Testimonials
Here’s what our past clients have had to say. Comments, reviews and testimonials are roughly arranged in chronological order. You can also see photos in our gallery that our clients took while on tour with us.
I would like to say on behalf of Carol and myself, what a wonderful trip we had and thank you for the terrific job you did. The trip went off without a hitch and our experience certainly exceeded our expectations. I have already recommended you to some friends who are planning a trip to China. Thanks again for making our trip so special.
Carol & Norm L.—Ontario, Canada (Private, September 2009)
Thank you for all the extra help you gave us while we were in China. My mom was able to get into a walking boot in Shanghai which really helped her mobility and her spirits. Airports were still a bit tough, but for the most part we were able to get wheelchairs and help. Your local guides were really good and helpful. Jason in Beijing was far and away the best. He really went out of his way to help us and do special things for the kids and my mom. We really liked him.
The trip was really fantastic and the accommodations were wonderful. The family suite in Beijing was a hit with the kids. The Four Seasons in Shanghai was one of the best in the world. They did a lot of extra things for the kids (snacks, treats, hats, and slippers when we arrived) and the staff was top notch and super helpful with my mom. The crew on the Jenna were great and always helpful with my mom and loved the kids.
We most certainly would travel with ACT again, it was a wonderful experience. Also, we appreciate your encouraging us to get travelers insurance, we got it mostly because we were worried about the H1N1 flu but it helped make a challenging situation as easy as possible. The people we dealt with were pleasant, easy to reach, and got us the best care very quickly.
S. Owen—California, USA (Private, October 2009)
My husband and I did indeed have a marvelous time in China. We are still reminiscing about our wonderful trip. You have outdone yourself. The tour was simply divine. We did not feel hurried during the tour. Our expectations were more than met. Despite having only 10 days, we managed to get a feel of each of the cities we visited. The tour guides are to be commended too. They were so knowledgeable and had a wealth of information. Thank you.
Sylvia S.—New York, USA (HGT, July 2009)
We had a very good trip and I was totally pleased with the Access China Tours’ services.
The guides were very knowledgeable and personable. No complaints. I would rate them all very positively and add that our guides in Beijing, Shanghai & Lijiang were exceptional!
The Banyan Tree in Lijiang was certainly among the very best hotels we have ever been in, and I have traveled to over 60 countries. Also the Fuchun Resort was super. The Peninsula room was a little small, but the service and accessories were top notch.
- The Acrobatic Show was outstanding!!
- When we decided to cut our stay in Shangri-la and go a day early to Beijing, I was VERY pleased with the service, attention, and willingness to accommodate our choice by your staff. They did a super job!
W. Galloway—Florida, USA (Private, September 2009)
We did have an excellent time in China, and saw a lot of the countryside after the Yongding Tulou. As always we were much impressed by the highways connecting the different cities and towns. Our driver Mr. Tong was excellent, careful and safe, making our trip so much more enjoyable. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is interested.
As you can see we have a very good time in China (the Liting Hotel is a five-star hotel at four-star prices), and we thank you for all your help and advice.
TK & M Wong—Illinois, USA (Private, June 2009)
Thanks so much for making our trip to China such a wonderful experience! We enjoyed every city we had the opportunity to visit. The guides and drivers all made every effort to make sure all our needs were met. Accommodations were excellent. We were able to have a variety of foods.
It was pleasure to work with you and members of your organization.
A & B Fisher—Arkansas, USA (Private, April 2009)
What people say about our tour managers:
I am happy to pass along some comments about the trip, and Jason, in particular. (I have worked part-time as a tour escort for about 20 years, most recently conducting safaris in East Africa. I share that detail at the outset because I am able to see the position of tour manager from 2 points of view: group member, and tour escort.)
The trip was well executed. I do not know any itinerary that is more comprehensive… Amazingly good weather all along our route made the trip even more exceptional.
Our accommodation throughout the trip was outstanding. It was good to begin in Beijing in the little hotel because that eased us into the environment we would have for the next 4 weeks. Of course, we loved the times when we discovered that our hotel rooms were of the 5 star western world style. Food was an adventure; however, Jason always ordered on our behalf, and was sensitive to our rather conventional pallets.
Jason was excellent in his role of tour manager. He opened so many doors for us, often anticipating our needs even before we expressed them. He was very accommodating, and sensitive to our western world perspective. There was never a question he evaded. Over 28 days, we journeyed along together, sharing surprises, challenges, and unexpected opportunities—and in the course of the month we became friends. What more can you ask of a tour escort?
I would readily recommend Access China Tours to any one, and offer myself as a reference should that need ever arise.
The best test of a good travel experience is the inclination to return to the destination as soon as you arrive home. I’m ready to go back to China!
W. Johnstone—Ontario, Canada (Private group, May 2008)
We would like to thank Access China Tours for a wonderful time in China. We saw tons of interesting sights, ate new foods and thoroughly enjoy talking with our guides and learning about many different aspects of Chinese life. We are extremely grateful to Michael for his assistance in arranging medical assistance when my husband needed it and for solving little packaging problems with items we collected. Thank you very much.
B. & D. Lamb—British Columbia, Canada (Private, August 2008)
What people say about our guides:
We were pleasantly surprised to discover only my wife and I were on the tour and the personal attention we received from the guides and drivers was fantastic. Everything that Access China Tours provided was beyond our expectations. The sights we saw in China were exciting, historic and colorful. We have lots of wonderful memories and would highly recommend Access China Tours for touring China.
In Beijing, our guide Anna was very nice and even took us to an acrobatic show that was not included on our itinerary but she thought we could enjoy. She always asked us if we spent enough time at each place and waited patiently as I took pictures. We even got her to take the toboggan run at the Great Wall for the first time. She was very considerate when ordering food to make sure we would enjoy the meal.
In Xian, our guide Angela was the sweetest and our favorite of all the guides and she ended up being a last minute replacement for our scheduled guide. She went out of her way the first night to take us to the night fountain show at Big Wild Goose Pagoda and then to the Muslim street market and city wall. She always made sure we were having a fun time while seeing all the sights and we learned a lot about the Chinese culture from her. She was very helpful at the airport getting us checked in as we left for Chengdu.
In Chengdu, our guide Sammy was compassionate when my wife got sick and we had to cancel the first day’s activities. Since that left only one day in the city, she make sure to revise our schedule and include the big highlights. Visiting the Panda Research Base and holding a panda and seeing the largest sitting Buddha in Leshan were among the highlights of our trip. She even took us to a tea house and we talked about her experience in Wolong during the earthquake that past May.
In Lijiang, our guide Gumin greeted me with a birthday present and also had a birthday cake at our dinner. She rearranged our schedule because of rain so we could try and see the Yu Long Snow Mountain in better weather. She also let us stop at a local golf course so I could do some shopping.
In Kumming, our guide Zhang was very concerned about my wife’s health as soon as she greeted us and we told her everything was fine. We got stuck in a heavy rain at the stone forest and she got us a ride back to the car on a golf cart. She took us to a local restaurant and a private room for a crossing bridge rice noodle dinner. She was very helpful when talking to the local people. We enjoyed hiking at the Western Hills and learning about the local customs.
In Guilin, our guide Ning took very good care of us on the Li River cruise to ensure we had excellent seats and pointed out all the scenic areas along the river. We had some extra time in Guilin so she took us to an art school to see some scroll paintings.
B. and T. Preece—Connecticut, USA (HGL, October 2008)
Response from a travel agent:
My clients returned 30Oct and I just spoke to them.
Very impressed with your tour company – the wonderful guides, who knew so much about the history, culture etc…and the tour guides were very flexible with time spent in different areas – especially the one in Hong Kong who changed the city tour to the next day so that the Fleming’s daughter could go along with the parents and see the sights…The Flemings were absolutely thrilled that this was able to be arranged.
The guides were of great assistance at the airports and even in one case, when they traveled by train…the guide was there to meet them and assist with luggage etc. which the Flemings really appreciated – they said they never felt lost or uneasy – as someone was always there for them. She also mentioned that the cars were spotless and they were excellent drivers.
The hotels you arranged were beautiful, with lovely rooms and good breakfasts. The dinners were excellent!
I have to say – thank you as well…..even though my client chose your company (it was recommended to her by a neighbor)…it all went so well and they were so well taken care of and loved the flexibility of it all – I will most definitely be suggesting your tours for any other of my clients that are interested in this kind of quality in a tour to China. It sure beats being on a bus load with 35 other people.
Again – thank you for your efficiency, excellent service and making this an unforgettable trip for my clients.
Ruta at Uniworld Travel—Ontario, Canada (HGP, October 2008)
The most outstanding memory of our trip was our exceptional guide – Miranda! She was caring, bright, articulate, and funny. We felt secure every minute. She gave 150% every minute and never hesitated to go out of her way to please us. Can’t say enough about her and the feelings were unanimous!! We all love her.
Alberto P.—Arizona, USA (YZ3, May 2008)
I think “stunned” is a fair word to describe how we were taken by Jason. He went so far beyond the role of a tour guide that we kept asking each other, “Is this for real?”
Jason is smart, conscientious and charming. There was no question too far afield for him to deal with, and if he did not have an immediate answer for some of the stranger ones, his ubiquitous cell phone and Baidu (or Google) cleared it up.
He never missed a beat, always keeping the tour moving well, and he was the proverbial mother hen, making certain none of us foot-draggers were left behind.
But most of all, we think it was the personal relationships he developed with all of us that made him so much fun to be with. By the time we left him in Shanghai, we knew we had made a new friend, not just a business acquaintance.
We hope someday to return to China, and when we do, we’ll be contacting Access China Tours and asking how we can do another tour with Jason. Thanks very much.
M. & J. Kramer—New York, USA (HGT, September 2008)
Having the guides to ourselves was very rewarding. We had their undivided attention and they took care of our every need! We shared stories of our families and personal lives. At the end, we had become very close and it was hard to say goodbye.
I. & M. MacLeod—California, USA (Private, May 2008)
You may or may not know that Bob and I run our own tours in Africa. From our experience, Jason was the perfect guide for our tour and its size. Not only was the tour well run, but he was very sensitive to our needs and desires both individually and as a group. It was a long trip and I am sure he was exhausted after 28 days straight but he did not show any wear. The trip was the right mix of travel, sites, culture and history and shopping. I have a new view on China, its politics and its potential. While they have many challenges, they have a very strong foundation from which to draw. Thank you for your assistance.
Robert R.—Ontario, Canada (Private group, May 2008)
Here are some general comments:
Thank you for your hard work. Our visit to China was so memorable. Access China Tours was fantastic in every city.
We were in Beijing on May 12 when the devastating earthquake occurred. We were scheduled to fly to Chengdu on May 16. Michael of the Beijing office was very professional. He rearranged our schedule to give us an extra night in Xi’an, and 1 night in Chongqing. We were very grateful to him and for his expertise. The rest of our itinerary went as scheduled.
The guides in each city were terrific, very knowledgeable and personable. Several times we requested slight changes in the schedule, and our requests were accommodated.
Thank you so much for your help with all of the details.
C. & P. Simon—California, USA (Private, May 2008)
The trip was terrific. You did a great job on the choices and arrangements! Mr. Lee was instrumental in solving some considerable problems that came up. He did a great job and we commend and thank him. The guides were all exceptional, friendly, helpful, informative and competent.
Cherry, you were so helpful. We had a great trip in large measure because of your professionalism and efforts. Thanks again.
T. Jobe —California, USA (Private, March 2008)
This is our first experience with an entirely private tour for the whole trip. It has been a very pleasant trip. All tour arrangements have been perfect and professionally handled. It was a very memorable experience for both of us.
J. & L. Wong—Wisconsin, USA (HGT private, September 2007)
We had an outstanding adventure in China. Our group was fabulous with Jason looking after all our needs and concerns throughout the trip. Jason and the different guides were excited about sharing their country with us….. The small group size and having a tour manager made moving from site/activity so much easier which in turn allowed us to stay a little longer at many of the sites. The combination of well-known tourist sites ie the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors along with the silk Embroidery Institute, Longsheng Minority Village with beautiful rice fields, the jade shop, the Yangling Archaeological Site to name a few made for a very full and fabulous itinerary…Thanks for a trip of a lifetime.
Jane R.—British Columbia, Canada (YZ3, October 2007)
The trip was just super. Jason was the most wonderful leader and did so many special things for John and me – helping us catch up on all of the sightseeing we had missed by getting into Beijing a day late, arranging for us to meet and have dinner with our friend in Chongqing, giving me advice and helping me negotiate several purchases, taking great care for our physical well-being on several occasions such as the walk up to the rice terraces in Longsheng, and on and on.
We also really enjoyed our guide, Lilly, whom we had our first day in Beijing. She was just delightful! All of our local guides were good, particularly WaWa (? spelling) in Xi’an, and one of our favorite visits was to the Yangling Archaeological Site & Museum there! I think that our very favorite day was to Longsheng, although we did find everything in the trip so interesting.
Throughout the trip we felt so well taken care of and knew that Jason could take care of anything that came along. Oh, I also want to say how much we appreciated YoYo – the young lady who took us to the airport in Shanghai. John and I had a little difficulty at check-in – we were upgrading our seats – and she took care of it and did not leave us until we went through the final security check.
Plus, the group we traveled with was such fun. Everyone got along so well and after a few “lazy-susan” meals, we were just like one big family.
Thank you so much for finally getting us to China and for making it such a great experience!J. Meyer—Louisiana, USA (YZ3, October 2007)
We had a FABULOUS trip. I would travel again with Access China in a minute, and will recommend it to everyone I know. These were the most stimulating, fascinating, eye-opening two weeks and everything went seamlessly. Doyle, our tour manager, is a gem.
B. Harrison—New York, USA (HGR, September 2007)
We enjoyed everything planned for us in PRC. Our guides were all wonderful and allowed my seven 1/2 year old daughter to feel comfortable. Some guides were extra friendly such as Vicky & Kitty – they held my daughter’s hand and asked her questions. Kitty was very pleasant and kept people from trying to solicit us….. ACT is a very dependable company. Thank you.
Allison and Adam—New York, USA (Private, April 2007)
We all enjoyed the trip very much… We appreciated the flexibility and cooperation of the guides in adjusting the itinerary… Jason was wonderful to work with; diligent, friendly, and flexible. It would have been less enjoyable and confusing for us without Jason’s attention and handling of the changes in the airline departures and the train delays. The local guide in Xian had an exceptional knowledge of the Terra Cotta Soldiers and his English speaking skills and comprehension was the best I have experienced. Dolkun’s personality and sincere interest in sharing his culture was much appreciated and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Imam’s flexibility and spirit of adventure, he helped us buy at sheep at the Opal Monday Market, made for one of the most memorable experiences of the trip.
The personal touch of recognizing Bruce and Rick’s birthdays, and Bruce and Sue’s wedding anniversary was good and appreciated. Again, all in all it was a very good trip. We are already talking about returning to China in 2009 and visiting Tibet and other localities we discussed with Jason. And, we certainly would want Jason to be our tour director again. Thank you for helping us put together another memorable experience.
Sam & Margaret O—California, USA (Private Group, July 2007)
We cannot have enough high praise for Joseph and the contribution that we made to our trip. He is a wonderful young man who is highly organized, very efficient. His English is excellent and he has a pleasant personality and a good sense of humor. We would highly recommend him and Access China Tours to everyone.
Access China Tours and your offices did everything to make this trip enjoyable, pleasant and easy. The hotels were top notch and the restaurant choices (on the whole) were excellent.
Cherry, we can’t thank you and the staff of Access China enough for the wonderful job you did. The total trip experience was great, from the activities that you chose to the hotels to the restaurants. We will be sure to recommend Access China to all of our friends that are considering a trip to China.
L.& S. Silver—Arizona, USA (YZ3, July 2007)
Thanks to Access China Tours for doing such a fabulous job in planning the tour YZ3 (Yangzi,Suzhou, & Golden Route) I participated in with my friend Margo from July 9th-24th. The tour surpassed my expectations!
In the planning stages, Cherry, you were very helpful in answering any of our questions to help us prepare. We were quite excited, not to mention nervous too, taking a trip so far from home and to an unfamiliar country. Our Tour Manager, Joseph, was waiting at the Beijing airport with a friendly face and a calm manner that immediately made us feel welcome and comforted.
Throughout the tour and up to the last minutes, Joseph paid great attention to each individual and made sure that things went smoothly. He was sensitive to the needs of each person, developed an understanding of each person’s temperament and handled any problems with care and efficiently. As the days passed, little personal issues arose that Joseph’s kind, calming manner and expertise solved quickly and thus enabled me to fully enjoy my trip. He was a great asset to the tour in so many ways, not just because he was there but because of his wonderful personality traits that made him well suited to this role.
Before we left for the trip, I was a little worried that the itinerary might be too full but it turned out to be just right. Margo and I had several personal goals for this trip and they were all met beyond expectation. It was truly difficult to think of any criticisms for the evaluation that we filled out. If you do have any questions about our comments, please do not hesitate to call or email for clarification.
It was truly the time of our lives… We were sad to end our trip and have very many wonderful memories of China and its people. I will highly recommend visiting China and Access China Tours to my travel agent and friends-Thank you again and again!
P. Hess—New York, USA (YZ3, July 2007)
When we arrived at the Dingshan Hotel in Nanjing, Ms. Liu had already left our train tickets with the concierge, and later Lucy from Beijing called to find out the car number so that Mr. Zhu could meet us exactly at the right point on the platform in Jinan! Mr. Zhu has been a wonderful guide and we thank you for assigning one of the top local persons to us; Hilary and he have communicated so well about all things related to Kongzi and Mengzi! We have especially enjoyed the ambience of the old town in Qufu and even rode yesterday in a mache to the local of Kongzu’s tomb. The Taishan experience was great, too, as we had a clear but not too hot day. The hotels are very good and very comfortable.
Lewis and Hilary Josephs—New York, USA (Private, June 2007)
We were led by the best guides we have ever experienced whose knowledge of the tour highlights was terrific. The hotels you chose were superb and, with the help of our guide in Chongqing, we were able to upgrade to the Shangrila Suite on the Yangzi River cruise…a real experience for us both… Thank you for your good work.
M. and G. Herzog—Arizona, USA (Private, March 2007)
I want to compliment you with the expertise and professionalism you conducted the entire tour. I never did a tour before, since I always travel on my own, and joining large groups is not for me. But Gene and I felt we were treated as if we were part of a VIP contingent. All the guides were good, Oliver and Christy were great. Tiger Lee was exceptional and we had the shortest time with him. I think we introduced both Oliver and Christy to areas they did not go very often and they were flexible and very helpful… Thank you very much for your attention to detail.
M. McFaull—California, USA (Private, March 2007)
Thank you for providing us with a wonderful trip to shanghai. Everything went as planned and we appreciate your professionalism as well as that of all your colleagues with whom we came in contact. Thank you again for a great trip – your organization is top flight.
Mr. & Mrs. Ryan—New Jersey, USA (Private, March 2007)
We are extremely pleased with our Access China Tours experience, both in terms of the quality of hotel accommodations and restaurant and the tailoring of our tour arrangements to our particular interests and needs. Thank you to the organizers both in China and in North America and to all our wonderful guides for working together to make this an experience we will remember fondly and vividly.
Steven & Diana O—Missouri, USA (Private, December 2006)
We must compliment you on Michael, our Beijing contact. He was always helpful, he always knew who was calling before I identified myself, he was very responsive and got back to us quickly when changes were being considered. We always felt he could be depended upon to meet our needs.
We were pleased with the guidance and service you provided. The quality of accommodations was significantly higher than we are accustomed to but we enjoyed the luxury after each day’s touring. We were amazed to have had refrigerators in all but a few rooms. Locations were outstanding.
Stuart & Reena D—Oregon, USA (Private, October 2006)
Everything about the trip was just great! Our guides, accommodations, itinerary, sights and food all exceeded our expectations. Thank you so much for providing a wonderful experience! If you ever need a reference for your services, please call me – I would be more than happy to give your company an excellent review!
P. & T. Maher—Pennsylvania, USA (Private, October 2006)
Access China Tours is the BEST! I had a wonderful experience and enjoyed all that I saw and did. Your organization is fantastic! Thank you so very much.
Barbara H—California, USA (HGT, October 2006)
Tony, the local guide, has been great and the hotel is most pleasant. We did the camel ride out to the sand dunes this morning which was fun… The food has also been a highlight of the trip. We have been taken to great restaurants – both large and small – and had wonderful meals. We are keeping the courses down to 3 or 4 but enjoying almost every dish… Your representatives are all doing a great job. I am amazed at the changes in the Chinese highway system in the last 3 years – lot more divided highways than the last trip.
Greg & Nancy M—British Columbia, Canada (Private, Oct-Nov 2006)
What people say about traveling with families to China:
We think you should certainly advertise your tours for families. We are passing your contact details to families who have learned of our experiences. This was a great experience in China for us…… It was equally interesting for the adults as well as the children.
All of the guides were excellent with the children and actively involved them during the sightseeing. However, we must give special mention to Sunny in Beijing and John in Huangshan who were both exemplary. They freely opened up about their personal experiences of growing up in China, so that we could gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and way of life. John invited us into a village where we could see firsthand how farmers live. This was especially interesting to the children who could appreciate that life can be hard in rural China, and value the quality of life we enjoy in Canada.
Thank you for a wonderful holiday and experience.
David W & Chris D—Alberta, Canada (Private, July 2006)
We had an amazing time in China. Access China Tours did an outstanding job organizing our trip. Michael, the trip manager in Beijing, is very professional and responsive. He coordinated all details and provided last minute trip arrangement for Shanghai and Hong Kong. The drivers and tour guides were very good. We spent 3 wonderful weeks in China according to our family interests and pace thanks to Access China Tours. We will definitely return and will recommend your company to our friends.
M/M Williams—Pennsylvania, USA (Private, June 2006)
We were completely happy with all accommodations. The Grand Hotel Beijing and The Westin (Shanghai) were our favorites but everything was comfortable and we were delighted with this aspect of the trip. We loved seeing people doing exercise in the park of Temple of Heaven. I wish we had more time in Shanghai-another day or two. One day was not enough. This was the most interesting and best organized vacation we ever took. You are great. We have already recommended you to many people.
J & J Levine—New York, USA (HGP, April 2006)
You did exactly what I needed – took care of all the logistics so I could focus completely on the research I needed to do. Every place I went someone was waiting for me & then “delivered” me to wherever I needed to be. There appeared to be a slight hitch in Chongqing, but it was resolved within ½ hour…… More than anything, however, I want to emphasize that the service you provided before and throughout the trip was excellent. As a result, I was able to “extract” from my time in China the absolute maximum. Thank you!
E Nelson — Massachusetts, USA (modified YZ3, May 2006)
Outstanding feature of 3 week trip because we got to see 1) a major world river and the people & culture along it; 2) largest water conservancy project in human history, and 3) chance to relax a bit. Balance of time allocation was good; efficient movement between airport and hotels and sightseeing venues. Guides were flexible, allowed us to add, drop venues on the go; well-designed, well-paced tour package; highly responsible guides – no problem with language; food all good. This was an outstanding three-week; many lasting memories.
K & M McKinley — Oklahoma, USA (Private, April 2006)
Cherry, the trip was all I thought and more – I’m still amazed that I actually walked on the great wall, saw the terracotta warriors, and cruised on the Li River. The sharing with Liz was fun and educational; I know we’ll keep in touch-thanks for the pairing. Food was smashing – so much better than anything in NYC; my kids tell me that other US cities are better; I’ve been raving to everyone……..all the restaurants were inspired choices. I ate Chinese breakfast everyday at the hotels too. Guides: as you must know, Sunny in Beijing is excellent; in Suzhou, Wang was a fine combination of language teacher, historian, and friendly companion……..Thanks for all.
J Chillrud — New York, USA (HGR, May 2006)
Mrs. Kafka at Wolong Giant Panda Preserve. Oct. 14, 2002
It is impossible to put into words how fully satisfied we were with this trip. The guides without exception were excellent. The accommodations at every stop were the best available and our itinerary could not have been improved on. Even our guides made favorable comments on our (your) choice to spend two nights in Yangshuo so we could enjoy the local color in Yangshuo and Fuli. The choice to walk the Sacred Way in Beijing and forego the Ming tombs was also a wise and time-saving move… Also the side trip to the Hutong was extremely interesting as we were able to visit in the home of a 42 year resident who cheerfully answered all of our questions.
D.Caldwell—Massachusetts, USA (Private Trip, September 2002)
If you have any questions or would like to make a reservation, please give us a call at 1 (800) 788-1399, email us at info@accesschinatours.com or use our contact form.
Please view what is included in our tours. Feel free to browse through our luxury and adventure tours. If you don’t see exactly what you like, we are happy to arrange a private or custom tour for you.
To see pictures of China, see the map of China or the photo gallery. Thank you for your kind attention.