The Icons of China trip in Ap/May 2013 was one I'll remember forever! The accommodations, itinerary and variety of activities created an experience that surpassed many of my other international travel adventures. I learned so much about China...history, art, geography, culture, lifestyles and personal stories came together in a way that created a broad understanding of this place. I came away with a much deeper appreciation for the culture and expression of the parts of China we experienced, along with a strong interest in learning more and watching China change over the coming years. Our guide, Mr. Liu, was absolutely professional, enthusiastic and unflagging in his energy and enthusisasm for making our trip the best it could possibly be. I highly recommend this trip, and look forward to my next Road Scholar adventure.

I have wanted to go to China all my life since I read a slim book about a young girl who sacrificed her life building the Great Wall… very romantic and sad for a young reader. Also there was Pearl Buck's, "The Good Earth," which I read several times. My trip showed the new China, not the old repressive China, a country of bustling, cosmopolitan, forward-looking cities. The people I met were friendly, and the new buildings architecturally beautiful. We saw many of the old sites China is famous for: the Great Wall, and the Forbidden City, as well as the 3 Gorges dam, pandas, Tianenmen Square, a ride in a sampan and a cruise on the Yangtze. Our tour group was only 9 people; we are grateful that Road Scholar chose not to cancel the tour, but let us go ahead with it. It was a whirlwind tour: 4 plane rides, 6 hotels and the most fantastic, funny, caring, well-informed guide."