"As someone who has lived and worked in China off and on for over a decade and who has made the study of Chinese language, literature, and culture his career, I encourage anyone who wants the authentic, off-the-beaten path experience of this land to travel with Rural China. Rural China’s travel experts are some of the best prepared, most knowledgeable, and most culturally sensitive tour guides in China, capable of handling all the arrangements necessary for having a unique experience with maximum learning and unlimited fun, but none of the worry. How about setting off from the ancient stone-walled city of Dali in Yunnan province for a morning bike trip out of the mountains down to the valley of the Lancang River, to witness amazing vistas of distant peaks and undulating rice-paddies as you cycle by day, enjoy healthy village-cooked meals and hot-springs baths by night, then head over for a visit to a remote Buddhist ashram on the other side of the river, the next day on your way back? For those who do not fear but instead crave the thrill of adventure, with Rural China you will find the smallest villages, meet the real people, enjoy local delicacies prepared to your taste, visit undiscovered temples and see amazing natural sights, all for an experience that few outsiders get to have and that no official tour group can provide."
Max Bohnenkamp (University of Chicago, USA)
--
This summer will be the 4th time I have travelled with Ilian in rural Yunnan province.  As a documentary photographer I have travelled with Ilian from the mountainous north to the tropical south, every time exploring places tourists seldom visit, Ilian always going out of his way to find out of the way villages, fascinating markets and wonderful minority families. He has always arranged exciting itineraries in advance but at the same time remains flexible to change plans or stay longer if it is possible. Our trips have also always enjoyed a wide variety of wonderful food that Yunnan has to offer.
www.tessabunney.co.uk
Tessa Bunney (UK)
--
Имахме желание да посетим южнaта и Тибетската част на Китай. Свързахме се с Rural China, Илиан ни беше (екскурзовод) водач. Илиан е уникален пътеводител и познанията му за Китай са огромни. Пътешествието ни беше организирано по ноти. Разгледахме красиви градове, селища, манастири и много други екзотични места. Заведе ни на китайски природо лечител, който ми излекува болките в краката с билки за една седмица. При желание да пътувате из Китай горещо ви препоръчваме да се свържете с Rural China. Благодарим ти Илиане за прекрасното ни пътуване!
Ivanka Stancheva (Bulgaria)
--
We have made it safely back to the US and have had the opportunity to reflect on our wonderful trip to Yunnan. It was a transformative experience, and exceeded our expectations in every way. We enjoyed the first hand experience of the people, the culture, and especially the food which the tour provided. We found Ilian to be a wonderful guide and companion-- very attuned to the nuances of China, and incredibly well-informed. We appreciated his flexibility, values, especially around protecting the environment and respecting indigenous people, and his ability to put together interesting experiences and itineraries. He is a wonderful human being, a great companion, and a lot of fun. We never tired of his presence. Overall, we would travel with Ilian again, and recommend your organization to others. Thank you for an enjoyable time and many wonderful memories!
Dotlich D. (USA)
--
With almost 8 years of experience of average 4 1/2 months travel per year and our 4 th time in Beijing, you are about the best Tour Leader we ever had. Thank you very much for a very enjoyable time with you in China.
Gary & Bruni (Germany/Australia)
--
Yunnan Trip May 2013
We (a retired couple) had decided to visit Yunnan. We had read some guides and had some ideas. Through a common friend we established a contact to Ilian who proposed us a program of 7 days including visits, accommodation and transport. Ilian, who has a rich vita between Europe and China, had immediately interpreted our interest both in landscape, architecture and people. He prepared a trip with reasonable transport time, appropriated, simple and nice  guesthouses. The landscapes are quite overwhelming and very varied. We had not realized the importance and richness of the minority cultures in Yunnan. Ilian made us discover the architecture and way of life of some of the different minorities. We also appreciated the simple but very tasty food, in particular the rich variety of vegetables. There was a lot of time for walking in the old towns and to stroll in rich markets. The 7 days were fascinating, not too tiresome and rich of human experiences.  We were received at the airport arriving and accompanied to the airport the last day, the trip began relaxed and ended relaxed. 
Niklaus & Christina (Switzerland)