong Kong to Beijing and Beijing to London is unnecessarily long and requires a 5am start from Hong Kong. Direct flights are easily availabe from Hong Kong and if you aren't London based consider flights that change in e.g Amsterdam or Paris. We flew back to Edinburgh with KLM which was a lot more comfortable than China Southern on the way there and I understand China Airways.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you have the energy do consider some of the optional activities. I don't recommend the Acrobats Show in Beijing - not really worth the money but the Water Show in Yangshou is amazing (although I was torn between this and Cormorant Fishing).  Do cycle the city walls in Xian (a bit bumpy but not scary as it is wide and flat with not too many people and this comes from someone who fell off her bike and on her face earlier in the year in Sri Lanka) and the cookery and calligraphy classes in Yangshou were great fun.

  Also - don't worry about eating street food. These were some of the best meals we had (and you can be as adventourous as you like - fried scorpion anyone? or not) and quite safe as everything is cooked in front of you or by yourself at such high heat. China is not, however, the place for the committed vegetarian or squeamish. Everyone was, however, really friendy and welcoming even with the language barrier.

  Exodus Response

  I would like to thank Miss Gor for her useful feedback. I am not sure what Mark was doing ringing peoples rooms after midnight as he is one of our experienced leaders, but he has had a gently reminder that he does not need to be this over protective. Flight times and airlines on our trips in 2011 do vary so please check upon booking for flight times, however KLM do offer good flights for non London based airports, which our sales team can book.

  Nick Nikolsky - Trip Manager

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   

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