My Experience
Before I travelled to China, I thought I had a fairly good idea of what to expect.
I was wrong.
What Wendy Wu showed me was a China that was far more diverse, modern, welcoming and fascinating than I had imagined. Yes, there were the iconic sights I expected to see, but the things that really stayed with me were the experiences in between, the local guides, the food, the people, the little details and the feeling that we weren’t simply being taken from one attraction to the next.
As someone who works in travel, that’s what really impressed me.
Wendy Wu didn’t just show me China. They showed me China through the eyes of the people who live there.
From the moment we arrived, everything was taken care of
One of the biggest things I noticed throughout the trip was just how easy Wendy Wu made everything.
Once we arrived, we didn’t have to worry about the logistics. Transfers, hotels, trains, sightseeing, meals and the day-to-day details were all seamlessly organised.
That might sound simple, but when you’re travelling through a country as vast and unfamiliar as China, it makes an enormous difference. I confess, I do not know much Chinese at all!
Instead of worrying about how we were going to get somewhere, where we needed to be or what happened next, we could simply enjoy the experience and take in the culture.
The guides were exceptional, in particular Addison, who followed us the entire way.
For me, the guides were one of the real highlights of the entire journey. They were local, knew the region well and had fun with us – no white flag following.
Our guides weren’t simply there to point out a landmark and tell us when to meet back at the bus. They brought China to life.
They gave us context, explained the history and culture, answered our endless questions and, importantly, helped us understand what we were actually seeing.
There was also a real sense that they wanted us to experience their country rather than simply photograph it. That made a huge difference.
As mentioned, we had different local guides throughout the journey, and each brought their own personality and knowledge to the experience. They knew the destinations intimately and seemed to have an instinct for the little things that could turn a good day into a great one.
And because Wendy Wu had everything so well organised, the guides could concentrate on what they do best showing us their China.
We saw some of China’s most spectacular attractions, but it never felt like it
Arrive. Take photo. Get back on the bus. Next attraction.
Instead, there was time to understand the places we visited.
We often arrived early, before the biggest crowds, which made a remarkable difference.
At the famous Glass Bridge in Zhangjiajie, for example, getting there early meant we could actually enjoy the experience rather than simply being swept along with thousands of other visitors. The same applied at other major attractions.
At Tianmen Mountain, we made our way right to the top, but on our way back down, we noticed a swell of crowds filling the area as we began to leave for our next spot.
It sounds like a small detail, but these are the little differences that make a touring experience feel special.
Zhangjiajie. Was just.. wow! and a landscape I wasn’t expecting
Zhangjiajie was one of the destinations I was most excited about, particularly because of its connection to the landscapes that inspired Avatar.
Nothing really prepares you for seeing those enormous sandstone pillars rising out of the ground. We travelled up the Bailong Elevator and explored the mountains and viewpoints.
The scenery was spectacular.
But what I really appreciated was the way the experience was put together.
We had local guides explaining what we were seeing, time to explore and experiences built into the itinerary that allowed us to really enjoy the destination. They even had photos from Avatar at the spots they were filmed so you could see the movie and then look up to see the real location, small things, but not something I would have ever found myself.
Food became part of the adventure!
I’ll admit that before travelling to China, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was going to make of the food. I know what we have here in Australia, so there was excitement, but also a little apprehension.
That concern disappeared pretty quickly. The food throughout the trip was fantastic.
And importantly, it wasn’t just Westernised versions of Chinese food designed to make tourists comfortable.
We were eating local food, in local restaurants and experiencing the cuisine as part of the destination.
From Chinese BBQ to Chongqing hotpot, every meal became another opportunity to experience the country. Wendy Wu made sure there was incredible variety, and I was constantly surprised by just how good everything was.
For me, that’s an important part of travelling. Food shouldn’t simply be something you have while you’re sightseeing. Food is part of the sightseeing and Wendy Wu made that part of the experience.
Chongqing. A city that left me surprised!!
If there was one destination that completely challenged my expectations, it was Chongqing.
It’s enormous, futuristic and unlike almost anywhere I’ve travelled. I felt like I was inside a sci-fi movie.
Buildings, elevated roads, monorails, bridges and streets seem to exist on completely different levels. Entering a building you thought was the ground floor, that turned out to be 15 stories up.
It genuinely feels like you’ve stepped into the future.
We saw the famous Liziba Station, where the monorail passes directly through a residential building, explored the city and experienced Chongqing after dark from the river. It truly felt like something you’ve never seen before.
And then there was the food.
Chongqing hotpot is an experience in itself, with a bubbling pot of broth in the middle of the table and an incredible selection of meats, seafood and vegetables to cook. This was China presented to us in a way that only the locals would know how.
Again, it wasn’t simply about visiting a famous attraction.It was about experiencing the city.
Some of my favourite memories weren’t necessarily the biggest attractions; they were the moments when we were simply experiencing everyday China
Walking through old towns, watching locals go about their day, eating in local restaurants and exploring markets.
We were constantly discovering places that I probably wouldn’t have found if I had travelled independently and simply followed a standard tourist checklist.
That’s where I think Wendy Wu really stands apart. They have the knowledge and relationships on the ground to take you beyond the obvious. You’re still seeing the big-ticket sights, but you’re also getting the opportunity to understand the destination.
The hotels were another pleasant surprise
After long days exploring, having a really good hotel to come back to made a big difference.
The hotels throughout the itinerary were comfortable and well located, giving us a great base from which to explore each destination. It meant we could have a full day of sightseeing, enjoy dinner and then return somewhere comfortable without having to think about what we had to do next as Wendy Wu had taken care of it.
And then there’s the bullet train…
Travelling between destinations on China’s high-speed rail network was an experience in itself.
The trains were incredibly comfortable, efficient and impressively fast.
Watching the speed climb was quite something, and the whole process was remarkably straightforward. It became a bit of a game to see how fast we were going to go.
The station itself was set up like an airport, with you only being allowed to the gate when it was your turn, keeping things organised. I felt China may even surpass Japan when it comes to high-speed rail!
It was also great knowing that instead of an overnight bus, we had just a few hours on a train to get to the next stop.
A surprising inclusion for me was visiting the Dazu Rock Carvings.
Dating back centuries, the carvings tell stories of religion, culture and everyday life through incredible artwork carved directly into the cliffs.
But again, it wasn’t just about arriving at a UNESCO World Heritage site and looking at some old carvings. The experience was put into context before we even reached the site.
That meant that when we finally stood in front of the carvings, we understood much more about what we were looking at.
That’s the difference a good guide and a well-designed itinerary can make and why I’d recommend Wendy Wu to my clients
The itinerary was spectacular. The hotels were excellent. The food was amazing. The guides were exceptional.
And having everything organised meant we could spend our time doing what we were actually there to do – experience China.
China surprised me
Before this trip, I had a picture in my head of what China would be like.
After eight days, that picture had completely changed.
China is modern, It’s ancient, It’s incredibly efficient, and it’s enormous.
China was also welcoming, full of incredible food and it is far more diverse than I ever realised.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway for me was that China isn’t somewhere you can properly understand by simply visiting the famous sights.
You need to meet the people, you need to explore the smaller places and listen to the local guides.
You need to see how people actually live and you need an itinerary that gives you the opportunity to do all of that. There is simply too much to see all at once.
That’s what Wendy Wu gave me.
They showed me the China I expected to see, and then they showed me the China I didn’t even know was there, they showed me a China I look forward to visiting again one day soon.
