This was a wonderful experience with so many wonderful memories created. China is so fascinating and full of wondering history and culture. We loved this Tour. Please see the good and the not so good below: 1. The highlights being Shanghai, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, the Great Pandas in Chengdu, the Bullet Train, The optional Shows. 2. The food for the most was above our expectations 3. Yangtze River cruise was a treat. 4. Visits to Chinese Medicine and Tea producers were ways of assisting with an deeper understanding of these methods. 5. The activities were very good despite there being many throughout most days on tour. 6. Guides were knowledgeable and ready to assist. Many provided further assistance for any extras they offered e.g. Massages, restaurants and extra activities. I would have to say our best guides were David (5 days- Shanghai etc) and Sophie (3 days Chengdu) Their professionalism is to be highly commended. 7. Accommodation was excellent. Some of the not so good: 1. Communication before travelling needs to be improved and questions asked need to answered with a better depth of knowledge. There was no consistency with operators as each time we rang or emailed a new person was helping us. The information about flights was very limited and there appeared to be no communication between EE and China Southern Airlines when seats were being purchased. I had requested the price of upgrading to Business Class and never received an answer! Then it was too late! Our seat numbers were changed 3 times despite paying for larger seats and leg room. I had to go to the China Southern desk in Shenzhen to have them changed back to the original seats! Again very frustrating. 2. One of our guides left us at the station and our train was delayed over 1.5 hours. This was a little unnerving for us as there was no-one to assist who spoke English. 2a. One local tour guide (Three Gorges Dam) asked us for a tip which was a little off putting as she was not very good. The details in our itinerary said we could tip further if we were satisfied with the service. 3. The accommodation on the Yangtze Cruise was very basic (not in keeping with th rest of the accommodation offered) and 12 (including my wife and I) of the 20 guests we travelled with, upgraded their room at the cost of over $AUD450/room and 8 of us upgraded the meal package at the cost of $AUD320/couple. The accommodation was the same as those travelling on a Trip-a-Deal Tour and we thought as travellers on a Luxury Escapes Tour that all travellers should be given the Executive Suites and the meals that go with this as part of the deal offered. (We understand there may have been an extra cost but it probably would have been cheaper per group) There were plenty of Executive Rooms available!! 4. For the most the drivers were good but the last driver had a terrible habit of clearing his throat loudly and then spitting out his window - I know this practice is now frowned upon in China and so this was not acceptable by many of us on our tour. 5. The heavy selling at the Pearl and Jade and Warriors Factories was at times very off-putting with Sales people following us around until we bought something!