I've been on a number of sightseeing tours in China and they all had one thing in common: they were bad. Often very, very bad (like this one in Xi'an). Despite that, I enjoyed most of them. Having the right people on the tour helps, but the most important factor is attitude. If you go in expecting the ridiculous and are fully prepared to laugh your way through it all, you'll … [Read more...]
How I Enjoyed a Terrible Terracotta Warrior Tour in Xi’an
Most group tours are a waste of time and money. Tour guides drag you from one shop, often thinly disguised as a tourist attraction, to another, with a quick stop or two at an actual attraction in between. On full-day tours, they feed you lunch at an overpriced restaurant and when the day is over, many expect tips for taking you shopping all day. Despite all that, I occasionally … [Read more...]