Grand Tour of China - April 2025
This was an exceptional tour, with a wide variety of sight seeing to suit all tastes - cultural, natural, historical, shopping and so much more.
Our group of 15 ranged from early 50's to 80 and all managed the level of activity because there were options at each site based on ability. That said there are quite a few steps wherever you go in China.
We really felt that we'd been able to experience the culture (and sub cultures of each province) on this tour and it very much lived up to expectations. If you can take the time out to do this - absolutely would recommend.
It was very well organised and our national guide - Ryan - was brilliant, and the local guides (one in each location) added local flavour and information.

Some hints & tips if you're thinking about booking this trip
* Flights - If you can, upgrade to Premium Economy, it's worth it for the long flight. Also, check the flight times you're provided and make sure they're suitable. We ended up with a midnight flight home, and the tour officially finishes at breakfast on the last day, so we arranged a visit to the zoo ourselves, but otherwise we would have been hanging around at the hotel until collection at 7pm
* Packing - get out what you think you need then reduce by at least a third. All the hotels have laundry service and one even had self-service free washers/dryers and detergent provided. It's very casual, and sometimes you go straight to dinner from touring so you don't need clothes to change for dinner. If you can pack in a medium case (instead of large) you'll find it easier when you're moving around between locations, and packing cubes are a god send.
* Internal transfers - these were smooth, flights, trains and coaches. Train stations in China are like airport terminals, you're scanned on the way in (and your bags are too). Also don't get caught out like we did - on trains you're not allowed any pressurised containers over 150ml (and they will pick you up on it), so think deodorant, hair spray, shaving gel - travel size is best
* Staying connected - we used an unlimited data e-sim from Holafly, £60 each for 30 days. Worked like a dream. Some others used VPNs but these were patchy. Without either of these, even with hotel wifi you won't be able to connect to Google, What's App, Facebook etc
* Food & drink - We never went hungry. Breakfasts are mainly asian, but also some western options (fried/boiled eggs, toast, croissants). Lunch and dinner are all chinese, family service. You will eat a lot of rice, noddles. There was lots of fresh veg as well, and a fish eating veggie in our group was well catered for. There is limited choice for drinks, most of our group had local beers (about £1.50 on average per 500ml bottle), soft drinks you could have coke or sprite (or coconut milk/water). These again were about £1 for a 330ml can. Don't expect diet alternatives.
* Mindset - don't think of this as a "holiday" that is restful. Think of it as an adventure. Some days we walked over 20,000 steps, other days only 4,500. Some mornings we met in reception as early as 7am, others not til 9.30am. One flight meant leaving the hotel at 4.30am (as it was the only flight from that city to the next - one flight a day)! Temperatures ranged from early 30's to mid teens, and we were blessed with only two drizzly days. Some locations have high humidity. You also need to be ready to be considered unusual - a spectacle - by the locals. Not all the places visit have lots of western tourists. I don't think I've had my photo taken by as many people in my entire life as I did in these 4 weeks. From school children in a museum being fascinated with us, to adults in the street wanting selfies (or trying to take them on the sly) - go with the flow and you'll enjoy it.
* Crowds - some of the places we visit are very crowded (partly due to the increase in domestic tourism in China), and they don't have the same culture of queuing/patience as we might have in the UK. They travel in large groups, and are often very noisy (large tour groups using loud speakers), Our guides and the timings we had for visits made the most of trying to avoid this, but you do need to think differently when in a crowd if you want to get to "the front" to see something!
* Optional extras - the night tour in Xian is an absolute MUST, we did some of the evening shows and not others depending on how tired we were. If you're a train fan, the optional trip on the MagLev in Shanghai was worth it.

Fantastic tour of China. Well organised and delivered. Activity level was however higher than expected. The national tour guide Ryan was extremely professional and warm

Across the Great Wall, journeys unfold,
With Ryan, the guide, stories bravely bold.
Through ancient pagodas, and rivers so wide,
A tapestry woven, where wonders reside.

From bustling markets, to temples serene,
His knowledge profound, a captivating scene.
With whispered history, and tales of the past,
He paints vivid pictures, that forever will last.

The Terracotta Army, a silent parade,
Ryan's insights unveiled, a wisdom displayed.
The Forbidden City, a splendor so grand,
His expertise shines, across every land.

He leads with a smile, and a spirit so free,
Unveiling the secrets of history.
Through bustling streets, and whispering breeze,
Ryan, the guide, in China's embrace, he leads.

With each turning page, and each step on the way,
Ryan's passion ignites, and shines ever bright.
A master storyteller, guiding the way,
Across mountains and plains, in the light of the day.

From Shanghai's high towers, to Xi'an's old charm,
Ryan's guiding hand, brings smile and charm.
A tour de force, woven with wit and with grace,
Ryan's the greatest, in China's embrace.

Excellent holiday. brilliant Chinese National guide Jason for the tour and an incredible country to visit

triip of a lifetime - great guides, wonderful and real insights into china old and new - a real eye opener

This tour covers all the key areas of China and is jam packed for the whole 26 days - so you need stamina ! It was well organised and our guide Alice was wonderful - no issue was too big or too small for her to help you with. The size of the group was 12 and was a lovely mix of like minded people all their for the adventure. I had never been to China before but found the people lovely and sightseeing amazing a really good mix for a holiday of a life time

Our tour.was made special by our guide David He, he ensured our hotel bookings, plane and train trips ran smoothly, resolved every problem without any fuss.
The information given by him were always clear, informative and good humoured.
When a couple of the guests fell ill he made sure they had medicine to take, David also made sure that the guests who had certain dietary requirements were well looked after.
The actual tour itself went very well, but we felt there were too many “optional” extras. If these optional extras were “so good” as expressed by the local guides, why were they not included in the tours., we would have been quite happy to have gone to them had they been included.
With tips and optional extras this added another approximately £500 of hidden costs. We would have preferred it if “all inclusive” meant all inclusive.
We would recommend this tour to people, but warn them about the optional extras. We were also lucky with the people in our group, we all happen to get on.

This review is about you Feefo. I spent a least an hour filling in a review for the above holiday last week, checking that all was written well and accurate like I am doing now as I type slowly.
When I pressed the submit button your system told me that I had been timed out. Well that was very unacceptable and a complete waste of my time as returning to the link meant that all of typing and effort disappeared and I would have had to start again. This I was not prepared for you so I laboriously retyped what I could remember and sent by email to Wendy Wu by email. Get you system better organised so that slowness is not penalised or a choice to SAVE what has already been typed or WARNING that timing out was possible.

We had been to Hong Kong & Beijing before, but the Grand Tour was a whole new level of understanding of China. The trip organisation by Wendy Wu was faultless & our national guide, David He, was exceptional, showing patience & understanding where needed plus a great knowledge of China. He worked hard to satisfy Gluten / Veggy food needs – not always easy with this style of meal service. Local guides in each town were also really good. Hotels varied from good to great, with priority usually being location. The Yangshuo hotel, for example, was a bit older but we stepped straight out onto West St, and breakfast was simple but had an exceptional view. There is a lot of travel involved with 3 each internal flights & trains, but Chinese trains & airports put the UK to shame! Overall the food was at least good sometimes great. Breakfast did not always include a wide ‘Western’ selection but then we were foreigners in China - How many foreign breakfast options do UK hotels have? Bus management was brilliant – a snap of the electronic fingers & it was there. We had not done a ‘follow the flag’ holiday or used Wendy Wu before. We will definitely do both again. Thanks again David. 

If you are considering a long trip in China for the first time – lessons we learned:
> Grand tour lunch & dinner is 26 days of Chinese food, with set dishes, off a lazy susan except for a few packed lunches & the Yangtze cruise. Some of the dishes may not be to your taste – be flexible.
> You will need to handle your luggage – journeys involve suitcases + escalators + airports & stations
> Out walking at night in China - this is the safest I have ever felt either at home or travelling.
> Don’t think too hard about the tip pot, it just works, saving time & hassle.
> Alipay attached to your UK credit card is super quick & easy to use if you have an active phone.
> Install Wechat to contact family in case you cannot get Whatsapp to work – basically the same (Family will also have to install).
> VPN’s did not reliably work. But they do have 30 day money back warranty. I tried Express / Nord
> If your phone accepts e-sim, get one. Ours gave us access to Western websites with no VPN and always worked.
> You may be sharing China with lots of domestic tourists – check when their major holidays are.
> The Yangtze cruise was great & we are happy we did not upgrade either room or meal options. Upgraders were equally happy with their choice - do not worry about it.
Totally recommended.
Paul & Tracy

Grace was a fantastic tour guide who could not do enough for us.
The tour was very comprehensive and I feel that I know a lot more about China it’s people and culture now.
I’d certainly use Wendy Wu again.

We weren't really sure what to expect from this holiday, but it surpassed all possible expectations.

The tour was very intensive, and we saw so much of the Chinese culture, learned a lot of the history, and gained an insight into the ways of life of those in the cities, and of those in the countryside.

We covered an incredible distance, travelling by plane, bullet train, cruise ship and coach, but the organisation was impeccable and our national guide, Britany was absolutely amazing.

She was a fountain of knowledge, had incredible organisational skills, was attentive to the needs of every group member, and her standard of English was excellent. She seemed to intuitively know how much knowledge to impart to the group at any one time, without overloading them, and she had an excellent sense of humour. She called us "Britany's Family", and by the end of the trip we actually felt like a family.

We feel as if we saw all of the most important sights in the areas covered by our tour, but some of the days were very long. We were extremely lucky with the weather, and there were no days when it was too hot. Had it been so, the long, outdoor sightseeing days may have been uncomfortable. Many of the Chinese people use umbrellas as sunshades, and this may be worth bearing in mind if we return during the hotter months.

We were very impressed with all of the meals which were included in our tour. The food was plentiful, varied, colourful, and of good quality.

The hotels used were of excellent standard, and were very impressive. They were all situated in central locations which was very convenient.

All in all, we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Many thanks to Wendy Wu, and Britany.


Reply


Forward
Attendee panel closed

This is not a holiday, it is an interesting, educational, cultural experience!
On 6th April 2024 we became part of” Ivy’s family “of fourteen. Four English, one New Zealander and the rest Australian (4 singles and 5 couples), a great combination. Due to jet lag we decided to fly to Beijing two days before the tour started-good idea.
Very few people had any English at all, even in the hotels. They did use translation app’s, to varying degrees of success. Downloading your own before you get to China is a good idea (wish we had).
Ivy, our national tour guide was with us throughout the 26 days. How she got us all from Beijing to Shanghai via three domestic flights (enormous airports with very tight security), three train journeys (gigantic stations) and all the tours without losing anyone was a mystery to us all. She made us all feel safe in an environment alien to ours. Forests of sky-high, tower blocks as far as you could see, cars, bikes, scooters and people everywhere. You couldn’t read anything or communicate.
When we arrived in a place we were met by a local guide, so had two looking after us most of the time.
Food was ordered for us by the local guides and Ivy depending on the area we were in and any group likes and dislikes of food. All dishes were put on a lazy Susan (always plenty, you won’t starve) for everyone to try. We practised with chopsticks before going- good idea, some restaurants provided full cutlery, some hunted round for forks and one had to give extra little china spoons (normally for soup) only thing they had apart from chopsticks!
On this trip you don’t need a scarf for temples or clothes for sleeping overnight on a train. You need layers as temperatures differ. A cotton cardigan was the most useful item. Thin plastic mac, sunhat, lipsil, sun block, mosquito repellent in some areas and a good pair of trainers.
All the hotels had toilet paper. Just remember to take some with you when out and about as few public loos (which are abundant and free) have paper. Some have paper you collect before going into the cubicle. Look out for disabled toilet or potty toilet or pedestal, otherwise you’re in the squat!
We averaged 12,000 steps a day (ranging from 6,000 to 19,000) at a moderate pace. Not all due to the tour, we preferred to walk round rather than sit with a coffee during free time.
Go on every optional shows/tour they offer, as they were all exceptional experiences!
Goggle and WhatsApp (blocked in China) TV in English if you’re lucky. Free Wi-Fi in most hotels.
Thank you to all the Wendy Wu staff for all your excellent organisation. All the local guides (especially Max and Bell) who introduced us to their home areas. Our very special thanks to Ivy.

The tour overall is excellent and we were so pleased to have done it . The itinerary speaks for itself . The following points are things that Wendy Wu (WW) should consider .
Broadly speaking the choice of hotels are budget . Some were huge old monolith hotels . Some in business districts . All aspects that makes the room rate cheaper for WW.
WW seem to specialise in offering a full days meal every day of the tour . It’s not necessary . We don’t need feeding so much food - most of which went to waste as we certainly did not eat it ! They could make the holiday cheaper . Lunch and dinners were identical most days . Noooo!
Too much .
There were quite a number of one night stays in cities . This makes the tour very arduous for travellers taking into account the days itinerary you are encountering .
The guides were all basically excellent . Some personalities were unhelpful to fellow travellers . One was majorly arrogant and totally disinterested in what we did , eat , see and go (Shanghai ).
We did not have a National guide for our tour as we only were a party of 8 ( 10 and above qualify for a National guide). At first we thought this would be a disadvantage . However it was great ! We were all pleased that we weren’t carrying an outsider for the entire trip! Most individual guides were supportive at points of transfer eg: airports or rail stations . Some weren’t as supportive but we muddled through .
Aspects of the tour which could be broadened are :
We needed to learn more about people and their life in China . Too much focus on temples gardens and museums.
We ought to have visited a family living in a 80sq.metre flat on their 27th floor . We went to a Hutong in Beijing so why not in a modern day setting ???
The guides did not discuss human geographical aspects other than population sizes from city to city . That should be changed/improved. Aspects of the journey should offer more of a commentary as to where we are ; what the landscape and trees around us are rather than travelling in total silence or chatting to the coach driver in Chinese !

During the tour the Xi’an WW office manager liaised with most of the tour guests which was an amazingly caring and supportive thing to do and was appreciated by all concerned. She even took on board a few suggestions and made changes or tweaks to a couple of meal times .

So to sum up - yes a brilliant tour but not without a few criticisms . If WW change things we won’t get the benefit sadly but they should look seriously at these aspects .

Excellent Excellent Excellent