609 reviews
AI reviews summary
This report synthesises recent feedback for China Highlights, based on a high volume of 5-star reviews and occasional 4-star experiences.
The overall sentiment is exceptionally positive, with users frequently highlighting the company's ability to provide a "VIP experience" that removes the logistical friction of travelling in China. The service is characterised by highly personalised itineraries, seamless multi-city transitions, and guides who go beyond standard duties to accommodate families, dietary needs, and special occasions. While the vast majority of experiences are flawless, minor issues regarding specific hotel standards and itinerary oversights have been noted.
Pros
Cons
Verdict
China Highlights is an elite choice for travellers seeking a highly managed, stress-free, and culturally rich journey through China, especially for families and those with mobility concerns. The company excels at high-touch personal service and complex logistics, though travellers should double-check that specific physical restrictions are clearly communicated to the local guides before arrival. Overall, it is highly recommended for those who prioritise service quality and local expertise over budget.
- +1
I highly recommend China Highlights and especially the tour guide Nina Yang. Nina accompanied me on a three-day tour of Beijing and helped to create an unforgettable experience for me. Nina’s deep knowledge of Chinese history and culture combined with her warm, amicable personality make her an exceptional companion for exploring Beijing and… Read more
learning about China. As a first time visitor, I especially appreciate Nina’s hospitality and helpful guidance in navigating security checkpoints and tourist crowds. Together, we explored the best of Beijing and surrounding areas: the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Lama Temple, and so much more! In addition, Nina has offered a few unique experiences based on my interests and preferences, and I really appreciate her flexibility and willingness to provide personalized customer service! Very grateful to Nina and China Highlights for beautiful experience and great memories!
We had a wonderful trip in Chengdu. ChinaHighlight is reliable. Our guide Jason took us to the Panda Base. He knew when pandas are active and when there are fewer visitors. We enjoyed our time there very much. This was the most highlight of our China tour. Jason also showed us Chinese acupuncture and took us to enjoy the beautiful night view along Jin River in the evening. Our family had a great time. Thank you, Jason. Show details
We had a wonderful and unforgettable journey in Chengdu. Our guide Jason very kindly took us to visit Jinli Ancient Street and treated us delicious vegetarian meals. Jason is very patient and knowledgeable. He told us a lot of interesting stories about local culture and always answered questions carefully. Show details
Reviews with attachments
- +5
Helen from China Highlights in Chengdu was our tour guide. She is very knowledgeable of the sites we visited. Our itinerary was changed according to the group dynamics and she even arranged an extra tour for us. Helen is vibrant, energetic and passionate about her work. Thank you Helen for a memorable experience Show details
- +7
- This review covers the last day of a 12-day tour in the region organized as a private tour with China Highlights - We had a great experience throughout the trip and our last stop at Chongqing was the icing on the cake! China Highlights does a great job in making sure you are well-taken care off and feel like a VIP. We had a delightful day trip… Read more · 1
around Chongqing and we will be back for a longer stay. Chongqing was our last destination for our departing flight back home and so we had planned only a 1-day stopover. But it was a fantastic one-day with our lively and lovely guide Amy. She was enthusiastic and gave us a great introduction to Chongqing. She knew we had only one day and she made sure that we hit the major sites - all well-executed in conjunction with our personal driver who dropped us off and picked us up in practically military precision. We wasted no time in moving from one place to another.
We visited Shibati (Eighteen Stars), Kuixing Building, Hongyadong, Liziba, Ciqikou, Liberation Times Square, Top of the WFC and Raffles City Chongqing. Besides seeing some of the major touristy sights we were also given an opportunity to enjoy the "host project" which was a walk through the local community to see how the residents of Chongqing live and to experience the local flavour and environment. We particularly enjoyed that as it gave us great perspective on the progress of Chongqing and how far it has come in just 3 decades. AMAZING. We also got to enjoy a lot of local food at local establishments which were all well-recommended by Amy.
And for the grand finale in the evening, Amy arranged for us a river cruise at 8pm. She knew there was the once a month drone display in the night sky that starts at 8.30pm that (Saturday) evening and specifically arranged VIP tickets for us on the cruise so that we sat upfront at the top of the boat without the crowd to enjoy the great scenery and show.
Amy was with us from the start to the end of the day to make sure nothing went wrong. And this was especially important to me as I was travelling with my 80+ old mum who needed some help in moving around.
The whole day was well-coordinated, efficient and comfortable! Amy is an outstanding tour guide. We will be back!
Video review on Marianne our guide who is highly recommended. Show details
- +3
We had the pleasure of having Gary Wei as our tour guide for our visit to Guilin and he has made the trip very relaxing, comfortable, and fun! He is very passionate about his job and loves to share about the places you are visiting and about the history as well. He puts a lot of attention on ensuring we never lose or forget anything, and was… Read more · 1
always very punctual with the driver and our timeline. Out of our 4 stops in China so far, Guilin was the most enjoyable and it was largely due to Gary!
He made great suggestions of where to go and what activities we should do. Although we had locations set, he had great knowledge of local activities and eats.
We hit the reed flute cave, the Li river cruise tour, Yangshou countryside the old town of Daxu, and the Elephant Trunk Hill. Our favourite was biking around the countryside of yangshou and the old town of Daxu!
If you can request a guide, I would 10/10 recommend you ask for Gary every time!
Jennie our guide was excellent. Very professional and efficient. She surpassed our expectations. Show details · 1
Highly recommended guide Jack in Lijiang! Professional and services rendered by China Highlights. Meals were good and hotels awesome and conveniently located. Show details · 1
We are really thankful to our guide Jason. He spared his time to take us to admire the beautiful night view of ancient Jiuyanqiao bridge, and he treated us to delicious barbecue there. He was so thoughtful during the whole trip. We enjoyed this wonderful experience very much and highly appreciate his kindness and careful arrangement. Show details · 1
Our amazing experiences in Chengdu were made due to our fantastic guide, Eric Gu. Eric is very knowledgeable, excellent communication, and so flexible in our interests. Providing guidance from his 15+ years of leading in his beloved city. Highly recommend Eric from China Highlights. Show reply
- +2
Our guide Amy in Chongqing was absolutely fantastic. She tailored each day around our family’s interests, including our 11-year-old, and stayed flexible whenever we wanted to slow down or change plans. She brought Ciqikou Ancient Town and the Yangtze riverfront to life with great local history and insight, and navigated the city’s famous hills,… Read more · 1
stairs, and crowds with ease. Amy was full of bespoke recommendations, from where to find the best local food to practical tips that made everything smoother. Knowledgeable, warm, and genuinely attentive, she made our time in Chongqing seamless and memorable. Highly recommend her.
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We had an absolutely incredible time on our Beijing tour, covering Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, Gubei Water Town, and the Simatai Great Wall. Navigating the logistics and ticket bookings for these massive historical sites can be overwhelming, but our tour agent Carrie made everything seamless and stress-free. The… Read more · 1
city highlights were deeply informative and well-paced, but the absolute standout was the trip out to Gubei and seeing the Simatai Great Wall beautifully lit up at night—a magical experience! Our guide Jessica was knowledgeable, patient, and spoke excellent English, and the private transport was comfortable and immaculate. If you want a hassle-free, top-notch experience in Beijing, look no further. Thank you for a memorable trip!
Our first part of the trip was here in Beijing. Jason, our tour guide was absolutely fantastic. He made the trip very fun and we learned a lot of information while we were here. He was just a great person all around and I would 100% recommend him as a tour guide and China highlights.
- +3
Carrie is an exceptionally professional tour coordinator, and we have happily trusted her with our last few trips. She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure all of our needs and wishes are met. During our recent trip to Xinjiang, one of our friends fell ill and could not travel to the high-altitude area of Tashkurgan. Carrie immediately… Read more · 1
arranged alternative accommodation for her and generously absorbed the cost out of goodwill. We are incredibly grateful for her kindness. If you are traveling to China with China Highlights—and especially with Carrie—you won't have to worry about a single thing. Thumbs up for excellent service!
Jason is very knowledgeable with historical facts of the sites we visited - Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Shiaji Hutong, Summer Palace & The Great Wall. Well organised, punctual, meticulous with his schedule but also flexible, great communication, language and inter-personal skills. Jason understanding our interests and happily catered to our… Read more · 1
needs, even to the extent of including a ping pong match with me! Thank you Jason for ensuring we have the most memorable time in Beijing and we would recommend Jason to anyone looking to discover Beijing.
My 3 days in Beijing with guide Jessica were amazing! I would absolutely return to enjoy this experience again. Show details
Latest follow-ups
- +7
Last year in April we had the most amazing trip with China Highlights including, Hong Kong, Guilin, Yangshuo and Gulanyu. Roger Li was our contact and organised the trip, taking into account we had to cater for my family of 6 adults including my 87… Read more · 1
year old mother in law . It all worked splendidly, including getting us to have breakfast in her childhood bedroom in Gulanyu. We had such a super time, we had to have another trip. Roger has again helped us with our itinerary and we are all set for Shanghai, Xian, Qufu, Kaifeng and Haungzhou in July 2025. We are really excited about it. China Highlights really are the best. The guides really great are and so thoughtful.
Follow-up · We subsequently hada second holiday with China Highlights in July 2025. This time just myself and my husband. Roger Li organised it all for us. We flew into Shanghai, then the next day flew Xian. In Xian we had the indomitable Crystal as our guide, who was full of energy and enthusiasm. We just love this city. It was our second visit and we could… Read more
- +2
We had an great 2- day Shanghai city tour with our guide Martin and our skilled driver. Martin was friendly, knowledgeable and flexible. We saw so much and loved our time in Shanghai. I highly recommend China Highlights to get the most out of your trip. Show details
Follow-up · Our transportation was a very nice and comfortable minivan. We had door-to-door service the whole day which was great--very timely and easy. The food was delicious. We had dumplings, soup, noodles, pork katsu, etc. Martin asked what kind of food we wanted and he chose very good places. Some of the places we went were Shanghai Tower, the Bund, a… Read more
Excellent Tour Experience in Chengdu. Our guide Jason was incredibly knowledgeable, professional, and attentive. Rich history and culture of each destination to anticipating our needs before we even voiced them, their dedication made every part of the trip smooth and meaningful. Show details
Follow-up · Snacks in Chengdu are abundant. You may find delicious food every street. Jason told us Chengdu is a city of cuisine.
In-depth reviews
⭐️ Beijing We had an incredible experience with our guide, Nina, in Beijing. She took us to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall, local hutongs, and the Summer Palace, making each visit unforgettable. Nina is extremely knowledgeable about Chinese history and shared insights that brought every site to life. She… Read more
also helped us better understand local customs and culture. Her English was perfect, she was wonderfully patient with our child, and she coordinated seamlessly with the driver so everything ran smoothly.
Thanks to Nina’s professionalism and warmth, our trip was both comfortable and enriching. We would highly recommend her to anyone visiting Beijing.
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⭐️ Xi’an
Our time in Xi’an was truly memorable thanks to our guide, Li Ying. She took us to the Terracotta Warriors, the Muslim District, and the City Wall, making each stop engaging with her stories and knowledge.
A highlight was the famous Song of Everlasting Sorrow performance at Huaqing Palace - breathtaking under the night sky and a vivid glimpse into Tang Dynasty history.
Li Ying speaks excellent English, was patient with our child, and handled all logistics effortlessly. She also introduced us to local customs and food spots we would have missed on our own. Her warmth and professionalism made our Xi’an visit unforgettable, and we would happily recommend her to others.
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⭐️ Chongqing
Jennie was an outstanding guide who made our time in Chongqing unforgettable. She took us to Huguang Guild Hall, Shiba Ti, Shancheng Alley, Ciqikou Ancient Town, the Three Gorges Museum, the Great Hall of the People, and the Cyberpunk City Explorer tour.
What made the trip so special was Jennie herself. Warm, kind‑hearted, and genuinely caring, she was highly organised yet flexible, anticipating our needs and adjusting the schedule with ease. She was patient with our child and thoughtful in every detail, which made the whole experience effortless and enjoyable.
The highlight was the riverside hotpot dinner with the famous glowing lights across the river - Jennie arranged it perfectly, creating a magical evening we will always remember.
Her sincerity, professionalism, and attention to detail made this journey truly memorable. We would recommend Jennie without hesitation, and we look forward to welcoming her to Australia one day when she visits.
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Our trip to Guangzhou was very enjoyable overall, although we experienced a disappointing issue with the itinerary arranged by China Highlights. Despite informing them from the beginning about my leg injury and specifically requesting to avoid hiking or climbing activities, we were still scheduled to visit Gulongxia Canyon, which required a steep… Read more · 1
uphill climb. This was completely unsuitable for my condition and left us quite disappointed with China Highlights.
Fortunately, our tour guide, Wenmay, and our driver immediately took the initiative to rearrange the route. Thanks to them, we were able to visit several charming ancient towns and still ended the day on a very positive and enjoyable note.
Wenmay truly cared about customer satisfaction and paid attention to every detail, including arranging VIP seats on the cruise, which made the experience feel extra special and private. She also recommended excellent restaurants and delicious food that perfectly suited our tastes.
Our driver was also very patient and kind, always ensuring that our journey was comfortable, safe, and pleasant.
Thank you to Wenmay and our driver in Guangzhou for making the final destination of our long trip across China such a memorable experience.
We had a fantastic trip visiting the cities of Dunhuang, Zhangye and Jiayuguan along the ancient Silk Road. Thanks to our fabulous guide Ada, we had the opportunity to Immerse in ancient Chinese history, enjoy the natural landforms at Zhangye, and learn about the impact of Buddhism on Chinese society. Visit to the Buddha temple and Sutra hall in… Read more · 1
Zhangye was moving as was the Mogao Grottoes. Dunhuang which was also the hometown of our guide, was the crown jewel of our experience. The night market in Dunhuang is a foodie paradise - we had the most unique and delicious local dishes there. Having our guide Ada by our side while we shopped and dined was critical to our rich and seamless experience. Ada went above and beyond to make us comfortable, happy while also learning. Of the several guides we interacted with during our 2 weeks in China, Ada was unarguably the BEST. I leave China inspired to learn more about the culture and the cuisine and hope to return for more. Thank you Ada for making my first visit to China truly memorable.
Recent reviews
Our first trip to China and we had the great pleasure of having Nina for our guide through Beijing!! She was fantastic. She is friendly and speaks great english. She gets to know her guests and fine tunes the visit to suit their needs and wants -- we needed to get some glasses and bingo .. Nina adds a visit to the optical shop... she knows the city and its history and is a wealth of knowledge!! We cannot recommend her enough!!
Jessica was a knowledgeable, supportive and thoughtful guide. Our trip was educational and inspiring experience. China has many values such as cleanliness, safety, kindness and respect that Australia can learn much from. Thank you Jessica for your amazing guidance. Show details · 1
Xian was a quick but memorable stop on our 4-city visit in China. Annie was a very fun, helpful and caring tour guide who we felt truly cared about our family and wanted to share the meaningful history and culture of Xian. She even helped us dive into authentic local life at the morning market where we joined local residents for group dancing and massages outside the city wall—what a fun and memorable experience. Thank you, Annie! Show reply
We had a fantastic experience in Chongqing thanks to Joana. She was incredibly flexible and accommodating when we decided to change the order of our tour which we greatly appreciated. Joana’s knowledge, professionalism, and warm personality made the entire experience truly special. She went above and beyond to ensure that everything ran smoothly… Read more
and that we got the most out of our time in Chongqing. We would also like to thank our driver, Mr. He whose safe driving and professionalism gave us complete peace of mind throughout our travels. Together, Joana and He, made our trip memorable, enjoyable, and stress-free. We highly recommend them to anyone visiting Chongqing.
Again i Booked my china trip with china highlights and again i was complete satified with drivers and all the four guides, Luna in yunnan , steven in Guizhou , Terry in Hunnan abd Li in Guangzhou were really good and helped me in all needs Show details
The China Highlights tour of Datong with Anna was eccellent in every way. Anna's presentations were clear and very interesting. She really loves the history and it shows in her presentations. She was very flexible--for example, advising us to delay lunch until after the Hanging Monastery to have fewer crowds. The restaurants were very good,… Read more · 1
and Anna recommended great dishes for us to try. She is also a very nice person, indeed a lot of fun! In short, i would recommended China Highlights Datong with Anna to anyone. The Hotel and driver were fine, too
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