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I would like to begin with complementing China highlights Grace on an excellent job on organizing and arranging the itinerary for our memorable Time in China.

Our itinerary was for 32 days that covered a greater proportion of China so the wife and I would see a wide variety of countryside and cities that also included the Chinese culture and history. It is difficult to pin point one single highlight during the tour because of the input we had during the time the itinerary was being developed with Grace and the places we went to and things we did were our choices and it was with Grace’s patients and knowledgeable advice that our time in China ran like clock work without one hassle.

All the cities were of interest to get an understanding of where China’s position in the worlds standing and Shanghai would have to the most impressive considering development only started in earnest back in 1997 and to see the financial area today when it was just a short few years ago just farm land, but it was the county side and rural provinces that I felt most comfortable in. As the tour got under way after our three days in Beijing we arrived in the Shanxi province Datong where I started to relax and enjoy the Chinese way of life. One thing we did notice and came to understand was the way all the driver on the road behave and have enormous amount of patients for all others that use the road to drive or walk on. Our first time to cross the road did take some time but eventually we learnt to cross as the locals did and never felt in danger whist crossing a busy road. It was the same when we were in the cars with our guide and driver, to see cars coming straight at you on our side of the road and just moving out of our drivers way just in time to allow us to continue took some getting use too and at the end of the day we did not have any incidents on the road and all our divers were safe and carefully drivers.

The Shanxi province, Lhasa, Huashan, the Yangtze and Guilin were all highlights and all that was there to see, but for me personally top of the list would have to be Huangshan and the Yellow Mountains. To have walked for an hour plus to a hotel has a certain satisfaction once you arrive high in the mountains. This is one area that should be on all the tourist itineraries and one I would recommend for anyone in this area to spend the time to at least go up there for the day as a minimum but to spend a night or two up the mountain is the ultimate once up in the mountains you start to realize that all the modern conveniences, hotels and pathways have been brought up the mountain by hand, an amazing feat of the humans ability. The West Canyon was the highlight of the area, not only for it beauty and unusual rock shapes and formations but for the degree of physical difficulty in negotiating steep descents and assents on man made steps and for us being as young as we use to be was in itself an achievement to do the full circuit from the Xiahai hotel and back again for lunch in a little over four and a half hours. To top the day off a late afternoon fog came up billowing up from the valleys below enveloping us and the mountains around us to create a sense of mysticism that could easily be described as romantic.

Of all the guides we had whilst in China Gerry from Huangshan was my stand out guide and best suited to guide us while we were in the park, with his polite casual carefree attitude that made us feel as if we were just more than guests in his country. One of the other guides I enjoyed his company immensely was Tony from Hang Zhou who was able to give us a mature insight into life as it was and as it is now in China while we had a relaxing stroll around west discussing history from both our worlds.

To add to the enjoyment of our tour of China the hotels that Grace had chosen for us were all of a high standard, The top one for us would have to be The Bund hotel in Shanghai with most other following very close behind like the Bell Tower in Xian and I must not forget our second stay at Guilin Bravo Hotel was at touch of luxury for our last night in China. One of the better meals was a recommendation from our guide in Huangshan to eat at a restaurant that is very popular with the locals that generally require having to wait for a table and was advised by Gerry to go a little earlier which proved to be good advise and managed to be seated at a table that just be vacated. One of the big pluses for this restaurant for us was that the food was all laid out on display and was given a ordering pad and only had to write down what we wanted and then wait for it arrive. The other good restaurant was in Hang Zhou where lunch was arranged for us by the local guide Tony at Tianxinglou restaurant where we were able to order food that was also on display but was then escorted to a private dinning room where we had our own personal waitresses private bath room and a longing are to relax in after and excellent meal.

For me (Kathy) the highlight of the tour was Lhasa. Twenty odd years ago I read a book written by Peter Fleming called “ Seven years in Tibet “ and since then it has been a dream of mine to go there. Flying over the mountains was the most amazing sight with small villages up valleys and up the sides of mountains. We were given a wonderful welcome by our Tibetan guide Norbu, and driving into Lhasa felt like being in another world. I felt privileged at being allowed to witness the lamas and locals alike worshiping and understanding a little more of the Buddhist way of life. Norbu was such a lovely humble man and an excellent guide if wanting to know of his country and culture. The high altitude hit us the first night and lasted a couple of days, but by taking a slower pace we were able to work through it. My only regret was that we couldn’t stay longer and go exploring outside Lhasa.

The other memorable trip for me was in the Shanxi province Datong, seeing the Yungang Grottoes. The sheer size of the Buddha’s carved into the rocks and what lay behind them was so interesting. From there with our local guide Belinda, we drove to Hengshan to see the hanging temple which again was such an interesting sight to behold and a must see if in the area. I saw so many fascinating sights that have left a big impression on me. The Chinese people were all friendly and my husband was a big hit with the ladies with many photos taken. Just too finally add, Belinda was a fantastic guide, and again I would highly recommend her with a very kind personality and her knowledge of her province was excellent.

Thank you China highlights for organizing such a trouble free and memorable trip.