Beijing & Great Wall – Xi’an – Kunming – Stone Forest – Yuanyang – Duoyishu – Jianshui – Kunming – Dali – Xizhou – Shaxi – Tiger Leaping Gorge – Shangri La – Shuhe – Lijiang – Hong Kong
Hello Paul,
Here are my comments on our trip.
Overall, very good, very interesting, very different. We learned a lot.
We were surprised by the cold, the lack (by our standards) of heating in Chinese homes, and the way the Chinese “manage” the cold and drafts.
We should have brought some “European” medicines for colds, bronchitis, etc.
The drivers and guides were very good: Loulou for her enthusiasm and the attention she paid to us (her French was not as good as Claire’s), Claire for the quality of her French and her culture (unfortunately she seemed quite “tired and discouraged”), Luxi, Jacky and Tashi: great.
It must also be said that having two people who speak Chinese with us opened up a lot of topics other than those “prepared” by the guides and good contacts with the drivers. We followed your advice for tips.
Lili’s availability and services from the Kunming office are also excellent.
As for hotels, we are very happy with the choice except for two:
– The Lost Garden in Kunming is not suitable for travelers arriving late in the evening and leaving early the next morning. In this case, the city center is not necessary, and the hostel does not offer evening services.
– The Suzanne house in Dali is a bit too “dilettante” and not really tidy. If we had to do it again, we would take something from Dali itself.
As for the content of the programs: very good- Good overview of the culture, history, lifestyle, gastronomy, and religion.
– I think most of the interesting sites along the way were visited and well-explained.
I think that in Jianshui (which seems to be an important pottery center) a visit to a factory (if possible “artisanal”) would have been interesting. The only downside: the Tiger Gorge where I think you should warn your customers that it requires good physical condition and is not suitable for people with a phobia of heights.
I hope these comments will help you refine this program.
Yours faithfully
Mr. Mal (for the group)