China is an exciting and exotic land combining its ancient civilization with the spectacular architecture and towering skylines of cosmopolitan Shanghai and Beijing. The cuisine of China is famous throughout the world and some of the worlds most deluxe hotels are to be found there. However, planning a trip to this fascinating destination can be a bit confusing.

When I began making plans, I went first to the Internet and searched under the broad spectrum of “China Tours”. I found listed a 10-day introductory tour for $888.00 offered by China Spree. I was not familiar with this company but I was intrigued enough by the price to check further. I was totally amazed when I discovered that the price included airfare from New York or San Francisco to Beijing. The 10-day China Express Tour included Beijing, the Great Wall of China and Shanghi. I realized that this was not a complete and comprehensive tour, but it certainly visited a number of highlight
When I dug a little deeper, I found that China Spree had offices in Washington State and California. They were members of the Better Business Bureau and ASTA- The American Society of Travel Agents. They were fully bonded. But the thing that impressed me most was the fact that they dealt exclusively in tours to China. They were the China specialists with years of experience and contacts within China.

Since I preferred to spend a bit more time in China, I checked-out their 21-day Trip-of-a-Lifetime tour designed for travelers that would probably visit China only once and wanted to see as much as possible. This was what I was looking for. It really hit all of the high-spots. Starting in Beijing, it includes Xian, a four-day cruise on the Yangtze river, Hong Kong, Guilin and with a few stops in between ending up in Shanghi.

The final decision was easy when I read the positive comments from previous travelers and learned that China Spree was recommended by Frommers. Some of the other companies that I checked-out were travel specialists, but not necessarily specialists in China.

As of now you can add me to the list of more than satisfied customers. Everything China Spree promised was as it should be. I found that I had chosen an adventure in addition to a vacation. We saw the sights, Tian’anmen Square and the imperial Forbidden City in Beijing, the Great Wall of China and the impressive Terra-cotta Warriors. We cruised for four memorable days on the Yangtze River where we sailed through the Three Gorges and visited the world’s largest dam. We relaxed and shopped in the fabulous city of Hong Kong and leisurely made our way to our final stop in Shanghi. But best of all, we visited many small villages where we were welcomed by the people and allowed a little in-sight into their daily lives. So much of the joy of visiting China does not depend solely on the major tourist attractions, but being exposed to the culture of the people living far from the metropolitan centers.

Another thing that made our adventure memorable were our guides. It was obvious that they had been chosen not just for their knowledge of the country, but for their personalities. Each and every one of them displayed a deep love and pride in their country that they wanted to share with us. In each location we visited we were joined by local guides with specialized knowledge. It is an undeniable fact that no matter how well structured a tour might be, it is only as good as the guides leading it. When they are good,as ours were, we shared their passion for the culture and history of this exotic destination.

It was a memorable adventure and one I shall not soon forget. China Spree more than lived-up to its promises.

*See China at its best just before the Olympics. China Spree has a special all-inclusive rate of $2,899 including air-fare from San Francisco or New York during the month of June. This special rate includes both Hong Kong and the Yangtze river cruise.

Contact information- www.chinaspree.com or 1-866-652-5656
e-mail info@chinaspree.com