Smartours and Friendly Planet are sister companies. I went to China with Smartours and got quite the bargain. the cost included :
air to beijing,
transfers to 4* hotel for four nights,
breakfast every morning
Transfer back to airport
flight to shanghai
transfer to 3* hotel for three nights
breakfast every morning
Tranfer to airport
flilght back to new york
price: 1399.

sightseeing tours were optional. I went on line and found a company in Beijing where you did not have to pay in advance, so I wasn't worried and booked local tours with them. they were fabulous. we got to do things the company did not offer: a whole day with a local family in a local village: cooking with them, dining with them and more. hired a private driver for two days and he was great as well.

In shanghai we used the tours with the company. Our only complaint was that the tourguide did not wait until everyone had gathered to start her talking.
They were reliable and we got lots for our money.