China and the Yangtze with Grand Circle Travel

The tour called “China and the Yangtze,” organized by Grand Circle Travel (347 Congress St., Boston, MA, 02210; phone 800/321-2835 or visit www.gct.com), might be subtitled “The Best of China.” This wonderful 21-day tour, April 9-29, ’05, cost $3,005 per person, including airfare from San Francisco, five internal flights and a 5-day cruise on the Yangtze River. My wife and I elected to take eight optional excursions (highly recommended) for an additional $277 per person.

Our first city was Beijing. We then visited modern Shanghai and picturesque Suzhou before boarding the Princess Jeannie to cruise up the Yangtze. Of course, no visit to China would be complete without seeing the giant panda bears, which we did in Chongqing, and the terra-cotta warriors in Xi’an. A spectacular cruise of the Li River and a visit to cosmopolitan Hong Kong completed the itinerary.

Some of the most memorable parts of the trip were not the big tourist attractions but what GCT calls their “discovery series” of excursions where we traveled off the beaten path.

One such trip was a pedicab ride through the hutongs of Beijing to visit an elementary school which is subsidized by the GCT Foundation. We sat down in the classroom and talked with the children and their teachers and even engaged some boys in a game of Ping-Pong! The GCT Foundation also contributes to a kung fu academy for young boys in Beijing and an orphanage in Guilin.

It was wonderful to be able to talk to local people and see how they lived. In Wanxian, on the Yangtze, we visited a family that had been relocated because their home had been inundated by the rising waters behind the Three Gorges Dam. We discussed with them their feelings about the dam project.

I cannot speak highly enough of our GCT tour director, Jessica, who was with us the entire trip. In each city we also had local guides, all of whom were very professional and knowledgeable and spoke fluent English. On the bus each morning, Jessica tried to teach us some basic Mandarin, with limited success. She also distributed sheets describing the sights we would see that day.

All of the hotels were first rate. Sometimes we had Western meals served in the hotel, and other times we went out to excellent restaurants for Chinese dinners and shows.

My fondest memories are of the people we met. The Chinese were very friendly and helpful, in spite of the language barrier. In many places, the sight of foreigners is still a novelty. We often were asked by locals if they could have their picture taken with us!

We found the people of China to be proud of their country and its accomplishments over the last 30 years. Every major city has a new airport, and tour groups are efficiently ushered through with a minimum of hassle.

Although my wife and I enjoy independent travel, we would say this is a trip best undertaken with an organized tour group. We could never have done it on our own. The best time to visit China is early spring or late fall. It is a trip that you will not forget!

— BILL BECHTELL, Montara, CA