There were supposed to be 5 people on this tour but 3 canceled so it ended up being just my husband and me! Our guide Tony spoke English fluently and was very knowledgeable! We didn't end up going to Badaling because it was a Sunday and a lot of people would be there so we went to a quieter part of the Great Wall instead although it was steeper to climb. We were given a choice and chose this one, the right choice I think but there was still quite a lot of people there! Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square were also great places to visit but be warned as there is about 4km worth of walking on this part. If you tire easily, especially after climbing the Great Wall, you might want to think about saving this visit for another day. We visited a jade, silk and cloisonne gallery which was interesting. No pressure to buy at all but we did grab some nice souvenirs!

Our guide Jackie was very patient, informative and funny! It was a great itinerary that allowed us to see so many things in one day so this tour is a must if you don't have much time in Beijing. You can't escape the crowds in Beijing anywhere you go though, the Palace had 47,000 visitors the day we visited! Pandas were just adorable.

Driver was 15 mins earlier than scheduled but no problem for us. Got to airport with plenty of time to spare. A hassle-free way to get to the airport.

Very efficient reservation system but you really do have to call them early otherwise you won't get the tour time you want. Tour itself was okay. Interesting to see the studios.

I would never miss a visit to Woodbury Common whenever I'm in New York!!! Bring an empty suitcase and your credit cards!