Feedback and Reviews from our Customers

On this page we have posted some of the reviews and feedback we have received from previous customers:

Dear Gary,

Thank you very much for your generous hospitality during our stay inGuilin and Yangshuo. We appreciate your patience, warmth, helpfulness and honesty. We would like to thank you for showing us the real side of Guilin and Yangshuo as well as its lovely scenic views.Thank you for having us for a dinner at your home and meeting your family members. All the best wishes to you and your family. have a happy and prosperous Chinese New Year.

From: Eric Foo and Family.Kuala LumpurMalaysia. 20/1/2011

My husband and I and another couple visited Guilin/Yangshuo in May 2010. We were very lucky to be able to enlist Gary and Win Win Travel as our travel guide and could not be happier with our choice.

I contacted Gary just a couple of days before our trip and he was able to put together an excellent itinerary on very short notice. He did an especially impressive job considering our special requests - we only had one day to see all of the major sites and could not do anything too strenuous because I was 5 months pregnant! Gary went above and beyond and we were able to see the Water Cave, Moon Hill, do a private bamboo raft cruise on the Li River and visit West Street in Yangshuo. Throughout the day we benefited from Gary's knowledge of the region and good command of English as he guided us through the sites and highlighted local customs and favorites, like the locally brewed alcoholic beverage of choice which the men in our group sampled at dinner. Gary also helped us negotiate for souvenirs on West Street and even stepped in front of a bicycle that was about to run me over!

Another highlight of the day was getting a chance to meet Gary's lovely wife Sophia and beautiful daughter. It really made the trip special and personal. It was a jam packed day, but we were not overly stressed at the end because of Gary's good planning, attentiveness and accommodating nature. From the moment he picked us up at the airport to the moment he dropped us off for our next flight, Gary made sure we were well taken care of and comfortable. We wish we had a Gary on all of our trips!

Abby ( USA )
28/12/2010

We've had a wonderful stay in Yangshuo thanks to Sophia and Gary. I feel we saw the best sights and had a great experience at a reasonable cost. Greatvalue, Thank you.
Kartini, Martin and Freddy ( teaching English in Shantou China )
Adelaide Australia.

Many thanks for a fantastic tour! I'll recommend you to all of my friends. Best wishes to you and your beautiful family.
Joe Buckton, from Kent UK ( teaching English in Shantou China )
06/10/2010

The service was very good, like family; and all the tours we made were nice, cheap and without problems. The hotel was nice, too. And for the end a delicious food/lunch at their home and other thanks like presents. Good place for making good friends. THANKS SO MUCH!!!
Igor and Alexandra.
Spain 18/7/2010.

We are a family of 5; 3 kids are 4, 7 and 9; all boys. We are from Perth Australia. We recommend Sophia very much. We had a wonderful week this week with Sophia. She does her best to get very good discount ticket, driver, bike hire everything. Sophia and Gary are so friendly, funny, helpful and wonderful with our children. We feel so lucky to have met them.

The bike tours we did this week were amazing. Sophia has shown us the best of Yangshuo, leading us through the most beautiful countryside and some spectacular villages for delicious lunches. We saw no other tourists on our way which was also great. We love Sophia and Gary, too. And we will keep in touch with them as good friends. You are lucky to meet them if you do too.

Nadine and Michael Bastow.

1/7/2010

It was great to meet Gary and Sophia and use their exclusive guide services during our stay in Yangshou. The programme was created in a professional way with all considerations. We made a few changes according to our personal taste and it was implemented immediately without any problems. We especially liked the bike tour to the country-side and recommended Liu Sanjie Light Show. It is a good idea to have a personal tour guide in Yangshou to see the best places in that limited time you have and we would highly recommend Gary and Sophia for this.
Karmen & Alex
Brazil
27/6/2010

Gary and Sophia,

Thank you very much for your hospitality and kindness. We will never forget our time here: you have made it very memorable for us. Thank you.

Daviya. 25/5/ 2010

Our week in Yangshuo was made easier and more interesting thanks to Sophia's insight into the sights and place around Yangshuo.. She genuinely enjoyed our company and helping us to get to somewhere different everyday. We so enjoyed meeting her family and practising our Chinese as they enjoyed practising their English. We will take away many memories. P.S. Go to the Moon Water Cave!!!

Scott, Amanda, Laura and Harry.

New Zealand

12/4/ 2010

Dear Sophia,

Dave and I thank you very much for all good help here in Yangshuo. We enjoy the Li River cruise and the countryside bicycle tour. It was very pleasant meeting your family. Cheers.

Nicole and Dave.

Calgary Alberta Canada.

9/4/2010

"Thank you so much for all the great experiences! Especially the bike ride to the Tea Farm. I have seen more of this region in China than I would have ever expected! I has a wonderful time and the dinner was very special for me."

"It was a great to spend our time in Yagshuo with you! We saw so many beautiful things and had a great time .
Thank you so much for everything. You live in a very special place."
Anjia and Anne
Germany.
June 2009

"We have had an incredible time at Yangshuo and we must thank Sophia for this, Everyday we were picked upwith a beautiful smile. She planned a fantastic itinerary but was able to change it easily if our needs changed or if it was better that we did something else.
Sophia was also lovely with our three children and at all times we felt very much looked after. She loves the beauty of Yangshuo and she was able to let us experience just a taste of paradise."

"Thankyou Sophia and Gary for sharing your world."
Jason, Harriet, Martha, Elisa and Matt Millett.
Sydney, Australia.
Oct 2009

"Sophia and Gary organized a fantastic itinerary for our family of 6. Their level of English and kowledge of Yangshuo is outstanding and unusually good."

"Sophia was very patient , happy and looked after our children in a very caring, thoughtful manner. Many thanks!"
Aliscia, Tim, Claude, Harriet, Innes & Betty Gibson.
Australia, sydney.
16/02/2010.

"Dear Sophia,
Thank you for your great insider knowledge - you are so friendly and nothing is too much trouble. We've had a wonderful time which, I'm sure is because you did so much for us. Always smiling and happy."

"Thank you."
Denise. Australia,
Armidale. NSW.
14/01/2010.

"I highly recommend Gary and Sophia as tour guides. This was my first trip to China and they allowed me to see some beautiful part of the country that I would never have found on my own. They are very kind and invitedme to their home to meet their children and extended family. I had a great vacation! "
Brian Kraus.
Charlotte, NC, USA.
06/04/2010

"Looking back at my holiday in China I think there was before and after WinWin Travels and Yangshuo.Before I was manically running around trying to do everything the 1200 page guidebooks tells you that youhave to see - before you leave!"

"Then I happened to spend a couple of days with Sophia and Gary, and with their great knowledge of the local culture and traditions they showed me the real China that had been all around me all the time. After that I stopped being a tourist, started travelling and fell in love with the country I was visiting.
Thank you Sophia and Gary for the best and funniest memories of China!"
Thomas
London, England
October 2008

Huang family,

I found winwintravels.com through recomendation of tripadvisor.com and I'm sure glad I did. You and your family opened your hearts to me and made me feel like an "aunt". Your flexibility and attention to details were one of the reasons I stayed 2 extra days.

Anyone that comes to Yanghsuo needs you as their guide and friend.

Thanks for helping medo such great shopping tour

Always your friend.

Aunt Shawnnee

kaurel , MDU.S.A

July 20, 2010

Dear Gary,Sophia, Lanlan & Lili, I can't explain how greatful I am for your friendship! It's rare for me to witness such genuine kindness and I appreciate it more than you know. Sophia, you're an excellant cook! You have beautiful children and even more beautiful hearts. My tour down the Li River was amazing and I'm very glad that we were able to do it. Thank you for everything and know that you'll always have me for a friend! Sincerely, Shelly. USA. 25/4/2010.

Dear Gary, Sophia, Lanlan & Lili, Thank you so much for your kindness and generous hospitality. We had such a lovely time visiting Yangshuo and all its beautiful sights, we will surely return again soon. Lili and Lanlan are so delightfull, Lucy and Tom had lots of fun playing with them. Xiexie! Guy, Laure, Lucy & Tom. 9/5/2010.

"Dear Sophia,
We have enjoyed our time in Yangshuo, thanks to your knowledge and helpfulness. You are always smiling and positive.
Thank you for being our guide and friend."
Robert Herd and family.
14/01/2010.

"We were very fortunate to have Gary as our tour guide on my family holiday in yangshou. His care and warmth made us feel safe and comfortable in a new country. He offered my brother his jacket and saved him from the cold weather there. He didn’t leave us alone on the train station and waited till we were settled in the train to Shenzhen. He also made sure that we were having a good time in Yangshou.
He took us to kumquat and orange farms (the local specialty in winter time) where the local peoples’ warmth and hospitality with strangers had touched our heart. He also organised traditional Chinese therapeutic treatment for us. Gary also organized cooking classes for my grandmother and my aunt.
Gary made our trip to Yangshou comfortable, fun and safe."

Sudhanshu Maheshwari (11 years)
India
Dec 2009

"Thanks for a wonderful time in Yangshuo. Very friendly, helpful and knowlegeable. My trip to Yangshuo would not have been such an experience without you.
To anyone elsa who is considering whether or not to use winwintravels, don't think about it, just do it.
I would recommend to anyone!"

Peter Fellows.
Melbourne Australia.
Oct 2009

"Thank you for giving us such a wonderful day in China! The biking. rafting. hiking was all amazing. By far the best day of the vacationso far!"

Mira.
USA.
June 2009

"Thanks for showing such a great time! Yangshuo is beautiful and you help us see it at the best."

Alex.
May 2009

"Thanks a lot for a wonderful trip! We really enjoyed your energy.knowledge and kind spirit! Your recommendations for Yulong River trip were our best experience in China!"

Barak.
May 20

"Thank you for this nice cycling tour today.It as marvelous. We enjoyed it very much. We loved your explaination on our trip. We cycled 40 km and you kept going.Thanks."

Peter Dory Knibbe
Netherlands.
May 2009

"Thank you for the very pleasant afternoon spent with you. It was a great way of discovering of the Yangshuo countryside that would have not found alone.

Many thanks and best of luck for the future."

THE DMT'S and Harpers.
May 2009

"I spent a year in China in 2006 and some of my fondest memories are with Gary and Sophia. I was told by friends that Gary and Sophia were some of the kindest, generous people they've ever met - they weren't kidding! Gary and Sophia went out of their way to make me feel welcome at their home. Not only did Gary help me improve my Chinese, but Sophia always made the most delicious dinners for us! It was truly an honor to be taught by Gary - he was truly warm and patient with me while I learned Chinese. Sophia is an angel and of course, their lovely daughter LanLan who always made us laugh. I whole heartedly recommend Gary and Sophia's services if you are ever in Yangshuo - they are two of the kindest/sweetest people I've had the pleasure of meeting in all my travels."

Hannah Packowski
Toronto, Canada
August 2008

"I first met Gary and his family in August 2006, whilst living in Yangshuo. Gary had an excellent reputation as a Mandarin teacher amongst the foreign teacher's living in the town. I began daily lessons with him in a small group situation, on the banks of the stunning Li River. Gary's teaching methods were extremely effective and I soon found myself progressing quickly. With Gary's expertise the group was provided with an optimum learning experience. The classes were the highlight of my stay in China. They go highly recommended. I was also fortunate to experience the warm hospitality of the Huang family in their home. Sophia shops daily at the nearby market and is a fine cook. She serves delicious traditional cuisine at the family table, where all are welcomed. Sophia is happy to reveal her cooking techniques and I would often watch her at work. I have marvelous memories of sitting at the table for dinner, surrounded by the family and other friends, sharing wonderful food, stories and laughter. Gary and Sophia's daughter, Lan Lan, is a delightful little girl who loves to meet new people. When staying with the Huang's as a guest, my every need was catered for. They love people. It provided me with a feel for the "real" China - a welcoming family, local food freshly cooked and clean and comfortable accommodation. It may not be five-star, but it's much more interesting and memorable than anything a hotel chain can provide. Both Gary and Sophia are also a wealth of local knowledge and are qualified to guide tourists around the Yangshuo area. The trips we made were immensely more rewarding with the Huang's to take us there. Yangshuo is a magic destination, made even more special with local people who can introduce you to it's charms.
Enjoy Yangshuo! It is a remarkable place. And if you need accommodation, language and cooking lessons or tour guides, you can't go past Gary and Sophia Huang. They are brilliant."

Alannah Rice
Melbourne, Australia
August 2008

"Exploring villages around Yangshuo with this lovely couple was the highlight of my visit to China. It was great to escape the tourist traps and follow winding lanes or paths between the stone walls of orchards. I was fascinated to see locals stacking wood into the earth oven dug into the the side of the hill. With his excellent English language skills,Gary was able to explain this ancient process of making charcoal for smokeless indoor cooking and heating. We chatted to women washing on the steps of communal wells and learned how the clear spring water is conserved by a serries of three wells; the first for drinking, the second for washing vegetables and the third for washing clothes. As my guide pointed out various aspects of fengshui in the secluded valley I came away feeling I understood a little of the wonderful sense of peace I experienced."

Sally Fitzpatrick
Newcastle Australia
Feb 2008

"The first time I came to China, I stumbled into Yangshuo unable to speak a word of Chinese and having little sense of my surroundings. But much to my surprise and delight, I soon met Gary and Sophia who immediately welcomed me into their home. Gary proved a great Chinese teacher, patient and thoughtful; when I mentioned that I was interested in Chinese philosophy, he immediately pulled out a copy of the Tao De Ching and carefully explained some of his favorite passages to me! We went for walks through incredible mountainous farmland and at night shared great homecooked meals. It has been nearly two years since I first met Gary and Sophia and I recently returned to visit them for the Chinese New Year. I feel very greatful to have such good, caring friends.

Charles Stern
Maine, USA
March 2008

"When I think back on the year I spent in China teaching English, my memories of the Huang's stand out at the top of the list. Gary, Sophia and little Lan Lan opened their home to me and enriched my experience of China in so many ways. Gary taught me so much more than just Chinese. He is the most honest and warm hearted person that I have had the honor of meeting. Whenever I needed help, whether it was moving some of my things into his house while I traveled, or trying to find a new place to live, he was right there to help, no questions asked. Several times he even shared his home with some of his students who were just back in town for a weekend. My best memories of China are sitting on the bank's of the Li Jiang River in the evening studying Chinese with Gary or sitting around the Huang's dinner table enjoying some of the best home cooked Chinese food south of the Yangtze. Words just can't describe the warm-hearted nature of he and his family, you just have to experience it first hand! They have a saying in China, 'Once somebody is your teacher, then they are your teacher for life.' I am truly blessed that Gary is my teacher and friend for life."

Tucker Percy
New York, USA
March 2008