Xi’an-Tianshui- Suzhou-Shanghai-Beijing
Dear Liying,
After two weeks of extraordinary travel in China, we have been back in Paris for a week. We wanted to warmly thank you for organizing our itinerary, which allowed us to experience unforgettable moments.
We opted for a semi-independent tour and appreciated having guides in Xi’an, Tianshui, and Suzhou, Beijing. All the guides were very friendly and professional, making our trip both comfortable and enriching. Thanks to their explanations, we were able to better understand the history and culture of China.
In Xi’an, despite the crowds due to Golden Week, we were amazed by the Terracotta Warriors. The crowd was dense, but the special experiences you had planned, such as the hot spring baths, the dumpling banquet, and the Tang dance performance, offered us moments of relaxation. Many thanks to Michel for his precise explanations and patience.
We are especially grateful for your recommendation of the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui. We originally wanted to see the Luoyang Grottoes, but following your advice was an excellent decision. Arriving at Maijishan Mountain in the late afternoon, we enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere and beautiful surroundings, without the crowds.
Suzhou was, without a doubt, our favorite. The Atour Hotel, right in the city center, was charming and ideally located. We loved strolling through Suzhou’s beautiful gardens and exploring the quaint little shops. A visit to the Suzhou Museum, designed by the same architect as the Louvre Pyramid, was a highlight of our stay. Thanks to Mr. Chen for his guided tour and reservations.
Shanghai, which we explored freely, proved to be a modern and accessible metropolis, where we felt comfortable moving around and communicating.
In Beijing, fatigue was beginning to set in. Our day tour of the Forbidden City was cut short and disrupted by the closure of the Confucius Temple and a lack of food preparation for the Summer Palace, which limited our time there. The last day at the Mutianyu Great Wall was magnificent, despite the intense heat, which left us all exhausted. We should have brought more water and hats to protect us from the sun.
The hotels you chose for us were all excellent, with special mention for the Atour in Suzhou and the Zuoyouke Hotel in Xi’an. The hotel in Beijing was simpler but very well located.
The portable Wi-Fi you lent us was useful, although the connection was sometimes unstable due to the difference between our 4G phones and China’s 5G network. We also encountered some difficulties with WeChat payment, ultimately preferring to use cash for convenience.
In summary, this trip was magnificent. We discovered your agency China Roads thanks to a recommendation from friends and we will not hesitate to recommend you in return. The PDF of the itinerary you prepared was superb and useful, and the constant support via the WeChat group was very reassuring. We are already looking forward to returning to China to discover other regions like Yunnan and Sichuan, and to make up for our regret of not having had the time to taste the Peking duck. Thank you again for everything you did for us, on our own, we would not have been able to have such a wonderful trip!
See you soon !
Tiphaine