chinese tour companies in vancouver

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Campbell Travel Limited opened its first office in Vancouver, BC in 1988. It now has 4 offices throughout the Greater Vancouver including one that offers Korean speaking services. Being the appointed agent of over 20 Airlines, Campbell Travel is playing a leading role in the local travel industry. We organize a great variety of outbound tours, custom-made, free & easy packages and cruise holidays to China, Japan, South East Asia, Europe and Australia, etc. Campbell Travel has a team of professional staff, providing quality and reliable services to groups and communities, hence, satisfying our client's up-coming demands.

Vancouver (Head Office) #220 - 181 Keefer Place, Vancouver, B.C. V6B 6C1 Canada Tel.: (604) 688-2912 Fax: (604) 688-2918 Toll Free:1-888-688-2912 Email: [email protected]

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Splendid China Tour

12 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo & Shanghai

China Highlights Tour

15 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Guilin, Yangshuo, Hangzhou, Suzhou & Shanghai

Best of China Tour

14 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Shanghai, Guilin & Hong Kong

Magnificent China Tour

18 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chongqing, Yangtze River Odyssey, Wuhan, Shanghai, Guilin & Hong Kong

Yangtze and Tibet Fantasy Tour

21 days tour to Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Lhasa, Chongqing, Yangtze River, Yichang, Hangzhou, Suzhou & Shanghai

Tibetan Adventure Tour

10 days tour to Lhasa, Yam Lake, Gyantse, Shigatse, Old Tangari, Rompu Temple, Mt. Everest & Chengdu

The Silk Road Tour

A 15 day tour uncovering the many facets of China’s ancient civilization by visiting Beijing, Urumqi, Kashgar, Turpan, Dunhuan, Xi’an and Shanghai

Visa Service

A China Visa is required for all the overseas passport holders in order to gain entry into, exit from or transit through Chinese territories for visiting, traveling or business purposes.

We offer the consolidator airfare with most of the following airlines to China & Asia.

Private Trips

If you need a tailor-made tour, we may customize a private trip for you

Beyond China & Canada

Beyond China and Canada, we are specialized in arranging following tours / services for: Cruises, Asia, Europe, South America, Caribbean (including Cuba), Australia and New Zealand

China Travel Service (Canada) Inc. is a subsidiary of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Ltd.  There are two offices in Canada, located in Toronto and Vancouver.

China Travel Service [CTS] is the largest and premiere travel company in China. CTS has been opening China to the world since 1928. Its quality service consists of combining both comfort and authenticity.

With CTS, you may join a tour on a pre-designed itinerary, or let our specialists customize a private tour for you. From a once in a lifetime luxury tour to a budget-limited trip, you will finally find what you need with us. That is the reason CTS differs from other travel companies.

Based on your personal needs and agenda, we may also offer you consolidated airfare to China and Asia, hotel or cruise booking, China visa services, et cetera. We truly are a “One-Stop Shopping Travel Agency to China” that is located in North America.

1-800-387-6622 or 1-800-663-1126 [email protected] https://canadacts.com/

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Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand 5 Star Package Tour

China yangtze spectacular deluxe escorted tour, singapore, malaysia, thailand deluxe escorted tour, japan highlight escorted tour, japan and korea escorted tour.

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2012 BBB Torch Award Recipient

Established in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2000, China Star Holiday Ltd. has been providing Canadians with exceptional guided tours to China and India for over two decades. Now, in 2023, we’re thrilled to announce the expansion of our business to Asia as “Asia Sky Holidays,” offering unforgettable tours to Japan, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Laos.

Our commitment to quality and client satisfaction has earned us a well-established reputation and a long list of happy customers. Our expert Tour Programs have been designed with over 30 years of travel industry experience, ensuring that every detail of your trip is thoughtfully planned and executed to perfection.

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Customer Reviews

We wanted to give our testimony on a recent trip to Japan, Oct 18-28, 2023 with Asia Sky Holidays. We are very pleased with the tour. Eddie and David (local Japan guide) were excellent. Very informative, helpful, accommodating, and funny. 

Thanks to Tommy (owner) for his generosity. The special touches included those celebrating birthdays in Oct with 4 different specialty cakes and gifts, mochi for everyone to try on the bus, souvenirs of Japan, group photo, free drinks on more than one occasion all compliments of Tommy. 

The food included was delicious.

Would have liked more shopping time for our young adult children! 

Otherwise, the attractions and cities visited was great! 

Wong Family

Dear Mr. Sung

We recently had the extreme pleasure of taking one of your guided tours to China. Tour #TFOA- 1017. The tour was jam packed with wonderful sights and sounds. Everything was EXCELLENT! The tours, the food, the hotels and all of the guides, especially our tour guide Patrick Guan. He took such good care of us, making sure all of the logistics of our trip were under control. Patrick provided insight and education as we went along.., we loved hearing personal stories as well.

We would like to thank you personally for the lovely gift of the beautiful silk embroidery Patrick presented to Maria on her birthday. It made for a very special day for her.

Hello Mr. Sung

We have just returned from our trip to India which we booked through your company.

Our tour was No: MTH-0208.

We were- pleased with all aspects of our trip. I want to especially comment on our guide that we had for  12 of the days of our tour, from  New  Delhi to Udaipur. His name was Durgesh. This young man was excellent!  He was very knowledgeable not only of the sites we saw and the history but about the many different questions we had regarding the economy and lifestyle of the Indian people. He was very kind and patient, a great listener, and also was able to enjoy our sense of humor!

We definitely would recommend other tours to be able to be fortunate enough to have Durgesh as their guide.

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From ancient landmarks and cultural experiences to natural wonders and adventure activities, our photo gallery brings a glimpse into the amazing sights and experiences that await you on our tours. 

China Tour from Vancouver

• Take in the sublimity of the Great Wall, the world’s longest man-made marvel.
• Travel back in time at imperial legacies of Forbidden City and Terracotta Army.
• Cruise under Shanghai’s soaring skylines on the Huangpu River and by the Bund.
• Mingle with locals, taste authentic local cuisine, and enjoy ancient Chinese art.

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• China domestic airfares
• Hotel accommodation with breakfasts
• A la carte lunches as itinerary specifies
• Professional English-speaking guides
• Drivers & air-conditioned vehicles
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China Tours from Canada

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China tours from Canada since 1998

China tours from Canada – premium small group travel

Google “China tours from Canada” and you’ll see many tour operators claiming that they offer China tours from Canada. The truth is few of them are located in Canada, let alone give you the level of consumer protection that Laurus Travel does.

Laurus Travel is a Canadian tour company founded and based in Canada. Since 1998, we have been trusted by thousands of Canadians across Canada for their dream vacations in the Middle Kingdom. Today, Laurus Travel has never been better positioned in meeting the needs of Canadian travellers visiting China and other East Asian countries including India , Japan, South Korea , Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand . 

We understand that a business is only as good as it appears in the eyes of its customers. Before going away, please check out what our customers have to say about us and our China tour programs .

Laurus Travel is the only Canadian China tour operator recommended by Frommer’s. You can find our name in every edition of Frommer’s China, an endorsement money can’t buy. Rated A+ by the BBB and highly regarded by customers across Canada, we have been successfully running premium small-group tours to China from Canada since 1998. If you are looking for a reliable China tour agency in Canada, you’ve just found it in Laurus Travel. Our solid reputation is your best guarantee for a great China travel experience.

We have many China tours available. One of the most popular China tours we have been running for over two decades is the 19-day China Odyssey . The well-paced itinerary, starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai, is packed with UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Highlights include the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army Museum, day cruise on the picturesque Li River, and a multi-day cruise on the mighty Yangtze River. Like our other China tours, this premium China tour package features small-group size, outstanding guides hand-picked by company owners, bullet train rides between cities, luxury accommodations and authentic, high-quality Chinese cuisine.

China Odyssey (19 days)

Beijing – Xian – Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Yichang – Wuhan – Guilin – Shanghai

Explore ancient sites in Beijing and Xian, admire nature’s beauty in Guilin, sail through the majestic Three Gorges of the Yangtze, savour authentic Chinese cuisines of different regions – this China tour package gives you all that and much more! Trip highlights include the Forbidden City and the Great Wall at Mutianyu in Beijing, Terracotta Army in Xian, a 3-day cruise down the mighty Yangtze, hiking through terraced rice paddies and a day cruise on picturesque Li River in Guilin.

Important Features

• Small group size – average 15, maximum 20
• Expert guides handpicked by company owners
• Inter-city travel by high-speed train except for one city pair (by air)
• No annoying forced shopping of any kind
• Quality meals at non-tourist restaurants
• Unlimited supply of bottled water during group activities
• Deluxe cabin with private balcony on luxury Yangtze cruise
• Free Wi-Fi in all hotels
• Great Wall visit at Mutianyu with cable car rides
• Day hike at Longji terraced rice fields
• and so much more…

Options Available

• Peking Opera show in Beijing
• Tang Dynasty cultural show in Xi’an
• Traditional face mask changing performance in Chengdu
• Half-day immersive tea farm visit in Guilin
• Half-day Jewish heritage tour in Shanghai

Meal Code: B = breakfast / L = lunch / D = dinner

Day 1/Thu: Departing for Beijing The trip starts with your transpacific flight departing from a city of your choice. You’ll lose a day upon crossing the International Date Line.

Day 2/Fri: Arrival in Beijing Meet the driver on arrival for transfer to the hotel. You’ll have the balance of the day at leisure. The guide will get in touch with you tonight.

Day 3/Sat: Beijing (B/L/D) Capital of China, Beijing is a world-class cultural and educational centre with a population of 21.7 million (2017), ranking it China’s second largest city behind Shanghai. Beijing is renowned for its opulent palaces, temples, and huge stone walls and gates – treasures that make it the most popular tourist city in China by the number of visitors it receives every year.

We begin today with a visit to the Forbidden City. Officially known as the Palace Museum, the Forbidden City was the place where the emperors of Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1912) Dynasties lived and carried out their administration. Construction of the Forbidden City took 14 years (1406-1420) to complete. The complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 hectares or 180 acres. It exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Qing Dynasty was overthrown in 1912 but the royal family was allowed to continue to live in the Forbidden City till 1924, when the last emperor, Pu Yi, was driven out of the imperial palace. One year later the Forbidden City was turned into a museum. Declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1987, this is the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

Next up is Tian’anmen Square. Located in the heart of Beijing, the square measures 880 metres from north to south and 500 meters from east to west. Said to be the largest public plaza in the world, Tian’anmen Square has the capacity to hold one million people. The imposing Tian’anmen Tower sits at the north end of the square while the Monument to the People’s Heroes dominates the centre. The square is flanked by The Great Hall of the People (west) and the National Museum (east). Chairman Mao’s Mausoleum and Qianmen (Front Gate) are located in the south of the square. One of the top 16 tourist attractions in Beijing, Tian’anmen Square is also the witness of the Chinese people’s great struggles for democracy and personal freedom since 1919.

Afternoon sightseeing at the Temple of Heaven, another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in southeastern Beijing the Temple of Heaven is China’s largest extant sacrificial temple where, during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the emperors conducted the elaborate and most exalted sacrifices addressed to “the Supreme Ruler of the Universe.” Construction of the temple started in 1406, during the reign of the Ming Emperor Yongle, and took 14 years to complete. The temple was expanded under the Qing emperors Qianlong (1736-1796) and Jiaqing (1796-1820). Occupying 2.73 square kilometres (roughly 1,700 by 1,600 metres), the area of the Temple of Heaven is more than twice that of the Forbidden City. The famous Hongqiao Pearl Market, the largest pearl market in the world, is right across the street from the Temple of Heaven. Recommended by numerous guidebooks for freshwater pearls, Hongqiao teems with domestic and international shoppers. If you are interested, please ask the guide to drop you off there. However, you’ll need to get back to the hotel by taxi, which costs about 50 yuan or US$8.

Today we enjoy a delicious dinner at a popular Peking Roast Duck restaurant. Peking Roast Duck is a famous Beijing dish prized for the thin and crispy skin with authentic versions serving mostly the skin and little meat, sliced in front of the diners. The meat is wrapped in a thin layer of pancake (Chinese tortilla) together with shredded scallion, cucumber, and a sweet and salty sauce made of wheat flour. Condiments may also include pickled garlic and white sugar.

Day 4/Sun: Beijing (B/L) After an early breakfast we embark on a full-day excursion to the legendary Great Wall at Mutianyu, 75km northeast of the city.

Zigzagging over 6,000 kilometres from east to west along the undulating mountains, the Great Wall was built to hold off tribal invaders from the north. As history shows, the Wall failed the Chinese rulers miserably, especially in the case of Kublai Khan who and his men swept across China from the Mongolian steppe, thus the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368).

Construction of the earliest sections of the Wall started in the 7th century B.C. A major renovation started with the founding of the Ming Dynasty in 1368 and took 200 years to complete. The wall we see today in Beijing is almost exactly the result of this effort.

Day 5/Mon: Beijing – Xian (B/L/D) We begin our sightseeing today with a visit to a traditional hutong neighbourhood. Hutong refers to an ancient alleyway with siheyuan or ”4-sided courtyard house” on both sides. The name hutong dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1279 – 1368 A.D.). According to some experts, the word originated from the Mongolian language, in which it is pronounced as hottog and means “well.” In ancient times, people tended to gather and live around wells. So the original meaning of hutong should be “a place where people live around”.

Next on our schedule is the Summer Palace, a well preserved UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. The imperial resort was first named Garden of Clear Ripples, which was burnt down by the allied forces of Great Britain and France in 1860 at the end of the Second Opium War (referred to as Arrow War by the British). Reconstruction started 25 years later and was completed in 1895 when the name was changed to Yi He Yuan (Garden of Good Health and Harmony). The design gives prominence to Longevity Hill, and Kunming Lake south of the hill. The sprawling complex covers an area of 290 hectares and the buildings inside consist of over 3,000 bays.

We travel to Xian by the high-speed train (#G87, 14:00/18:23). The 4-hour-23-minute rail journey through fertile farmland dotted with villages provides the visitor an excellent way to enjoy the beautiful countryside. The track we travel on between Beijing and Zhengzhou is part of the new 2,298km high-speed railway linking Beijing and subtropical Guangzhou and is also the longest high-speed rail line in the world. In the past 20 years China has been on a building spree expanding the country’s rail network and upgrading existing railways. Its new high-speed rail service rivals France’s TGV and Japan’s “shinkansen” in terms of safety, speed, comfort and punctuality.

Day 6/Tue: Xian (B/L) With a history going back over 3,000 years, Xi’an served as China’s capital of several ruling dynasties including the Han (206 BC – 220 AD) and the Tang (618 – 907). It is home of the famous Terracotta Army and the eastern terminus of the ancient Silk Road – a network of trade routes connecting China proper with regions as far as the Mediterranean beginning in the Second Century BC.

Morning visit to the Terracotta Army. Built on the excavation site, the museum is located 30km east of the city. Designed to follow the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) into eternity, the Terracotta Army represents one of the greatest archeological discoveries of the 20th Century.

After lunch we return to the city for a stroll on the ancient city wall. Declared a national treasure by the State Council in 1961, the wall first built in 1370 encircles an area of 14 square kilometres. It runs 13.7 kilometres long and measures 12 metres in height with a thickness at the base between 15 to 18 metres.

Day 7/Wed: Xian – Chengdu (B/L/D) Morning sightseeing begins at Shaanxi Provincial Museum. The modern, well-organized museum was completed in 1992 and traces the history of Xian from prehistory to Qing dynasty (1644-1912). The extensive galleries and exhibitions offer the visitor an excellent introduction to the area that greatly improves understanding of the numerous historical sites in and around the city.

We then visit the grand mosque in the old town centre and the adjacent Muslim bazaar. The mosque was established in the 8th Century but the majority of the complex was constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It was further expanded in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Unlike most mosques in Middle Eastern or Arab countries, this mosque is completely Chinese in architectural style. It has neither domes nor traditional minarets.

This afternoon we ride the bullet train (G1975, 14:34/18:25) to Chengdu, capital of populous Sichuan Province. The ancient city has a population of 14 million with half of that within the urban centre and the remainder in the surrounding districts. A top livable city, Chengdu is one of the most important economic, transportation, and communication hubs in Western China. The fertile Chengdu Plain, on which Chengdu is located, is also known as “Country of Heaven”, a phrase also often translated as “The Land of Abundance”. The discovery of the Jinsha site suggests the area of Chengdu had become the centre of the Bronze Age Sanxingdui culture around the time of the establishment of the state of Shu, prior to its annexation by Qin in 316 BC.

Day 8/Thu: Chengdu (B/L) Morning sightseeing at Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. The giant panda, unrelated to lesser or red panda, is a bear native to south central China, living in mountainous regions. It is easily recognized by the large, distinctive black patches around its eyes, over the ears, and across its round body. Though it belongs to the order Carnivora, the panda’s diet is over 99% bamboo. The giant panda has an insatiable appetite for bamboo. A typical animal eats half the day – a full 12 out of every 24 hours – and relieves itself dozens of times a day. Giant pandas are solitary creatures. They have a highly developed sense of smell that males use to avoid each other and to find females for mating in the spring. After a five-month pregnancy, females give birth to a cub or two, though they cannot care for both twins. The blind infants born white weigh only 5 ounces (142 grams) at birth and cannot crawl until they reach three months of age. The panda is a conservation reliant endangered species. Recent statistics show 239 pandas living in captivity inside China and another 27 outside the country. Estimates of the wild population vary from 1,000 to as high as 3,000. Some reports also show that the number of pandas in the wild is on the rise.

We spend most of the afternoon at Jinsha Museum built on the excavation site. A significant archaeological discovery in modern China, construction workers chanced upon it in February 2001. The site flourished around 1000 BC and shares similarities in burial objects with the Sanxingdui site located 50 km from Chengdu. Objects made of ivory, jade, bronze, gold and stone were unearthed at the site. Unlike the site at Sanxingdui, Jinsha did not have a city wall. Jinsha culture (1200–650 BC) is believed to be a final phase of Sanxingdui culture and represents a relocation of the political center in the ancient Shu Kingdom.

Day 9/Fri: Chengdu – Chongqing (B/L/D) Free morning to explore on your own.

Afternoon sightseeing following lunch includes Wang Jiang Lou Park and a typical local tea house. Wangjianglou means “river-overlooking tower” and the park is so named because of the ancient pagoda-shaped wooden tower onsite. The beautiful little park dotted with verdant bamboo groves has long been a favourite spot among locals for leisure.

We ride the bullet train (G2889, 16:10/17:43) to Chongqing where we board the Yangtze cruise ship following after dinner.

Day 10/Sat: Yangtze Cruise (B/L/D) At 6,380km the Yangtze is the longest river in China and the third longest in the world after the Nile and the Amazon. The most impressive section of the Yangtze is the Three Gorges stretching 119km.

On today’s shore excursion we visit Precious Stone Fortress (shi bao zhai) built atop a hill overlooking the Yangtze. It was so named because the location was once used as a stronghold by a group of uprising peasants in mid-17th century. About one hundred years later a Buddhist temple was built on the hill. Several more decades passed before a staircase covered by a 9-storey wooden pagoda was added. In 1956, 10 years before the catastrophic Cultural Revolution started, the pagoda was expanded to the current 12 stories.

Day 11/Sun: Yangtze Cruise (B/L/D) Admire nature’s grandeur while sailing through spectacular Wu Gorge (45km) and Qutang Gorge (8km). Later this morning we hop on a small vessel to explore Goddess Stream. A tributary of the Yangtze, the emerald coloured stream traverses through narrow gorges walled by soaring cliffs.

Day 12/Mon: Yichang – Wuhan (B/L/D) Morning visit to the Three Gorges Dam site – the largest hydroelectric dam in the world with a reservoir stretching hundreds of kilometres upstream.

We disembark the ship at noon and travel to Wuhan by high-speed train (2 hours). Due to time constraint, we will not be able to have a proper lunch; instead, a lunch box would be provided for you to carry onto the train.

Day 13/Tue: Wuhan – Guilin (B/L/D) Wuhan is the capital of Hubei Province and a powerful economic engine in central China. A pivotal hub of transportation, the sprawling city straddles the Yangtze. It became known as Wuhan in 1927 when Wuchang, Hangyang and Hankou were amalgamated. The city contains many beautiful lakes and parks including expansive East Lake.

This morning we visit Hubei Provincial Museum. If we are lucky, we may get to watch a live performance featuring a set of bronze chime bells replicated from originals made two and half millennia ago.

After an early lunch we board the high-speed train G435 (13:13/18:27) for Guilin. A small city by Chinese standard, Guilin has long been renowned for its unique scenery. The name Guilin literally means “forest of sweet osmanthus”, owing to the large number of fragrant sweet osmanthus trees in the city.

Day 14/Wed: Guilin (B/L) Enjoy a full-day hiking excursion to the terraced rice fields in Longji. Located 80km (2 hours drive) to the north of Guilin, Longji, meaning dragon back, is famous for its terraced rice fields. Because the villages at Longji are in the jurisdiction of Longsheng County, the tourist attraction is often collectively referred to as Longsheng Terraced Fields. The scenery is arguably at its best in early May during transplanting and in late September to mid-October when the fields turn golden. Built by local farmers of different ethnic groups from Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), the mountainous fields cover a total area of 66 square kilometres, rising between 300 meters and 1,100 metres above sea level.

Optional Tea Farm Visit If time permits and for a nominal fee, we can arrange a late afternoon visit to Guilin Tea Science and Research Institute, subject to a minimum of 6 participants. Founded in 1956, the state-owned institute has an experimental tea farm covering an area of 42 hectares and boasts 250 species of tea plants. The predecessor of the institute was said to be one of the tea suppliers to the imperial court during the Ming Dynasty. The farm sits on fertile soil ideal for tea growing. During harvesting season, the farm employs 150 workers full time to pick tea leaves. Each year the institute produces around 42 tons of organically grown tea of different flavours.

Day 15/Thu: Guilin (B/L) We begin today with a five-hour cruise down the Li River. The 83km stretch of the river between Guilin and Yangshuo affords breathtaking scenery as the river snakes through tall karst mountains, gigantic bamboo sprays, and picturesque villages — sights that have inspired countless poets and painters for generations.

We disembark in Yangshuo after lunch on board and drive back to Guilin. We wrap up the day with a quick tour of Fubo Hill (elevation 63 metres) located 2km from the hotel. Walking back to the hotel along Li River is a perfect way to soak in the beauty of the city.

For dinner, you will find all kinds of restaurants around the centrally located hotel. Please consult your local guide for expert advice.

Day 16/Fri: Guilin – Shanghai (B) Free morning to explore on your own. Transfer to the airport for late afternoon flight to Shanghai.

With a population of 24 million (2015), Shanghai is China’s biggest city, which delights the visitor with its futuristic skyline and historical landmarks. Rapid economic growth in the past 30 years has again turned Shanghai into a leading global city with significant influence in commerce, culture, finance, media, fashion, technology and transport.

Day 17/Sat: Shanghai (B/L/D) We begin our day with a visit to Jade Buddha Temple located in an old neighbourhood. Later on we tour the famous waterfront promenade known as the Bund, and the Yu Garden in the old town centre. We wrap up the day with a drive through the glitzy financial district of Lujiazui on the opposite side of the Bund across Huangpu River.

Day 18/Sun: Shanghai (B) Free day to explore on your own. We recommend Shanghai Museum and the Urban Planning Exhibition Center nearby. Shanghai Museum, a great place to explore on your own (audio guide available for a fee), is frequently cited by visitors as one of the best of its kind in China with a treasure trove collected from around the country.

Optional Suzhou Day Tour After a leisurely breakfast we ride the high-speed train (30-40 minutes) to Suzhou, an ancient city most famous for its gardens, canals and silk industry. In late 13th Century a Venetian named Marco Polo visited Suzhou and he was very impressed by what he saw. He vividly described the prosperous silk making trade and dubbed Suzhou Venice of the East due to the small waterways crisscrossing the city.

Our full-day schedule takes in historic Tiger Hill, Humble Administrator’s Garden, Suzhou Museum (designed by I.M. Pei), North Pagoda and a short canal cruise. We return to Shanghai by high-speed train (30-40 minutes) in early evening.

The all-inclusive price with hot lunch starts from US$190 per person subject to a minimum of 2 participants.

Day 19/Mon: Shanghai – Home City (B) Your China tour ends this morning. Transfer to the airport any time for return flight. Guests flying back to North America will regain a day upon re-crossing the International Date Line, thus arriving home the same day as departing from Shanghai.

Your tour ends this morning. Transfer to the airport any time for return flight. Guests flying back to North America will regain a day upon re-crossing the International Date Line, thus arriving home the same day as departing from Shanghai.

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Best China Tours from Canada

— testimonials from canadian customers.

“Hello Heidi, we arrived back from China on Wednesday, November 9th, after fulfilling a long-time dream to visit the land of my father’s birth.

We were fortunate to find your company on the internet and booked the 19 day China Odyssey Tour, plus 2 days in Hong Kong. I want to express a whole-hearted THANK YOU to you and the Laurus Travel team for facilitating what was our first guided trip and one that will remain as our most memorable. There were many things we appreciated about your organization; there were a variety of tour options available for China and other parts of Asia as well as the size of the group. When I contacted you earlier in the year, you were quick to respond and supplied the information requested by us and our two friends who travelled with us, with no pressure for us to book. You followed up when I asked you to and you were very helpful in arranging the flights not only with our preferred airline but were able to secure reduced seat pricing for us. You also obtained our China visas very quickly and saved us a lot of pre-trip leg work. The reminders and travel tips, you provided prior to leaving, were very helpful especially since we were leaving our home for a significant period. Thanks again.

Now, on to the trip itself. On our arrival in Beijing we were happy and relieved to see the Laurus flag being held high by our smiling taxi driver. He didn’t speak a whole lot of English, just enough to let us know where he was taking us. We didn’t know what to expect since this was our first to Asia and as mentioned before our first guided tour. The Sheraton hotel in Dongcheng, Bejing, was extremely well appointed and our stay was exceptional. We ventured out on our own as we arrived one day early and were surprised as to how little English was spoken in Bejing and our Mandarin was at best, laughable. By pointing to the picture of Tiananmen Square on the map, our taxi driver was able to get us there quickly in spite of the rain. Later, we made our way to the recommended South Beauty restaurant close to our hotel and managed to order dinner by pointing to the pictures on the menu. The four of us ate dinner for about 10 people! Every dish was absolutely delicious and spicy. We received a telephone call that evening from Jacob Wei, our extraordinary tour leader, who gave us instructions for the next morning (spoken in perfect English)! What a relief!

China is in one word—Majestic. The splendour of its vast landscape, culture, beautiful people (many), rich history and the mixing of the ancient, well preserved monuments and buildings with the modern sky scrapers, as we saw in every city, particularly Shanghai, certainly exceeded anything we imagined China would be. Photos or print cannot capture or duplicate the reverence one feels when walking on the iconic great wall or experiencing the splendour of the majestic Yangtze River. We woke at 3am to watch the ship go through one of the locks.

The local guides were exceptional and added great dimension to the tour, in particular David in Guilin who eloquently shared so much of the history with us and was able to offer insight on life in modern day China as well. We thoroughly enjoyed Elaine’s female perspective who guided us in Shanghai and yes, she told us where to find the good shops!

A special thank you goes to Jacob Wei, our exceptional and much beloved tour leader who travelled with us, on each leg of the China tour. He was not only very well versed in the history, politics and culture of China but showed true compassion and genuine care for our group. We always felt safe as we knew that he was looking out for us, no matter where we strayed, trying to get the perfect photo. We nicknamed him our “warrior”. It was difficult to say goodbye to him on leaving China; We extended an invitation to host him and his family, should he wish to visit our beautiful country.

Hong Kong was over the top opulent and breathtakingly beautiful. Quite the jaw dropping experience seeing so many tall buildings and the view from the Peak was incredible. We found a wonderful Italian restaurant and although we enjoyed all the delicious chinese dishes in China, we were craving some Italian pasta by this time. We enjoyed our sightseeing day with Alex. who was also very knowledgeable and was amazed at how warm the water was at Repulse Bay beach.

I have nothing but praise for Laurus Travel and the entire team for putting together an amazing tour which exceeded our expectations. Thanks for making my friend’s birthday memorable with a birthday cake at lunch. What a thoughtful touch! Another great aspect of this trip was the friendships we made with the wonderful group of people from Canada & USA who shared this experience with us. We will be more than happy to endorse your organization and hope to travel with you on our next trip to Asia in two years.”

Pamela M Mississauga, Ontario

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20 Best Things to Do in Vancouver — From Stunning Hikes to Incredible Cultural Experiences

Here are 20 of the top things to do in Vancouver.

Vancouver’s beauty is notable, with its majestic mountains, stunning skyline, and sparkling sea luring visitors from around the world. But the city is more than just good looks — it has personality too. Culture and cuisine shine here, the people are friendly, and it’s a safe and welcoming city. Whether you take a trek through the trees, meander through the metropolitan streets, cycle the seawall, or stroll through the shops, one thing’s for certain: you’re sure to get in your steps in this city. With the help of Candace Campo (ancestral name Xets’emits’a, Shíshálh Nation), artist and owner/operator of Talaysay Tours ; Rodolfo Parra, chief concierge of JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and the Douglas Autograph Collection Hotel ; and Alex Chen, executive chef, Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar , we’re sharing the best things to do in Vancouver.

Related: T+L’s Guide to Vancouver

Take an Indigenous-led Talking Totems tour.

The best way to start a visit to Vancouver is to learn about the area’s beginnings. Located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, the city that is now known as Vancouver has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. Towering totem poles have stood erect in Stanley Park since 1920, and the Talking Totems tour offered by Talaysay Tours provides an eye-opening journey from past to present through the stories shared by an engaging Indigenous guide.

Grab goodies at the Granville Island Public Market.

Vancouver’s most celebrated chefs shop at the Granville Island Public Market , like Chef Chen, who picks up fresh sausages from Oyama Sausage Co and warm loaves of bread from Terra Breads when he wants to make a standout charcuterie on his days off. Campo loves it here too, sharing, “My dad and I ate everything here, from Chinese and Greek to Ukrainian and West Coast seafood. Then we’d explore the art studios, walk the boardwalk, and listen to live music.”

Take a tranquil stroll through the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden.

The first Chinese “scholar’s garden” to be built outside of Asia, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is one of the city’s most ornamental green spaces — and it’s right in the heart of clamorous Chinatown. A mirror-calm pond houses colorful carp, and twisted trees and quiet covered walkways provide a tranquil space to stroll. Make time for a free guided tour, and be sure to conclude your visit with a complimentary cup of traditional Chinese tea.

Shop the Lonsdale Quay.

“The Seabus ferry ride to the Lonsdale Quay from downtown Vancouver is a fun must-do experience on its own,” shares Parra. “Once you’re there, walk through the local artisan shops, explore the pier that overlooks a picturesque view of the Vancouver skyline, and then grab a table at Tap & Barrel Shipyards and enjoy the views.”

Admire art at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

As Western Canada’s largest public art museum, the Vancouver Art Gallery is a top attraction for art enthusiasts. Browse the works of Emily Carr, British Columbia’s beloved painter, and explore the blockbuster international shows and contemporary collections found throughout the three-story historic space. 

Related: The Best Times to Visit Vancouver for Lower Prices, Beautiful Weather, and Outdoor Adventures

Take a day trip to Bowen Island.

“I highly recommend taking a day trip to Bowen Island , located in the middle of Howe Sound, just a short flight or ferry ride away. While there, experience the purest form of the West Coast. Explore the local farmers market, hike up to Dorman Point Lookout, or kayak along the shoreline and experience the stunning beauty BC has to offer,” shares Parra of his top-recommended day trip from the city.

See sea creatures at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Set in Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s largest. Get up-close (and in some cases, hands-on) with the over 65,000 aquatic animals that are housed here, including charming sea otters and swimming sea lions (one weighing in at nearly 1,900 pounds). Not only is this a top tourist spot, but the site is also a center for marine research, ocean literacy, and climate activism.

Walk around the Capilano River Hatchery.

Built to save the declining salmon stocks in the area, the Capilano River Hatchery is a popular place for a hike. “We like to take our dogs for a walk around the hatchery,” shares Chen. “We hike around the canyon and see schools of salmon spawning there, then have a late picnic lunch by the water, with treats from nearby Thomas Haas .”

Meander through the Vancouver Mural Festival.

A self-guided walking tour of the Vancouver Mural Festival (Aug. 4-13 this year) will give you a great perspective of the city through an artistic lens. Over 300 murals and public art displays can be spotted in neighborhoods throughout Vancouver, featuring the works of both local and international artists.

Visit Olympic Village by boat.

First created as a housing hub for athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics, Olympic Village has now become a popular spot for pub hops and patio dining. “Take the Aquabus — just steps from the Douglas — to Olympic Village where you can explore the local microbreweries such as 33 Acres Brewing and enjoy a day of brewery hopping, a big part of Vancouver culture. While you’re there, enjoy a bite to eat at Argo Café , a hidden gem located in Olympic Village,” shares Parra on how to enjoy the experience.

Browse the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art.

Located up the street from the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art honors hailed Haida artist Bill Reid, who was known for building bridges between Indigenous and settler people through his work as an artist, broadcaster, and community activist. The space showcases some of his artwork, as well as works of art by contemporary Indigenous artists.

Entertain the family at Science World.

Vancouver’s oceanfront orb is a sight to see, but inside the geodesic dome is a multi-level space for science exploration that the kids (and parents!) are sure to enjoy. At Science World , you can get hands-on with learning galleries, watch engaging science showcases, and catch a show on the largest domed screen on the planet, the Omnimax Theatre, which puts you in the center of the action.

Eat seafood at Fisherman’s Wharf in Steveston.

Chef Chen lives in Steveston — a 30-minute drive from Vancouver — and enjoys riding his bike around the dyke towards Gary Point Park with his family. “I would ride down to the dock to check out the catch of the day. I love the side stripe prawns, and will often pick up a fresh Dungeness crab for dinner,” he shares of the city’s seafood capital. Don’t feel like cooking it yourself? The area is full of seaside seafood spots serving everything from casual fish and chips to upscale fine dining.

Dine around the world at the Richmond Night Market.

During the summer months, a visit to Richmond Night Market — the largest outdoor market of its kind in North America — is a must for foodies. There are over 110 food stalls here, serving 600+ dishes and drinks from all around the world. You’ll find Pan-Asian snacks, along with food offerings from Indonesia, Turkey, Mexico, and other parts of the world. Live entertainment and endless snacking make for a fun-filled evening here.

Snowshoe the Howe Sound Crest Trail.

Found 30 minutes by car from Vancouver, the Howe Sound Crest Trail in West Vancouver is a quiet alternative to the more popular local mountains, and it’s a preferred spot by Campo for winter snowshoeing. “While snowshoeing is something I often do for winter work, I love when I can bring friends and family on an adventure to check out the Howe Sound Crest Trail, overlooking Átl'ka7tsem (Howe Sound). Our peoples have traveled these mountains for generations and I like to think I am a part of this legacy and tradition,” shares Campo of her personal connection to the experience.

Find alpine adventures on Grouse Mountain.

See Howe Sound from a bird’s-eye view with a ride in an enclosed gondola up to the peak of Grouse Mountain . At the top, hike around weaving trails, and meet Coola and Grinder, a pair of orphaned grizzly bears who call the mountaintop habitat home. Kids can climb their way through the Kids Tree Canopy Adventure, and thrill-seekers can try the zipline.

Visit the Chinatown Storytelling Centre.

Vancouver has a rich Chinese-Canadian history, with one of the oldest Chinatowns in the country. The Chinatown Storytelling Centre is a new addition to the area and the first exhibit of its kind in Canada. Inside, you’ll find a showcase of the stories and people who have shaped the city’s past, present, and future through interactive exhibits.

SUP the Salish Sea.

Campo loves stand-up paddleboarding on the water, especially on Vancouver’s North Shore in the early hours of the morning. “I have on many occasions sat in my car and waited for daylight to launch my paddleboard and paddle from Ch’tl’am (Ambleside) to Dundarave,” she shares. Once she’s far from shore, Campo sings traditional Salish songs and watches as cormorants, loons, harbor seals, and even salmon swim past her board. “They don't see you as a threat and on occasion will swim right up to you,” she explains of one of her favorite pastimes.

Teeter across the Capilano Suspension Bridge.

Since 1883, the Capilano Suspension Bridge has been a top tourist spot. Visit to teeter across the bridge that hangs 230 feet above the forest floor and reaches a distance of 450 feet long. While you’re there, creep along the Cliffwalk, a cantilevered walkway that dangles over the canyon, and take a trek through Treetop Adventures, a series of seven smaller suspension bridges connected to treehouses and towering viewing platforms.

Play at Creekside Park.

Adjacent to Science World, Creekside Park is home to Vancouver’s largest playground (which cost nearly $1 million to build), featuring nature-inspired climbing structures, a massive tube slide, and a zippy zipline. Water and sand play areas keep little ones busy, and a rubberized surface makes the playground more accessible for people with mobility challenges. Water views of False Creek and tree-shaded sitting areas make for the perfect picnic spot.

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'A history of ordinary people': Forgotten documents discovered at one of Vancouver's oldest family clan associations

Scrapbooks were stuffed into cardboard fruit cartons and stacked in a dusty room at the Wongs' Benevolent Association's building in Chinatown

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At one of Vancouver Chinatown’s oldest family clan associations, two dozen long-forgotten scrapbooks were recently discovered after nearly 100 years — their frail pages water-stained but crisp, like worn tissue paper about to disintegrate.

All kinds of documents are pasted into each of them. Many are handwritten with ink and brush in cursive Chinese characters. They include letters, meeting notes, petitions, receipts, telegrams, records of celebrations and eulogies dating from the early 1920s to the late 1940s.

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The scrapbooks had been stuffed into cardboard fruit cartons and stacked in a dusty room, forgotten on the top floor of Wongs’ Benevolent Association’s building on Pender Street in Chinatown.

No one had seen some of them for almost a century. The association’s director, Jeffrey Wong, who had long been curious about the old, dark space, stumbled onto the cartons, leading him to the scrapbooks.

“Going through that (first) box was like peeling an onion. Some layers were fascinating with these scrapbooks, some layers were just random receipts and scrap paper,” said Wong.

The scrapbooks — which are at high risk of being lost forever — are an example of how communities are working with institutional experts to preserve artifacts they consider historically meaningful and retaining ownership of them.

One of the old scrapbooks contains notes sent to association members in 1925, asking for donations to help Wong Foon Sing. He was the Chinese houseboy who was charged in the high-profile murder of Janet Smith, a 22-year-old Scottish nursemaid at the Shaughnessy mansion of a prominent Vancouver family.

A notorious murder case and a custody battle

Wong was kidnapped by a group of men that included police detectives and was tortured by his captors. He was tried and released due to lack of evidence, and the notorious case was never solved.

“We sent these out to fundraise for him and this is a rundown of what happened. It says here, ‘We feel like it’s a great injustice,'” said Jeffrey Wong, leafing through a synopsis.

“A lot of it actually said, ‘We come from a so-called barbarian country, as the Western people call us, but they themselves are acting like barbarians by kidnapping one of our brothers.”

Revealing this side of the well-known story is important, Wong said.

Otherwise, a single narrative dominates what is remembered about the case, bolstered by newspaper headlines of the day, such as, “Should Chinese Work with White Girls?” and “Witnesses Tell of Janet Smith’s Fear of Chinese Servant.”

The scrapbooks are an incredible repository of the association’s early history in the city and how it offered refuge and a sense of belonging at a time when its members were excluded from mainstream society.

After moving the scrapbooks out of the room, Wong sorted them into new filing boxes. He was trying to digitally scan some pages when one of the scrapbooks, containing letters sent in the 1930s, fell apart in his hands.

Those letters were about a heated custody battle over three young children who were born in B.C. Wong Dew was the father and Mah Hang was the mother. She wanted to return to China with the kids.

Archiving is also the history of ordinary people. Henry Yu

The letters record discussions about why the association should support the father. One pamphlet noted a mandatory donation of $2 from every member “during the height of the Depression era to save the three children from being sent back to China,” said Wong.

It argued there was more than a marital dispute at stake and that, at a time when legislation restricted nearly all Chinese immigration to Canada, these “‘children are the lifeblood of our association because no new people can come anymore. We have to save the line of the Wongs here.'”

In reply, members from Vancouver and Victoria, but also from Cassidy and Cumberland on Vancouver Island, and from Lethbridge, Winnipeg and Sydney, Nova Scotia, sent enthusiastic letters of support and donations.

The case was covered by local Chinese- and English-language newspapers, which reported that the children were already on board the Empress of Japan, a ship headed for China, when a court injunction allowed the father to get the kids and place them in a missionary home in Victoria as the trial continued.

“I have that part in the archives because there is an in-depth expense report. There’s a full report, over here, of the ship fees, how he had to rush over to Victoria right now because they were leaving and he had to pull them off the boat,” said Jeffrey Wong, pointing out other documents.

One of the kids, Tommy Cheong Wong, went on to join other Chinese Canadian soldiers and fight in the Second World War against Japanese forces in Southeast Asia and later was an active member of the association for many years.

‘A great story of community’

“Archiving has always been aligned with power,” said a University of B.C. history professor, Henry Yu. “But now it’s not just about cementing claims of succession or about thugs on horseback in medieval Europe or government records. Archiving is also the history of ordinary people.”

Yu and Jennifer Douglas, an associate professor in UBC’s school of information and a community archiving expert, are co-leads of a university-funded program known as CACHE or Community Archives Collections and Historical Exhibitions.

Its first project will be to support the archiving of these old scrapbooks. Two UBC master of archival studies students, who speak Cantonese and can read the traditional Chinese characters used in many of the old documents, will spend time with Jeffrey Wong in the room where the scrapbooks are kept at the Wong Association in Chinatown.

“The elder members of the association always say once our clan history leaves the building, it loses something. It’s something very important that it stays within its original space, displayed in its original space,” said Wong.

“But after that one scrapbook fell apart as he was scanning it, he also recognized the limitations of the amateur archiving he was trying to do without the book scanners and temperature-controlled storage used by professional archivists.

“We’ll never meet that standard, so then it comes to either you huck everything out or you just leave and don’t do anything with it for years,” Wong said.

Fortunately, there has been a shift in the last 15 years, and influential scholars have promoted a growing acceptance of community archives, said Douglas.

There used to be a lot of resistance from established archival scholars, who would question what communities chose to preserve, dismissing material as not meeting certain requirements.

“Now, there is increasing recognition they are determined by a community and what it considers to be its archives,” she said.

A good example is a folder that contains telegrams of congratulations sent to the Chinese Benevolent Association when it opened its new building in Vancouver’s Chinatown.

“There are stacks and stacks of these,” said Wong, flipping through telegrams from the Chinese Hand Laundry Association of New York and similar organizations in Mexico City, San Francisco, Chicago and Tucson. There is one from Trinidad.

“These tell a greater story of connection and community.”

‘Archival work can be done differently’ 

Douglas has been mentoring a new generation of archivists, like the students who will be working with the Wong Association. They are less interested in archiving to maintain government and other official records and more open to assessing other reasons why artifacts and documents must be kept and where that should be done.

Susan Parker, university librarian at UBC’s rare books and special collections, who came from working at the University of California Los Angeles, said there are different models now for collecting community materials.

“A community doesn’t have to give up ownership of its records for them to be preserved and made accessible,” said Parker.

Some powerful recent examples of this include the Yucho Chow Collection at the City of Vancouver Archives and The Paper Trail collection at the Chinese Canadian Museum, which were designed by curator Catherine Clement.

Both involved years of Clement and others collecting photos and Chinese Immigration, or C.I., certificates from people in the wider community who brought original copies they had been keeping in their drawers and cookie tins for decades. She and a team scanned and organized them, put them into context and followed leads in the photos and certificates to find myriad stories. Scans of the certificates are archived at UBC Library and the Yucho Chow project passed scans of 600 photos it found to the City of Vancouver Archives.

“They are both community archives that have helped demonstrate how archival work can be done differently between the community and archival institutions, particularly when it comes to ownership of materials,” said June Chow, an archivist who worked with Clement on both projects.

In 2016, when The Vancouver Sun visited the Wong Association and spoke to Jeffrey Wong, he was a 25-year-old recent history graduate who was getting to know an association member in his 80s, Tim Wong. The two had completed a project of putting dozens of black-and-white photos into frames and hanging them row by row on a wall.

At the time, the risk of losing those artifacts was more about them being accidentally thrown in the garbage or destroyed in a flood.

For a few years, when China was building new museums, some of them were focused on collecting materials related to overseas Chinese history, so there was also the risk of associations losing their documents and artifacts because it was easier to sell them than to preserve them.

Now, there is a new wave of interest coming from institutions across Canada, said Chow. The University of Toronto has a Chinese Canadian Collections area of acquisition that has a national mandate and holds David Lai’s papers, even though he was an expert on Victoria’s Chinatown. The University of Calgary has papers related to author Wayson Choy, who was known for writing about Vancouver Chinatown, and ones for esteemed Vancouver design firm Bing Thom Architects.

“If Chinese Canadian archives aren’t valued in Vancouver or B.C., we will lose them to institutions who do and (those that) are actively collecting them will take them away,” said Chow.

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Hins Cheung to perform in Vancouver

Chinese singer and songwriter Hins Cheung is set to perform in Vancouver this summer at UBC’s Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

With a career spanning decades, Cheung already has an impressive 17 studio albums and EPs under his belt and the unique distinction of the most consecutive performances by a solo Asian artist at the Royal Alberta Hall in London for his show The Prime Classics.

This summer, Cheung will tour The Prime Classics in Canada and the US, with stops in Vancouver (August 1), Toronto, and Las Vegas.

Hins Cheung in Vancouver

When: August 1

Where: Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

Tickets: Available June 28 here

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