So much of this four was absolutely fantastic, there were some aspects that we found a little challenging.
Firstly, the activity rating, we thought was far too low, especially the amount of walking, and steps we were required to navigate, and also the effects of the altitude, that elderly travelers might find more challenging. We thought it would have been at least a level 3 as opposed to 2, however that rating might have put potential travelers off.
We also did not enjoy the amount of "Transit Time" we had at either end of the tour.
We also have to make a special mention of our guides. The National one, Jessie, was excellent, and apart from one, that got a little carried away with the history of a university, they were all superb.
The first part of the tour was fantastic even though the weather was awful. Hard long days, but spectacular. Accommodation was great and while the food wasn't to our taste, it was what we expected as we have traveled through China before.
Chengdu, and the Pandas were definitely one of the highlights of the trip however it has to be mentioned that the hotel had its own problems. We had searched the hotels before we departed, and the Rezen Chengdu had more than a few complains about it smelling of smoke, and it did. The room and rest of the hotel were clean enough, but it still smelt of smoke. Quite poor.
Also, it was a surprise that when you travel on the Bullet Trains, and we had 4 on this trip, the security is even stricter than air travel given all your luggage travel with you, so anything Flammable or over 100ml gets confiscated. Quite a surprise when you get your shaving foam confiscated. The latter part of the tour, and Tibet was awesome, although the standard of the "Celebrity Hotel" Huanglong left a lot to be desired.
All in all, the Tibet experience was awesome.
Chong Qing was the most unexpected highlight in its own right, both the city and the tours. A great end to an excellent tour.
One thing that surprised us though, was the lack of "included" beverages with dinner, give that on our previous Wendy Wu tours, that had been normal. Something we did not expect.
Having done a number of other Wendy Wu tours, it was certainly well up with the high standard set by the previous ones, and also that it did not include any of the areas in China that most other tours include. Definitely one of the features that attracted to this tour. We are certainly looking forward to our next one, Indonesia in 2026.
regards Roger and Joan Coates.
Our Response
Dear Roger and Joan,
What a pleasure to read your feedback and look through your wonderful photos! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on the Natural Treasures of China tour. It's wonderful to know that Tibet and the lesser-visited regions lived up to your expectations; that's exactly what we hoped this itinerary would deliver.
We're genuinely grateful for your candid observations, particularly on the physical rating of the tour and transit time. These are important points that help us refine how we position our tours for future customers.
We're delighted that Jessie and the majority of your guides enhanced the experience so positively. We also appreciate your understanding about the food and accommodation, though we're sorry to hear about the smoke smell at the Chengdu hotel. That's not the standard we aim for, and we'll pass this feedback directly to our partners in China.
On the bullet train, liquid restrictions can be frustratingly strict. We'll see if we can flag this more clearly in our pre-departure information in the future.
We also note your comment about including beverages with dinner, and we'll investigate this further with our team. If you would like to discuss any of these points further, please do get in touch with our customer service team at customerservice@wendywutours.co.nz.
It's been a joy to have you back with us, and we can't wait to welcome you to Indonesia in 2026. Thank you so much for your continued loyalty to Wendy Wu Tours.
