We had a fantastic holiday with a great group of people. Everything was organised for us, so all we had to do was turn up at the appointed time each morning and the whole day was planned for us.
Our main guide was lovely and stayed with us throughout the trip, including at the hotels. We also had a different local guide at each destination, all of whom were extremely knowledgeable about the local area and its history.
The food was plentiful, although don’t expect it to be anything like your local Chinese takeaway!
A few things worth knowing before you go:
You do need to be reasonably fit for this trip. There’s a lot of walking and I’ve never climbed so many steps in my life! Invest in a good, comfortable pair of walking shoes or trainers.
Don’t expect Western-style toilets when you’re out and about. Most are squat toilets, which take some getting used to. Take your own toilet paper or wipes, as supplies can be in short supply outside the hotels. I’d definitely recommend practising your squats at home!
Language can also be a barrier, as not many people speak English outside the hotels. I found a translation app invaluable, particularly when I picked up a nasty cold and needed to visit a local chemist.
If you want to keep in touch with home, you’ll need to use the hotel Wi-Fi or buy an eSIM before you travel, as making calls and using mobile data can be expensive.
There’s no need to pack lots of dressy clothes. Apart from the Yangtze River cruise, there’s very little need for anything particularly smart, and even then, anything goes! During the day it was generally shorts and T-shirts, with lightweight clothing for the evenings. Quite often, though, we’d go straight from a day of sightseeing to a restaurant without having the opportunity to change.
Be prepared for some long and tiring days, especially when you’ve climbed hundreds of steps and walked miles. There isn’t a huge amount of free time for shopping or wandering around the markets selling the usual cheap tourist souvenirs.
Laundry facilities were also limited. I only found one hotel with a self-service laundry, which was free; the others offered a drop-off and pay service. By the end of the trip, we were running short of clean tops and having to wear some things more than once, so pack accordingly!
My highlights:
There were so many, but my absolute highlight was the Great Wall of China. When we arrived and I looked up at the section we were going to climb, I honestly wasn’t sure I’d make it to the top. The steps are all different sizes, and some were quite a challenge. However, nobody rushes you. You go at your own pace and stop for a rest whenever you need to.
The people coming down were so encouraging, cheering everyone on as they made their way up. I did make it to the top! I kept telling myself to keep going because I’d regret it if I didn’t get as far as I could. And it was absolutely worth it. The views were something else, truly amazing and something I’ll never forget. Just thinking about how all those people built it is remarkable.
Another highlight was the Terracotta Warriors. You really do need to see them in person to appreciate just how magnificent they are.
We were really glad we chose to do an organised tour, as I think trying to arrange everything and navigate the country ourselves would have been quite stressful.
Would I recommend Wendy Wu Tours? Absolutely!
From the initial booking right through to the end of the holiday, they’ve been brilliant. Any questions we had were always answered promptly, politely and in a very friendly manner.
All in all, a fantastic holiday, wonderful experiences and some very special memories. I’d thoroughly recommend it!
