If you want to have unique experiences and gather special memories during your trip to China, this article could give you some inspiration. These experiences have been experienced by our guests and have garnered a lot of positive feedback.
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1. The Great Wall: a Unique Picnic Experience (Beijing)
This experience is crafted for families or couples, and is especially enjoyable if you are celebrating a big milestone, such as a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or retirement.
It would be a cool and unforgettable experience to have a picnic celebration on the world's longest wall.
For families with children, this would be an unforgettable family time, enjoying the view from the Great Wall while tasting local snacks, especially if it was a once-in-a-lifetime birthday party.
For couples, it could also be a romantic moment for you to enjoy a stunning sunset while having a meal and a drink.
If you have such a need, please contact us. We'll include some of these experiences or surprises you want to prepare in your itinerary.
2. The Forbidden City: Do an Emperor's Tour (Beijing)
Our Emperor's Tour experience is specially designed for those intrigued by Chinese history, particularly China's royal family. While it predominantly focuses on cultural and historical aspects, we've also incorporated enjoyable games for children to enhance the tour's appeal for families.
You would explore 10–12 handpicked palaces, whereas typical tour groups usually cover only 6–8. Through your expert guide's narration, you could delve into the historical tales behind palace construction, fengshui principles, and discover how emperors lived within the Forbidden City.
If you travel with kids, we have designed a game about the nine sons of the dragon and the auspicious beasts in the Forbidden City. Children could gain some knowledge through entertainment.
If you are interested in these experiences, please contact us. Our consultants would plan your trip according to your preferences.
What our guests say: "The following day, Angela continued to help me cross dreams off my bucket list as she guided me around the Forbidden City and along the way proved her skill and professionalism as she navigated with ease and spoke at length about every gorgeous painting and ancient piece of flagstone I kept stopping to admire! Her knowledge and ability to answer inquiries was astounding and continued as we journeyed around the city, following in the footsteps of the Emperors season to season, war to war, work to rest..." You could get the whole feedback on our TripAdvisor page.
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Albee Ning Surreal China Trip
Albee Ning with China Highlights never fails to create the perfect vacation!!! She listens and understands what interests us and provides a guided tour that is surreal. We will remember and share the marvellous memories of this experience for the rest of our lives!! Thanks for everything Albee!!! (Including our dinner together by the elephant in Guilin!!) more
Oct 2024, Mike and Lucy
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Well organised and interesting
Tom was very helpful and knowledgeable. The walk along the Wall was well planned and really enjoyable. The visit to the Summer Palace and Forbidden City were memorable with excellent guiding more
Oct 2024, Robin
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Tour of Beijing
Tom from China tours guided us for a hike on the Jiansanling section of The Great Wall and then a one day tour of Beijing including Forbidden City Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. He was very friendly and accommodating from the begin. He answered all of our questions about Chinese history and culture and gave great explanations of the history of all the monuments we visited. The restaurants he chose and dishes he recommended were very tasty on both days. I would recommend him very highly to anyone looking for an English language tour in Beijing and particularly for people interested in history. more
Oct 2024, Sam M
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3. The Bund: Go on an In-Depth Cultural Walk (Shanghai)
The highlights of the Bund go beyond the gorgeous skyline view. There is much more to explore along the Bund.
We have specially designed a 2½-hour in-depth Bund culture discovery tour for those who want to learn interesting stories about the Bund and old Shanghai.
Many a building on the Bund shines with historical glory: a museum in Astor House Hotel, a movie poster gallery in Fairmont Peace Hotel, the beautiful mosaic ceiling of Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank...
Your expert guide would lead you into some of these old buildings and share the histories behind them as well as some of their childhood memories of Shanghai with you.
What our guests say: "The next thing we did was go to the Bund and Ryan #chinahighlights, explained some of the prominent old banking buildings and the clock tower that was made by the same person that did Big Ben in London. Also pointed out and we entered in disguise, was Peace Hotel. That was another highlight being an Art Deco style original and the Old Men Jazz Band..." You could see more feedback on our TripAdvisor page.
4. The Bund: a Leisurely Afternoon Tea (Shanghai)
This experience is most suitable for couples or if you want to enjoy a quality afternoon out.
We have selected one of the best hotels to enjoy a nice view next to Shanghai's famous Bund. There, you could enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea and the scenery of the Bund. Especially if Shanghai is your last stop on your trip to China, it could be a good ending for your journey.
5. The Terracotta Army: Make a Mini Warrior (Xi'an)
This is a hands-on experience that would allow you to learn more about the Terracotta Army.
After your visit to see the Terracotta Army, you would visit a local cave dwelling where a craftsman makes terracotta warriors in a traditional way. There, you could follow the craftsman's guidance to make your own smaller version.
It could be an interesting and educational experience for both adults and kids. Your terracotta warriors could be a good souvenir to take home.
What our guests say: "During our trip around China, we spent three days in Xi'an. Thanks to our wonderful guide, Susan, who took us to visit the most beautiful places, explaining additional details about the dynasties. We especially enjoyed the Terracotta Warriors, where we had the chance to create one at a local workshop..."
Just contact us to create your China trip. We offer personalized tour service. All the itineraries would be made/adjusted based on your interests and requirements.
6. Take Part in a Panda Volunteer Program (Chengdu)
If you are not satisfied with just seeing the cute pandas from a distance among the crowds, we could arrange a memorable panda volunteer experience for you and your family.
In the program, you would clean the glass of their enclosures, provide fresh bamboo for them, make their favorite panda cakes, and watch them being fed by the keepers. The panda experts would also show you around the base, answer your questions about pandas, and, finally, you would receive a volunteer certificate.
7. Take a Dumpling Cooking Class (Xi'an)
This is a great culinary experience, which your family could participate in together. You would learn how to make dumplings at a local family's home.
The making process requires no oil or fire and is safe. Children could learn to knead dough and make dumplings with the host. They could also use their imagination to make dumplings in various shapes. These delicious creations would be your lunch to share together.
During the process, you could also learn about the decoration of Chinese homes and some local ways of life.
8. Have an Adventure in an Undeveloped Cave (Guilin)
This could be a great summer experience, especially if you or your children are adventurous.
In contrast to the widely-known caves adorned with vibrant lights and constructed pathways, the lesser-explored caves offer a more adventurous experience. It requires you to wear a helmet and headlamp for exploration. Outdoor footwear is also essential.
You would see stalactites in the cave that geologists say have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. Once inside the cave, switching off your headlamp grants you the opportunity to encounter absolute darkness. Cave ecosystems diverge significantly from our familiar surroundings, creating an otherworldly atmosphere devoid of light and sound. Playing a shadow game is also interesting.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
China Highlights
Ms. Susan was also incredible people who were knowledgeable, warm, welcoming and sharing many interesting insights about life in China and helping to immerse oneself in this expansive country and its friendly and hard working people. more
Oct 2024, Richard E Patterson
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Our guide Lele was great
Our guide Lele was great. From helping us check into our Guilin hotel to helping us check in for our flight to Shanghai, Lele was awesome. more
Oct 2024, Luia F
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Our guide Lele in Guilin was fantastic.
Our guide Lele in Guilin was fantastic. Lele was always smiling, polite, helpful and willing to answer our questions. Given that our group know a lot about Chinese history, this probably put a little extra pressure on Lele to answer our questions. Lele was very knowledgeable, and importantly took care of us. The food on the trip was excellent.highly recommend Lele for your Guilin tour. more
Oct 2024, Sarah A
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9. Fun Farm Work Experience (Guilin)
In Guilin, you would have the chance to see real rural life in the countryside, which cannot be seen in a big city.
You could meet local villagers on their way to the fields with a water buffalo or someone working in the paddy. You could join them with your kids to do some farm work, such as picking vegetables or plowing a paddy.
This could be a great opportunity for children to put down their phones and tablets and get close to nature. It could also be an unforgettable memory for your family trip.
"We had a great time in Hunan Province thanks in no small part to our excellent guide, Lily, who took us to all of the major attractions throughout the region starting in Guilin and the villages in the mountains where we walked through the rice fields watching the farmers harvesting." — Feedback from our guests on TripAdvisor
10. Explore a Rural Artistic Utopia (Huangshan)
In a rather remote village in Huangshan, traditional houses are preserved and surrounded by mountains and fields. A group of artists, drawn by the serene atmosphere and beautiful scenery, undertook the transformation of this place upon the foundation of preserving traditional architecture, creating a rural utopia.
This is a place where you could get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the embrace of nature.
It creates a peaceful vibe for couples to enjoy some private time. Wake up to the sound of birds and go for a walk in the fresh air, visit a bookstore that has been transformed from an old ancestral temple, or just relax with a cup of coffee and a view out of the window in a boutique hotel converted from a pigsty.
Tour China with China Highlights
All of our tours are customizable. Feel free to contact us and we'll create your trip based on your interests and requirements.
Or see some of our popular China tours for more inspiration: