This was my first trip to China. I have always been intrigued by the country but with it being such a big place I didn’t know where to start to be honest.
I’ve always loved travelling, but I’ve only been an agent for close to a year, so this was an amazing opportunity at this stage of my career.
The six-day itinerary saw us enjoy a mix of city and more rural and regional locations, with a focus on the natural wonderland that is Zhangjiajie National Park for a taste of Chinese culture and sightseeing beyond the usual tourist trail, which is just my style.
I admit that I went into the trip thinking that China might not be as vibrant as some other Asian countries I had been to in terms of culture and the people I would meet.
I knew the culture was rich but I think Australians generally – myself included – have a preconceived idea about what China is. So I definitely tried to keep my expectations open.
Still, it was very different to what I was expecting. I thought it would be stock standard bus touring, looking out the window at some sights and hearing all the best bits about what we were seeing.
What I actually experienced was completely opposite – we were fully immersed in the culture and everyday life of the destinations. It was an in depth and open approach from staff and the locals who looked after us as tour guides.
For me the absolute highlights were in Changsha. I hadn’t heard of it before I left and did a bit of research into it, but once there, I was amazed. The boat tour we took through Changsha to see the city lit up at night was beautiful.
Zhangjiajie was one place I had heard of before (thanks Avatar) and I was really excited to visit for myself. I knew in some places it was very rural in nature with amazing national parks and scenery.
So, I was taken by surprise at just how big the actual city was. Much bigger and action packed than I ever expected.
The city was fun, but as we travelled further, the memorable natural landscapes that Zhangjiajie is famous for hit me and I realised this was another unforgettable travel highlight.
We rode in the Bailong Elevator, the world’s tallest outdoor glass lift, in the Zhangjiajie national park, explored the mountaintops and saw the ‘floating mountain’ from Avatar.
The climb down the 999 steps on Tianmen Mountain was also well worth it. Unquestionably one of the most incredible mountains I’ve ever seen, Tianmen is a complete natural wonder soaring some 1,500 metres.
Another standout moment was walking across the 430-metre-long glass bridge that sits over China’s own Grand Canyon. I also got to go ziplining between the vertical cliffs and enjoy incredible views from above.
Something else I won’t forget in a hurry was the fox lady performance we saw in the outdoor theatre in Zhangjiajie. Seeing Tianmen Mountain lit up and the amount of effort and detail that went into that show was something I’ll always remember.
When it comes to food, I’m a very fussy eater generally but while travelling I’ll make myself try different things, which meant various types of seafood on this trip. The Salamander in a hotpot was a highlight and quite delicious!
Professionally, networking with other agents from Australia, New Zealand and the UK was great and I got to learn so much more about China as a destination as well as Wendy Wu specifically as a supplier/tour company.
In fact, I got to meet Wendy Wu personally. Yes, she is a real person! Wendy is so full of energy and brought that into every interaction she had.
Knowing she is a very important person in the travel industry and seeing her still able to form genuine connections with each traveller (me included) was amazing. She seemed just as excited as the rest of us while taking in those once-in-a-lifetime experiences for the first time.
If there is one tip that I can give to others selling this destination or visiting for themselves, it’s that cash is still king in most places we went outside of the major cities and airports.
Also, keep an open mind and say yes to different experiences (the food, the thrill-seeking!). Immerse yourself in the culture. The Chinese people were friendly and played a huge role in my enjoyment of this famil.
China is a relatively cheap and easy destination and I know I’ll be going back – having that confidence and experience definitely makes it easier to sell!
