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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  Joanna Zubr

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written August 2012

  Very well designed itinerary allowing you to see plenty of places in China and take party of many activities but there was free time as well. Very good standard of accommodation and overnight train experience. Great mixture of sightseeing in big cities and countryside - really diverse trip. Great Wall was amazing but it was only one of many highlights on this really interesting trip! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Two great days in Yangshuo where we have done biking trip, bamboo boat trip, cooking class, visited a market and had plenty of time to chill out.

  Great Wall on the Day 3

  Beijing Duck dinner with the group.

  Night market in XianWhole overnight experience

  Star Ferry in Hong Kong

  Victoria Peak in Hong Kong with amazing view of the whole city

  Watching local people and their daily life

  Great atmosphere in general

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Very professional, helpful and he made sure that the trip runs smoothly. He told us a lot about the culture, history and a few very interesting things about China.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Don’t be scared of overnight trains. They are more comfortable than you think but make sure you buy food before boarding.Definitely take a cooking class in Yangshuo  and boat trip!Make sure you have comfortable shoes and pack light.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

   Book this trip and enjoy every minute!Oh and practice your Chinese before you go:)

   
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  Gail Wilson

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written May 2012

  A great introduction to China. This is a busy trip with a lot of travel, but an excellent way to see the main highlights the country has to offer. The few days in Hong Kong at the end of the trip were highly enjoyable and provide a welcome contrast to the week spent in China. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  This trip has many highlights, but for me it was seeing the Terracotta Army - absolutely amazing & took my breath away! The Great Wall is also a site to behold seeing it stretch for miles and miles! The Forbidden City and Palace in Beijing is impressive but so vast that you do become "palaced out"!

  The few days in the countryside are a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the cities (and pollution, particularly in Beijing) and are at a considerably more leisurely pace. I would recommend the cycle/rafting/walking day, although you do have to have your wits about you for the cycle back into town at the end of the day!

  I also loved Hong Kong - such a contrast to be back in a "westernised" society after the culture shock of China!

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Li Yan/Sandy was very pleasant and helpful and had a great sense of fun, even taking some of the group to a karaoke bar!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for a bit of a culture shock in China, not so much in terms of facilities (although some of the toilets were rather "interesting"!! I found the local people to be rude and what really pushed my buttons was the constant spitting no matter where you are!

  There is a lot of travelling between the various destinations so make sure you have books/ipods/games etc to keep you occupied. The overnight train trips were great fun, but earplugs are definitely advisable! Travel reasonably light as there are quite a few times when you will need to carry your own luggage. Do also take an umbrella, especially if travelling during the rainy season - we literally had monsoon rains in Hong Kong!

  The time in Hong Kong is limited - a free afternoon plus a day's guided tour - so if you can extend your trip by a few days I would do so. I had an extra day and was able to get out & explore further.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This is a very interesting yet intense trip but a fantastic way to see a lot in a short time. Take the plunge & go for it!

   
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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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  Sarah Westlake

  ESSENTIAL CHINA

  

  Written January 2012

  Fantastic and very varied tour of China. Within quite a short about of time we managed to cover lots of the main sites of interest but we also had time for walking, cycling and evening shows. Although the trip was quite fast paced I never felt particularly rushed. Our tour guide was very friendly and knowledge and went out of his way to make the trip more comfortable (access to hotel showers better evening overnight trains etc). 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were lots of truly amazing moments but I found the cycling through the limestone peaks in Yangshuo the most inspirational

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Our group letter was very friendly and extremely organised. He was very knowledge about China (sites and politics etc) and was happy to answer all of our questions. He was also very responsive to the groups interests e.g. Taking us on a longer cycling route when we were obviously enjoying it.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This is quite a fast paced tour. We slept on the flight in both directions and managed to work the days either side of the trip. Walking sandals were the most useful piece of footwear.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  My only suggested improvement would be in Hong Kong when we spend a large amount of time on our last day on a public bus. It would be better either to explore sites closer to the hotel or use private transport.

   
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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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