Good evening Antoine,
I hope you’re well. I just noticed this email got stuck in my drafts.
I am truly sorry and I apologize!
As agreed, here are our more detailed comments on the trip.
Beijing :
The program was really good, we enjoyed our free days as well to be able to “feel” the city and the population
The guide and driver were really great, always available to provide us with information and make our lives easier. The guide adapted our program well by shortening the visit to the traditional house, which was really too touristy, and taking us to a temple in the surrounding area.
the roast duck restaurant is very good
In hindsight, I would recommend starting with a day with a guide, to explain the main points of history and culture, add a circus show, opera…
There were few tourists on the Great Wall at Mutianyu but we met tourists who visited the longer and even less frequented Jinshanling section at Mutianyu,
Our aparthotel was really good
super convenient 2nd class train transport
Xi’an :
– really well organized program
– the driver was really great, he adjusted the program and showed us around the Muslim quarter
– we took a guide on site for the visit to the buried army
– very good ravioli restaurant in a lively area, nice little bike tour of the ramparts
– we would have appreciated a hotel closer to the lively places in the city
Chengdu and surrounding areas:
– fantastic landscapes in Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Mount Emei, lots of tourists and unfortunately for us rain during the visit to the panda park (unforgettable) in hindsight,
– in hindsight, I would recommend spending more time in Chengdu with a hotel closer to the city center, a guided tour of the city center and a show to walk around in the evening opera show, visiting Huanglong in the morning because we did not have enough time after practically 2 hours of queuing to take the cable car,
Thanks again for the upgrade for our last night and the driver from Jiuzhaigou offered us a show in the evening (very good)
Overall, the guides/drivers were excellent, attentive and flexible in adapting the program to our wishes. Special mention to Sue, Ci’an’s fantastic driver and of course to all the translation apps that allow communication with everyone,
Please let me know if you need any recommendations or photos.
Yours faithfully,
Laurence