Custom Private Tours in China

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Meet our Local Travel Specialists

Experienced travel agents with a passion for China
Travel specialist Heidi Jiang
active 32 mins ago

Heidi Jiang

For the past fifteen years I have accompanied many private groups to most places of China and also some other southeast Asian countries which makes me understand the first information traveler...

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Travel specialist Carol Wang
active 4 hours ago

Carol Wang

My name is Carol Wang, a travel advisor from China Highlights Travel. I have worked as a travel advisor for 15 years and helped 3200+ people plan their dream vacations, whether it's a romantic...

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Travel specialist Angel Tang
active 6 mins ago

Angel Tang

I love exploring and have been traveling in Asian countries for more than fifteen years. As a Japan specialist, I have a deep affection for this country and I will use my knowledge and expertise to...

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Travel specialist Sandy Ren
active 39 mins ago

Sandy Ren

I have been working as a travel specialist since graduating from college twenty years ago. Travel is my lifelong passion. It was such a thrilling thing to venture into a new world full of unknown...

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Trip Reviews for China

The latest reviews by travelers who booked their trip on kimkim

Our family had some great time in China. The ...
China | Apr 19 - May 2, 2025

Branka
Branka J.
Austria | Reviewed on May 11, 2025
Our family had some great time in China. The planning of the trip with Heidi was seamless, she was working with us through various scenarios to build the final itinerary. Once in Hong Kong our guide Anne took wonderful care of us taking us to markets, city sights, small snack places and giving advice on spots to visit on our self guided tour days. Zhangjiajie was scenic but very crowded especially in National Forest Park while at least walking in the Grand Canyon one could feel the nature a... Read more

Our family had some great time in China. The planning of the trip with Heidi was seamless, she was working with us through various scenarios to build the final itinerary. Once in Hong Kong our guide Anne took wonderful care of us taking us to markets, city sights, small snack places and giving advice on spots to visit on our self guided tour days. Zhangjiajie was scenic but very crowded especially in National Forest Park while at least walking in the Grand Canyon one could feel the nature a bit better; also the glass bridge, the zip line and the slide were fun for the kids (and the parents:-)). In Xi'an we loved the terracotta warriers; the exhibits in the museum are fascinating. Also the cycling on the old city wall was great as was the dumpling making class in a home of a local - both for the food as well as to see how the locals live. The guide Jessica took great care of us there. Beijing has shown all the versatility of a capital - Tiananmen square and the Forbidden city, Summer palace and temples on one side, the modern architecture of the Bird's Nest stadium, the Watercube, Galaxy Soho or the 798 Art Zone on the other side. Seamless public transport, great food, real feel of the megalopolis. And the Great wall really leaves you breathless. Our Beijing guide Alice provided a lot of information on the city, country, history, culture. Great trip alltogether; lots to see, many reasons to return. Thanks to kimkim/Odynovo team for the support during the trip.

Hotel Reviews
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing
Beijing

a bit older hotel already, but great location

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Xi'an Eastern House Boutique Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hampton by Hilton Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

New, large rooms, comfortable.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Full Day Great Wall and Olympic Park Tour
Full Day Great Wall and Olympic Park Tour
Beijing

The Wall is great and a must see. We went to Juyongguan area of the wall as the traffic to Mutianye was very heavy due to public holiday; this was a bit closer and less busy. The guide and the agency were very flexible to move the trip for a day due to some health issues on our side, which we appreciated.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Beijing Highlights and Hutong Culture
Beijing Highlights and Hutong Culture
Beijing

The Forbidden city and the Tiananmen square are fascinating. Thanks to our guide Alice for getting us into the square really fast. Visit to hutong with small rishaw tour and a local food in one of the hutong dumpling places was great.

Food
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit Muslim Quarter & Enjoy a Shadow Puppet Show
Visit Muslim Quarter & Enjoy a Shadow Puppet Show
Xi'an

Really nice to walk the Muslim quarter with all the food stalls and to see the puppet show. Having bit more time for trying food would be great.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Half Day City Tour with  South Gate Old City Wall
Half Day City Tour with South Gate Old City Wall
Xi'an

Really impressive city wall and a nice bike ride around it. Fascinating to see girls and ladies taking photos in the old traditional costumes. As we went for a Tang dinasty show, we did not have time for a Shanxi museum.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes
Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes
Xi'an

We really liked going to a home of a local person to see how people live. We liked the class and the lady preparing the good but have not really had time to work the whole preparation adn cooking process. ideally a longer cooking course is organized so some other meals could be prepared too.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Visit the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Visit the Museum of Qin Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses
Xi'an

Really fascinating exhibition - both the warriors as well as chariots - both halls as well as the area around.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain
Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain
Zhangjiajie

The Grand Canyon was better than the Great Forest Park - less crowded though busy. Walk in the Great canyon gorge was feeling more natural, and also the glass bridge, zip line and slide were fun for family, though very arranged. We missed the timing to catch the cable car to Tianmen mountain - here better time management through the day by the guide would be expected. If the crowds on Tianmen mountaing were as they were the day before in National forest park, then we would not like the experience. We suggest kimkim clarifies the guest preferences when planning for visiting nature parks so expectations are clear.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
better time management,
Transport
Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie

The nature at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is fascinating, but the issue is the crowds and the noise they produce. One can't really feel the nature, a lot of tourist groups with guides with loud loudspeakers.

Quality of Experience
not taking the guests to the areas where all the crowds go. Select less visited paths if possible.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Better prepare the traveller to know what to expect in terms of crowds, as we would have changed the itinerary if we had more information.
Transport
Go Yum Cha in Hong Kong: Feast on a Sumptuous Dim Sum Meal
Go Yum Cha in Hong Kong: Feast on a Sumptuous Dim Sum Meal
Hong Kong

It was very interesting to go for dim sum to a place where locals go.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Family Adventure in Hong Kong
Family Adventure in Hong Kong
Hong Kong

It was a nice day, we loved the Victoria Peak, the tram ride, the Star ferry and the Mid level Escalator area; ideally we had bit more time in Central market and at Victoria Peak, We loved the dumpling and cream cake shops.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Local specialist: Heidi Jiang
Heidi
Heidi Jiang
Local specialist in China | Replied on May 12, 2025
Hi Branka,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful travel experience with us!
It brings us great joy to hear that your family had a memorable time exploring China. I'm delighted to know that the trip planning process was smooth and collaborative, and that you enjoyed working with me to create your customized itinerary. Your kind words about our local guides—Anne in Hong Kong, Jessica in Xi’an, and Alice in Beijing—mean a lot. We’re thrilled they were able to enhance your journey with... Read more

Hi Branka,
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful travel experience with us!

It brings us great joy to hear that your family had a memorable time exploring China. I'm delighted to know that the trip planning process was smooth and collaborative, and that you enjoyed working with me to create your customized itinerary.

Your kind words about our local guides—Anne in Hong Kong, Jessica in Xi’an, and Alice in Beijing—mean a lot. We’re thrilled they were able to enhance your journey with their care, knowledge, and enthusiasm. It’s especially heartening to hear that both adults and kids enjoyed the mix of cultural, scenic, and fun activities—whether it was cycling on Xi’an’s city wall, walking the Grand Canyon in Zhangjiajie, or experiencing Beijing’s rich history and modern vibe.

We truly appreciate your thoughtful reflections and are grateful for the opportunity to be part of your family’s adventure. Thank you again for choosing us, and we would be absolutely thrilled to welcome you back for another journey in the future!

Warm regards,
Heidi

China Highlights
China | Apr 18 - Apr 28, 2025

Dawn
Dawn D.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on May 06, 2025
The trip was perfect. It just kept getting better. The variety of activities and the guides were the real standouts. Most of the drivers were very good; one was a bit scary and it was obvious he smoked because the car would wreak a bit when we got in. One guide, Bobo (sp?) picked us up at the airport in Beijing because our guide was busy. We saw him the next day and said "hi," and he pretty much ignored us; same thing when we ran into him again the day after. Seems he could have been a... Read more

The trip was perfect. It just kept getting better. The variety of activities and the guides were the real standouts. Most of the drivers were very good; one was a bit scary and it was obvious he smoked because the car would wreak a bit when we got in. One guide, Bobo (sp?) picked us up at the airport in Beijing because our guide was busy. We saw him the next day and said "hi," and he pretty much ignored us; same thing when we ran into him again the day after. Seems he could have been a little friendlier. The hotel in Shanghai was the best of the bunch. The hotel in Guilin was a good location, but the breakfast was a zoo. The elevators were so crowded it would take a long time just to get downstairs. Nina, Jacob and Li were awesome. We only spent one day w/ Roy. He was good too, but didn't have the same connection w/ him.

All-in-all, a great trip and I would highly recommend Kimkim.

Hotel Reviews
Sunrise On The Bund

Good location, good breakfast and nice toilet.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Moondance Resort
Guilin

Nice countryside location, but no so convenient to the town. The room itself was nice w/ the balcony and large bathroom, but is dangerous, especially for older people who get up during the night. The bed on the floor doesn't help and the stairs down to the toilet are a fall hazard. Breakfast was the worst of all the properties. It was very small and boring.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Guilin Lijiang Waterfall Hotel

I guess the location was good, but the elevators were so bad they are the most memorable part of the stay, and not in a good way. Breakfast was so-so; very crowded and avg. food.

Authenticity & Character
Big hotel, not so authentic and no character
Location
On the water
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Hilton Garden Inn Xi'an Bell Tower

Good location and nice property. Breakfast was adequate.

Authenticity & Character
I don't really recall, but nothing noteworthy.
Location
Staff
Nothing great, nothing bad.
Cleanliness & Comfort
SSAW Garden Hotel Beijing
Beijing

Great location. Room and facilities were fine.

Authenticity & Character
Location
Great restaurants nearby.
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Activity Reviews
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower
Shanghai

Loved it

  The Shanghainese People's Secret Recipe
The Shanghainese People's Secret Recipe
Shanghai

Didn't do this. Went to Jewish quarter instead. That was great.

Yangshuo Chinese Cookery Class
Yangshuo Chinese Cookery Class
Yangshuo

Jenny at Cloud Nine was great. She made it fun and the food was tasty.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
China

So beautiful

Quality of Experience
Food
Boat food is boat food.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Full-Day Private Tour: Longji Terraced Rice Fields and Ethnic Minority Culture
Full-Day Private Tour: Longji Terraced Rice Fields and Ethnic Minority Culture
China

The topography and scenery were amazing.

Quality of Experience
Li knows so much it was wonderful sharing this w/ him. The restaurant was in a great location and the food was good.
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Mr. Lee was a great driver.
Transport
Cooking dumplings
Cooking dumplings
Xi'an

Just like making the warriors, didn't sound exciting, but enjoyed it a lot and the food was great. I really like that Jacob had so many good relationships w/ the people we met.

Quality of Experience
Ancient City Wall
Ancient City Wall
Xi'an

Wanted to ride bikes, but didn't have one small enough for my friend. We tried the tandem and then they couldn't raise the seat to accommodate me (and I'm only 5'5"). The bike rental people couldn't have cared less. We ended up walking and went to an adjacent park that was lovely. Jacob did a great pivot here.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Same as before; Jacob great, John so-so
Learn How to Make Terracotta Warriors from Local Artisans
Learn How to Make Terracotta Warriors from Local Artisans
Xi'an

This originally didn't sound so exciting, but I loved it. Our warriors are on our bookshelf and are a fond memory of the experience.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Jacob great, John so-so
Transport
Driver was a smoker so car wreaked a bit. He was not a good driver.
Terracotta Warriors
Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an
Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Guide Jacob was awesome; driver only gets an "ok."
Transport
Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
Beijing

Great being there.

Quality of Experience
Guides, Drivers and Staff
Transport
Bejing Train Station Private Transfer
Beijing

Didn't take the train.

Local specialist: Carol Wang
Carol
Carol Wang
Local specialist in China | Replied on May 07, 2025
Hi. Dawn
Thank you for your valuable feedback! I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and found the variety of activities and our guides to be highlights.
I appreciate your comments about the drivers and will address the concerns regarding the one who was less pleasant. I am also sorry to hear about your experience with Bobo. I'll take this feedback on board to ensure that all our guides provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests. It's great to know that you enjoyed... Read more

Hi. Dawn
Thank you for your valuable feedback! I am delighted to hear that you enjoyed the trip and found the variety of activities and our guides to be highlights.

I appreciate your comments about the drivers and will address the concerns regarding the one who was less pleasant.

I am also sorry to hear about your experience with Bobo. I'll take this feedback on board to ensure that all our guides provide a warm and welcoming atmosphere for our guests.

It's great to know that you enjoyed the hotel in Shanghai and the location of the hotel in Guilin, though I apologize for the breakfast situation. I have told my customer-care team about it, and they will look into ways to improve this for future guests.

Thank you again for your insights. I hope to welcome you back soon!

We did a 5 city tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Cheng...
China | Dec 19 - Jan 3, 2025

I
Irene and Ray C.
Newark, NJ | Reviewed on Jan 23, 2025
We did a 5 city tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, and Shanghai. Carol and the China Highlights team was amazing. They arranged for all lodging, transportation, and coordinated private tour guides for each city. We setup our itinerary so that each day had an anchor event or two, and we had flexibility to work with the guide in the evening plans. Here were a few highlights along with our guide name. We recommend all of them highly and would request them again. 1.... Read more

We did a 5 city tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, and Shanghai.

Carol and the China Highlights team was amazing. They arranged for all lodging, transportation, and coordinated private tour guides for each city. We setup our itinerary so that each day had an anchor event or two, and we had flexibility to work with the guide in the evening plans.

Here were a few highlights along with our guide name. We recommend all of them highly and would request them again.

1. Beijing - guide was Sally. We ventured to the Forbidden City, Tianamen Square, Great Wall, Hutong Village, Olympic Village, et al. She was extremely thoughtful and had great food recommendations as well

2. Xi’an - Jenny was an amazing guide, high energy and extremely knowledgeable. We saw the terracotta warriors, bike riding the old city walls, shopping and snacking through the Muslim quarter and more.

3. Chengdu - Helen guided us through the Panda base where we saw some of the new baby pandas in their habitat, the Leshan Buddha, evening show with changing masks and we had to have Sichuan local hot pot as well!

4. Guilin/Yangshuo - William did an amazing job showing us around the beautiful countryside via scooter. We also visited the Reed flute cave and elephant rock. The river cruise was great and we had many great local meals.

5. Shanghai - our last stop was with Kris. He took us on a full day tour starting at Shanghai Tower, eating local cuisine at Nanjing road then walking down to the Bund. We also took some time on our own in the French quarter.

Overall a wonderful trip. Highly recommend!

Hotel Reviews
HUALUXE Shanghai Twelve At Hengshan
Shanghai
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Yangshuo Riverside Retreat Hotel
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Shangri-la Hotel Guilin
Guilin
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Grand Hyatt Chengdu
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Wyndham Grand Xian South
Xi'an

Amazing location and busy street behind was fun to hang out at night!

Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
New World Beijing Hotel
Beijing
Authenticity & Character
Location
Staff
Cleanliness & Comfort
Local specialist: Carol Wang
Carol
Carol Wang
Local specialist in China | Replied on Jan 24, 2025

Hi, Irene and Ray.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with us!

It’s fantastic to know that China Highlights team and I provided amazing support by arranging your lodging, transportation, and coordinating private tour guides for each city.

We appreciate you highlighting your guides in the 5-city tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, and Shanghai. Thank you for your high recommendations! I am delighted that you had a wonderful trip and look forward to helping you plan your next adventure.

Carol

Why travelers love kimkim

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