Wonders of nature of culture with a professional agency - It was my pleasure to explore Gansu province together with Silk Road Angel Tours in February 2024. Steven took a good care of me accompanying me to the national parks and sites around Zhangye. All my needs were handled with the utmost professionalism. I wouldn't be able to visit these places myself having in mind complicated logistics and difficulties of not speaking Chinese and not having local apps. Steven arranged the hotel, a vehicle with driver and return train tickets for my next destination in China. I was satisfied with the quality of a vehicle and overall safety. I was glad to learn about local traditions and ways of life of local communities. Everything went smoothly and was totally worth it!

3 days in Zhangye - terrific, don't miss it - This trip was 2 1/2 days in and around Zhangye. I worked with Steven Kang of Silk Road Angel Tours. This was a terrific experience. I have reviewed Steven and Angel tours elsewhere so this is more about the Zhangye section of the two-part trip. Steven seemed to accomplish everything effortlessly, nothing rushed, everything accomplished with ease. It was all arranged via email to/from China/New Zealand. I loved the colours at Binggou Park - the purple in the rock formations reminds me a lot of Utah and central Australia. I would recommend taking the helicopter ride over Danxia Geopark - it isn't cheap, but it is something else entirely, terrific. Steven had cleverly got us a private tour within the park which opened up several locations not otherwise available. The Mati Temple Grottoes were something unexpected. This is a Tibetan settlement, and it reinforced for me how far out west I was, the western side of the Hexi corridor is I realised the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau. Lunch here was special, the wild mushroom soup was superb, good enough to support a flourishing restaurant in any other location. Steven was at his best, helping secure a ride for me near the grottoes when the altitude began to take effect. The surprise for me was the Dafo or Giant Buddha Temple in town ... it is a very moving place to visit, the atmosphere is serene, and the house swifts are beautiful. All the people I met were welcoming and friendly - all I had to do was smile and a great big grin would light up their faces. I knew it got to Steven as well, he said "I really like this town". My favourite was the lady on the street selling freshly-shelled peas - I said (via Steven) that she reminded me of my mother and that I used to do that before dinner when I was a kid - she laughed at that. Note: Why you might need a guide - Steven saved me when I had to explain to the three young women at the hotel counter, who had zero English, that I needed my toilet unblocked! Just another day for him I expect. Thanks Stevo.