By Peter Greenberg Raise your hand if this has ever happened to you: You book a trip to see one of the world's most iconic cultural sites, only to discover hundreds—even thousands—of other tourists had the same idea and are there on the exact same day, and at the same time. For most people, long lines and crushing crowds are just a part of the experience when visiting major attractions.  » Read more »

Michele Cook of Mansour Travel Company in Beverly Hills has relied on Imperial Tours for years. Her Clients have raved. So, in March, she decided to see what the fuss was all about – in person. China was a new frontier for me. I had confidently used Imperial Tours several times for my clients and now I was about to experience the company’s extensive knowledge and impeccable service firsthand. From my arrival at Beijing to my return from Shanghai,  » Read more »

By James Shillinglaw A sample tour of the city’s top attractions, accommodations and dining. A first visit to Beijing should take in well-known attractions but also provide a sense of the city as it exists today. That’s exactly what Imperial Tours, an upscale operator offering FIT and small-group programs, provides in its tour of the city, which in this case was during a three-day segment of a 10-day program that included stops in Xian,  » Read more »

By James Shillinglaw So there I was in my room on the 82nd floor of the 174-room Park Hyatt Shanghai, the tallest hotel in the world (or so I’m told), overlooking the Huangpao River and the city of Shanghai far below. I was sitting in a comfortable desk chair behind a large desk gazing out a picture window at the magnificent view far below. What a great home office this would be!  » Read more »

By James Shillinglaw Shanghai – the very name evokes images of immense modernity, buildings touching the sky, and a center of commerce that is now one of the world’s great cities. Yet, Shanghai also has an ancient and colonial past; it was a city dominated by Western traders for a good part of the 20th century, at least until the Communist revolution swept capitalism aside — until today at least! I finally got a chance to visit this amazing metropolis last month on a 10-day travel agent fam trip organized by Imperial Tours.  » Read more »