Reviews

Incredible First Tour Experience – Highly Recommend Wendy Wu!

I called Wendy Wu office to book directly was very easy and quick. All my questions answered.

I joined the Wendy Wu tour of China from 9 May to 19 May, I added 2 extra days in Beijing which I was pleased as had free time to get over travelling. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better first tour experience!

From start to finish, everything was seamless and exceptionally well organized. Our main tour guide, Susan, was absolutely fantastic—so caring, knowledgeable, and efficient. We were also lucky to have amazing local guides: in Beijing and Chengdu, who added local insight and personality to the trip.

We had a small group of just 13 people, which made the experience feel more personal, relaxed, and enjoyable.

Our itinerary included:
• 3 days in Beijing, where we visited iconic sites such as Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, and the Summer Palace
• 1 day in Xi’an, featuring the unforgettable Terracotta Warriors and a stay in a fantastic hotel
• 3 days in Chengdu, home of the adorable giant pandas and vibrant local culture

We traveled between cities on two high-speed bullet trains, which were smooth and efficient. I also received a free business class upgrade on one of the flights, and paid to upgrade another leg—absolutely worth the additional cost for the extra comfort.

One of the highlights of the tour was the food. All meals were included, and we dined together as a group in traditional Chinese family-style, sharing a variety of delicious local dishes at each meal. It was a fantastic way to experience the cuisine and bond with the group.

What made the trip even more memorable was the wonderful group of fellow travelers. We shared great moments, plenty of laughs, and created memories I’ll treasure for a lifetime.

If you’re considering a trip to China, I highly recommend Wendy Wu Tours. This was an unforgettable journey, and I wouldn’t hesitate to travel with them again!

Our guide George made our holiday a success. He was desperate to make sure we were all happy and did everything he could to help from carrying our bags to buying from the vending machine on our behalf when it only accepted Alipay. George was always on hand and tried his best to ensure we had a great time. His instructions were sometimes confusing, telling different people different times to meet. On a few occasions George would say he would wait for people or with the bags but he left.
Our best local guide was Jasper in Chengdu.
It was frustrating that we had no free time to explore Chongqing as George got lost.
The food was very plentiful and tasty but it was very difficult to identify vegetarian options.
George was poorly for several days but soldiered on, making sure it didn’t spoil our trip, however he had no idea of personal space which was very uncomfortable, especially when he was clearly unwell.
The optional excursions were not explained very well in the Wendy Wu literature and it was difficult to decide which to go on.
George’s lesson in Mah-jong on the boat was an added bonus.
Having done just one excursion with ‘young George’ I found him to be more informative and willing to talk about real life in China.
I was disappointed not to spend longer with the pandas. We did not need an hour and a half for lunch, we would have been happy with a sandwich at the train station.
The trip is very intense with so many amazing things to do, when travelling from Xian to Beijing with had no activities at all and I know the group would have preferred a later train with the opportunity for a lie in.
In Xian we were deposited at a pottery and lacquer shop for nearly an hour to be sold to and similarly I would have liked longer at the Wall and to have skipped the Jade hard sell. At the Terracotta soldiers we were told to stay together and that there was no time to visit the gift shop or the market but then proceeded to stand around for at least 15min waiting for something? It would have been nice to be treated like adults a little more, be given a time and location to meet and spend our time as we wished. This happed at the Great Wall and everyone got to do what they wanted.
Whilst the hotels selected were generally fabulous their locations always seemed to be a long way from any life (shops & bars) so we were a bit stuck in our rooms when not on excursions.
These are all areas I think the tour could be improved but it was still a once in a lifetime experience!
Well that really was amazing. Phenomenal sites including the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Wall, 3 Gorges Dam and Giant Pandas old and young. We met loads of locals who love to meet a ‘big nose’ foreigner and have a photo. I ate my own body weight in boiled rice! We made some new friends and have some. Very special memories.