China/Tibet
The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River
Program No. 19406RJ
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The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River
The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River
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Participant Reviews
Based on 35 Reviews
SHOWING
This Best of China tour was a wonderful trip and the dream of a lifetime. It was more physically strenuous than I expected. The Great Wall was challenging. The stairs were uneven and often steep. There were some local women trying to help or sell us something. At first, I was annoyed, but I soon realized I needed help and was grateful for the woman who assisted me. Unless you’re really fit, I recommend letting one of them help you. Some wouldn’t take money but just wanted you to buy some souvenirs. I bought souvenirs from the woman who assisted me and also gave her a tip. Forget pride—take the help.
The Potala Palace in Lhasa at almost 12,000 ft. was especially demanding, and it’s not just the almost 500 steps to get to the palace. There are also as many steps inside, often steep and narrow. Then you have to go back down. I walk every day, had worked out on StairMaster to prepare, and am in pretty good shape. I did it and I was glad, but it about wiped me out for a couple of days.
For women, I would recommend taking some kind of stand-to-pee device. They are available where you get camping stuff. I’ve seen disposable ones, which would have been really handy. Most of the toilets in China are squat toilets. Sometimes there were western toilets also but not always (of course, our hotels had western style toilets). I had a terrible time trying to squat and pee (let alone anything else). I really wished I had known to bring something.
Something I hadn’t expected but deeply enjoyed was getting to know the other people in the group. We had time to visit traveling in between destinations, and I really enjoyed getting to talk to people in depth. That was an unexpected pleasure.
Overall, a wonderful experience! Highly recommended.
— Review left December 5, 2025
Friendly Tip for Anyone Traveling to China
We recently completed a wonderful China/Tibet journey, and I wanted to share one helpful heads-up for future travelers. China now enforces a security rule that any mobile charging device (power bank) without a “3C” certification mark will be confiscated at the airport.
We didn’t learn about this until it was too late, and all of our non-3C chargers were taken at Beijing Airport. To save yourself the inconvenience, make sure you pack only 3C-marked chargers or purchase compliant ones before you fly.
It’s a small thing, but knowing it ahead of time will make your trip smoother. Enjoy your travels—China is an incredible experience!
— Review left November 16, 2025
A wonderful, comprehensive tour to a fascinating country.
— Review left November 11, 2025
We had a great trip to China. Many people told us they wouldn't go to China and gave us the reasons why. Some of them were it's too: dirty, crowded, not safe etc. We didn't find any of those things. It was clean, felt very safe and the people were friendly and seemed very happy.
Our guide, Wentao, was great. He made sure we always knew what was going on and made the trip fun. Tibet was very interesting and unlike anywhere we have been. As usual we had a great group of other Road Scholars to travel with.
We highly recommend this trip.
— Review left November 11, 2025
A great tour made even better with a fantastic tour guide, Meimei. Meimei is more than perfect, extremely knowledgeable about the tour sites and Chinese history and society, a wonderful story teller, a very caring person and simply a joy to be with. She guided us in such a way that it was easy to visit all the sites and deal with all transportation issues with no problems at all. She gave great advice about optional activities during our free time. And best of all was her wonderful smile throughout the tour.
All the hotels were excellent, the food at restaurants very good, and the motorcoaches were comfortable. The bullet trains were very good too. The local guides were good and one in particular, Nancy at Xi’an was excellent. Her observations about life in China today were very enjoyable and interesting.
All the sites we visited were well worth seeing. I’ll just mention a few that I especially enjoyed. The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tian’anmen Square, the home of Song Qing Ling, the Terra Cotta Warriors, the traditional musical instruments performance in Luoyang, the Potala Palace Palace in Tibet, the pandas in Chongqing, and the Yangtze River cruise including the marvelous cruise sendoff from Chongquin. The cruise was so relaxing after our time in Tibet, perfect timing. Two visits to relocated families near the Three Gorges were fascinating and very informative. The trip up the mini-gorge Goddess Stream was amazing. And finally the Bund in Shanghai, especially the view from the Peace Hotel in the evening.
In summary, a great tour with a wonderful guide.
— Review left October 16, 2025
One of my favorites!
— Review left July 27, 2025
This was a great introduction to China and Tibet. There is so much there but this program provided a great overview of the deep history, the culture, and where modern China is today. We thoroughly enjoyed it.
— Review left June 5, 2025
This was a first-rate itinerary and over-all experience.
— Review left May 27, 2025
This was a great program that provides insights into Chinese history and contemporary life. It is an active program that requires a degree of physical stamina. It will open the eyes of many people from Western countries to contemporary Chinese life and culture.
— Review left May 13, 2025
If you have any desire to see the country of China, then take this trip. It covers all of the must-see sights and many more. The logistics alone make it worth not having to plan and execute on your own, plus Road Scholar experts take you further into the perspectives of yesterday’s and today’s China.
This tour is a comprehensive overview of the country. You’ll see modern cities with impressive skyscrapers and tour an historic old neighborhood of traditional 'hutongs' that date back to the Yuan dynasty as well as the Terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an and the Great Wall of China. With a great RS leader and excellent local guides, this journey is an amazing one. Professor Yang Hongying at Xi'an University was the highlight of the trip for me; her lecture was both fascinating and thought-provoking.
I have 3 pieces of advice for this tour: first, pack as light as you can. You will be schlepping all of your luggage across multiple train stations & airports and those aren’t short treks. Hopping on & off trains with large luggage was stressful and departures and arrivals, including the train arrival in Shanghai at 8:30 pm, will be demanding. Make it as easy on yourself as you can.
Second, make sure you are reasonably fit for this trip. You’ll be walking some great distances and up many stairs and down streets packed with people. This is a “keep the pace” trip and probably should be designated at a “let’s go” level, it is not an easy pace tour.
Third, if you are reasonably fit, then don’t skip the Potala Palace in Lhasa. It might look intimidating (the information packet says it is 458 steps up and down and various websites say as many as 2000) but it honestly isn’t as hard as it sounds and you can take it as slow as you like. This really is a must-see sight and you’ll be sorry if you talk yourself out of it, I promise.
China is making great strides in modernization, but the old ways still persist in many areas. See it while you can, I assure you it will be worth it.
— Review left May 12, 2025
I'm so glad I went on this trip. My family was a bit worried about me traveling to China, but there was no reason for them to worry as it turns out. We saw some wonderful sights and enjoyed many new experiences. Everyone we met was lovely and helpful. Many people were eager to say hello. I'm glad to have had this opportunity to learn more about China's history and life there today. It was enlightening and has altered my perceptions of the nation. Jerry was an outstanding guide, and as with all Road Scholar trips I have taken, my fellow travelers made the trip fun and interesting. Highly recommend!
— Review left May 10, 2025
This is a fabulous program, but keep in mind it is listed as keep the pace! If you are unable to walk 5+ miles daily and keep going for 3 weeks of 12+ hours a day, then I suggest you strongly re-consider your ability to keep the pace on this trip. Also be aware that the altitude in Tibet is to be taken seriously and you will notice it the minute you walk off the plane!
— Review left May 9, 2025
A great introduction to China and Tibet. A challenging program but well worth the effort for the many sites and experiences. A great group leader and fun group of travelers.
— Review left November 8, 2024
5 stars! This was a fabulous, all encompassing trip. We saw all the highlights: Great Wall, Tiannamen Square, terracotta warriors, Forbidden City, Three Gorges (and the dam), Chinese acrobats, Silk museum (and buying op), Tibet, bullet trains, 3 day river cruise on the Yangtze River. Conversations with guides, lectures at a university, visits to locals and our independent explorations of shops, metro and restaurants allowed us a full picture of China, its history, its politics and its place in the world. We never felt unsafe. Google translator was helpful on the few occasions where we had difficulty communicating. The Chinese people are warm and welcoming. The food was superb. In Tibet, yak meat is delicious. We traveled from May 8 - 28 and had maybe 1/2 day of rain total. Overall delightful weather -- warm, dry and comfortable. Be sure to pack shorts & short sleeves. Maybe a light jacket for this time of year in Tibet.
— Review left June 19, 2024
This is a very interesting and varied program. It also requires a lot of walking and climbing steps, not just in Tibet but getting on and off the boat on the Yangtze River. In the spring the water level is low and the boat is down in the water. If steps bother you, consider a trip in the Fall when the river level is higher.
— Review left May 30, 2024
I recently came back from The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River. This trip was amazing! The amount of places we went to, along with the first rate food and accommodations was fantastic. The tour guides were very nice and knowledgeable, and their helpfulness outstanding. The river cruise was very relaxing. Although there was an outing everyday away from the ship I decide to stay in and enjoy their very affordable pampering services, like massage, facial, and even acupuncture. I felt great and rejuvenated. The Chinese people were friendly, respectful and curious everywhere we went as it turns out they hardly see westerners. I always felt safe. I truly recommend this trip as it was worth every penny and more.
— Review left May 28, 2024
My best travel experience with Road Scholar yet! A once in a lifetime experience led by a wonderfield Guide, ¨Jerry,´ yielding a greater appreciation of ancient China´s cultural legacy and the more modern People´s Republic of Chain.
— Review left May 19, 2024
Overall, a very good trip. Our leader was exceptional! Some of our group felt there was too much planned, but it is advertised as a fast pace schedule. I do, however, feel that the travel day to Tibet should be evaluated. We were told to take it slow and easy as we adapted to the elevation change, only to have a full and busy itinerary upon arrival in Lhasa. The hotel in Tibet, while nice, was not convenient and the meals were cold and unappealing. This did not ruin the trip and is the first criticism I've had in my four RS trips.
My experience in making travel arrangements, unfortunately, may impact future travel with your company. On all of my trips I have requested round trip arrangements from my home airport. In making travel plans for China, it took many weeks and hours on the phone to get flights. When flights were finally booked, RS changed my request and only booked round trip from SFO. I booked flights from my home airport. Since I had to connect through Denver, which always has delays, I booked longer layovers to avoid any trip interruption that would not be covered by RS. I spent almost 12 extra hours going to and an overnight coming home in the SFO airport. Not happy that my request was changed, and I will not travel this way again.
— Review left May 16, 2024
On my trip to China, I watched others in the group change the assumptions they arrived with about China, to a deep awe and appreciation of the country and what it has accomplished since 1949.
— Review left May 11, 2024
The visit to China and Tibet was unforgettable and we were very well-cared for by Road Scholar.
— Review left May 10, 2024
This program rates a 10. It is fabulous. The WOW factor is amazing but be prepared for lots of walking and stairs. Once you get to Beijing there are 3 bullet trains, two flights and a boat ride in your future. Keep your passport ready as it seems it is checked everywhere.
— Review left November 18, 2023
A great introduction to China, Tibet and the wonderful people we met on the journey. A good balance of historical sites and meeting and learning from the people of China. It’s a whirlwind trip that I won’t soon forget.
— Review left September 26, 2023
Wentao, our guide from beginning to end, often went the extra mile in both accommodating individuals and in sharing information with a sense of humor.
The accommodations were all very nice.
The food tended to be fairly similar day to day. On the other hand, it was well prepared and tastey.
I really appreciated the contrast between China and Tibet.
— Review left December 3, 2019
The trip was fantastic and our guide, Mr. Liu, was exceptional!
— Review left September 26, 2019
It was a fabulous trip and it exceeded my expectations. Wentao was an outstanding guide and was very attentive to each of us. The food, activities, and hotels were great. I was able to participate in all the activities. I liked the speakers and the places we went
— Review left July 14, 2019
This was an excellent overview trip to see China. The Tibet stay was especially interesting. Our guide WenTao was a perfect companion and shared many insights and information. I loved the food...although my husband (a meat and potato man) less so. To see so much of China and to consider the history really made me think a great deal about what the future may hold for US/China relations. Just what a RoadScholar trip should do...expand the intellectual horizon!! If you are interested in China this trip is great. Our accommodations were really good and our guide was a gem. The organization of the trip and visits to local people were fascinating. It is not too strenuous a trip but you need to be a bit surefooted and have some energy. We were on the go alot. That being said I was probably the least fit of all but did fine. I did have some altitude headache and did not hike up the Portola...but that did not detract from my enjoyment of Tibet at all. I would recommend reading some history..especially regarding from the fall of the Quing to the death of Mao. It really helps to understand the incredible progress in China has made....and to ponder the future! Another really great RoadScholar trip!!!!
— Review left June 14, 2019
Our 21 day tour to China with Road Scholar exceeded all expectations. They helped us experience the beauty, culture and history of China with excellent logistics, interactive activities, educational presentations, and a superb group leader. Our group of 17 was fun, interesting and interested. We thoroughly enjoyed every aspect!
— Review left June 2, 2019
The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and Yangtze River gets a 5 star rating from me and our tour guide was AWESOME!
— Review left May 30, 2019
Fine, except I could not go back to fill in sections I originally skipped.
— Review left May 26, 2019
The Best of China: Imperial Capitals, Tibet and the Yangtze River trip was a wonderful experience. It was my first Road Scholar trip and it was everything I hoped it would be. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to have taken this trip with either.
— Review left May 25, 2019
I can't imagine that a fuller experience of China is possible in three weeks time. The tour involved traditional sight-seeing, personal encounters with Chinese individuals, an amazing guide (Mr. Liu), diverse cultural activities and varied modes of transportation, all combined into a well-rounded package. The challenging logistics were smoothly effected. Two special challenges on this particular tour: Tibet's altitude and (for women) the squat toilets (although westernized versions are becoming more common).
— Review left May 24, 2019
If interested in a comprehensive "highlights" tour of China within a reasonable time period, this program is for you! Be prepared for some moderately strenuous physical activity at times (walking distances, multiple steps, high altitudes). Hu Lin is an excellent tour leader.
— Review left May 19, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this program. It was well-planned and executed with good educational content. would strongly recommend it, especially if Hu Lin is your guide!
— Review left May 17, 2019
An amazing trip led by an extremely knowledgeable and personable guide, Mr. Liu. We saw all of the historical sites described in the itinerary, given context by Mr. Liu's commentary and the commentary of the local guides. Especially memorable were the visits with people along the way: families in a Beijing hotung, in a farming village by Xi'an, in a Tibetan semi-nomad village, and a displaced family along the Yangtze; and several students and teachers in a middle school and a university. Lectures on Chinese and Tibetan history, art, religion and medicine gave further interpretative context to what we experienced. And, as always with Road Scholar trips, our fellow traveling group was filled with interesting and interactive people. As we learned to say in Chinese, the whole trip was "ding ding hao"!
— Review left May 15, 2019
This China trip a must for anyone seeking an exciting, interesting, comprehensive overview of China
— Review left May 15, 2019