Lisa Sun

Hong Kong to Beijing was awesome as we saw so many magnificent natural sights, so many historical and religious sites, and encountered so many wonderful Chinese . They were helpful and patient, as often a language barrier .

The bullet trains were a joy to ride, fast and smooth and on time .

I am a Zumba guy , so was grateful for many dance experiences. Some dancing was in shows where dancers invited audience ( like dancing with magnificent Yao ladies) , and many were dancing in town squares with locals….like Chinese Zumba lol.

Terracotta Warriors are beyond belief in person 😳

Grand Canyon, glass bridge, zip line: what a rush for the senses.

Rice terraces had a unique peaceful vibe in a country of 1 billion plus . Very unique art hotel with a million dollar view. Above the clouds…

Downside was twofold :
1. China visa process for US is beyond horrible.
I spent over 20 hours and pricey as required to hand deliver docs to Chicago embassy OR pay somebody $$ to hand deliver and hand pick up.

2. China really runs via phone . My AliPay , WeChat pay, and almost all communication from home did not work . Crippling problem.
eSIM, physical sim, not working .

Hotels and transportation were thoughtfully set up

Overall a magnificent 3 1/2 week journey.

Hotel Review

Longji One Art Hotel

Wonderful experience to stay there. Unique art style with million dollar view. And a cool cat that may play with you if you are cool enough…

Authenticity & Character

About as much character as you will ever find.

Location

Overlooking amazing rice terraces.

Staff

Very helpful staff including amazing tiny lady porter who carries heavy bags…..

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Review

Hong Kong Island Half-Day Classic Tour by Public Transportation

Hong Kong

Great overall tour of mega city, banks, Buddha, etc

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Of all the trips I've taken with Kimkim, this was the most challenging. China presents special challenges for US citizens, and it would have been VERY helpful to get help from Kimkim prior to travel. Here are some examples:
Obtaining a China visa was very time consuming, very challenging, and very worrisome. The on line China visa is very difficult to figure out. Our visa applications were rejected a couple of times, adding a strong amount of stress as our trip date approached (we didn't receive visas until 1 week prior to our trip). Call me (+1 651-894-3410) and I can give you more info.
Setting up Alipay was challenging. Could have used help filling this out ahead of time.
I was told WeChat Weixin-pay wouldn't work in China. It did.
No one told me Alipay would not work in Hong Kong. I was very worried I wouldn't be able to pay for meals, groceries, etc since I didn't have the Hong Kong version of Alipay. Apparently Alipay can only be used in Hong Kong by people from mainland China (not foreigners), or people with only Chinese credit cards. We were not told this
Also, Hong Kong uses different money than mainland China. We were not told this. Luckily we find a few spots that take credit cards.
We are supposed to take public transportation (subway) on Saturday Aug 29 to meet for our second Hong Kong tour but without Alipay how can we do that? I ask Lisa to set up a ride to and from the tour.
We didn't know that we had to fill out exit forms for leaving Hong Kong to enter mainland China. One of our guides (Chas?) helped us fill out these on-line forms but had to charge us extra to do so. Be happy to discuss this further via phone

Hotel Reviews

Longji One Art Hotel

Incredible hotel with gorgeous views of the rice terraces!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

everybody was helpful

Cleanliness & Comfort

Zhuanjiacun Hotel

Huge breakfast buffet offering great Chinese cuisine and western breakfast

Authenticity & Character

Location

INCREDIBLE night drone show right across the street from the hotel (Saturday and Sunday nights). I suggest you tell all your guests about this show. Also an amazing night flyboarding show, and palace across the bridge from the park

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Peony City Hotel

Luoyang

I think this was the hotel with the revolving rooftop buffet? Very cool!

Activity Reviews

Zhangjiajie Park Tour - Glass Bridge & Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

Amazing to go up to the 999 stairs!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Cable Car, Big Buddha, Fish Village and Beyond

Hong Kong

Great to see the Giant Buddha. As mentioned earlier we needed help (a driver) instead of subway to get here

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Trek from Ping'an Zhuang Village to Jinkeng Dazhai Yao Village

Longji

I didn't think rice terraces would be anything special. I was wrong! This was beautiful and our guide did a great job!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

See the Terracotta Army

Xi'an

Really cool to see this, unfortunately EXTREMELY crowded

Quality of Experience

Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace

Beijing

Good idea to drive a ways and see the Great Wall with fewer people (vs the Starbucks or McWall section as they call it) in Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Half Day Exploring the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill

Guilin

Reed Flute Cave was a surprisingly a GREAT experience. I had low expectations for a cave tour, but the lights were incredible!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Hike through the breathtaking Terraced Fields around Ping'an Zhuang Village

Longji

As mentioned earlier, this was a surprisingly great experience. I had low expectations coming in, but it was great!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Lisa was excellent and very helpful in the planning stages of our trip. She answered all questions and made any necessary adjustments in a quick and timely fashion. Our trip went extremely smoothly due to her hard work.

On our trip, in Beijing, Roy and Mr. Meng were very helpful and adopted quickly to changing weather situations to ensure we were able to go see The Great Wall in the further Simatai section. He was extremely helpful in dropping us in the train station and was kind enough to give us some food for the ride.

In Luoyang & Zhengzhou, James and Wang Li were excellent hosts, and very gracious in interacting with locals and helping us make purchases as well. Our day to visit the Shaolin temple was excellent and I was grateful to have James with us. His personality and energy made the trip all the more better and even helped us deal with the heat of the day!

Finally, in Shanghai, Vivian and Mr. Zhang the driver gave us a great tour of the city and were very helpful. Vivian was very accommodating to help us shop

Only a small piece of feedback to add, in Tiananmen Square, the bag search is fairly thorough and exhaustive, which I wasn’t expecting, for future travelers this may be good to advise preemptively, to expedite going through the checkpoint and also avoid any potential items being withheld.

Activity Reviews

Jinshanling Hike and Simatai Great Wall

China

This was an amazing hike and view of the great wall. Highly recommend going to this section if the time allows. You may see the great wall in it's natural state.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Full day trip Shaolin Temple and Songyue Temple Pagoda

China

This was an amazing experience. Our guide James had helped us get great seats for the martial arts demonstration show. I was very pleased with the experience.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Both my consultant Lisa and local guide Simon were AMAZING!!! Thank you for having made this weekend in Chongqing a weekend to remember!!

Hotel Review

InterContinental Chongqing Raffles City By IHG

Super well located, comfortable and Shua restaurant and bar is amazing!

Authenticity & Character

Location

views from every angles are magnificent!

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Full-Day Stylish Tour in Chongqing

Chongqing

Simon has won best guide in Chongqing and it shows why!!!

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chongqing Panda Adventure and Museum of Three Gorges

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Half Day Modern Side of Chongqing Private Tour with Night View

Chongqing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

the organization and input from Lisa on what to see and do was great. it really helped to use a local travel assistant instead of one who does not know the region. The idividual guide and driver were good and the guide had good knowledge about the local sights - he was able to indepth explain the history of the various monasteries we visited. The hotels were modern, clean and the service was extremely friendly. The local food was delicious, fresh and well prepared in clean environments. i would highly recommend to use Kimkim for similar local flavor tours.

Hotel Reviews

LUX* Tea Horse Road Benzilan

clean, luxurious, well located.

Authenticity & Character

nice architecture, good views

Location

in the middle of Benzilan

Staff

extremely friendly, helpful to ensure we understood everything

Cleanliness & Comfort

could not have been better

LUX* Tea Horse Road Shangri - la

great views, centrally located. clean, friendly

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Benzilan Old Town, Temples

Benzilan

off the beaten path. we spend 2 nights, 1 would have been sufficient

Quality of Experience

old monasteries, drive through the valley along the Yangste river were super. much historic perspective

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

having a large car was a good recommendation

Shangri-La Day Tour: Pudacuo National Park and Gedan Songzanlin Monastery

Shangri-La

massive monastery with lots of history

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlight of Shangri-la with Napa Lake, local family visit

Shangri-La

napalake was good to drive through. not a must. we did not do the local family visit.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Lisa was very helpful in organizing both our China and Japan trips. Everything was on time. She was also flexible whenever we had to make adjustments. Lily was our tour guide in Beijing. She was very knowledgeable.

Our trip was wonderful. Planning and booking was easy thanks to Lisa and all her advice was spot on.
We had absolutely no issues throughout the trip - all drivers and guides were excellent - particularly Yestin in Beijing & Betty in Chengdu. Would also like to make a special mention to Chow (Mike) in Zhangjiajie - he went above and beyond to make our visit fun, despite the terrible weather that could not be helped - excellent service and a lovely man!
We loved visiting the Pandas (we love animals!) and Betty was wonderful in navigating us away from the crowds and long line ups. The Zhangjiajie region was spectacular, but we really loved everywhere we visited. Thank you to everyone who made our trip very memorable!

Hotel Reviews

Tibet Hotel Chengdu

Chengdu

Great location and very lovely hotel!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Jolie Vue Boutique Hotel

Guilin

Great hotel for Guilin stay - the location is excellent and view from the bistro is amazing.

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Li River Resort

Our favourite hotel on our China tour - very relaxing with a lovely river view!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Sunrise On The Bund

A good location for Shanghai’s Bund!

Authenticity & Character

Location

Staff

Cleanliness & Comfort

Activity Reviews

Beijing Highlights: Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City & Hutongs

Beijing

Excellent way to start our China experience. Our guide Yestin was very good and knowledgeable.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace

Beijing

We had a wonderful day visiting the Great Wall. Our guide, Yestin was excellent, especially at helping us avoid the really crowded areas and lone line ups!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

A highlight of our China trip, the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park is spectacular, we had a wonderful time thanks to Chow, our guide who was a superstar in guiding us through all there was to see!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

Unfortunately the weather was not ideal for our visit to Zhangjiajie’s Grand Canyon & Tiananmen Mountain - but despite this we had an amazing time anyway! Thanks to Chow, our Guide who helped make the day memorable and fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Li River: China's Most Picturesque River

Guilin

The Li Cruise was lovely - a relaxing way to see the spectacular scenery along the beautiful river.

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine, Jinli Ancient Street

Chengdu

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the Pandas! Even though the Panda Centre seemed to be crowded, Betty our guide was able to keep us away from long lines and we had plenty of stress free time to just watch the beautiful animals. One of our favourite days in China.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Yulong River Rafting Experence

Yangshuo

The bamboo rafting experience was a little bit of fun and a great way to see the scenery of the river.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling

China

We opted out of this activity due to the weather!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Chongqing City Highlights One-Day Tour

Chongqing

The Chongqing City is pretty cool but this tour was not one of our favourites of China’s city tours. Yudy the guide was nice, but the spots we saw were pretty lame and not really that interesting and we didn’t see everything that was listed (didn’t get taken to Raffles City to do the Sky Bridge or see the Hongya Cave light up at night - only during the day with almost nothing happening). Overall the tour seemed a bit rushed - it would have been better to start in the late afternoon into the evening.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit the Highlights in Shanghai

Shanghai

We enjoyed our Shanghai City Highlights tour, with the highlight being the Yu Garden.

Quality of Experience

I

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Less than stellar. The unfortunate thing was slow communication with the Travel Provider. There were often delays during the planning. Most critically, there were major delays DURING the trip which caused us to have to scramble and make alternative arrangements on our own. Ultimately the service provider/agent did make things right, issuing refunds and becoming more responsive. But it left a bad taste in our mouth re: Kimkim.
I will say the KimKim platform is cumbersome. Having to login to mobile web browser to chat, instead of a dedicated app with chat capabilities, is not ideal.

The ENTIRE trip was memorable and our guides were prompt, extremely knowledgeable, attentive and professional. We had a tour in Phukett change the pick up time and Lisa from Kim Kim notified us immediately resulting in a flawless transition. We didn't have any glitches and no complaints. Lisa did an excellent job assisting me in putting together our first time visit to Asia!

My husband and I recently had the incredible opportunity to visit China, and it truly exceeded all expectations. From ancient history to breathtaking natural landscapes, this trip had everything we could have hoped for and more. I want to thank Lisa for helping us put this amazing trip together through KimKim. She was so helpful and patient with us.

Highlights of the Trip

The Great Wall of China was nothing short of awe-inspiring. Walking along this historic wonder, we couldn’t help but be amazed by its sheer scale and beauty. The panoramic views from the top were unforgettable, and standing on such an iconic piece of history was an emotional experience.

We visited Chengdu to see the adorable pandas—and they definitely lived up to the hype! Watching these playful creatures in their natural habitat was a highlight of the trip. The conservation efforts here are truly impressive, and it was a joy to witness their charm up close.

In Xi’an, we were fortunate enough to see the Terracotta Warriors, a monumental archaeological discovery. The sheer number of life-sized statues and the detail in each one was staggering. It’s amazing to think that this army was created over 2,000 years ago to protect China’s first emperor in the afterlife.

One of the most stunning natural attractions was Zhangjiajie National Forest Park—the inspiration for the floating mountains in the movie Avatar. The towering sandstone pillars surrounded by mist create an ethereal, almost otherworldly landscape. It’s a photographer’s dream and a must-see for nature lovers.

Finally, Guilin was a peaceful escape, with its surreal limestone karst mountains and tranquil Li River cruises. The views were unlike anything I’ve ever seen and felt like something out of a dream.

Cultural Immersion

One of the aspects of the trip that stood out was the incredible cultural immersion. We had numerous opportunities to experience China’s rich traditions and daily life. Whether it was a calligraphy lesson, a traditional tea ceremony, or learning about the history behind local markets, we were able to connect with the culture in meaningful ways.

The people of China were warm, welcoming, and eager to share their stories. Our guides were exceptional—they were incredibly knowledgeable, personable, and made sure we felt comfortable and engaged every step of the way. They took the time to answer all our questions and ensured we had a smooth and enjoyable experience.

We want to thank all our guides: Zhang Yaping (Amy - Beijing), Ma Jun (MJ - Xian), Xiao Tuanming (Nancy - Zhangjiajie), Lin Xue (April), Owen (Guilin) and Vivian (Shanghai). You were all wonderful to get to know and helped make the trip memorable.

Food: A Culinary Adventure

The food in China was another highlight of the trip. Every meal was a delightful adventure! We had the chance to try authentic dishes that we’d never seen in the U.S. The flavors were bold and varied, from the spicy Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu to the savory dumplings in Xi’an. I particularly loved the Peking duck in Beijing—crispy, tender, and simply delicious. The variety of textures and flavors in Chinese cuisine was incredible, and I came home with a newfound appreciation for their culinary traditions.

Overall Experience

All in all, this was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that I will never forget. The sights, the food, the culture, and the wonderful people I met along the way all made this an unforgettable adventure. The expert guides and well-curated itinerary ensured that we didn’t just see China—we truly experienced it.

If you’re considering a trip to China, I wholeheartedly recommend it. Kimkim can help you design the best trip. I can’t wait to return someday!

Activity Reviews

Beijing – Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,Temple of Heaven with Peking Duck Lunch

Beijing

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Hiking along the Majestic Great Wall, Summer Palace

Beijing

We had a great day to visit the wall.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Visit a Local Family and Learn to Cook Homemade Dishes

Xi'an

This was an enjoyable experience. The family opened their home and we had a lovely time.

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover Xi'an: the Terracotta Army and Muslim Quarter

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Highlights of Shanghai with Yu Garden and the Bund

Shanghai

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Cooking Class in Yangshuo

Yangshuo

This was extemely fun! Well worth it

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at China's Most Picturesque River - Li River

China

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore the Scenic Countryside in Yangshuo by Cycling and Rafting

China

We didn't get to cycle but the rafting was very fun!

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Chengdu: Pandas, Wuhou Shrine,Jinli with a Hot Pot Lunch

Chengdu

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Discover the Beauty of Longji Terraced Fields and Learn to Make Bamboo Tube Rice

Guilin

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Revel in the Splendor of Zhangjiajie - Grand Canyon and Tianmen Mountain

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Marvel at the Picturesque Landscape in Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Zhangjiajie

Quality of Experience

Food

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport

Explore Xi'an City: Ancient City Wall and Drum Tower

Xi'an

Quality of Experience

Guides, Drivers and Staff

Transport