This review for our 2025 Xinjiang trip plus 2026 Xian, Luoyang, Jinan and Qingdao, Shangdon trip…
This review for our 2025 Xinjiang trip is wayyyy overdue. In May 2025, my dad and I had an amazing trip with beyond imagination culinary and cultural experiences. The trip Julia helped us plan was amazing. Hotels were great. The routes were excellent. And the driver she booked for us went above and beyond to ensure we had a great time. He took us to try soooo many great, yummy food!!!
It was my dad who wanted to go to Xinjiang. I had no much interest as I was not a fan of lamb nor was I interested in learning about the place as much as my dad did. But was I ignorant. I ended up blown away by everything. We both loved the entire trip. I loved every piece of food and tea/drink that passed into my mouth. Lamb squewers, the rice, the teas, pomegranate juices, naah breads, pastries, etc. The amazing, friendly (beutiful/handsome) locals, the beautiful architecture, OMG, I could not have enough of all these experiences. I loved it so much that I wished I could move or retire in Xinjiang. I now need to plan to visit North of Xinjiang during Fall for the fall leaves. We went in early May for 3 weeks. ( We ensured to get there after the May 1st holiday period). Weather was nice. If you plan to visit Xinjiang, go ahead and ask for recommendations for the itinerary. You can also do some research and see where you would like to go, budget, and length of travel time, and Julia can help you provide some options. We did a bit of the north from Urumqi and drove around into the middle of the region (went to all the most visited areas: Sailim lake, Ili, etc.), and then ended the trip in Kashgar. I am so glad we had this chance to visit Xinjiang. I am humbled to have the chance to learn about the different local people and their culture. Xinjiang is indeed a wonderful, wonderful place.
OK. Now, below review is for our 2026 April 6 to April 21 trip to Xian, Luoyang, Jinan and Qindao in Shandong.
It was a packed, fun, excellent trip experience again. The hotels, the itinerary, the drivers, were all amazing. We wished we could spend a week in each location! We also wished to have more mouth and stomach to be able to eat all the delish food. We so enjoyed visiting different gardens during April's Peony flower blooms... The peonies were amazing... The historical sites in each cities we visited, the locals, the food. all were amazing. Julia tiredlessly tried and got us museum tickets ( free but must sign up online) to Luoyang museum. The museum visit was humbling, to see so many artifacts, so much cultural relics, so much story behind each displayed treasure...
Jinan, Shandong is my mom's hometown. To be able to visit it, to stand and walk there, to breath its air, to see its beauty, to savour local food there, was a bitter sweet experience that I would never forget and treasure forever. I will plan to visit more places in Shandong and then Jinan again with my daughter one day.
This was again another unforgetable experience. Thank you so much!!!
Betty W.







