Hi Aida,
I highly recommend Tour-Beijing. We visited China in November 2003 just before Thanksgiving and had a wonderful trip. I arranged an itinerary with them before leaving and made final adjustments once we were there. They were prompt, courteous, professional and very accommodating with our 'customized' itinerary. I purchased a package deal with hotel and air that didn't include daily tours and decided to find a local tour agency. I found Tour-Beijing on the web using google. As it was my second trip to Beijing I wanted the flexibility to re-visit some of the main sights but I also wanted tour service that would provide me the opportunity to discover more of beijing off the main tourist path. They level of service was excellent, and I felt very comfortable knowing I could depend on them with making and providing all of our travel arrangements.
I contacted Tour-Beijing directly via email and sent them my travel dates and a rough itinerary. After visiting their web sight I modified some of the details to include a weekend trip to Chufu and Mnt Taishan (for me this was the highlight of the trip). If this is your first trip to Beijing I'd reccommend starting with a private tour guide following on a city tour. They offer group city tours but having your own tour guide makes a world of difference. Main attractions visited on the city tour are Tianamen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and Temple of Heaven. The second tour I reccommend is a group tour to The Great Wall and the Ming Tombs, ask before and make sure they take you to the Badaling section which has more tourists for a reason. In addition I'd reccomend a tour of the Hutangs (traditional neighborhoods), and some of the lesser visited sights including the White Pagoda or Mongal Temple and definitely the Llama Temple, and if you have time the 5 Pagoda Temple where they house the ancient stone carving museum. As for evening entertainment definitely plan on visiting the Peking Opera, Chinese acrobats and Peking Duck dinner. We had enough time to spend a weekend in the country and opted to take the overnight train to Chufu and Mnt Taishan, this was the best part of our trip. If you go you must ask for Hope as your tour guide (Ma Jun in chinese), as she is a remarkable young lady, well informed, courteous and very professional. While in Beijing Daniel helped us with all of our arrangements and did an excellent job.
I hope this information helps. If you have any questions feel free to drop me a msg.
Sincerely,
Joe Fortier
Senior Bond Trader - Fixed Income Trading
Capital Markets & Trading
Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.
Joseph.Fortier@schwab.com
Zhangjiajie Hiking and Fenghuang Village Trekking 5 Days Tour
Tour Reviews: Zhangjiajie: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain, the Golden Whip Stream Canyon(Jin Bian Xi), cruise on Baofeng lake, Junsheng Sandstone Painting Gallery Fenghuang: Fenghuang Ancient Town, boat cruise in the beautiful Tuo River Way of Travel: Private transfer + private car or van + hotels + private local tour guides + entrance fees + Meals as listed + intercity transportation Departure Date:Daily
Day by day Itinerary: Day 01: Arrive Zhangjiajie
Met and transferred to your hotel. Free for rest of the time.
Stay at Tianzi Grand Hotel
Day 02: Zhangjiajie ( B L D )
Take Bailong cliff lift to Yuanjiajie, amazed by the unique scene of sandstone peaks, visit Enchanting Stage (Mihun Tai), No.1 Bridge on the earth(natural bridge formed by two mountains), take shuttle bus to Tianzi Mountain, visit West Sea sandstone forest, Imperial Brush Pen Peaks(Yu Bi Feng) then take a cable car down the mountain. Stay at Tianzi Grand Hotel
Day 03: Zhangjiajie ( B L D )
Morning walk in the Golden Whip Stream Canyon(Jin Bian Xi), breath in the fresh air, feast eyes on the grotesque peaks and abundant vegetation. Have a boat cruise on Baofeng lake. Enjoying Tujia Minority Sing and dancing and visiting family museum(Xiu Hua Shan Guan) or Tujia Folk Park.
Stay at Tianzi Grand Hotel
Day 04: Zhangjiajie - Fenghuang by road ( B L D )
Drive to Fenghuang Ancient Town(about 4 hours),visit Famous spots in the town (including a boat cruise in the beautiful Tuo River, appreciate the unique architecture of local people, taste the culture of Miao minority people)
Stay at Tianxia Fenghuang Hotel
Day 05: Exit from Zhangjiajie ( B L )
Drive back to Zhangjiajie, Visit Junsheng Sandstone Painting Gallery, appreciate the unique art of sandstone painting. Late afternoon fly to your next destination, wave goodbye to Zhangjiajie. B-breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
Tour Quotations (based on per person and quoted in US dollars)
Double Occupancy: USD 580 ( two travellers share one room )
Single Occupancy:USD 690 ( one traveller shares one room )
Remark: the tour price above is based on minimum two travellers.
Price inclusion:
1. All transfer and city transportation
2. Entrance fees
3. Meals listed as B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner
4. Local English speaking tour guide
5. Hotels ( two sharing room ) with breakfast
Price exclusion:
1. Personal expenses: the items of personal nature such as drinks, laundry, FAX, telephone, excess baggage charges.
2. Insurance coverage of personal loss, illness or damages incurred during your trip
3. Tips to the tour guide and driver
To learn more about our terms and conditions for quotation, reservation, payment and cancellation, please click here. Remark: The tour above is exclusively made for you without any other travellers taking part in the tour. If you have any special request, please contact our travel expert. You are also welcome to send us your tailor-made tour plan by filling the online travel form.
Tour Reviews:
Day by day Itinerary:
Stay at Tianzi Grand Hotel 
Famous spots in the town (including a boat cruise in the beautiful Tuo River, appreciate the unique architecture of local people, taste the culture of Miao minority people)
