I’ve been fortunate enough to have traveled to China several times in my life—and each of those visits has resulted in some truly unforgettable memories. And judging by the number of emails I received on the subject, I’m certainly not alone: From the heart-warming to the spiritual, many Grand Circle travelers have been moved by their encounters with this fascinating country and the wonderfully warm and welcoming people who call it home.
Mention China and many varied, beautiful, and demanding pictures come to my mind: Congested traffic with many hundreds of cars and bicycles intermingling. The bicycle may be carrying a well-dressed office worker or a mother with one or two children hanging on for dear life—even in the rain.
An early morning river float reveals distant pointed mountains peeking through the fog and a man diligently going about his fishing duties. This setting seemingly was painted just for me.
The awesomeness of the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors are not to be missed. But my favorite and forever remembered moment is a visit to the Ming Tombs, a burial place for ancient Chinese leaders, and the miles-long walk along its Sacred Way, where statues of their favorite animals stand guard yet today. The simple beauty here was transparent to the eyes, but the feeling of reverence, tranquility, and solitude made the living want to linger.
Another outstanding aspect of China is its people. Their street life is very busy and crowded. Many have to live their lives right THERE for all to see. Many hundreds work, eat and live ON the street. Their tiny smiles, often from quite wrinkly faces, and inquiring eyes make the visitor want to stay and talk.
China has SO much to offer and teach. I am glad that Grand Circle’s China & the Yangtze River CruiseTour—and an outstanding Program Director—made it possible for me to visit and learn about this land of contrasts.
Margaret M.
10-time traveler
Sun City, AZ
My husband, Al, and I loved our China & the Yangtze River vacation. Our Program Director, Lei, became an intimate connection into everyday life of the people in China. The itinerary included such a variety of historical sites and scenic wonders, and the time spent on several of the waterways gave us a glimpse of ancient China and a peek into the China yet to come.
The children of China, in particular, found their way into our hearts. We reveled at being spontaneously caught into conversation with youngsters who wished to “speak English” with us. We suffered the indignities of being thoroughly trounced by experienced little ping-pong players. We marveled at the abilities of young gymnasts, and giggled at the tiny soul who wanted to sell us little lights, saying over and over, “One yuan ...one yuan ...one yuan.”
When we returned home, Al consolidated our digital pictures into a slide show and included as background music the Andrew Lloyd Webber song “Love Changes Everything.” It was so emotional for me; I cried because I felt a wave of homesickness for the wonderful people with whom we had spent more than two weeks. The images seared in our souls are as vivid as the photos on our slide show.
Dorothy R.
9-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
Grand Island, NY
Dear Harriet:
Grand Circle and OAT are always our #1 choice for travel. For the price, we could not duplicate any of the trips we have taken since 2003 with your company. The quality, price, professional tour guides, and discoveries have always given us an excellent snapshot of the culture of each country we have visited.
Our China & the Yangtze River trip last month was the best planned trip we have taken with you … and our Program Director, Annie Zhai, is the ultimate and best tour director we have experienced with your company. She is well-schooled about the history of China and its people. Annie was extremely attentive to trip details and responded to each and every need of all passengers, using her superb people and problem-solving skills to keep the group working together as a family.
From the start, Annie emailed us prior to the trip to introduce herself and ask if we had any special requests or needs that she could address in order to make our trip as enjoyable as possible. No other Program Director has ever contacted us with inquiries before our trip departure. She met us at the airport; called our rooms at the hotels to make sure our accommodations were comfortable; checked to ensure that our meals were satisfactory; and inquired numerous times during the trip if there was anything she could do to make the trip more enjoyable.
Her excellent command of English and knowledge of Chinese and American cultures made the trip educational and comfortable. She has a wonderful sense of humor, is unflappable under stress, and adapts well to scheduling changes.
We believe our trip proved to be a successful and enjoyable one due to Annie’s abilities as our Program Director. Grand Circle is very fortunate to have an employee such as Annie Zhai.
My husband, Gerald, and I felt like we were leaving a daughter behind when we departed China. Our dear Annie has earned a place in our hearts and minds forever.
Kind regards,
Diana M.
11-time traveler & Vacation Ambassador
Fort Walton Beach, FL
Thank you so much, Margaret, Dorothy, and Diana, for taking the time to share your impressions of China with me! I’m delighted to hear how thoroughly you enjoyed your experiences with us—and am especially pleased to hear your kind words about our Program Directors.
As I’ve said before, I truly believe our guides are the best in the business, because they genuinely love what they do—and it shows. And because Grand Circle travelers are always interested in learning more about our Program Directors, I’m delighted to announce that we’ve created new pages on our website that provide more detailed and personal information about some of the talented women and men who lead our trips.