If you want to have unique experiences and gather special memories during your trip to China, this article could give you some inspiration. These experiences have been experienced by our guests and have garnered a lot of positive feedback.
Content Preview
- 1. A Unique Picnic Experience
- 2. Do an Emperor's Tour
- 3. An In-Depth Cultural Walk
- 4. A Leisurely Afternoon Tea
- 5. Make a Mini Warrior
- 6. A Panda Volunteer Program
- 7. A Dumpling Cooking Class
- 8. Adventure in an Undeveloped Cave
- 9. Farm Work Experience
- 10. Explore a Rural Artistic Utopia
1. The Great Wall: a Unique Picnic Experience (Beijing)
Our guests have a picnic on the Great Wall.This experience is crafted for families or couples, and is especially enjoyable if you are celebrating a big milestone, such as a birthday, graduation, anniversary, or retirement.
It would be a cool and unforgettable experience to have a picnic celebration on the world's longest wall.
For families with children, this would be an unforgettable family time, enjoying the view from the Great Wall while tasting local snacks, especially if it was a once-in-a-lifetime birthday party.
For couples, it could also be a romantic moment for you to enjoy a stunning sunset while having a meal and a drink.
If you have such a need, please contact us. We'll include some of these experiences or surprises you want to prepare in your itinerary.
2. The Forbidden City: Do an Emperor's Tour (Beijing)
Our Emperor's Tour experience is specially designed for those intrigued by Chinese history, particularly China's royal family. While it predominantly focuses on cultural and historical aspects, we've also incorporated enjoyable games for children to enhance the tour's appeal for families.
Our guests touring the Forbidden CityYou would explore 10–12 handpicked palaces, whereas typical tour groups usually cover only 6–8. Through your expert guide's narration, you could delve into the historical tales behind palace construction, fengshui principles, and discover how emperors lived within the Forbidden City.
If you travel with kids, we have designed a game about the nine sons of the dragon and the auspicious beasts in the Forbidden City. Children could gain some knowledge through entertainment.
If you are interested in these experiences, please contact us. Our consultants would plan your trip according to your preferences.
What our guests say: "The following day, Angela continued to help me cross dreams off my bucket list as she guided me around the Forbidden City and along the way proved her skill and professionalism as she navigated with ease and spoke at length about every gorgeous painting and ancient piece of flagstone I kept stopping to admire! Her knowledge and ability to answer inquiries was astounding and continued as we journeyed around the city, following in the footsteps of the Emperors season to season, war to war, work to rest..." You could get the whole feedback on our TripAdvisor page.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Good Experience！！
The experience with Tom was good. Very good choice of venues and restaurants and a lot of good experiences in a short timespan. more
Jul 2025, Iulia
|
Beijing Great Wall and Forbidden City tour
We had a great experience with the Great Wall and Forbidden City tour. Our guide, Kevin - was very patient and knowledgeable. The Great Wall was an amazing sight, we were able to walk for about 30 minutes on this tourist-oriented section of the Wall; we were fortunate that the weather was misty and rainy- most days during the summer are very hot and humid. After a lunch nearby, we went on a tour of the Forbidden City; The former palace is a huge area full of history. I highly recommend this tour. more
Jul 2025, Jason
|
Hike on the great wall
We booked a hike through China Highlights, where we hiked an unrestored part of the Great Wall. Our tour guide, Oliver, was very nice and shared a lot of history along the way. The hike was about four hours long and took us through various terrain. It was very beautiful. more
Jul 2025, Tobias E
|
3. The Bund: Go on an In-Depth Cultural Walk (Shanghai)
The highlights of the Bund go beyond the gorgeous skyline view. There is much more to explore along the Bund.
We have specially designed a 2½-hour in-depth Bund culture discovery tour for those who want to learn interesting stories about the Bund and old Shanghai.
Many a building on the Bund shines with historical glory: a museum in Astor House Hotel, a movie poster gallery in Fairmont Peace Hotel, the beautiful mosaic ceiling of Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank...
Your expert guide would lead you into some of these old buildings and share the histories behind them as well as some of their childhood memories of Shanghai with you.
What our guests say: "The next thing we did was go to the Bund and Ryan #chinahighlights, explained some of the prominent old banking buildings and the clock tower that was made by the same person that did Big Ben in London. Also pointed out and we entered in disguise, was Peace Hotel. That was another highlight being an Art Deco style original and the Old Men Jazz Band..." You could see more feedback on our TripAdvisor page.
4. The Bund: a Leisurely Afternoon Tea (Shanghai)
This experience is most suitable for couples or if you want to enjoy a quality afternoon out.
We have selected one of the best hotels to enjoy a nice view next to Shanghai's famous Bund. There, you could enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea and the scenery of the Bund. Especially if Shanghai is your last stop on your trip to China, it could be a good ending for your journey.
5. The Terracotta Army: Make a Mini Warrior (Xi'an)
This is a hands-on experience that would allow you to learn more about the Terracotta Army.
After your visit to see the Terracotta Army, you would visit a local cave dwelling where a craftsman makes terracotta warriors in a traditional way. There, you could follow the craftsman's guidance to make your own smaller version.
Our family guests with their finished mini warriorsIt could be an interesting and educational experience for both adults and kids. Your terracotta warriors could be a good souvenir to take home.
What our guests say: "During our trip around China, we spent three days in Xi'an. Thanks to our wonderful guide, Susan, who took us to visit the most beautiful places, explaining additional details about the dynasties. We especially enjoyed the Terracotta Warriors, where we had the chance to create one at a local workshop..."
Just contact us to create your China trip. We offer personalized tour service. All the itineraries would be made/adjusted based on your interests and requirements.
6. Take Part in a Panda Volunteer Program (Chengdu)
If you are not satisfied with just seeing the cute pandas from a distance among the crowds, we could arrange a memorable panda volunteer experience for you and your family.
In the program, you would clean the glass of their enclosures, provide fresh bamboo for them, make their favorite panda cakes, and watch them being fed by the keepers. The panda experts would also show you around the base, answer your questions about pandas, and, finally, you would receive a volunteer certificate.
7. Take a Dumpling Cooking Class (Xi'an)
This is a great culinary experience, which your family could participate in together. You would learn how to make dumplings at a local family's home.
Our guests's dumpling cooking experienceThe making process requires no oil or fire and is safe. Children could learn to knead dough and make dumplings with the host. They could also use their imagination to make dumplings in various shapes. These delicious creations would be your lunch to share together.
During the process, you could also learn about the decoration of Chinese homes and some local ways of life.
8. Have an Adventure in an Undeveloped Cave (Guilin)
This could be a great summer experience, especially if you or your children are adventurous.
In contrast to the widely-known caves adorned with vibrant lights and constructed pathways, the lesser-explored caves offer a more adventurous experience. It requires you to wear a helmet and headlamp for exploration. Outdoor footwear is also essential.
Our guide is explaining the stone pillars in the cave to the guests.You would see stalactites in the cave that geologists say have taken hundreds of thousands of years to form. Once inside the cave, switching off your headlamp grants you the opportunity to encounter absolute darkness. Cave ecosystems diverge significantly from our familiar surroundings, creating an otherworldly atmosphere devoid of light and sound. Playing a shadow game is also interesting.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
|
Exciting trip in Guilin and Yangshuo
Our trip to Guilin and Yangshuo was guided by Henry, a very knowledgeable and helpful local guide. We visited in scorching heat and we had to make some adjustments to the program in order to be able to cope with the heat. Henry was very flexible and resourceful. For instance, he took as to learn and play mahjong in the afternoon, an activity which was lots of fun, and even offered us as a gift a small mahjong set for travel, which we highly appreciated. We also changed the visit to a water cave with a trip to Ruyi Peak, which was fitting our group better. The water cave exploration can be quite tricky as we understand and we have in our group a person over 60, therefore it did not seem appropriate. Instead, we agreed with Henry to visit Ruyi Peak, which offers spectaculor views over the karst scenery. We visited Da'xu ancient town and Red Flute cave in the first day, which was not so exciting, but the Li river cruise and visiting Yangshuo is really worthwhile. Henry also arranged for us to see the Impressions by SanjuLiu show, which we highly recommend. more
Jul 2025, Mihaela2
|
Mystisch und bestens umsorgt
Wir wurdem am Bahnhof von Ling abgeholt und bis wir am Hotel ankamen, hatte Sie bereits Medikamente für den Husten meines Mannes und meine Magenverstimmung besorgt. Das Highlight in Guilin, war für uns die Schiffahrt auf dem Lin-Fluss, mystisch und atemberaubend. Die Reissterrassen erstreckten sich endlos. Unser Hotel hatte einen wundersch?nen Blick auf den Fluss und die dahinterliegende Karstlandschaft. Wir k?nnen die private Reiseleitung (Ling und Chauffeur) sowie Chinahighlights w?rmstens empfehlen. Alles hat wunderbar geklappt. more
Jul 2025, helvetia3325
|
Beautiful Guilin and Yangshuo
We had the best time in Guilin and Yangshuo with Michelle as our guide. The Li River cruise is not to be missed— truly stunning! We loved the quiet beauty of Yangshuo. My kids loved the Reed Flute Cave, and my husband, and I loved the bike ride along the river in Yangshuo. A cable car ride up the mountain and glass bridge was pretty amazing as well! Loved every moment! Michelle was so accommodating and kind and really did a great job with our four children! I highly recommend Michelle and China Highlights! They made our trip amazing and so easy! more
Jul 2025, Mindy J
|
9. Fun Farm Work Experience (Guilin)
In Guilin, you would have the chance to see real rural life in the countryside, which cannot be seen in a big city.
You could meet local villagers on their way to the fields with a water buffalo or someone working in the paddy. You could join them with your kids to do some farm work, such as picking vegetables or plowing a paddy.
Our guests experiencing farming in GuilinThis could be a great opportunity for children to put down their phones and tablets and get close to nature. It could also be an unforgettable memory for your family trip.
"We had a great time in Hunan Province thanks in no small part to our excellent guide, Lily, who took us to all of the major attractions throughout the region starting in Guilin and the villages in the mountains where we walked through the rice fields watching the farmers harvesting." — Feedback from our guests on TripAdvisor
10. Explore a Rural Artistic Utopia (Huangshan)
In a rather remote village in Huangshan, traditional houses are preserved and surrounded by mountains and fields. A group of artists, drawn by the serene atmosphere and beautiful scenery, undertook the transformation of this place upon the foundation of preserving traditional architecture, creating a rural utopia.
This is a place where you could get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse yourself in the embrace of nature.
It creates a peaceful vibe for couples to enjoy some private time. Wake up to the sound of birds and go for a walk in the fresh air, visit a bookstore that has been transformed from an old ancestral temple, or just relax with a cup of coffee and a view out of the window in a boutique hotel converted from a pigsty.
Tour China with China Highlights
All of our tours are customizable. Feel free to contact us and we'll create your trip based on your interests and requirements.
Or see some of our popular China tours for more inspiration:
(10,000+ reviews)