The China Guide is one of China’s few wholly foreign owned and managed travel agencies, and they have a rather refreshing take on the standardised tour.

Take their itineraries to Xi’an, home to the Terracotta Warriors and one of China’s most commonly visited tourist destinations.

One of their unique options after visiting the Terracotta Warriors is to visit a local farmer’s home. The homes are built into the hillside and part of the homes are actually underground. The family will cook a homemade lunch for you to enjoy while exploring this authentic rural setting.

The China Guide has special relationships with schools and universities in the area. It is possible to arrange a visit with students who speak English. You can help them practice their English, play board games and even have a basketball match.

Back in the old city you can go biking along the top of the old city wall. It takes about 1 or 2 hours to circumnavigate the old city, depending on how often you stop to take photos.

I like this approach in particular...

There are absolutely no commission factory shopping stops. We don’t take you to the Terracotta Warrior "factory" (tourist trap) and expect you to buy overpriced replicas. If you want a replica, they are sold all around the city at a reasonable price. We don’t try to deceive you. We love good Chinese food and want to share our passion with you. We take you to local restaurants where you can enjoy genuine Chinese cuisine. We don’t charge extra for unlimited standard drinks either.