Whispers Magazine
Travel Inspiration from The UK's Best Specialist Tour Operator
Discover Authentic Experiences in China with Wendy Wu Tours
To make sure you truly immerse yourself in the culture of China we pack every single one of our tours to China with authentic cultural experiences.
We’ve highlighted our favourite ones on each tour but here are just a few examples of what you can look forward to…
Sample Tibetan foods and flavours with a traditional Tibetan lunch, featuring 'momos', the tasty steamed and stuffed dumpling whose popularity has spread from the Tibetan Plateau throughout Asia.
As featured in our Silk Road Explorer tour
Visit Tashilhunpo, the seat of the eminent Panchen Lama, and make a ‘kora’ (pilgrimage circuit) of this 15th-century monastery with the pilgrims who have travelled from all over Tibet to visit this sacred edifice.
As featured in our Tibetan Wonders tour
Wander the Barkhor circuit, the pilgrimage route that surrounds the sacred Jokhang temple, pausing to browse the plentiful market stalls and watch the traditionally-dressed pilgrims, who have come from all over Tibet, complete their journey.
As featured in our China & Tibet Discovery tour
Discover the bustling harbour of Aberdeen fishing village from a different perspective, watching the coming and goings of the local fleet from your seat onboard one of the many traditional sampans that ply the waters.
As featured in our Cities of the Orient tour
Soar over the spectacular landscapes of Hong Kong's Lantau Island on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car, flying ever closer to the giant buddha perched serenely on his hilltop.
As featured in our Cities of the Orient tour
In the tranquil surroundings of the Temple of Heaven Park, a Tai Chi master will give a private tuition of the basic steps of this graceful martial art, an essential element of Chinese wellbeing practice.
As featured in our China in Style tour
Your visit to the exceptional Terracotta Warriors is made all the more unforgettable by a meeting with one of the farmers who discovered this archaeological wonder in 1974
As featured in our China in Style tour
Try your hand at the long-practised art of calligraphy, with a lesson in the basic techniques of this beautiful, stylised writing – the perfect way to connect with local culture.
As featured in our China in Style tour
Soar up to the heights of the Great Wall by cable car and watch a beautiful sunset in one of the world's most spectacular locations.
As featured in our China Explorer tour
Wake up to the buzz of Shanghai and take a walking tour through the city's most fascinating districts, before tucking into some traditional pancakes for breakfast.
As featured in our China Explorer tour
Visit a traditional, nomadic home of a family of the Kazakh minority community, and spend some time with them, learning about their culture, and get a glimpse of life living in a yurt.
As featured in our Silk Road Explorer tour
Wander amongst the packed stalls of the atmospheric Shazhou Night Market in the Silk Road frontier city of Dunhuang, browsing delicious foods, fascinating local wares and a wealth of souvenirs.
As featured in our Silk Road Explorer tour
Spend time with a Shaman, who will teach you some of a forgotten language, Dongba Pictograms - by the end of the lesson you'll know all about its history and be able to write a few basic characters.
As featured in our Tibetan Wonders tour
Get your adrenaline pumping, making your way over the magnificent scenery of dense bamboo forest on Jinji's breathtaking suspended rope bridge.
As featured in our Dreams of Nature tour
Explore the otherworldly expanse of sandstone karst pillars, peaks and pinnacles that make up the magical Zhangjiajie National Forest Park with a series of beautiful walks and visits to geological wonders.
As featured in our Dreams of Nature tour
Shaxi ancient town is not only a charming place to explore but, as the heart of an area that is home to a number of China's minority people, is the perfect place to delve into a timeless, rich culture and meet the friendly communities for yourself.
As featured in our China: The Big One tour
At Weibaoshan, meet with a Taoist priest to learn about the principles of this native philosophy and take part in a guided meditation session amongst these peaceful surroundings.
As featured in our China: The Big One tour
Surrounded by tranquil lakes and most picturesquely reached by boat, explore the Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall and marvel at the spectacular views over the surrounding countryside.
As featured in our China: The Big One tour
Take a morning stroll through Shanghai's old concessions, stopping where the locals stop to sample delicious local breakfast delicacies such as pancakes and fried bread sticks.
As featured in our Land of the Dragon tour
Circle Xia'n's beautiful old town by bike along the magnificent city walls, admiring views over its plethora of historic sights as you go.
As featured in our Land of the Dragon tour
Ascend to the summit of Moon Hill, one of the Li River valley's unique karst rock formations, from where you'll get spectacular views over the lush paddy fields and limestone towers for which the area is famous.
As featured in our Land of the Dragon tour
From hand-stretched noodles to barbequed meat on skewers, Xian's Muslim Quarter is a street food heaven! As you explore these atmospheric streets and soak up the history, why not grab a delicious snack or two, to keep your energy up?
As featured in our Enchanting China tour
Cruise on the crystal-clear tranquil waters of Erhai Lake, admiring the views over the Cangshan Mountains and passing its many famous islands, many of them complete with colourful temples.
As featured in our Ultimate China tour
Painted during the Ming Dynasty (1368 and 1644) the incredible Baisha Frescoes tell fascinating stories of the daily life, religion and politics of their time and have retained their bright colours and vivid patterns.
As featured in our Ultimate China tour
Venture to a Tibetan village in the highlands of Yunnan province to meet the local community, visit a traditional family home and experience the intriguing blend of the Tibetan and Chinese way of life.
As featured in our Ultimate China tour
Cruise on the waters of Huangpu, the river that bisects Shanghai, the perfect way to appreciate the contrast of the west bank, where you'll find the colonial architecture of The Bund, and the east bank, home to the ultramodern skyscrapers of Pudong.
As featured in our Grand Tour of China tour
Learn about the history of Yunnan Province and its many minority peoples in a spectacular show of traditional music, dancing and performance, called Dynamic Yunnan.
As featured in our China Encounters tour
Walk on the magnificent Great Wall, discovering the lesser-visited Jinshanling, a section restored to its Ming Dynasty glory and which passes through magnificent surroundings.
As featured in our China Encounters tour
Sit down to a delicious meal of home-cooked food, prepared for you by members of the Tibetan community in a charming, rural Yunnan village.
As featured in our China Encounters tour
Spend an evening exploring China's long and fascinating history in a breathtaking show of martial arts, acrobatics and stunning special effects - the fantastic ERA Show at the Shanghai Circus World.
As featured in our Magnificent China tour
At the heart of a huge tea-producing region and once a stop on the Tea Horse Road, drinking tea is an essential element of life in Chengdu. Visit a traditional tea house to experience the history, customs and the perfect brew.
As featured in our Magnificent China tour
Sail high above the breathtaking landscapes of Yunnan into the majestic heights of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain by cable car, reaching an observation point at 4,500 metres and exploring a beautiful high-altitude meadow.
As featured in our Classic China tour
Explore the peaceful village of Baisha, home to the Naxi, one of China's many minority peoples. Whilst here you can meet the friendly locals, delve into their rich culture and get a glimpse of their day to day lives.
As featured in our Classic China tour
Cruise on the historic Grand Canal, built over 1,000 years ago to transport goods around the kingdom, through the picturesque town of Suzhou.
As featured in our China Delights tour
Visit a plantation and learn all about the process of cultivating, plucking, processing and producing that wonderful beverage, tea! There will be a taster, to keep you refreshed.
As featured in our China Delights tour
As part of a visit to the Shaolin Temple, with its long and famous history of martial arts, watch an action-packed kung fu show by the monks and their trainees, who will demonstrate their astonishing skills.
As featured in our Ancient China tour
Discover the traditional Chinese folk art of paper cutting, an intricate and beautiful craft that's been practised wince the 6th century. After a demonstration of the techniques, try your hand at creating your own paper cutting.
As featured in our Ancient China tour
A speciality dish of Yunnan province, tuck into a delicious bowl of Across the Bridge noodles in provincial capital Kunming, a famous and flavourful noodle soup with a touching story behind it.
As featured in our Yunnan & Sichuan tour
Visit the village of Xizhou where, as well as browsing the laden stalls of the bustling, local market, you'll be able to see members of the Naxi minority community in their colourful, traditional dress.
As featured in our Yunnan & Sichuan tour
Take a relaxed walk above Xi'an's old town, strolling on the magnificent city walls that encircle it and taking in the views as you go.
As featured in our China & Tibet Discovery tour
Explore the quirks of local culture in Chengdu at the fascinating 'Matchmaker's Corner', a place where parents search for potential suitors for their children.
As featured in our Cities of the Orient tour
Zoom across China aboard a superfast bullet train, on what is the world's longest high-speed railway network, tracelling at up to 350 kilometres an hour in comfort.
As featured in our Wonders of China tour
Discover the magnificent nature of the Three Natural Bridges National Park in Wulong, walking through the lush valleys and gorges to admire the spectacular geological wonder of the three bridges themselves.
As featured in our China Splendour tour
Tuck into a delicious feast of local speciality Shiu Jiao dumplings before stepping back into Xian's golden age, during the Tang Dynasty, with a music and dance performance.
As featured in our China Splendour tour
Wander the atmospheric alleyways of Xi'an's old Muslim Quarter, an area that perfectly showcases the city's illustrious history as a terminus of the ancient Silk Road.
As featured in our China Splendour tour
Cruise through Qutang, Wu and Xiling gorges, otherwise known as the Three Gorges, admiring the magnificent scenery from the comfort of your Yangtze River cruise vesseland learning about its epic history from your onboard expert.
As featured in our Majestic Yangtze tour
Tuck into a delicious feast of Beijing's best known dish, Peking Duck, a food that offers a true taste of imperial China and a long-time favourite of locals and visitors alike!
As featured in our Majestic Yangtze tour
Long practised in China, many people start their day with a session of Tai Chi - do the same with a morning class with an instructor and continue your day feeling invigorated.
As featured in our Glories of China tour
Visit a busy workshop where craftsmen create replicas of the famous Terracotta Warriors and watch them going about their age-old craft with astonishing speed and dexterity.
As featured in our Glories of China tour
Venture into Beijing's atmospheric old neighbourhoods, the hutongs, exploring the narrow alleyways and visiting the traditional courtyard house of a family, who will give you a glimpse into their daily life.
As featured in our A China Experience tour
Step back in time to relive the majesty of the Tang Dynasty, of which Xian was the prosperous and glorious capital, with a colourful spectacular of traditional music and dancing.
As featured in our A China Experience tour
Jade has long been a sacred stone to the Chinese people, bringing fortune and prosperity to those who wear it. Visit a jade factory where you can learn more about its origins, its importance and how it is crafted.
As featured in our A China Experience tour
At the heart of Sichuan's province, the native land of the giant panda, visit the excellent Dujiangyan Panda Base where you'll learn all about China's iconic bear, the conservation projects in action to increase their numbers and, of course, see these beautiful animals for yourself.
As featured in our In Pursuit of Pandas tour
One of Beijing's must-see shows, enjoy a Chinese acrobatic spectacular featuring many forms of dramatic arts such as contortionism, juggling and plate spinning and full of edge-of-your-seat action.
As featured in our In Pursuit of Pandas tour
Winner of Best Specialist Tour Operator 12 years running at the Globe Travel Awards, the 'Oscars of the Travel Industry'. Multiple award winners at the British Travel Awards, the most influential poll of consumer opinion in travel.
