CHINA TOURS LTD is a company specialising in arranging group and tailor-made journeys throughout China and adjacent regions as Hong Kong, Tibet, Nepal and Mongolia. We pride ourselves for the knowledge we possess over the areas, and offer extensive and detailed services for all the aspects of the tours for the discerning customers. We deliver fresh and creative ideas and itineraries with the best value for money to suit and accommodate variety of interests. Our aim is your absolute satisfaction.

Have your own idea about where to go and what to see? We could tailor-make it for you. Just call us on 01932 828997, e-mail us at info@tourchina.co.uk or send us your enquiry form.

GENERAL COMMENTS ABOUT CHINA TOURS

"Just a quick note to say how much we enjoyed the trip. Everything was fantastic and the travel arrangements were flawless. Great service from the guides, especially Eugenie in Beijing, Victoria in chongquing and Forrest in guilin. They were brilliant. River trip was a definite highlight, for the scenery and the relaxation! I would recommend that your clients consider upgrading to a suite on the cruise, we did, doubled the pleasure of the trip (800$). Anyway, thanks for all your help and we will definitely be sending any enquiries we get for china in your direction. if any clients want to talk me about the trip / china tours - don't hesitate to give them my number. " - Paul and Dermot, Liverpool (September 2004)

"Very efficient, friendly and enjoyable holidays." - Brian Cooper and family, Surrey (August 2004)

"Hi James Here is some feedback on the various parts of our tour: Beijing: our guide Michael was excellent. He was very flexible and knowledgeable and the driver was very good too. He didn't take us to the Bird nest stadium which was on the itinerary but I think that was because it was right beside our hotel. When the car broke down Michael was excellent. He arranged alternative transport very quickly so that we were still able to see everything and didn't have to change our plans at all. He was very helpful and patient with our shopping and was able to advise us when we should negotiate. Xi'an: Summer was less experienced than Michael but still very good. She changed our schedule so that we did everything in one day which was very tiring. It would have been better to have the city walls on the last day as stated on the itinerary but I guess we could have asked her to do this but we didn't. Summer was also very patient but less experienced than Michael. Cruise: very good overall. The staff were helpful and the tours were good. Yichang: although we only had a few hours, our rep was very knowledgeable and good. Shanghai: there were a couple of things we couldn't do (children's' palace and the bund were closed) but our guide (Judy) was very good at arranging the things that we wanted to do instead. The hotel accommodation was excellent. Chengdu: the guide and driver (Wulf) were very good and helpful. All flights were on time except for a one hour delay out of Beijing to Xi'an because of a thunderstorm which is nobody's fault. Overall the airlines were very good and the baggage always came through very quickly. All the meals were very good. The hotels were all great and we had no problems with any of them. Overall a fabulous holiday, well organised from start to finish and I would thoroughly recommend it. Best regards " - Cathryn Dundee, London (June 2009)

"Dear James, We returned to the UK last Friday after a most successful round-the-world adventure. I am delighted to say that the arrangements China Tours made for the China part was close to perfect. In both cities, the guides were waiting for us at the airports and arrived promptly each day for the excursions. We saw the sites we most wanted to see. We were always given the length of time we wanted to be there - never rushed through nor bored. We did appreciate the use of mobile phones by the drivers and guides so we could often walk through the places of interest and be picked up at the other end without backtracking. Our guide Michael Zhang and our driver in Beijing did a superb job, especially as the tours were well tailored to my walking limitations. The wheelchair was immediately available, and Michael pushed it whenever possible, especially on the long walk through the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. I was glad of the rest between having to negotiate the plentiful steps, especially as some steps are high and there are few handrails. They also took us to a spot where the Great Wall was accessible without any steps, so I could walk a little way and Corinna could do a climb. Both the Temple of Heaven and the Lamasery were well worth seeing. Thanks to Michael, the evenings were also full of interest: he took us to two excellent shows, Acrobats and Opera, and suggested two good restaurants. In Shanghai there had been a problem - the lady guide assigned for us felt she could not manage the wheelchair - but John Chen was waiting for us, with wheelchair, and all was well. His tour of Shanghai was equally good and he also arranged a river trip for us. Our free day in Shanghai was well spent and problem-free, mainly in the museums and the former French Concession. The Wang Fu Jing Guesthouse suited us very well, not expensive, providing all we needed, and well situated in an interesting area in walking distance to the principal shops and to Tiananmen Square. Minor refurbishment of the bedrooms could be done - the lighting was quite dim especially as a couple of bulbs did not work, neither did the bedside telephone, and the towels were thin and worn. It was interesting to be in a hotel with mainly Chinese guests and only a Chinese restaurant. Some British visitors might be disappointed not to get a European breakfast, but it was adequate for us. The Howard Johnson was of course utterly different, big, Western, efficient, superb pool and spa, but friendly staff with good English, perfectly situated for us with the Nanjing Road on the doorstep. The only minor disappointment was its Chinese restaurant, with the result that we ate in the Western restaurant on the other nights! We are so pleased that China Tours was recommended to us, because you were able to provide the ideal way for us to see a little of China in comfort, and to dispel many of our preconceptions. Thank you. " - Corinna and David Chivers, Bournemouth (May 2010)

China Glimpse - view Tour Details..

"Our guide, Maria, has been very good, very professional, knowledgeable and supportive. The tour were well-organised and very enjoyable. Thank you." - Philip and Christine, Stockport (August 2004)

"Excellent friendly service from tour guide and driver. *****" - Jo Goddard and Paul Smith, Surrey (September 2004)

"Jo and I arrived home from our holiday in China at 2230 Saturday! The trip was absolutely fantastic! Your organization, the guides, drivers and hotel accommodation were absolutely first class, and we were really impressed with everything we saw and did at each place that we visited. It was the trip of a lifetime, the one I shall never forget, and we both thank you for all that you did for us. Regards and best wishes, " - Jo and Leonard, Derby (May 2005)

"Dear James, Just a note to say thank you for the organisation of our holiday in China. It was a truly magnificent trip and both myself and my daughters will always remember it. The group we were with were tremendous and we have made several new friends. The entire trip went like clockwork - all the flights were on time, the guides were there on time and the trips were very well organised. The hotel and flight check-in was always very smooth and was usually handled by the guide. Thank you again for a magnificent holiday which we enjoyed immensely. I will recommend you to any of my friends who intend to visit China. " - Keith, Jasmine, & Melissa, Nottingham (November 2006)

"Have arrived back. Just a quick note to say what an excellent tour. I will be recommending you to others! Hotels very good, and all internal airlines were excellent. Food on the whole was good. As stated before, great value for money and an excellent service from you! Best Wishes " - Simon Balestrini & Karen Hackney, London (April 2007)

"Mr James Zhang; A belated thank you for all your efforts for us for our February holiday. I celebrated my 60th birthday on the boat tour from Guilin watching small craft bring fresh fish to the cooks on a flotilla of tourist boats!. As you warned, the holiday was quite tiring - but absolutely memorable. The guides and drivers were excellent: we particularly commend the Beijing driver for his driving skills - and the Xian team - who coped with a change of plan because of a cancelled flight and showed us a little part of rural China, away from other tourists. Our flights worked well with no delays. The outbound flight from Heathrow was extremely comfortable (a newly refurbished plane) and a superb start to the holiday, but the return flight was less good value: the plane had not been refurbished and comfort levels were even below British Airways standards. Had the inferior plane flown us to Beijing, it could have coloured our whole holiday. Hotels were comfortable, clean and welcoming. In Shanghai there was some confusion over our breakfasts - but the guide quickly sorted it. We did not realise until Hong Kong that the requested twin rooms were never provided: hotels only ever provided doubles (which tend to be a little smaller). On challenging the Hong Kong hotel we saw that their instructions specifically stated twin room. Meal arrangements were very thorough throughout the tour. In fact we suspect that too much food was placed in front of us. We would have welcomed more explanation of the dishes and how/what order they are eaten!. Except for our last day in Xian (where we ate in an ordinary restaurant near the workers'/artists' farm) many of our meals were in private dining rooms. This spared other guests from seeing us eat! But also deprived us of the chance to see other, non European, travellers enjoying their holidays. We enjoyed the entertainments (T'ang Dynasty, incredible acrobats in Shanghai, cormorant fishing in Guilin (where we had a boat to ourselves!)). Without our guides we would have missed these experiences. We recognise also how careful the guides were, on our behalf, in taking us to shops and markets. Understandably we could not get to the Silk Market in Shanghai (which has a dubious international reputation) but we were taken to outlets for silk, artwork, pearls and lacquer work. [We are immensely pleased with a lacquered room divider screen shipped to us in May of this year.] Hong Kong was interesting - but has a different atmosphere. We must confess to rushing to McDonalds for a fix of potato and bread! The half day tour was not good value. The tour guide's anecdotes provided one perspective; (our long-time friends from England provided others); the tour guide did not tell us enough about the sights we were seeing. The airport-hotel transfers were efficiently carried out - but we seemed to spend an unnecessary hour on the bus each time: around the world, my hotel is always the last one on such drop-offs. It might have been better to use the Mass Transit and a taxi. I know Hong Kong is outside the control of China Tours - but you may want to invite your sub-contractors to offer you alternative arrangements for your clients. In short, a fabulous holiday which left us with a very favourable impression of China and the Chinese - though we do not begin to cope with the Chinese alphabet and street signs. We certainly recommend our friends to visit as soon as possible. We also thank China Tours for your advice and organization which contributed very greatly to the success and enjoyment of our holiday. Regards " - Christopher Drew, Berkhamsted Herts (September 2007)

"Dear James Thank you for organising a fabulous tour of China and Hong Kong. We really enjoyed all the sights in all the different places. Have got some wonderful photos and memories of a lovely country. The boat trip on the river Li was a much needed rest in our busy schedule. The only down side was the different factories we were taken to i.e. Pearl, Silk. Our group did tell the guide in Beijing that we would rather spend extra time on the wall than in a Jade factory. We were rather disappointed about the last night in Shanghai as we were taken to a westernised bar to eat. It would have been better to gone somewhere a bit special as it was most of the groups last night. But we made the most of it by having a drink together on the 26th floor of our hotel, with fabulous views of Shanghai at night. All the hotels on the tour were really nice. We really enjoyed our stay in Hong Kong it was just what we need a few days to do our own thing and see what we wanted to. Thanks again for organising a most memorable trip. I will recommend your company to anyone going to visit China. Yours sincerely " - Sue & Chris Tuckwell, Reading (April 2008)

"James, We wanted to drop you a note to thank you for your help in us having a great trip to China and that everything went really well. We saw all the sights and it was brilliant that we always had one of the very good guides on hand to answer questions etc. We were picked up efficiently at all the airports/stations and the vehicles were always more than adequate. We were concerned that as it was during the New Year celebrations we would not be looked after as well but were impressed, particularly by a lady called Diana, in Guilin who was excellent. Anyway, thanks again. " - Graham Evans, Sheila Pandya, Mike Brown, Pinner (February 2010)

"Hi James, We've just returned from our trip and I wanted to say a big thank you for all your help and assistance and for organising us a wonderful trip to China. From the start we were greeted and treated like VIP's it was wonderful, all of the hotels were far superior to what we had expected with excellent facilities and staff. The guides were all knowledgeable and didn't mind adjusting the itinerary slightly when we wanted to make some unscheduled stops or visits to alternatives attractions. We wish we had done more of this in Beijing as we didn't feel we saw the heart of the city, but on the last day our guide took us to a lovely old shopping street which made up for this (we just wish we'd found it sooner) For the entire trip we were looked after extremely well, from the moment we landed to the guide helping us check in for our flights and to making recommendations and bookings for dinner. In addition to the actual trip I'd like to thank you for your continual excellent customer service in the run up to the day we left, your prompt responses to our last minute questions meant we left completely informed and at ease that we would be looked after. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending your company to friends and family. its certainly a trip to remember. Thanks again " - Colin and Laura Woollard, Stamford (June 2010)

"Hi James, Thank you so much for our holiday with China Tour. Our China Glimpse adventure was truly magnificent and luxurious (we loved having our own guides and drivers). We would also like to thank you for arranging us a tour with a perfect mixture of culture and nature, with knowledgeable and friendly guides. I would definitely recommend your services to our friends and collogues. Best regards. " - Anna Skolasinska & Mark Barnett, Wiltshire (September 2010)

"Hi James Just a line to say how very much we enjoyed our trip to China, everything was even better than we could have imagined. The service you provided was excellent, the guides and transportation and all the timings were faultless. The guides ensured that we saw everything on the itinerary and made everything very interesting. The only thing that was not up the standard was the Ramada hotel in Shanghai, we were given a room which had a very nasty smell and a dirty bathroom, but your guide ensured that we were given another room immediately. We would like to thank you once again for the trip of a lifetime, we have recommended your company to a number of friends who have show an interest in doing a similar tour. Kind regards " - Janet & Michael Clayton, Rhodes Greece (March 2011)

"Hi James We arrived safely back on 10th May after a very long flight back home. We had a fabulous holiday! I just wanted to thank you for organising a fantastic trip for us. Everything ran very smoothly. Zhao (Beijing), Vicky (Xian) and Wendy (Guilin) were exceptionally good tour guides - we learnt so much had so much fun with them. Our mandarin lessons from Wendy went down brilliantly with the locals who were also very impressed with our chopstick skills! I will definately be recommending China Tours Ltd to whoever considers visiting the country. Xie Xie again! " - Shreya & Reena Patel, Northampton (May 2011)

China and Mongolia - view Tour Details..

"Just to say thank you for organising a great trip. Enjoy the trip immensely. The organisation is superb. We would certainly use your services again." - John and William Norris, Dorset (November 2006)

China and Tibet - view Tour Details..

"Just to say thanks very much for organising our holiday. we had a wonderful time which we will remember for the rest of our lives! All the arrangements were 1st class - all the flights on time! and the guides were always there to meet us and could not have been more helpful. Thanks again and wishing all success to China Tours in the future. " - David and Sally Barker, Retford Notts (October 2006)

"Hi James Just a quick mail to thank you for arranging a wonderful, memorable and professional tour of China/Tibet/Hong Kong. I've provided you with some feedback below which I hope is useful, but once again many thanks! Beijing - All tour itineraries were fulfilled professionally and the guide in Beijing went well beyond the call of duty to make sure everything ran smoothly The hotel was excellent and well located for restaurants and shopping. Chengdu/Mount Emi - All tour itineraries were fulfilled professionally albeit the guide wasn't as experienced as her counterpart in Beijing, her driver also insisted on playing loud Chinese music. Its worth noting that the Mount Emei tour included 4 hours on government transport mini bus, with at times, hostile domestic tourists, (not sure why the private mini bus wasn't used as many other people reached the mountain via private transport). We upgraded the hotel in Chengdu on our return night as the allocated Hotel misrepresented itself claiming to have facilities which it clearly didn't have (displaying images of the main sister Hotel which was located on the main road 1/4 mile away, we also felt that given the splendour of the Sheraton Beijing, the 'main' hotel would have been a better choice albeit slightly more expensive?) Lhasa - All tour itineraries were fulfilled professionally by a very experienced (Tibetan) guide and driver. I could understand why the Sham Ba La Hotel attracted some poor reviews on the Internet, but, given its location and its rich Tibetan theme, I felt that it functioned very well as a base, only thing I would recommend is that if three people are to share a room, then an upgrade to a suite may be useful given the size of the double rooms. The flight from Lhasa to Beijing was via Chengdu and left us only 4 hours in the Beijing Hotel prior to the flight transfer to Hong Kong. I would recommend the 15:00 hours direct flight from Lhasa to Beijing. Hong Kong - Vigor provided a very professional service and was well aware of all of our requirements; the 1/2 day tour was excellent as was the rest of the stay. The Nathan Hotel was excellent and conveniently located; it also accommodated a late check out (7:00 pm) at a cost of 1/2 day's room rate. General - We found it difficult to change American Express Travelers cheques (only the Sheraton Hotel changed travelers cheques) and the rates were always poorer Changing money in Lhasa was difficult anywhere and a trip to the Bank sent bureaucracy into overdrive (an interesting experience though!) If you would like to use us as references please do let me know, the comments above are feedback and shouldn't be seen as complaints in any way, and given the potential for problems, particularly with a young daughter on an intense tour like this, I was amazed that all three of us completed every part of it relatively unscathed! (I also spent my 50th birthday "on top of the world" on board a Yak!...........) Kind Regards & Thanks " - Neil Hemmings & family, Staffs (October 2010)

China and Silkroad - view Tour Details..

"Thank you again, you’ve made this whole experience very stress free and I will highly recommend you to anyone thinking of going to China." - Pete and Judith Mason, Essex (August 2006)

China and Panda - view Tour Details..

"Excellent service, quality of guides has been very good. Vicky has given the right balance of attention and privacy, and has taken personal care to look after us at all times. " - Mathew and Louise Simpson, London (September 2004)

"Dear James, Thank you very much for a wonderful holiday in China. It was very exciting and interesting. Thank you especially for the cake, as you can see with the attached picture, it was very nice. Please say thank you to all the people who have helped me to have such a good time. Everyone was so good and kind to me. love from Jenny Broomhead " - Jenny Broomhead & Family, Bristol (June 2007)

"Dear James Thank you for organising our holiday so well. Everything went smoothly and the guides did an excellent job of looking after us and answering all our questions. The places we visited and what we saw during our visit surpassed all our expectations. " - Robert & Sheila Sandilands, Kincardineshire (November 2007)

"Dear James, Here is some feedback from our Holiday…. It was EXCELLENT!!!! The country is full of beautiful scenery, buildings and history. The holiday did exactly what it said on the tin and more!!! As our group was small, the tour guides could meet all the needs for each couple and able to organise extra activities for the group/individuals to do. Our Beijing tour guide (Rocky) was excellent in his knowledge and support with translation. Due to the nature of our holiday, we were travelling around the country a lot, the tour guides and drivers made it easy and stress-free to transfer to the airport and checking in. China Tours Ltd is an excellent company if you want to personalise your holiday and is flexible to meet your needs. James Zhang and his staff have provided a helpful, faultless and prompt service which some large companies cannot produce. I have already recommended this company to friends who wish to travel to the country, as I believe this company ticks all the boxes for travellers wanting to see China. Thanks again " - Heidi & John, Birmingham (July 2009)

"We had the most amazing holiday. The organisation was fantastic, the guides were very informative, the hotels were brilliant and the food was great. We were always given a range of foods that both catered to our individual needs and tastes as a group. I have been very impressed with the service that we received from China Tours and the associated tour companies in China and will be recommending China Tours to my friends and family. Thanks again, " - Samantha Wakefield, Walsall (August 2009)

"I just wanted to say how much of an amazing time i had in China, it is a wonderful country with so many places to see and visit. Our first guide Gina in Beijing was brilliant she knew her stuff and was doing everything she could to give us one hell of an experience. The Great Wall is just out of this world and i didn't realise how big the Forbidden City would be (and we didn't see all of it!) The Catic Hotel was a lovely place to stay right next to the Bird's Nest Stadium, which we went inside to have a look at. Gina did everything she could to help us with food choices and trying new dishes, was always on hand to let us know what was on the table, even interrupting her own meal and absolute gem! Xi'an was the next stop with Jerry, his knowledge outshone him, he even organised us a Chinese massage as our feet were starting to hurt from all the walking around we were doing, the bike ride along the city walls was another added bonus we all thoroughly enjoyed. At Chengdu we were greeted by Vivien whose English was perfect and her knowledge again was fantastic. The Pandas were something out of this world, the staff and volunteers really do all they can to raise awareness and to keep the pandas breeding. Mount Emei, really didn't know what to expect, the hotel was really nice with a view of the lake, the day we were due to go up the mountain it was raining very heavily, this didnt stop us and i wasn't expecting what i saw at the top, the clouds were low that day so we couldn't see down but to be honest i don't think i would of wanted to! Hong Kong was a bit like London with the heat, our half day tour was good, we are glad we had that on the trip, feel that we could of missed things if we hadn't of done it, the guide was really good again good English and knew his stuff. We even managed a trip to the beach! All in all an amazing experience something i will remember forever and will recommend you if any friends and family are considering China as a holiday destination, well organised and if we couldn't do anything that was planned something else was found for us to do, recommendations by the guides were given and i couldn't of asked for a better group than who we were with. The communication before and whilst we were in China with yourself was brilliant and you even got us the female guide on the last leg of the trip. I would appreciate it if you could pass my thanks onto the guides; Gina - Beijing, Jerry - Xi'an and Vivien - Chengdu, they were an absolute credit to the companies they work for. I would also like to thank you for how quickly the problem we had was sorted out and the presents which were given to us by the Area Manager in Chengdu. Many Thanks " - Sophie Arrowsmith, Walsall (September 2009)

"Dear James , We were delighted by your itiniery to China and had a wonderful insight of real China not only the metropolis but interior and beautiful and had to change our views of the country, will be very happy to give you a feed back .And the trip captained by Mahendra was a most enjoyable one ever to date. Thank you so much. " - Shashi & Sunaina Kumar, Hounslow Middlesex (October 2010)

"James, Here is some feedback on the various parts of our tour: Beijing: our guide Rocky was excellent. He was very flexible and knowledgeable and friendly. We had an excellent time in Beijing specially the Summer Palace, Forbidden City and the Great Wall. A brilliant time for all 15 of us. Beijing is truly an amzing cultural city. Xi'an: Susan our guide was very helpful and she became part of our party and joined in with us. It made us feel that we were with a family member. All the sights were breath taking and amazing to see. It will always remain in our memories. Chengdu , Mt Emei, Leshan and the Panda Reserve : The drive through the country side was a bonus and we really felt that we have seen China. Tracy was brillant and once again joined us and kept us in good spirits all the way. Mt Emei felt like we were on the top of the world. Peaceful and Tranquil that you want to stay there forever. Leshan ; We had a very enjoyable tour of the local market while we were waiting for the fog to lift before we set off to see the Buddha. Tracy arranged coffee for us which was infact the best coffee we had during the tour. Panda Reserve : We were just blown away with the Panda’s and specially when we had the opportunity to sit next to the baby Panda. What amazing animals they are. Shanghai : The financial centre but tucked away in the little corners are still the beautiful and interesting old parts of the city which reflect the life as it used to be. Yoyo was different was rest of the tour guides but still sophisticated and culturally what China is all about. We have truly enjoyed this trip that it took us nearly a week to recover and stop dreaming about China when we returned home. Thanks for arranging such a wonderful holiday for all of us. Mahendra and 14 grateful trippers. " - Mahendra Gajjar, Edgware Middlesex (November 2010)

"Dear James, Sorry it has taken me so long to send you my feedback from our fabulous holiday to China. I am grateful to say that the whole trip went very smoothly, with all but one flight being on time and our helpful and friendly guide at each airport ready to greet us and take us on to our hotel. The guides (Kelly – Beijing, Robert – Xian, Terry – Chengdu and Rebecca – Shanghai) all spoke very good English and were most informative, particularly Kelly, who gave us so much information we felt we would burst by the end of the day. The sights and experiences of each destination were breathtaking and have given us some fantastic memories. We had one slight disappointment in Beijing when we learned that we would not be able to actually visit the Olympic site but just view it from a nearby footbridge. That could have been made a little clearer in the initial itinerary so your clients could then request an actual visit if they so wished. As it was, we had no time since we had been taken to a jade factory in the morning which, while interesting, was outside of the expected itinerary. I appreciate now that the local travel agencies have arrangements with the featured “places of interest” so they are encouraged to take tourists to them. This is absolutely fine since they are interesting but more advance notice of this may be beneficial (we did get used to it after the first couple of days). The most outstanding part of the trip was the visit to the great wall at Mutianyu but again, the time allocated was only 2 hours rather than the “full day trip” advertised. As it was, the time was almost sufficient since my nerves got the better of me when we got to the higher points! We definitely needed the cable car so were grateful that we had paid for it. The views were stunning and it was not crowded so we were able to really appreciate the experience. It is amazing that you can get a phone signal even up there! The palaces and temples were superb and gave us a real insight into the power of the dynasties. Our favourite food was also in Beijing – lovely and spicy and always delicious. We kept pleading with Kerry not to feed us so much but she insisted we needed to taste everything. I feel we may well have done so. I would recommend a visit to Chengdu and Ya’an to anyone who considers themselves a nature lover. Watching the panda’s interact with one another was a truly magical experience. It was an added bonus that Terry, our guide was as adoring of them as I was so we enjoyed all the time we wanted to sit and watch the antics of the juveniles. The stay in Ya’an also gave us a wonderful glimpse into a little of “real” China, outside of the cities. We were followed down the street by the local children and photographed so many times we began to feel like celebrities! The farm workers and shopkeepers were friendly and seemed happy for us to pry into their daily lives. Xian was another entirely different experience and the first time we really enjoyed the craziness of Chinese driving as we were sited inside the city where we had not been beforehand. Our guide, Robert was very informative and knew so much about the artifacts in the museum we visited. The terracotta warriors are awe inspiring, both in the fact that they were built in the first place but equally in the care and diligence which is being taken to restore them to their former glory. It is definitely not to be missed. Shanghai is interesting and fascinated my husband far more than it did me with its modern buildings where as I was more impressed with the wonderful old tea house the old town. We both thoroughly enjoyed the ornamental garden which was almost a haven of tranquility (despite the many people) in such a busy city. We both felt very safe in Shanghai and enjoyed a pleasant walk around one evening. We enjoyed a very quaint show of all of the ancient Chinese entertainments. It’s good to know that these are being kept alive, even if only for the tourists. I feel that it was beneficial for us to attach the trip to Hong Kong at the end of the tour as by then we definitely had the confidence to wander around the city on our own, order our own food and know what we did and did not like. Hong Kong is very vibrant but a different kind of experience altogether. We have decided that we are not done with China just yet. I am keen to venture towards Tibet and we would both love to visit Beijing again and perhaps see some more southerly areas too so as you can see, the trip has inspired us and whet our appetite for more. Thank you for making the whole experience such a pleasant one – far more so than we anticipated. Kind regards " - Louise Grigg, Essex (June 2011)

"James, Our grand daughters are home and to quote then "Have had an experience of a life time". In every respect the whole venture was a great success. The flights to and from plus internal were excellent, the hotels were to expectation and all the representatives were kind and helpful. They enjoyed the exposure to your culture including riding bicycles at one stage! And the Panda visit was without doubt one of the highlights. The experience never to be forgotten, due to the very professional manner you and your company organised and executed the trip. Your communications from start to finish were first class and very reassuring to us all. Well done for they certainly had - A memorable and enjoyable holiday in China with the Panda's. One last request from them both -can you please convey the best wishes to all the girls who looked after them throughout their trip, they were excellent. Kind regards" - Arthur & Sonia Cox, Oxon (August 2011)

China Grand - view Tour Details..

"We were pleasantly surprised by the top quality services we received both at the stage of planning the trip and when we were in China. They were all friendly and helpful. The organisation was very efficient. Wherever we went, the guides were always there on time and seemed to know and understand the trip and itinerary very well. You have to be very unreasonable to fault anything. The country is fascinating and we had an absolutely wonderful time over there. Thanks for everything." - John and Janene, Perth Scotland (September 2004)

"A really excellent start to our trip. Our tour guide Maria has been absolutely fantastic and is a real credit to your company" - Mark Hall and Nicola Williams, Norwich (September 2004)

"Marie our tour guide was excellent. She has a fantastic knowledge of her country’s history which she explains very clearly and interestingly. Sha was always available and very willing to please us. She was a pleasure and a great ambasorder for China. Our driver was excellent, always smiling and willing to go anywhere and wait for us. We have thoroughly enjoyed our first few days in China and hope the rest of our tour is run as efficiently as this." - Mike and Val Aspray, Thatcham Berks (August 2004)

"Dear James, We have just returned from your 'China Grand' tour and would like to thank you and all involved for a wonderful and hugely memorable experience. The itinerary was perfect, the organization superb and the local guides, without exception, helpful, informative, friendly, courteous and efficient. We were particularly grateful to your tour guides (especially Maria in Beijing and Jane in Chongqing), who added so much to our experiences. Everyone was really helpful. We even learnt a few Chinese words and – more importantly – how to cross the road in China! By being in a small group, we were able to individually tailor what we did, to some extent, which made it seem all the more special. All the flights in China went well and the hotels were very good too. We’ve had many wonderful experiences especially the Yangtze cruise through the gorges and even the “little gorges”. Thank you again for a memorable holiday. " - Terri & Malcolm Stephens, West Sussex (June 2005)

"Dear James, All six members of our party should now have returned home from our wonderful China Grand Tour. I think I can speak for all of us, when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. You did a good job showing us round, and the food and hotels were excellent. Thanks again James for a most enjoyable tour. " - Norma & Tony Costigan, Leeds (June 2005)

"I have just returned from a 23-day trip to China which included the Three Gorges cruise Chongqing to Wuhan – the trip was the highlight of the holiday with excellent service and accommodation. The side line trips were all exciting and interesting and the onboard entertainment enjoyable. Would definitely do another cruise – perhaps in the other direction next time. Many thanks. " - Andy Doble, Eastbourne East Sussex (June 2005)

"Hi James Just a short email to say how much Tricia and I enjoyed our trip to China recently. What a wonderful Country! And what a well run and managed tour, everything went like clockwork, the tour guides were very helpful and informative and the staff of the cruise just could not have been any better. We were also lucky that our small group of eight got on so well together. I don’t think I have ever had a holiday where I have made so many new friends. We have returned home with many happy and lasting memories of China and its people. Many thanks " - Patricia Lang & Stewart Marks, Rotherham, Yorkshire (June 2005)

"Dear James Julie and I simply wanted to write and thank you for organising our wonderful tour of China (China Grand with the extra day in the beautiful Suzhou). The trip went without a hitch and the sights were truly amazing (in particular the Li river near Giulin is one of the most beautiful places on Earth). This was one of the best holidays we've ever been on. Thank you. " - Paul & Julie Mayhew-Archer, Abingdon, Oxon (June 2005)

"James, Fresh back from vacation, I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that Hazel and I really enjoyed our Chinese trip. It was so good that our disappointment at not being able to visit Tibet and Nepal was largely forgotten! Right from the first moment we arrived in Beijing we were treated wonderfully. Lemon Zhang got things off to a great start. Apart from her excellent organisation of our tour and ourselves, she put tremendous effort into assuring that all went smoothly, and that we got the most out of our stay. We really appreciated her energy and enthusiasm, and her kindness. Even inclement weather could not dampen our enjoyment of the sights of Beijing and the Great Wall. Xian and the Terra Cotta Warriors, stunning sights and a particularly kind and helpful team on the Princess Elaine of the China Regal Cruise on the Yangtze River, wonderful insights from Yang in Guilin and Ray in Shanghai - all went smoothly throughout, and the experience was fantastic. We would certainly highly recommend this trip. With many thanks, " - Arthur & Hazell Griffith, Bucks (September 2006)

"James A word to say how well we enjoyed our holiday in China. Everything went to plan and there were some memorable highlights which included many of the tour guides, specifically Yang, Rui(Ray) and Lemon. The Terracotta Warriors are amazing!!!! The Yangtse boat trip was good. The hotels were very good and the Central Hotel in Shanghai, one of the best I have stayed at!!!! Anne and I really enjoyed our holiday and will be recommending China Tours to friends that are interested in China. Cheers Paul & Anne " - Paul & Anne McDowell, Bucks (September 2005)

"Dear James, You must receive lots of comments from very happy customers, having experienced China on one of your tours. Our trip was fantastic, tiring only because the days were so full and because of the enthusiasm of the tour guides, always interesting. Our guide in Beijing, Maria and also Jackie in Guilin were particularly outstanding and deserve a particular thank you for making our time there so interesting with their constant informative and often amusing narrative and attention to detail. Thank you once again for a wonderful Tour. Regards " - John & Christine Meller, Somerset (October 2005)

"Dear James Just a quick note to thank you for organizing a wonderful holiday for us. We had a great time and everything worked out perfectly. All the guides and the Chinese people couldn't have been more helpful or friendly, thanks again. " - Gordon & Diane Ferrier, Falkirk Scotland (June 2007)

"Hi James, Well, we’ve been back in the UK a week now, but are wishing we were back in China! It is an amazing, fascinating and beautiful country. We thought the Yangtze River was a real highlight, having never seen scenery as dramatic as that. We just wanted to say thank you for organising such a wonderful trip. Everything happened very smoothly and easily, and we found our tour guides and drivers to be excellent – knowing so much about the places we went to, and they were also amenable if we wanted to do anything different to what was planned. We would definitely recommend you to anyone else we know who is thinking of going to China. Kind regards, " - Rohini & Justin Pahl, London (October 2007)

"Dear Mr Zhang, We are now back home after a most wondeful trip to China. Your organisation went like clockwork, from the moment we arrived at the fabulous new T3 terminal in Beijing (opened without hitch a week before we arrived) to the moment we left from the equally fabulous new T2 in Shanghai. The tour guides were excellent, enabling us to relax completely. Without exception, they were very friendly and courteous, all spoke excellent English, were highly knowledgable about their areas, and made our trip extremely interesting and worry free. They were waiting for us at the airport arrivals, called up the cars, were as flexible as we wanted regarding the tours, and saw us safely through check-in as we flew out of each location. They sorted out itinerary changes in advance - one small flight alteration, and we had to join the Yangtze boat at Wanzhou rather than Chongquin because of river conditions which necessitated an evening coach ride. Each guide seemed to have an overall view of our entire itinerary, which gave us great confidence. My wife and I were so glad that we had chosen the independent tour. We also had the option to upgrade to a suite on the Yangtze boat, which we did, making it a most comfortable 3 day cruise. We had only two 'problems' : not enough time at the major stops - Beijing, Xian, Guilin and Shanghai - and we had some misty days, particularly on the Yangtze. In retrospect, we might have left the boat at Yichang after the gorges, and added the day to Guilin, but we really enjoyed the beauty of the gorges and the relaxation of the river cruise. We loved China as a country, visited some very historic sites in Beijing and Xian, and admired the beautiful scenery of Guilin. We took hundreds of pictures and enjoyed every minute of the trip. Many thanks for your highly efficient organisation of everything - itinerary, visas, flights, hotels, guides and advice - which made it a holiday we will always remember. At some point we plan to return to China to see the giant pandas and some of the other places that we learned about from people we met on the trip. Needless to say, we will use China Tours and will recommend you to any of our friends who plan to visit China. Kind regards PS. We tried both Yu Xin Jiu Lou and Jingdu restaurants in Beijing and enjoyed both. " - Dr Gordon & Mrs Barbara Forrest, East Horsley, Surrey (April 2008)

"We had a wonderful tour (we took the China Grand tour with the 3 day cruise on the Yangtze). First stop was Beijing - a fantastic start to the holiday - our tour guide was Gina and she was great- couldn't have asked for better! Very friendly, good English and gave us a relaxed tour which was great as we had a full itinerary!!! Lots to see and do in Beijing and we were glad we picked a holiday that we could choose where to go and what to eat ourselves in the evening. Food was good in Beijing and the people very friendly, anyone going to Beijing I would recommend Houhai Bar street for a meal and for somewhere to go in the evening - great atmosphere and right next to the Houtongs so you can do a bit of souvenir shopping after dinner!! The hotel was nice and in a great location - Olympic park so it was nice to go for a relaxing walk there after dinner too. All in all beijing was great and we would go back there again!!! Next stop Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors were fantastic and the Muslim quarter, Bell and Drum towers were great (Great market in the muslim quarter - a must!) Next stop Chongqing - it's huge although we didn't get a tour of it before we had to board the cruise ship. We did enjoy the cruise - the staff were friendly and did their very best to entertain and the visit to Fengdu and the boat trackers excursion were wonderful!!!! My husband was not expecting the cruise to be that good but he was pleasantly suprised and he loved it and took hours of video!!!! It was nice to have the break on the cruise instead of getting in and out of the coach! Next stop Yichang - we had time to waste before our flight so the guide gave us a tour of the city - the ghost city!! It was pretty deserted after the last three busy cities!!!! Very quiet!!! Not that much to see except a really beautiful gorge which we asked to stop near to take photos- would have been nicer to have spent a bit longer there instead of visiting the museum which was pretty basic. Next stop Shanghai, another great city!! We couldn't see the Bund very well as they are preparing for the world expo there next year but Nanjing road was great as was the Yu garden - just beautiful!!!! We returned there again after the tour with the guide and did some souvenir shopping in the streets around the garden, especially just outside the main shopping area away from Starbucks where it was a lot cheaper for the same things! Our guide Wu was ready to change the itinerary to do what we wanted to do - we went up to the top of the Shanghai World Financial Centre - the world's highest observatory - with glass floors it's not for the faint-hearted!!! But definitely something to see!! Unfortunately when we arrived at Shanghai airport for the return flight we found out that British Airways had cancelled our flight. The staff tried to put us on a flight to Frankfurt with Lufthansa for later in the afternoon. If it hadn't been for our great guide Wu I don't know when we would have got home! She kept her ears open and found out that they had just put us on a waiting list and she spoke to a Lufthansa rep and they said the flight was already full!! But fantastic Wu came to the rescue and shouted at the staff until they got us onto an Air China flight to Frankfurt leaving within the following ten minutes (It was half empty so can't understand why they were fobbing people off onto a waiting list!) We were so thankful to have a native chinese speaking guide with us!!! (Wu also complained at the Acrobatic show about our seats and got us better ones for no extra charge!!! She was our chinese mother hen and went to the ends of the earth for us so that we could complete our shopping list!!) All in all the trip was fantastic, we had a wonderful time -we would definitely recommend this tour- we loved China and the Chinese people and have some great memories of our time there! " - Julie & Luca Iodice, Sicily Italy (July 2009)

"It is only a few weeks since we returned from our wonderful tours of China arranged by your company but already it seems like a wonderful dream. From the moment when we landed in Beijing to the sadder moment when we took off from Hong Kong for home, the whole tour went like a well oiled machine. At every airport we were met by a highly trained friendly courier and a safe dependable driver who could not do enough to make our holiday a great success. Lisa in Beijing took us around Tienanmen Square and then the Forbidden City and then the next day along the Great Wall. Also she organised tickets for an acrobatic show and entrance to a Beijing Duck Restaurant with instructions to the staff to ensure we had a taxi back to the hotel. In Xi'an Christina brought us the delights of the Terracotta Warriors, the Muslim Quarter and a walk along the Walls of the city. And in Shanghai Rebecca showed us the delights of a wonderful modern city with an historic centre. Also a second acrobatic show even more spectacular than the first if that was possible. Sandwiched between these cities was a memory laden trip along the Yangtze River from Chongching to Yichan. The hosts on the boat provided splendid scenery during the day and excellent food and entertainment in the evening. Finally to Hong Kong for a tour by coach up to the highest peak and then around the markets for shopping. In the afternoon we toured the harbour by boat as well as sampling some of the many restaurants. This was always going to be a holiday to remember. We planned it to celebrate a wedding anniversary and we were not disappointed. Please accept our thanks for the whole tour. I have been boring anyone I meet with how great the holiday was and I am dropping the name "China Tours" to as many people as possible. Onen hag Oll, (One and All) " - Nigel & Janet Hicks, Edinburgh (October 2009)

"James Please allow me to pass you and your company my sincere thanks for such a superb tour that we enjoyed in China. At every step of the way we were met and assisted by friendly, helpful and knowledgeable tour guides as well as safe and responsible drivers. The planning, organisation and efficiency of all concerned was really first class. It was an excellent private tour and my mother was very pleased with all aspects of it. We would recommend your services and company to anyone. " - Paul Marsh & Family, Ruislip Middlesex (August 2010)

"Dear James I would like to thank you for arranging our wonderful holiday in China. Everything was perfectly arranged and we had really nothing to worry about. We absolutely enjoyed our holiday in wonderful China. Generally for us this holiday was like a dream and we had maximum joy in beautiful china. With the high mountains standing next to beautiful Yangtze to extraordinary historical sites and mind bugling beauty of high buildings, you feel like being in a wonderland. Enjoying the very tasteful Chinese food and of course Chinese tea is an experience everybody should have at least once. Thanks again for perfectly planning A-Z from flights to hotels and tour guides which left us with no worries so we just sat back and relaxed. Best regards " - Masoud Bagherzadeh and Mahnaz Karami Tabrizi, Milton Keynes (October 2010)

China’s Ancient Capitals - view Tour Details..

"Your representatives were very attentive and happy to go the extra mile to be helpful. We would be happy to use your services again." - Patrick Conlon and Huw Jones, London (September 2004)

"Dear James, Just to let you know that we have had a really fabulous holiday. We enjoyed China very much. We are more than happy to recommend your tours to all our friends. Thank you for ensuring that everything went smoothly. " - Leszek & Renata Klysz, West Yorkshire (June 2006)

"Hi James We wanted to thank you for the excellent arrangements of our recent trip to China. Everything was well planned and our guides were first class. We had a wonderful trip and will recommend your service to others who are planning a holiday to China. Kind regards " - Peter & Sheena, Colchester Essex (May 2007)

"Dear James Just a brief note to thank you for organising what turned out to be a really great holiday. Fortunately of course we were in Shanghai on the day of the earthquake although tremors were felt even there, many hundreds of miles away from the epicentre. Your choice of 3/4 star hotels were just what we expected. They always have more character than 5 star ones! The one in Nanjing wasn't great but the guide there was fantastic and the location of the hotel right next to the old wall and the lake made up for the only indifferent breakfasts we had during our whole trip. Everything went smoothly and people could not have been kinder or more helpful wherever we went. Our son Martin guided us rounded Hangzhou and provided a few extra 'touches' such as a trip to the KTV where we sang along to old Beatles songs and Martin's Chinese friends sang the latest hits! Many thanks once again. Best wishes PS I've attached a couple of photos - Chris and I on our trip in Guilin with two members of the Radio and Television (Relics) bureau from Chongqing on a 'fact finding mission' and a couple having a holiday. He ran a chip factory (the potato variety) in Beijing. It was a jolly lunch washed down with many toasts with the local Guilin firewater! Also attached, Chris taking part in the 'dance class' in the local park opposite our hotel in Shanghai where the teacher singled him for the excellence of his waltz! " - Christopher & Elizabeth Hall, London (May 2008)

A Taste of China - view Tour Details..

"You certainly provided us with a holiday of a great experience and we felt we had to write to you and let you know how pleased we were with everything you had planned for us. It was so well organised and ran so smoothly from start to finish. The hotels, their staff and all our tour guides and drivers were excellent. " - Ann, Sheila, and Deidre, Scotland (October 2004)

"Extremely profound and in-detailed planning, very friendly and helpful tour guides. We're pleasantly surprised and delighted to see wherever we went, we were always be met on time. Good hotel facilities and friendly staff. Couldn't really think of anything otherwise better. The trip was in line to celebrate my wife's birthday, and she was very happy as well as the kids. We will strongly recommend your service to anybody who are planning a holiday to China. Please let them contact me, I'll let them know our pleasant experience in China with CHINA TOURS." - Andrew & family, Beveley Yorkshire (March 2005)

"Hello James, Just to say “thank you very much” for having arranged our tailor made China tour. We did have a wonderful time. There is so much to see in China. I guess we might have to make another tour to visit the other cities. That’s all for now. Thanks " - Mr & Mrs Pillai, Surrey (August 2005)

"Dear James, Have just returned from a wonderful and memorable holiday. We knew we were in for an unforgettable experience from the moment we arrived at the doors of the stunning Beijing Grandview Hotel. All the excursions, tour guides, travel arrangements and hotels throughout our stay were first class. We only wish we could have had longer in Xian at the wonderful Xian Hotel. You took a lot of patience and care in dealing with our enquiries and and replied to all of them promptly. Your detailed organisation helped making this holiday an unforgettable experience. We know we shall never forget our marvellous experiences in an amazing country. Thank you very much. " - Graeme & Barbara Key, Norfolk (April 2006)

"Dear James, just to let you know that we had a fantastic time in China and that we are very pleased how things were organized. Everything went smoothly and the accommodation was fine. Best wishes " - Caroline McClenaghan & family, Coventry (October 2007)

"James, China was beautiful, and much more than I expected. We had a terrific time. Thanks for organising a hassle free tour for us. Taking a 2 year old task on a 2 week tour to china is no easy task, but your guys on that side made it very simple for me and my wife (and son). Everyone were very accommodating, your agents were very punctual and insightful, and the hotels chosen were very comfortable and extremely well located. There only thing I would change is maybe an earlier tranfer flight to xian, from beijing. Besides that everything was fantastic. Cheers " - Kevin Naicker & Family (April 2008)

"James, Just to let you know that Carys and I were very pleased with your services before and during the trip. We really enjoyed the trip and it was very well organised. Everything was of a high standard and the tour guides were excellent. Thank you. " - Rhiannon Jones, Cardiff (July 2008)

"James, You did ask that I comment on our recent tour. Absolutely brilliant is my main comment. If you recall this was a trip (funded by me, to treat my two adult sons and myself). We all agree that the whole experience was by far above our expectations; We were most impressed by China for the gentle friendly people, how clean and ready for the Olympics Beijing appears was, and for the excellent service provided by the three guides. Also of course we were overawed by the temples, walls, shows and wonderful skills shown of past and present. In all 3 cities we had our own escort, mini van and driver, which was great. I had not asked prior to the trip, so would not have been surprised if we had been in a 20 seat coach with other tourists, it was great that we had personal attention. The hotels were excellent and all the tours and events went to plan, we were checked in to the hotels and escorted to check out at the airports. We found the Beijing leg to be the best as the Great Wall we agreed was the highlight; if one had to choose. The Terracotta Warriors were also awesome and many of the others sights took our breath away. Our guides were good and particularly the Beijing guide, (English name Michelle),was most friendly, helpful and informative. I will recommend this tour to my friends and anyone whom I hear is looking to visit China for a short tour, but suggest they go in Spring or Autumn, it was hot in Shanghai. One of my sons has asked for you address to add his comments so you may receive a further e-mail from him. Many thanks for an excellent trip. " - Graham Bunker, Portsmouth (July 2008)

"Hi James, My father (Graham Bunker) booked a China tour through you, we got back last week and it was first class. We all had a great time, but I just wanted to say thanks personally as its one of the best holidays I've had in years. Everything worked out well, the guides (in particular Michelle in Beijing and Lucy in Shanghai) were first class and really went above the call of duty to make sure our trip was informed and fun. I have some great memories from China and I'll recommend your organisation to friends and family. Thanks again. " - Paul Bunker, Portsmouth (August 2008)

"Hello James, We had a memorable time in China. The guides, sight seeing, hotels and meals were all good. In Bejing, the guide ( Rocky) was very good and he took us to the Muslim restaurants. Thanks for all your help. " - Faiz Parkar & Family, Tunbridge Wells (July 2009)

"Firstly, I must apologise for taking so long to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip to China in October. The service you provided in organising our trip was very efficient and all our arrangements ran very smoothly. The guides were very different but both very good. Mr Cheng (I am not sure of the spelling of his name) in Xian was at the airport to meet us and we spent three very busy and informative days. He was charming and very knowledgeable about his city.The driver was courteous and efficient during all three days and delivered us on time and safely to all destinations and finally to the airport for our flight to Beijing. Gina, the young lady guide in Beijing was a delight and really made our 23 year old daughter's trip most enjoyable as they were able to talk to each other and relate as young people do! Again Gina was very knowledgeable and informative about the places we visited and suggested alternatives for us to choose. The driver here was also most courteous and polite, driving us safely wherever we needed to go. We were very sorry to leave Gina at the airport but have her e-mail address to send some photos. All in all it was an amazing trip and we really felt we had experienced not only a few of the great sites of China but were provided with a flavour of the local people and culture which was indeed a bonus for us. Thank you once again for the services you provided and we have already recommended your company to a friend and will continue to recommend to others when the opportunity arises. Kind Regards " - Linda, Ken, and Helena Wright, Surrey (January 2010)

"Stuart and I just wanted to say a big thank you for organising our wonderful honeymoon to China! We had a great time, our favourite sights were the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors. We were very impressed with our guides, travel arrangements and hotels. We also wanted to say how lovely it was to have the representatives in China (Ellen) ring our hotel and check on us whilst we were stuck due to the volcanic ash! Luckily we were safe and well looked after by Virgin! Thank you once again. If you ever need a testimony to give other potential tourists using your company, please do not hesitate to ask us! " - Becky and Stuart Malin, Northampton (May 2010)

Nepal and Tibet - view Tour Details..

"Dear James Zhang, We have arrived back to London last night. We wish to say to you that we have enjoyed our trip very much in Nepal ad Tibet. We appreciate all the organisation you have made for us. It was a fantastic trip indeed. Everything was perfectly organized, the guides were friendly and helpful, the hotels in Nepal and Tibet were very good. We saw and experienced so much in such a short time – it was great. Everyone including Anooz in Nepal and Jani Yan in Tibet have been very professional and made our trip an unforgettable experience. We would like to show our gratitude and appreciation by sending this card to you. We will also recommend China Tours to our friends. We will one day visit Tibet again. Thank you and regards. " - Julie & Oliver Hartwich, Hammersmith London (May 2007)

"Tour guides: Anooz – Excellent! Friendly + informative, nothing too much trouble; Robin – Absolutely fantastic! Great English, good company + knowledgeable; Sight-Seeing - Excellent! Hotel – Good, very nice food, good service, nice to have some English TV channels; Overall a fantastic service!! " - Liz & Matthew Harris, Old Isleworth Middlesex (August 2007)

China and Yangtze - view Tour Details..

"Hi James – just to say how much we enjoyed the trip. Everything went very smoothly and the flights, hotels, food, guides etc were all excellent. Thank you very much for your efforts." - Patricia & Janusz Augustyn (April 2007)

"Dear James I just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed our recent tour of China with China Tours Ltd. The arrangements and hotels were all excellent, as were all our guides and drivers. Of particular mention were Gina in Beijing and Eric in Xi'an who went out of their way to be helpful and informative. It was a wonderful opportunity to explore some of the treasures of China. Thank you for a very memorable tour. Best wishes " - Trevor & Judith Higgins (May 2007)

"Hi James, well we have just about got over our jet lag and just wanted to say thank you for a brilliant holiday. We were looked after the minute we stepped off the plane we were escorted from one attraction to the next. The accommodation and the food were excellent, and very ample, not once did we go hungry. I have never felt so spoilt been cared after the way we were, all the tour guides we had were terrific, too many to name personally even though Louis was our favourite, but they were all so friendly and helpful and made sure we were having a good time. The cruise was again made special by the crew, we have met and made lots of new friends. I would not hesitate in recommending your tour company and would definitely book with you again. Please keep me on your mailing list. As we are now madly saving for our next adventure, but gosh this one is going to take some beating. Till then we will have our 968 photos and 4 hours of film to remind us what a great time we had! Yours Sincerely " - Tracey & Michael Carruthers, Blackpool (August 2009)

"Hello James, Just thought we would drop you a line to let you know how well the holiday went and how much Samina and I enjoyed it. Everything went very smoothly and China was wonderful. As my first experience of doing a tour I doubt it will ever be bettered. It was exhausting at times, but then we are packing in memories that will last us a life time, and I miss China so much already. Especially the food - the hot pots in Beijing were beyond fantastic. And then there was the sea food in Hong Kong. Thank you again for doing such a brilliant job on such short notice, and if we ever go to China again, we will be sure and give you a call. Best regards, " - Ian Salt and Samina Bi, London (September 2009)

"James, We are now all back from our trip to China (11-25 Sept) and I wanted to let you know that we all had a fantastic holiday. We were overwhelmed by the history, culture and the scale of the country and could not really have asked for a more complete snapshot of the Country as it passes through the immense period of change. Firstly though, we thank you for all your efforts in handling our booking and our visa processing. Everything was perfect in this respect. Secondly we would thank all the local guides and personnel involved in getting us from place to place. There was not one hiccup throughout the holiday, which with a complex itinerary was most reassuring. This despite a couple of delayed internal flights. Again superb. The itinerary was just what we wanted in terms of the major sites and activities, and nothing left us disappointed in this regard. It was truly a memorable holiday and we are sorting through the hundreds of photos we took during our trip. I would also highlight the fact that being in a small group was a real bonus. Luckily we met very friendly and happy people from both Canada and Ireland, and thoroughly enjoyed their company throughout the holiday. The flexibility of being in such a small group was also helpful. I should not of course overlook the River cruise. This was just amazing (a much over used word, but spot on in this context). We were so glad to see the river before the Dam project is finally complete. It is only when you see the scale of the project that you can appreciate the scope of the changes it will bring. The river cruise was again staffed extremely well with all arrangements being handled efficiently. OK, so we did not get the best weather….. but it did not stop us from doing anything we had planned, so no complaints there. In fact no real complaints at all. So thank you again for an excellent holiday. I will certainly recommend China Tours to anyone who asks about our experience. Regards " - John & Marion Sims, Jim & Ann Gammie, Southampton (October 2007)

Magnificent China - view Tour Details..

"It’s a wonderful experience and we had just wished that we could have make the trip earlier. The country has so much to offer. We’re so grateful for the level of the service we received. At the planning stage for the tour, you had planned four different sets of itineraries according to our requests and went through every single details with us to draw up the exact plan we wanted. The whole trip was organised in a very efficient way. Everything is on time. The guides are enthusiastic and helpful, and we had even been invited by one of them to her home in Shanghai. We certainly made the right choice. " - Peter and Juliana Cook, Bromley Kent (September 2006)

"Hello James, Having now returned from China gathered out thoughts and overcome the jet lag, I thought that we should drop you a line to thank you and your staff for a superb holiday. Everything went like clockwork, and we thoroughly enjoyed the culture, the sights, and the cuisine during our stay in China and Hong Kong. We would especially like to thank all the individual couriers at the various localities we were privileged to visit, especially Mark in Beijing. They were all without exception very courteous, helpful and worked extremely long days to make our holiday a success. Without them we would have struggled to enjoy a fraction of what we were able to experience. We will recommend your services and company to any of our friends/collogues should they wish to embark upon a similar adventure. Many thanks again. " - Roger & Judith Claridge, Weston-Super-Mare (November 2007)

"Dear James, Thank you so much for organising the China Magnificent tour. This was part of my 50th birthday celebrations and we thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the trip. Our guide, Ying, in Beijing was so helpful and interesting and added immense value to this part of the tour. Beijing is a great place to visit. The cruise from Guilin down the River Li was very memorable, stunning scenery, as can be seen by my card! All the hotels were excellent, although it would have been better in Xian to be in the centre, but the hotel was very comfortable and the staff extremely helpful. Absolutely everything went to plan and all the internal flights were on time and an excellent service was provided. I would not hesitate to recommend your travel service. Thanks again. Regards. " - Jackie & Eddie Woods, Leatherhead Surrey (April 2008)

"James, We are successfully back after a truly wonderful holiday, well organized by your Company. The guides were great (Tyler and Sheryl especially), as were the hotels, the shows we saw were spectacular, the locations in your itinerary "Magnificient China" were cultural, memorable, impressive, and exactly right for the time we had there. A great vacation, thank you for your attention to all the details, which allowed us to experience the wonders of magnificent China, trouble free, and on a reasonable budget. We will recommend you. " - Malcolm & Sandra Baker, Nottingham (May 2008)

"Hello James Just returned from the China Magnificent trip which we booked through your company and that's just what it was Magnificent, from the moment we meet our first tour guide in Beijing, Vivian who really made us feel welcome in China. I didn't know what I expected from China but every day was a different adventure, from Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall (which was my holy grail), the Terracotta Army, to the stunning scenery of Guilin and then onto the citys of Shanghai and Hong Kong it was absolutely stunning. Every thing went like clockwork, all our guides were really very nice and polite, they met us at the airport and checked us in to our hotels and nothing seemed too much trouble for them, I must also mention Michael in Guilin, cracking sense of humor and Mary in Shanghai. All the meals we had were very good, and I must recommend the Mongolian barbecue in Shanghai, very tasty. Anyone who is thinking about going all I can say is just go you will not be disappointed. We have decided to go back in 2010, on the agenda is the Yangtze River cruise and Pandas of course. From a personal point I would like to thank you James, the whole trip was organized by I-mail and phone and everything went to plan. P.S Our last 2 hours in Hong Kong we sat on Kowloon harbour, watched the sun set and Hong Kong island light up, absolutely amazing. " - Mike & Jacqueline Humphreys, Merseyside (November 2008)

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