Kimkim Trip Reviews for China

Tsung/Song/Neo and James were absolutely great guides.
Personally, I would have preferred three days each in Beijing and Shanghai. Given how wonderful the Zhangjiajie National Park experience was, I wouldn't need the Li boat ride.

My worst day was in Zhangjiajie. I was supposed to explore the "downtown" but I don't think I ever found it. The Tower was OK but it was Sunday and stores were closed and I still don't know that it was in the "downtown." Something said to get to the airport three hours before departure; I got there four hours before but only needed 15 minutes to get to the gate. The plane was two hours late, so I spent an unneccessary 6 hours at a boring airport. In general for me, 1-1/2 days in Zhangjiajie would have been enough. In general, I was misled about that part of the trip.
In general, China is awesome and the trip was a wonderful introduction.

Both my consultant Lisa and local guide Simon were AMAZING!!! Thank you for having made this weekend in Chongqing a weekend to remember!!

Hotel Review

InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City By IHG

Super well located, comfortable and Shua restaurant and bar is amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

views from every angles are magnificent!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Half Day Modern Side of Chongqing Private Tour with Night View

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chongqing Panda Adventure and Museum of Three Gorges

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Stylish Tour in Chongqing

Chongqing

Simon has won best guide in Chongqing and it shows why!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was well conceived and coordinated. The level of reliability was very high for on time meetings, timely information, and delivery as promised (sometimes more than promised).
Heidi did a great job of creating the itinerary and coordinating every single detail including help with the visa process.
Amongst the guides, the standout guides were Justin (zhangjiajie) and Rose (Shanghai). They went beyond their brief, were very flexible and quick in adapting to our requirements, and went out of their way to make us feel comfortable.
The quality of the hotels that we stayed in was excellent. The cars provided in all locations (except Beijing) were comfortable and the drivers very good. The car in Beijing could have been bigger - it was too cramped especially for my daughters who were sitting in the third row.

What could have been better? We would have liked to receive more proactive suggestions from our local guides on what places to visit after our day with them was over. Only when we questioned the guides intensely, did they come up with suggestions. I am surprised that places like Datang Everbright in Xian were not on our itinerary or even suggested. There are so many places in each city that are worth visiting and should have been a part of the suggested list.

Activity Review

Dujiangyan Panda Base Volunteering Day Trip

Chengdu

I did not like this activity. The volunteering work isn't much really and feels very inconsequential. Much ado about nothing.

Quality of Experience

Food

Quality of food here was very average. We did not like the lunch served at the Panda base.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was booked as a 5 star adventure and everything meet our expectations!

MANY THANKS TO HEIDI!!!
HEIDI WAS AWESOME, EASY TO WORK WITH AND EXCEEDED ALL OF OUR NEEDS. WHAT A JEWEL.
JIM

the organization and input from Lisa on what to see and do was great. it really helped to use a local travel assistant instead of one who does not know the region. The idividual guide and driver were good and the guide had good knowledge about the local sights - he was able to indepth explain the history of the various monasteries we visited. The hotels were modern, clean and the service was extremely friendly. The local food was delicious, fresh and well prepared in clean environments. i would highly recommend to use Kimkim for similar local flavor tours.

Hotel Reviews

LUX* Tea Horse Road Shangri - la

great views, centrally located. clean, friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

LUX* Tea Horse Road Benzilan

clean, luxurious, well located.

Authenticity & Character

nice architecture, good views

Location

in the middle of Benzilan

Staff

extremely friendly, helpful to ensure we understood everything

Cleanliness & Comfort

could not have been better

Activity Reviews

Highlight of Shangri-la with Napa Lake, local family visit

Shangri-La

napalake was good to drive through. not a must. we did not do the local family visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shangri-La Day Tour: Pudacuo National Park and Gedan Songzanlin Monastery

Shangri-La

massive monastery with lots of history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Benzilan Old Town, Temples

Benzilan

off the beaten path. we spend 2 nights, 1 would have been sufficient

Quality of Experience

old monasteries, drive through the valley along the Yangste river were super. much historic perspective

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

having a large car was a good recommendation

Lisa was very helpful in organizing both our China and Japan trips. Everything was on time. She was also flexible whenever we had to make adjustments. Lily was our tour guide in Beijing. She was very knowledgeable.

Heidi did a spectacular job putting this trip together.
Stan and I were impressed with all of the site visit recommendations and the wealth of information that our guides provided for us.
Each of the guides provided their own unique perspective, which was interesting and all of them were very thorough and anticipated our every need.
Henry (Guilin/Longsheng/Yangshuo) was, for the two of us, the easiest to understand and we enjoyed hearing about his personal experience as a guide in China.
Rita (Xi'an) was also easy to understand and gave us good tips for getting through the Terracotta exhibit. She was also a wonderful chaperone for the "Ever Bright City" and the Hanfu experience.
Sophie (Shanghai) did an excellent job with the Shanghai City Tour and the Bund. She was also easy to understand and provided us with a very complete history of the politics of China.
Linda (Beijing) was very competent and eager to please. We did have a bit of trouble understanding her accent.
Mr SK Leung (Hong Kong) was also easy to understand and very competent.

Hotel Reviews

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

The views are outstanding. The hotel is conveniently located and has an attached shopping mall. The hotel restaurants have delicious food and the breakfast buffet is outstanding.

Amanyangyun

This resort offers a unique setting and overall experience. The restaurants and breakfast buffet are excellent. The suites are spacious and beautifully appointed. The staff is helpful and thoughtful. I highly recommend this experience!

Banyan Tree Yangshuo

Guilin

This resort setting is beautiful. There are great restaurants and walking paths. The sunset celebration is also amazing.

Lijiang Pushang Hotel

Great location and the views are spectacular!!!

Sofitel Xian On Renmin Square

This hotel is in a good location with nearby restaurants.

The Peninsula Beijing

Beijing

This hotel is conveniently located and offers excellent dining as well as large and comfortable accommodations. In addition, there are luxury shops and a nice area to work out or swim.

Authenticity & Character

Nice lobby, excellent breakfast buffet, excellent bedroom suites, and excellent all-around staffing.

Location

Close to many important visitor sites.

Staff

Very accommodating and everything was spotless.

Cleanliness & Comfort

Comfortable bedding and excellent staff cleaning.

Activity Reviews

Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour

Hong Kong

There is nothing like Hong Kong!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Mr SK Leung did a great job.

Transport

Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Old Town

Shanghai

We enjoyed this ancient water town but there were lots of crowds due to the holiday.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Shanghai City Tour with the Yu Garden , Jade Buddha Temple and Former French Concession

Shanghai

Lots to see in the Yu Garden. The Jade Buddha is impressive and the French Concession is lively and fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sophie is amazing.

Transport

Half Day City Exploration of the Bund

Shanghai

Beautiful setting, especially at sunset!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Sophie did a great job.

Transport

Hike along the Picturesque Yulong River

China

We did a bike ride which was very fun.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henry was great.

Transport

Yulong River Rafting Experence

Yangshuo

A fun way to experience the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full Day Countryside and Ancient Town Exploration in Yangshuo

Yangshuo

We enjoyed the bike ride as well as the rafting.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy the performance "Impression Liu Sanjie."

Yangshuo

I would give this performance more than 5 stars. I have never seen such a fantastic performance in such a lovely setting anywhere!!!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Henry was great!

Transport

Marvel at the Li River: China's Most Picturesque River

Guilin

The boat ride is very relaxing and provides amazing views of these gorgeous mountains.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Longsheng Full-Day Tour

Guilin

Beautiful views on the hillside. We especially enjoyed walking down the hill after riding the tram cart up the hill.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Natural Wonder: Reed Flute Cave

Guilin

Beautiful setting!

Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Amazing!! I highly recommend this activity. The exhibits are very well done.

Grand Tang Dynasty Ever Bright City with Hanfu Experience

Xi'an

We found this area to be very impressive with new buildings that are built in the old style and lots of beautiful lighting and other features. We enjoyed the Hanfu Experience and found that local people to be enthusiastic about our participation.

Exploration: 798 Art District

Beijing

We enjoyed wandering around this area and looking at the art!

Peking Duck Experience

Beijing

This is a unique dining experience!

Lama Temple — Biggest Tibetan Buddhist Lamasery in Beijing

Beijing

Very impressive. Linda did a great job!

Full day with Great Wall

Beijing

The Great Wall experience is a must! The area is very well organized especially considering the number of visitors who attend. Linda did a great job!

Leisurely Exploration of Summer Palace and Temple of Heaven

Beijing

Great views and enjoyable boat ride at the Summer Palace. Linda did a wonderful job!

Explore Fobidden City and Hutong in Beijing

Beijing

The Forbidden City and Hutong area were great experiences. The overall size of the Forbidden city is mind boggling! The Hutong area is very interesting and colorful. We enjoyed the riskshaw ride! Linda did a great job!

Comparing to other trips we have booked with KimKim we were disappointed with China Travel as they did not check in with us during the visit and the 1 query I had about flight tickets, which I sent the day before travel, I did not get a reply until after the flight had taken place.

I think it would of been really helpful if Carol was able to check in with us to ensure everything was going smoothly.

The guides provided were all very good and language was not a barrier...the stand out guide was Lilly in Xian who really understood the dietary requirements for my wife, who is a vegetarian. FYI the guide in Beijing, Tracey, was good but we started off on the wrong foot as she only wanted us to do a driveby of Tiananmen Square, as she thought the queues were too long, and we had to be adamant that we wanted to do this...FYI she kept going on about how there was not enough time and we had to be firm with her that we wanted to do this. Also we were disappointed that she did not meet us at the train station when we arrive, we got a WeChat from her not long before our due time to say she would not be able to come and the driver would take us to the hotel...in our opinion she should of made arrangements with another guide or told us well in advance. When we did see her for the first time there was no apology or mention of her not being able to come. Having said this about Tracey she was by far the most informed and used different resources to explain the sites and history.

Hotel Reviews

New World Beijing Hotel

Beijing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

staff did not want to engage or say hello

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Grand Xian South

Xi'an

great location and self laundry service

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

the self laundry service was a god send

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Bellagio by MGM Shanghai

wow what a hotel ...by far the most luxurious and great location

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Price of the Full Package

China

so much was packed into this adventure and having a guide to explain the history and overcome the language barriers was amazing. our guides also added a few bonus trips and were very flexible on the time spent at each place of interest

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train station to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai)

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hotel to airport /train transfer (Beijing)

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Summer Palace with Boat Ride and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hutong Walking Tour in Dongcheng District

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car)

Beijing

Spectacular views and the guide gave us lots of time to wonder along the wall

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple of Heaven

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Jingshan Park (overlook the Forbidden City)

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Forbidden City

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tiananmen Square

Beijing

the fact we had to be adamant we wanted to visit this on foot and not a drive by was really disappointing...the guide should of picked up up earlier if she had an issue with the time that would of been spent queuing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train station to hotel transfer (Beijing)

Beijing

As mentioned in my overall comments we were disappointed no guide was able to great us ...the drive was very polite and we had to struggle to the car park carrying our own bags

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tranfer to Train station for next destination (Xi'an)

Xi'an

Lilly arranged for a porter to make sure we got on the train and to our seats

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

China's traditional national costume (Hanfu) and experience wearing it

Xi'an

we skipped this as it did not appeal to us...we should of removed this from the itinerary

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking dumplings

Xi'an

great fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Really insightful and loved all the sights sounds and colours

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Xi'an Museaum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Ancient City Wall

Xi'an

Lilly gave us time to enjoy the sights with a bike tour

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Learn How to Make Terracotta Warriors from Local Artisans

Xi'an

Good fun

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an

the was spectacular and Lilly knew all the best places for photos

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Airport to Hotel Transfer (Xi'an)

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Transfer to airport for Departure

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tianmen Mountain (Tianmen Cave) including Glass Walkway and Cable Car

Zhangjiajie

We had very bad weather and visibility was very poor so we could don't really enjoy as much as we expected

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon with Glass Bridge

Zhangjiajie

We had very bad weather and visibility was very poor so we could don't really enjoy as much as we expected

Quality of Experience

Transport

Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

We had very bad weather and visibility was very poor so we could don't really enjoy as much as we expected

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhangjiajie Airport/tarin station to Hotel Transfer

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hotel to airport Transfer

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhujiajiao Ancient Town (with Boat Ride )

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Short Visit to Shanghai Old Alleys

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yuyuan Market

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Nanjing Road

Shanghai

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The bund

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Transport

Yuyuan Garden

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Airport to Hotel Transfer (Shanghai)

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Our trip was wonderful. Planning and booking was easy thanks to Lisa and all her advice was spot on.
We had absolutely no issues throughout the trip - all drivers and guides were excellent - particularly Yestin in Beijing & Betty in Chengdu. Would also like to make a special mention to Chow (Mike) in Zhangjiajie - he went above and beyond to make our visit fun, despite the terrible weather that could not be helped - excellent service and a lovely man!
We loved visiting the Pandas (we love animals!) and Betty was wonderful in navigating us away from the crowds and long line ups. The Zhangjiajie region was spectacular, but we really loved everywhere we visited. Thank you to everyone who made our trip very memorable!

Hotel Reviews

Sunrise On The Bund

A good location for Shanghai’s Bund!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Li River Resort

Our favourite hotel on our China tour - very relaxing with a lovely river view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Guilin

Great hotel for Guilin stay - the location is excellent and view from the bistro is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Tibet Hotel Chengdu

Chengdu

Great location and very lovely hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling

China

We opted out of this activity due to the weather!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Highlights in Shanghai

Shanghai

We enjoyed our Shanghai City Highlights tour, with the highlight being the Yu Garden.

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yulong River Rafting Experence

Yangshuo

The bamboo rafting experience was a little bit of fun and a great way to see the scenery of the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Li River: China's Most Picturesque River

Guilin

The Li Cruise was lovely - a relaxing way to see the spectacular scenery along the beautiful river.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chongqing City Highlights One-Day Tour

Chongqing

The Chongqing City is pretty cool but this tour was not one of our favourites of China’s city tours. Yudy the guide was nice, but the spots we saw were pretty lame and not really that interesting and we didn’t see everything that was listed (didn’t get taken to Raffles City to do the Sky Bridge or see the Hongya Cave light up at night - only during the day with almost nothing happening). Overall the tour seemed a bit rushed - it would have been better to start in the late afternoon into the evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine,Jinli Ancient Street

Chengdu

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Pandas! Even though the Panda Centre seemed to be crowded, Betty our guide was able to keep us away from long lines and we had plenty of stress free time to just watch the beautiful animals. One of our favourite days in China.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

Unfortunately the weather was not ideal for our visit to Zhangjiajie’s Grand Canyon & Tiananmen Mountain - but despite this we had an amazing time anyway! Thanks to Chow, our Guide who helped make the day memorable and fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

A highlight of our China trip, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is spectacular, we had a wonderful time thanks to Chow, our guide who was a superstar in guiding us through all there was to see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace

Beijing

We had a wonderful day visiting the Great Wall. Our guide, Yestin was excellent, especially at helping us avoid the really crowded areas and lone line ups!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Beijing Highlights:Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City & Hutongs

Beijing

Excellent way to start our China experience. Our guide Yestin was very good and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

When I think about this trip, the first thing that comes to mind is the incredible level of planning required for a 12-day trip in China for my wife and I. Planning our trip through KimKim was an incredibly smooth and stress-free experience. The initial setup was simple, and we were quickly connected with our local China specialist, Heidi, who was an absolute pleasure to work with. She was responsive, accommodating, and consistently offered thoughtful solutions that made our itinerary even better. Heidi made me feel like I was her only client, while also going above and beyond to create an unforgettable experience for my wife and I. I was unfamiliar with how accessibility works in China, but Heidi handled every single detail flawlessly. From coordinating transportation between hotels in different cities, to selecting ideal locations to visit, arranging private tours, and ensuring smooth drop-off/pickup at airports and train stations -- nothing was overlooked. We literally felt like royalty the second we got off that plane as Heidi thought of everything. One of the standout aspects of the trip was the thoughtfully designed itinerary. Each day included planned activities, but there was also flexibility built in for leisure time.

What made this trip so special wasn’t just the destination, but was how personal and thoughtfully curated every moment felt. Traveling in a new country can sometimes feel overwhelming, but with KimKim everything was handled so professionally that we could simply relax and enjoy the experience. That level of organization made traveling around the country very easy.

At every step we felt safe, comfortable, and well looked after by the excellent bi-lingual tour guides. The tour guides made this journey extraordinary, especially Emma (Beijing), Kathy (Xi’an), Ethan (Zhangjiajie), and Autumn (Shanghai). Thanks to them, we enjoyed our China adventure and now have very fond memories that will last a lifetime. The tour guides would come and get us from our hotels and bring us back to our hotels. They would check in with us daily to make sure we knew where we were going and had any questions. They were all knowledgeable, warm, and clearly excited to share her culture and stories with us as well as learning about our culture (especially learning about our county’s slang). Their enthusiasm made the experience feel much more personal and engaging. Their warmth and good humor even outshined their obvious depth of knowledge and skill of communication. Every guide made us feel like we traveling with a family member. They selected fantastic restaurants throughout each city where we could enjoy authentic local food without worrying about our dietary needs. Every recommendation was spot-on. They were so much fun to spend time with!

And I would be remiss not to mention the hotels KimKim selected, which elevated the trip even further. Everywhere we stayed, we felt less like guests at a hotel and more like we were being welcomed into someone’s home. Also, all of our drivers were excellent as well—professional, safe, and reliable.

As this was our 2nd trip with KimKim, all the arrangements made by them have always been 100 reliable, including accommodation, transportation and activities. Overall, this trip exceeded every expectation. The itinerary was the perfect blend of city action, historical insight, and natural wonder. Overall, KimKim, especially Heidi, made our China trip feel personalized, well-supported, and wonderfully memorable. Highly recommended them for anyone seeking a well-organized, locally informed travel experience.

Activity Reviews

Half Day City Tour with the Yu Garden

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Zhangjiajie Park Tour - Grand Canyon with glass bridge

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day Tour with Golden Whip Creek&Ten Mile Gallery & Baofeng Lake

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Suzhou and Tongli Water Town City Tour

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Water Town with Boat Ride

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chinese dumpling dinner

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Tang Dynasty Show (1hour)

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

See the Terracotta Army

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Temple of Heaven

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Full day with Great Wall and Changling Tomb in Beijing

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Picturesque Summer Palace

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Peking Duck Experience

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

A Glimpse into China's Imperial Past: the Fobidden City

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The trip was seamless from planning through departure. We had a great time and would highly recommend using KimKim for a China trip. Our guide, Alan, met us at the airport, even after our flight was delayed 5 hours. We needed to take a sick child to get medicine at the hospital, and he helped navigate and translate the whole time. Alan and our KimKim Planner, Heidi, mentioned they always support the human needs of their clients first. Because of this, help at the beginning of the rest of our trip was a breeze. We were able to change the date of our rest day to make up for the late arrival. We thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our activity, including the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Hutongs, and the Vegetable market. Because of our schedule change, we had a second guide, Jim, who was helpful for our last day of exploring. We had full service the entire time, from lunches curated to our needs, to pickup and dropoff at the airport. This experience was a truly all-inclusive easy way to relax into China!

We just got back from our China trip and wanted to say thank you to Heidi from KimKim for putting everything together so well. Traveling across multiple cities can be complicated, but the whole itinerary flowed really smoothly and made the experience easy and enjoyable.

Each stop had something memorable. In Beijing, walking through the Forbidden City and visiting the Great Wall were real highlights — so much history, and you can really feel it when you’re there. Xi’an was another standout, especially the Terracotta Army. It’s one of those places that’s even more impressive in person than you expect.

Chengdu was a different kind of experience — visiting the pandas outside the city was a lot of fun and definitely worth it. And then Zhangjiajie… that was probably the biggest surprise for us. The scenery in the national park is just unreal. Photos don’t really do it justice.

Shanghai was a complete contrast — very modern, very energetic. The skyline and the scale of development there really stood out.

The hotel accommodations throughout the trip were great — comfortable, well-located, and made it easy to relax after long days. The logistics between cities (both trains and flights) were also very well handled. Every transfer was smooth, and what we really appreciated is that each guide stayed with us all the way through the train station or airport, right up to the security checkpoint, which made everything stress-free.

We also want to mention the guides, because they made a big difference. Candy in Beijing, Key in Xi’an, April in Chengdu, Ethan in Zhangjiajie, and Sophie in Shanghai (with help from Linda) were all excellent. Everyone was knowledgeable, helpful with translation, and always looking out for us.

On top of the planned itinerary, each guide gave great personal recommendations — places to eat and extra things to see that we wouldn’t have found on our own. Things like the Muslim Bazaar in Xi’an, the Tibetan street in Chengdu, Peking duck in Beijing, and even checking out silk-making in Shanghai added a lot to the trip.

Overall, we had a great time and really appreciated how everything was organized. Thanks again to KimKim for arranging such a memorable trip.

Our trip to China was truly spectacular, the Great Wall totally met our expectations and to visit it during snowfall made for a uniquely beautiful experience. Xi'an is a lovely, warm-hearted city that we really enjoyed strolling through. Our excellent Xi'an local guide Coco was very well paced and knowledgeable. She had a cheerful, welcoming personality, and was happy to answer all our questions about the old city. She shared so much of the city's interesting history with us, adding even more to our feeling of awe. In the scenic area of Guilin, our local guide, Fei, was very eager to share the beauty of her home with us, ensuring we went to all the best spots. Chongqing, our last destination on the trip, totally blew us away with its futuristic cityscapes. Our local guide, Yudy, was so energetic and excited to introduce us to all the mesmerizing sights of Chongqing. Yudy spared no effort in ensuring we did all we wanted to do and made our Chongqing experience so captivating that we would love to return. Of course, our local specialist, Heidi, was such a great help every step of the way, checking in to make sure all was well and that we were making all our transfers successfully. We are so happy with how the trip turned out!

In Beijing, Edward was professional, attentive, punctual and knowledgeable on our tour of The Forbidden City and The Great Wall. We have no complaints about him and would unhesitatingly recommend him for future tours.

In Xi’an, Coco was an absolute delight. She was charming, a sweet personality and extremely knowledgeable on our tour of The Terracotta Warriors. We were sorry to have spent such a short time with her.

In Luoyong, the energetic Lili joined us in our 1hour exercise at the kung fu school and was knowledgeable of the tour of the Shaolin Temple and the Pagoda Forest.

In Guilin, Fei was down to earth and we quickly bonded with her. She was friendly, helpful, talkative and looked after us well.

Finally in Chongqing, the unforgettable Udy was funny, entertaining, engaging. We took great delight in touring Chongqing city with her and were sad to say goodbye.

Coordinating this trip with Heidi was seamless and she helped us to curate a wonderful and unforgettable customized experience.

Throughout the booking process, the website was very glitchy, it was very difficult for me to download documents, and I had several failed attempts to pay for the trip. At every step of the way, the website itself didn’t work. It was a technical problem.

Once we were on the trip, everything was fantastic. All of our local guides were energetic and informative, and took excellent care of us meeting our every need.

I would like to thank and commend Heidi who made my very complicated trip very seamless. I just cannot fault anything . Everything was managed professionally and allowed for flexibility when I wanted to change tickets hotels etc
This trip would not have been possible without the hard work and dedication from
Heidi the best
Xi’an : Shannon she went over and above her guidelines
Chengdu: Ricky thorough entertainer
Chonging : Yudi fun
Zhanziaje : Justin hardworking and dedicated
Shanghai : Shiuli flexible

They ensured that everything was meticulous . This was indeed the most memorable trip made thanks to Heidi and her team
This is my 3rd time using them and I will continue to do so

Hotel Reviews

Grand Hyatt Shanghai

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zhangjiajie Tianmenshan Wyndham Garden Hotel

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

ISEYA HOTEL (Chongqing Jiefangbei Flagship)

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Grand Hyatt Chengdu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sofitel Legend Peoples Grand Hotel Xian

Xi'an

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Day Trip to Zhujiajiao Old Town

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Shanghai with Yu Garden and the Bund

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit the Highlights in Shanghai

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Huanglong Cave and Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon (Including Glass Bridge)

Zhangjiajie

This can be done the same day as the cave and forest

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tianmen Mountain – Skywalks, Cliff Roads & Heaven’s Gate

Zhangjiajie

Exceptional but very tiring

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Stylish Tour in Chongqing

Chongqing

We didn’t get to do this

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chongqing City Highlights One-Day Tour

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shu Feng Ya Yun Sichuan Opera

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Enjoy a Spicy Sichuan Hotpot Meal

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Panda Encounter and People’s Park in Chengdu

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Tour of the Treasures of Ancient China: Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Ancient City Wall

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

My husband and I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit China, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From ancient history to breathtaking natural landscapes, this trip had everything we could have hoped for and more. I want to thank Lisa for helping us put this amazing trip together through KimKim. She was so helpful and patient with us.

Highlights of the Trip

The Great Wall of China was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Walking along this historic wonder, we couldn’t help but be amazed by its sheer scale and beauty. The panoramic views from the top were unforgettable, and standing on such an iconic piece of history was an emotional experience.

We visited Chengdu to see the adorable pandas—and they definitely lived up to the hype! Watching these playful creatures in their natural habitat was a highlight of the trip. The conservation efforts here are truly impressive, and it was a joy to witness their charm up close.

In Xi’an, we were fortunate enough to see the Terracotta Warriors, a monumental archaeological discovery. The sheer number of life-sized statues and the detail in each one was staggering. It’s amazing to think that this army was created over 2,000 years ago to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife.

One of the most stunning natural attractions was Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The towering sandstone pillars surrounded by mist create an ethereal, almost otherworldly landscape. It’s a photographer’s dream and a must-see for nature lovers.

Finally, Guilin was a peaceful escape, with its surreal limestone karst mountains and tranquil Li River cruises. The views were unlike anything I’ve ever seen and felt like something out of a dream.

Cultural Immersion

One of the aspects of the trip that stood out was the incredible cultural immersion. We had numerous opportunities to experience China’s rich traditions and daily life. Whether it was a calligraphy lesson, a traditional tea ceremony, or learning about the history behind local markets, we were able to connect with the culture in meaningful ways.

The people of China were warm, welcoming, and eager to share their stories. Our guides were exceptional—they were incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and made sure we felt comfortable and engaged every step of the way. They took the time to answer all our questions and ensured we had a smooth and enjoyable experience.

We want to thank all our guides: Zhang Yaping (Amy - Beijing), Ma Jun (MJ - Xian), Xiao Tuanming (Nancy - Zhangjiajie), Lin Xue (April), Owen (Guilin) and Vivian (Shanghai). You were all wonderful to get to know and helped make the trip memorable.

Food: A Culinary Adventure

The food in China was another highlight of the trip. Every meal was a delightful adventure! We had the chance to try authentic dishes that we’d never seen in the U.S. The flavors were bold and varied, from the spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu to the savory dumplings in Xi’an. I particularly loved the Peking duck in Beijing—crispy, tender, and simply delicious. The variety of textures and flavors in Chinese cuisine was incredible, and I came home with a newfound appreciation for their culinary traditions.

Overall Experience

All in all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget. The sights, the food, the culture, and the wonderful people I met along the way all made this an unforgettable adventure. The expert guides and well-curated itinerary ensured that we didn’t just see China—we truly experienced it.

If you’re considering a trip to China, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Kimkim can help you design the best trip. I can’t wait to return someday!

Activity Reviews

Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine,Jinli with a Hot Pot Lunch

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Beauty of Longji Terraced Fields and Learn to Make Bamboo Tube Rice

Guilin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling and Rafting

China

We didn't get to cycle but the rafting was very fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at China's Most Picturesque River - Li River

China

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Yangshuo

Yangshuo

This was extemely fun! Well worth it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Highlights of Shanghai with Yu Garden and the Bund

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes

Xi'an

This was an enjoyable experience. The family opened their home and we had a lovely time.

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Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace

Beijing

We had a great day to visit the wall.

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Beijing – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven with Peking Duck Lunch

Beijing

Quality of Experience

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Transport

All of our guides were very good and spoke English well. They were each proud of their individual provinces and well informed about the history of the region. All worked hard to be a good guide and make happy memories for us. The choice to stay in 5 Star hotels was worth the price for the luxury but the Guilin Hotel was a 3.9 star in my opinion. The drivers and cars were all excellent! It helped to have a free day in Shanghai after arriving so late. The hotels in both Xi’an and Shanghai offered free laundry equipment for self use.

Hotel Reviews

Victoria Cruise (Executive Suite)

It’s a typical cruise with pandemonium because of the large crowds and a la carte service and upselling of services throughout the trip. The executive lounge dining included in the executive suite price was excellent as the second floor dining room was overcrowded. The included excursions were not remarkable but Ghost City and Feng Du Show that night were good values. The food was just okay even with the upgrade to the 6th floor dining area.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

MaxX By Steigenberger on the Bund Shanghai

Shanghai

The main problem was that the hotel had disengaged the cooling system in all the rooms. They offered an upgrade but it also had no cooling. The provision of a self serve laundry was exquisite. The location was excellent

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

No cooling in the rooms

Grand Hyatt Chengdu

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sheraton Guilin Hotel

Guilin

The hotel is out of date and was a 3.9 star rating at best. The Guilin Shangri La was reviewed highly by some fellow travelers

Authenticity & Character

Change the advertised rating until it upgrades everything

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Wyndham Grand Xian South

Xi'an

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

New World Beijing Hotel

Beijing

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Tongli Water Town (with boat cruise)

Suzhou

To fill out the charm of the experience, our guide took us into several homes, which had been converted to museums before getting us onto the wonderful boat ride experience. She gave us a lot of history about the customs of the region. It was a quieter, more laid-back rural experience than we had had in other places.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Pingjiang Road

Suzhou

We had a wonderful cultural experience in a restaurant on the road. At the end of this three week tour, it was a little bit redundant unavoidably because there are so many roads and hutongs and Muslim quarter places that are very similar packed with food vendors and hawkers.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Rickshaw Ride in Suzhou

Suzhou

The guide expertly picked a friend of hers that she has used for years to provide a unique China culture experience riding through the alleys of the town.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lingering Garden

Suzhou

It was very crowded and our guide was not lingering for pictures.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Nanjing Road

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Shanghai Tower

Shanghai

It was a unique lifetime experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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The bund

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

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Yuyuan Garden

Shanghai

It was a delightful experience with an excellent guide.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Shore excursion to the Three Gorges Dam/Option of Three Gorges Dam Ship Lift (RMB295/p.p)

China

Honestly, it was a little boring and felt like it was something that the government wanted to make sure that we saw so that we noted how wonderful they were. It is outstanding that they provided mass transportation with escalators to the top of the hill. Without that, the whole trip would not have been worth it.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Shore excursion to Shibaozhai/Option of visiting Fengdu Ghost City (RMB295/p.p).

China

We were glad that we chose the option to visit ghost city, and hear the stories from our guide. I noticed that you did not give the option for reviewing the show that night, which was a mistake on your part. That show in the evening about the three kings was probably the most outstanding theatrical performance I have seen in my many years of life. It was very exciting and was not to be missed by other future visitors.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cruise pier Transfer (Chongqing)

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Train station Transfer (Chongqing)

Chongqing

Our guide went above and beyond her assigned duty to help us be comfortable, experiencing the brief time we had there and getting some dinner before helping negotiate the arrival onto the cruise ship. She was helpful with communicating with the cruise ship people who were adamant about things which they were wrong about.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chengdu Kuan-zhai Lane

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Panda Breeding and Research Center

Chengdu

The crowds were overwhelming, and everyone was pushing to get a good photograph of the charming pandas. Our guide was adequate, but not outstanding. I don’t believe that there is anything that he could have done to help us get closer to the pandas for good photographs. I think that arriving early as we did probably helped us to see the pandas during their most active feeding time of the day.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yangshuo Countryside Visit

China

Our guide bravely accompanied two ancient and decrepit seniors on scooters which probably added years to her life, but subtracted years from ours. It was a delightful, fun and unique experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo

China

Our guide enthusiastically and patiently pointed out each point of interest that she felt that we would not want to miss including the view of the hills on the 20 Yuan Bill and interjected stories about each of those points of interest.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full-Day Private Tour: Longji Terraced Rice Fields and Ethnic Minority Culture

China

Our guide was patient and wonderful and lovingly presented this visual gift of the people and lifestyle of the area that is not usually seen by China tourists. The stories that the guide inserted were charming.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi'an

The colors, architectural design, and the historical stories were intriguing.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Cooking dumplings

Xi'an

This was a delightful and unexpected highlight of our experiences in Xi’an. The guide knew the woman who lived in the place where we made the dumplings and noodles and the whole cultural experience was joyful and wholesome.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Xian City Wall with Bicycle

Xi'an

Because of our age, we both have mobility restrictions so we chose to not do the bicycle tour. We did climb the steps successfully and were able to experience enough of the wall to be understanding the history and the architecture.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Terracotta Warriors

Xi'an

Despite the presence of the crowd and our early arrival, our guide was able to successfully direct us to a visual access of the warriors that we had not anticipated. We had hoped to get closer to them on the ground level, but that access was restricted many years ago.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

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Summer Palace with Boat Ride and the Garden of Virtue and Harmony

Beijing

The access to the upper area was closed because it was a Monday, but this did not detract from the overall enjoyment of the palace grounds.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

The Mutianyu Great Wall(with round way cable car)

Beijing

The offer of the cable car was a game changer! Thank you very much. The distance away from the city also helped to mitigate the crowd.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hutong Walking Tour in Dongcheng District

Beijing

We had gone to the most popular hutong Street the day before our tour so our guide took us to a different hutong area with a lake that was much nicer than the most popular street which was so packed with shops and food vendors. I would recommend that you take that Area as your first choice in the future.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Temple of Heaven

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Tiananmen Square

Beijing

The crowd was overwhelming on the day that we went, but our friend who went the next day found it almost empty.

Quality of Experience

It was an historic experience, but nothing artistically or architecturally impressive. The crowds were stifling.

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Forbidden City

Beijing

The crowd was overwhelming on the day we traveled, but the pictures from a friend who traveled the next day showed a much lower number of people.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport