20 Best China Tours in January 2026 (with Winter Deals)

I'll admit, I was nervous about taking my kids (ages 8 and 11) on a tour focused on Confucius. I had visions of them getting bored by endless history and ancient temples. But our trip to Qufu was the complete opposite—it was engaging, fun, and one of the most memorable trips we've taken as a family.

I really want to thank my guide Zoey. She was a patient historian in Qufu, making Confucius's story accessible and interesting for our children. 

And we also head to Baotu Spring. My daughter kept saying it looked like the water was "boiling from the earth," and she wasn't wrong! It felt truly magical. Daming Lake was just as enchanting, vast and serene, exactly like a scene from an ancient painting. We rented a small boat and paddled around, and the kids felt like true explorers discovering a new world.

I just spent a few wonderful days exploring Qingdao, and it was the perfect coastal retreat, unlike any other city I've visited in China. From the moment I arrived, the city charmed me with its clean sea breeze, amazing Laoshan mountain, and the Tsingtao beer. It felt both relaxed and full of character.

The hotel was situated in a prime location that made it easy to walk to both the historic sites and the beachfront. Everything was designed to be easy and relaxing.

Our guide, CoCo was absolutely wonderful. They had an intimate knowledge of the city’s dual German and Chinese history, which brought the architecture to life.

I recently finished a week-long tour of Shandong, and it was a profound experience that far exceeded my expectations. From the moment I arrived, I was impressed by everything—from the red-roofed villas and blue seas of Qingdao to the rich Confucian atmosphere in Qufu. But the soul of the entire trip was undoubtedly the majestic Mount Taishan.

Our guide was exceptional—knowledgeable, sincere, and always attentive to everyone's needs. At the Confucius sites in Qufu, they brought the history to life, making the ancient buildings feel much more meaningful. And before our ascent of Mount Taishan, their detailed introduction filled us with a sense of reverence for this most sacred of China's five great mountains.

The ascent of Mount Taishan was absolutely the climax of the entire journey. We opted for the route of taking the scenic bus to the Midway. Hiking from Zhongtianmen to Nantian was still a challenge, but every step was worth it. Standing at the peak, looking out over the rolling mountains and the sea of clouds, you could truly feel the same sense of grandeur that ancient emperors must have felt during their pilgrimages.