China Around the World Tours & Trip Packages

China Around the World Tours & Trips

383 China trips. Tours from 153 tour companies. 1,211 reviews. 4.8/5 avg rating.

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Around the World
San Francisco to Hong Kong
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4.2/5 Great
10 reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Auckland, Brisbane, Hong Kong, Kochi, Osaka, San Francisco, Sydney, Taipei

Highlights

  • Visit the Museum of Modern Art or head for the celebrated vineyards of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys.
  • Experience Honolulu from a totally different angle on this thrilling helicopter ride.
  • Explore the sea whilst whale watching aboard the high-tech, twin hulled 140 foot Navatek.
  • Experience the thrill of swimming with sharks and schools of colourful tropical fish followed by a picnic on the beach.
  • Experience the underwater wonders of Bora Bora's picturesque Lagoon by underwater scooter.
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Themes

Around the World, Cultural, High Adventure

What travelers are saying

"Clean and elegantly decorated ship, not gaudy like another cruise ship I have been on. I got a beautiful room with a balcony. The choice of foods was wonderful. I really enjoyed the shows and the music and the sightseeing."

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New York To New York
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4.2/5 Great
10 reviews
Large Ship Cruise
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Adelaide, Auckland, Bali, Barcelona, Brisbane, Dubai, Ho Chi Minh, Hong Kong, Kochi, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Naples, New York, Perth, Phuket, Rome, Southampton, Sydney

Highlights

  • Step into the Monte Carlo-inspired Empire Casino which offers a full variety of opportunities to tempt Lady Luck.
  • Travel back to the grand old days of Venice at one of our Masquerade balls. Every evening on board is a real event and attending one of our balls in the Queens Room means you're in for a truly special evening.
  • The quality and range of literature available in this beautiful room magnifies the stunning views over the bow. Take the time to linger over more than 8,000 books, in the largest library at sea.
  • Wake yourself up with a brisk walk or breezy jog around our promenade deck. Three laps make a mile!
  • Barossa Valley is famous worldwide for producing some wonderful boutique wines and internationally recognised names.
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Themes

Around the World, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Small Ship Cruise

What travelers are saying

"Clean and elegantly decorated ship, not gaudy like another cruise ship I have been on. I got a beautiful room with a balcony. The choice of foods was wonderful. I really enjoyed the shows and the music and the sightseeing."

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Around the World
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4.2/5 Great
55 reviews
Group Tour
Lodging level
Luxury - 5 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Canyonlands National Park, Chicago, Denver, Great Wall of China, Guilin, Lake Baikal, Los Angeles, Monument Valley, New York, San Francisco, Shanghai, Venice

Highlights

  • New York, Washington DC and Chicago
  • America's Golden West, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon
  • Los Angeles and San Francisco
  • Shanghai, Beijing and the Great Wall of China
  • Xian and the Terracotta Warriors
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Themes

50 plus, Around the World, Cultural, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Train & Rail Journeys, Religious

What travelers are saying

"This was their July 22 Cruise “Delights if the Danube” Absolutely awful company, great at taking your bookings and money but it then ends there. We paid a premium rate for what they listed as “Delights of The Danube” river cruise. They changed our ship, so we did not get what we paid for, and no pool as we originally specified. The drinks in the drinks package had very little choice. One draft beer is all that is available, and that is pretty poor as it is, you can’t even buy bottled beers or any other draught beer as that one is your only choice. Wines at meal times are either red, white or Rosa, no choice, just those three.The ship they put us on “boasted” a new wine bar, it didn’t serve any wines or beers at all the entire week, it wasn’t even stocked or manned, but it did have a kettle and tea or coffee !!!. The trips ashore are advertised to deceive you, this is appalling. Some of the trips are over two and a half hours each way on a coach, and the shorter ones are rushed, don’t be fooled by their misleading advertising. The train journeys are an absolute nightmare, even though we booked first class there and back. You have to rush between connecting trains while dragging your luggage with you, and the connecting times are tight, we felt so sorry for those less able who were severely stressed. On part of the journey we were told that 1st class was not available, we were put in filthy overcrowded carriages, with our luggage carriages away, and professional thieves operate on these trains. Some of our fellow passengers, on our cruise, were robbed on the way to the cruise and the way home. Great Rail offered us the paltry sum of £30 compensation for this. Once we got on the cruise we were excited, but that quickly changed, we spent the first two days moored up overlooking an industrial estate, yes an industrial estate, that’s what Great Rail advertise as a “Delight of the Danube”. When we complained and asked why are we on an industrial estate,we were told “because it’s cheaper than mooring up in a city or town”. We complained to the reps on the cruise, as did numerous others, only to be told that they don’t actually work for Great Rail, they are sub contracted free lancers, and that we would have to take it up with Great Rail upon our return. After numerous phone calls and e-mails we have been offered a derisory amount on one of their vouchers, which only benefits Great Rail, why would we want to go back with such an incompetent company? The communication with Great Rail is appalling once they have your money, be warned. Overall I have to say that Great Rail are appalling, amateurs playing in a market they simply don’t understand, their advertising is very misleading, that’s putting it politely!! The tone of their responses are arrogant, they simply ignore many of the points raised, and they honestly don’t seem to care, they are all image and no substance."

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Discover the World
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Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Agra, Delhi, Fatehpur Sikri, Hong Kong, Jaipur, Jama Masjid, Phuket, Qutab Minar, Taj Mahal, Zurich

Highlights

  • Enjoy a traditional Thai herbal massage or a special spa treatment
  • Explore Hong Kong
  • Visit Buddhist temples with golden spires and see the magnificent Emerald Buddha
  • Visits to the Maharajah’s City Palace and the Palace of Winds
  • Experience exploring to Zurich is a fabulous blend of a medieval European town with modern architecture

Themes

Around the World, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

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Global Voyage
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Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Flexible schedule

Visits

Angkor Wat, Blue Mosque, Casablanca, Istanbul, Madrid, Marrakech, Saigon, Shanghai, Siem Reap

Highlights

  • Visit Chau Say Tevodas dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu
  • Incredible urban landscape of Shanghai in China
  • Discover Shanghai Old street, that originated in the Qing Dynasty
  • See the Angkor Wat is the national symbol and the highlight of any visit to Cambodia
  • Experience some rural life in Vietnam
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Themes

Around the World, Cultural, Local Immersion & Homestays

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Classic China
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By Trafalgar
preferred
4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Group Tour
Why we love them
Their travelers enjoy 24/7 travel expertise and dedicated service throughout the trips - everything is taken care of.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

  • 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
  • 9 Breakfast (B)
  • 4 Lunch (L)
  • 1 Regional Dinner (RD)
  • 1 Be My Guest (BMG)
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Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning

What travelers are saying

"we enjoyed it very much. So much fun"

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China Experience
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5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Three Gorges, Three Gorges Dam, Yangshuo, Yangtze River, Yichang

Highlights

  • This is one of our most comprehensive trips in China, covering huge distances and taking in key destinations from north to south with plenty of variety in experiences and sights along the way
  • Zip through the country from north to south on its efficient high-speed rail network.
  • Take through the iconic scenery of the Yangzi River as you meander through the dramatic Three Gorges on a three-day cruise
  • No matter how many guide books you have read, nothing truly prepares you for the grandeur and immensity of historic sights like the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, Leshan Big Buddha and the Terracotta Army. However, the country's modern man-made sights refuse to beoutdone, and you can see the modern equivalence of those ancient feats in the skyline of Hong Kong and the Yangzi River's Three Gorges Hydroelectric dam
  • Get up close to giant pandas in Chengdu and learn about the preservation work required for this ancient species.
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Themes

Cultural, High Adventure, Local Immersion & Homestays, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We joined the Intrepid “Real Italy Food Tour” and enjoyed it thoroughly. Our tour guide, Micol, was very knowledgeable and provided us with lots of good information. It seems Micol knew many of the staff of the venues we visited, including the pasta making class we attended. Our group of 11 travelers was extremely compatible, which greatly added to the fun and enjoyment."

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China Tour: Culture and Nature Spotlight
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By Odynovo
premier
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
They are able to handcraft custom trip plans in over 70 different destinations worldwide.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Dali, Guilin, Jianshui, Kunming, Lijiang, Shanghai, Xian, Yangshuo, Yuanyang

Highlights

  • Explore the ancient Chinese culture by visiting the landmarks of Beijing and Xi’an.
  • Hike to admire the beautiful Bada and Shengcun Rice Terraces in Yuanyang.
  • Visit the splendid Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang.
  • Enjoy the natural karst scenery on a cruise on the Guilin Li River and relax in the Yangshuo countryside.
  • Explore the Bund and Yu Garden in Shanghai.

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Nature & Wildlife

What travelers are saying

"I cannot say enough good things about Odynovo, both on the coordination end (we worked with Laura Li, who was fantastic!) to the on-site people (shout out to our airport contact in Cairo Hassan, our skilled driver Ahmed, our fun Cairo guide Mai, and our knowledgable Aswan/Luxor guide Hazem - BEST crew EVER!!!) who make your trip a seamless, safe, exciting, educational, and all-around transformative life highlight. This experience was seriously a bucket-list one for my husband and me, and I can NOT emphasize enough how important the Odynovo team was to making Egypt an infinitely easier context to navigate. If you've watched travel vloggers and social media influencers attempt to navigate Egypt on their own and complain about a negative experience, fear not - if you go with Odynovo, every. single. thing. will be taken care of. There is NOTHING to worry about, and the experience was entirely positive. The people, the food, the culture, the historical sites and stories - with Odynovo taking care of all the logistical details, these are the only things you need to focus on. I am full of gratitude for the experience I had in Egypt, and I credit Odynovo for it. I will absolutely use them in the future for other destinations, and I urge you to do the same. I know my Egypt experience would not have been nearly the same had I not gone with Odynovo. Check out our adventure here: https://youtu.be/vMlAmVk7vBY Also, a passionate recommendation from my experience: DEFINITELY make the trip to Abu Simbel!! It was a major highlight (we went in a private car that left Aswan around 9am since we'd flown in from Cairo that morning). We stopped at the High Dam first, so by the time we arrived at Abu Simbel, the tour busses were on their way back to Aswan, and we had the whole of the site almost entirely to ourselves. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. Do it. Stay the night in Abu Simbel if you can in order to avoid the crowds. It was amazing. ✨"

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China Natural Wonders Discovery
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Shanghai, Xian

Highlights

  • Discover the Hidden Halls in the Forbidden City.
  • Walk on a Delicate Mixture of the Restored and Wild Great Wall
  • Meet the Terracotta Army and Make Your Own Terracotta Warriors
  • Witness the Closest Things on Earth to the Hallelujah Mountains
  • Walk on the World's Longest and Highest glass-floored bridge
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Themes

Cultural, Cycling & Biking, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Nature & Wildlife, Photography

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

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Walk the Great Wall of China
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They explore a place beyond the typical tourist traps and offer exciting activities that bring the “wow factor” intrepid travelers want.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Tiananmen Square

Highlights

  • Hike the iconic Great Wall of China and discover rural life and great scenery
  • Explore Beijing's Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
  • Visit Old Dragons Head the point where the Great Wall meets the sea

Themes

Education / Learning, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"This tour was virtually perfect, due largely to the curating skill, personality, regional knowledge & appreciation, dining choices, guiding & FUN capability of our marvelous guide Rocio! And of course, the eye-popping scenery of the western Algarve, Portugal!"

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China Golden Triangle with Chengdu and Tibet
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By Odynovo
premier
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Why we love them
They are able to handcraft custom trip plans in over 70 different destinations worldwide.
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Lhasa, Shanghai, Xian

Highlights

  • Explore the awe-inspiring Forbidden City, Great Wall, and local Hutongs in Beijing.
  • Visit the ancient Terracotta Warriors and Ancient City Wall in Xi’an.
  • Explore the well-known Potala Palace and delve into the heart of Tibetan spirituality.
  • Go to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and meet the cute Pandas.
  • Experience the enchanting contrast of old and new along the Bund in Shanghai.

Themes

Cultural, Education / Learning, Local Immersion & Homestays

What travelers are saying

"I cannot say enough good things about Odynovo, both on the coordination end (we worked with Laura Li, who was fantastic!) to the on-site people (shout out to our airport contact in Cairo Hassan, our skilled driver Ahmed, our fun Cairo guide Mai, and our knowledgable Aswan/Luxor guide Hazem - BEST crew EVER!!!) who make your trip a seamless, safe, exciting, educational, and all-around transformative life highlight. This experience was seriously a bucket-list one for my husband and me, and I can NOT emphasize enough how important the Odynovo team was to making Egypt an infinitely easier context to navigate. If you've watched travel vloggers and social media influencers attempt to navigate Egypt on their own and complain about a negative experience, fear not - if you go with Odynovo, every. single. thing. will be taken care of. There is NOTHING to worry about, and the experience was entirely positive. The people, the food, the culture, the historical sites and stories - with Odynovo taking care of all the logistical details, these are the only things you need to focus on. I am full of gratitude for the experience I had in Egypt, and I credit Odynovo for it. I will absolutely use them in the future for other destinations, and I urge you to do the same. I know my Egypt experience would not have been nearly the same had I not gone with Odynovo. Check out our adventure here: https://youtu.be/vMlAmVk7vBY Also, a passionate recommendation from my experience: DEFINITELY make the trip to Abu Simbel!! It was a major highlight (we went in a private car that left Aswan around 9am since we'd flown in from Cairo that morning). We stopped at the High Dam first, so by the time we arrived at Abu Simbel, the tour busses were on their way back to Aswan, and we had the whole of the site almost entirely to ourselves. It was one of the most awe-inspiring moments of my life. Do it. Stay the night in Abu Simbel if you can in order to avoid the crowds. It was amazing. ✨"

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A Broad Taste of China: 13-Day Private Tour: Beijing – Xi'an – Chengdu – Guilin – Hong Kong
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By China Highlights
Local Expert
Verified by Travelstride as locally operated and in the top of their field for customer reviews, local knowledge, and safety.
5/5 Excellent
100+ reviews
Private Guided
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate
Trip pace
Full schedule

Visits

Beijing, Chengdu, Guilin, Hong Kong

Highlights

  • Get off the Beaten Path to Find Hidden Halls and Interesting Stories in the Fobidden City
  • Enjoy Peking Roast Duck of a Time-Honored Brand
  • Explore a Top-Ranked Section of the Great Wall
  • Witness the World-Famouse Terracotta Army and Create a Warrior by Yourself.
  • Challenge Yourself to Take a Food Adventure in the Muslim Quarter
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Themes

Culinary & Wine, Cultural, Family Friendly, High Adventure, Hiking & Walking, Local Immersion & Homestays, National Parks, Nature & Wildlife, Trekking & Expeditions

What travelers are saying

"I've just returned from my trip to China, a week ago. I've seen many-many interesting places of Guangdong and Guangxi provinces. But most of all i liked my 2-days trip to Longshen villages with my guide Frank from chinahighlights. The day before our trip has started, in Guilin, Frank met me in hotel and told about our journey. Next 2 days we visited traditional ancient chinese villages (the biggest from them are Ping'an and Dazhai), walking around them, saw the rice-terraces landscape (it was really unbelievable). Also we had a hiking between villages, and stayed at night at ZhongLiu village. I haven't seen any tourists in this village, even chinese tourists. It was fantastic cause we've seen real chinese life of local people, including, for example, planting vegetables, collecting tea). Very quiet, fresh air, natural food. Yes, in this village almost no shops, no souvenirs, but you dont need them. All around you a hundred times better. I advice all, who wants to see real chinese life, visit this place, especially this village, stay at night there. Thanks very much to my guide Frank and chinahighlights for this trip!"

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China Express
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1/5 Terrible
100+ reviews
Small Group Tour
Why we love them
They’ve partnered with well-known names like National Geographic and the Jane Goodall Institute to offer unique experiences unavailable elsewhere.
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Visits

Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square

Highlights

  • Trek along the great wall
  • Visit the forbidden city in beijing and the canal town of suzhou
  • Experience a local meal and the terracotta warriors in xi'an
  • Witness an exciting acrobatic performance in shanghai

Themes

Cultural, Transformative

What travelers are saying

"We spent two wonderful weeks touring several of the best destinations in Portugal & Spain with a group of 16 people. Our guide (Fredy) was from Spain and intimately familiar with the region, including its rich history, attractions, and food/beverages. The tour was well-paced using a combinations of private vehicles (small buses and cabs), trains, and an airplane ride as well as a fair amount of walking to get around these two beautiful countries. We extended our stay in Lisbon to see more attractions and took a side trip to Fatima, Obidos, and Nazare that was also excellent. Would have liked to have a bit more time in a couple of the cities, but we'll just have to plan another trip!"

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5 trips exactly matchall of the the filters you selected. We are displaying some similar trips.
My selections:
Around the World

China Reviews & Ratings

4.8/5  Excellent
1,211  Reviews
See all China tour reviews
Excellent
881
Great
197
Average
14
Disappointing
2
Terrible
0
A

Andrew

Oct 2015

Written on

Overall, the trip was excellent. This was

Overall, the trip was excellent. This was my first time with Intrepid but I have taken several similar trips (Tucan). The tour leader (Kris) was excellent and the ac...

A

Anne

Sep 2015

Written on

Emma was an excellent group leader- very

Emma was an excellent group leader- very friendly, helpful and polite. We really liked her suggested restaurant and activity recommendations and felt that they were ...

S

Steve

Sep 2015

Written on

Excellent Guide. Good Itinerary.

Excellent Guide. Good Itinerary.

B

Benita

Sep 2015

Written on

A well put together itinerary from Intrepid

A well put together itinerary from Intrepid and my tour guide Emma Guo was fantastic. She made herself available to the group 24 hours with added information on loca...

C

Cornelia

Sep 2015

Written on

I had a amazing time during this

I had a amazing time during this trip. China Experience is a very good to see a lot of spots in China. That only negative point was that we couldn't see the Forbidde...

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China Tour Selection Trips

  • When choosing a tour to China, consider how much free time is allowed, especially in cities, where the chance to walk the streets and observe daily life can be an unforgettable experience.
  • Resident tour guides are your best resource for insights into modern Chinese life, and the best of them are bright, sophisticated, willing to answer your hard questions and eager to find out more about you.
  • Request or procure a multiple-entry 10-year China tourist visa (which became available late in 2014), making a return visit easier and cheaper.
  • Jet lag is a reality for most travelers to China. Try to fly in at least a day ahead, if possible, so that you can begin your tour at full strength.
  • Early spring and late fall are the best times to travel in most parts of China—less hot and crowded. Southern China is much warmer than the North in winter months.
  • Learning a few Chinese phrases can go a long ways in smoothing your way, even on a tour. Being able to say “Hello,” “Good-bye,” and “Thank you” opens doors, while “Yes,” “No,“ and “How much is this?” in Chinese make shopping (and fending off vendors) much easier.
  • After you’ve arrived…Credit cards will be all you need for most purchases, and ATMs are widely available in cities, but street markets and village shops usually require local currency.
  • If you’re venturing outside the main cities, be sure to carry tissues, hand sanitizers and other hygienic devices. China has modernized rapidly, but it is still a developing nation.
  • Most Chinese are frank and outgoing, rather than reserved. Few topics are taboo these days, especially among young people, but certain topics of conversation -- such as Tibet, the Dalai Lama, Hong Kong elections, abortion, Taiwan -- can be unfruitful.
  • Jokes and puns, however, are popular, as is Western pop culture, including music, films and designer clothes.
  • Wear sturdy, comfortable walking shoes, since you’ll want to see as much as possible on foot.
  • Given the air pollution and dusty (sometimes unclean) conditions, choose serviceable outdoor attire by day. Touring China can be more a ramble through the outback than a stroll through a shopping mall.

Additional details

Tours to China usually visit the heavy hitters, such as the Great Wall, and major sites in Beijing. However, the benefit of going on a China tour is the opportunity to venture out to the countryside, get a glimpse of rural Chinese life, and the amazing ancient natural landscapes.

What to expect from a China Tour

Culturally, there are many nuances to Chinese life that will come to life as you travel through, and some things may be difficult to adapt to. Traveling on a tour in China will not only enhance your experience, it will help with the language barrier, and you’ll learn more about local life, bringing these many nuances to light in a safe and comfortable way.

History tours are a great way to gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, but they can only go so far. Try to book a tour that visits local establishments and villages as well as cities.

Here are a few unexpected cultural differences you can expect on your first trip to China:

  • Toilet paper. The majority of public restrooms (with the exception of higher-end restaurants and hotels) don’t carry toilet paper, and so you may want to carry around your own packet, or some tissues.
  • Service. The expectation that you will be waited on hand and foot is a uniquely American ideal. In China, like many other places, service is not quite so good. On a similar note, the Chinese do not tip, and won’t expect them from you.
  • Spitting. You might be shocked the first time you see an old Chinese man hock a loogie onto the street, but the Chinese do not use tissues. In fact, they are equally disgusted by the way that we Westerners “keep” our mucus!
  • Small talk. In most Western cultures, having a conversation with a stranger about your marital status, economic status, or personal history can seem incredibly invasive; these topics are not off limits for the Chinese.

Affordable Asia & Traveling China on the Cheap

There are two general, competing views on traveling to China:

  1. Buying a flight to Asia is really expensive, and so is having a decent vacation in one of China’s crowded, rapidly expanding cities.
  2. Traveling Asia is really cheap, and China is no exception, from its abundant street food and mass production.

The truth actually lies somewhere in between. If you want to live life to the fullest in one of China’s premiere cities -- Beijing, Shanghai, or Hong Kong -- eating like a king, and then resting your weary bones in a luxury hotel, you can expect to pay similar prices to any big Western city.

There are, however, ways to travel China affordably. Here are some of our recommendations:

  • Step outside the cities. As is the case any other country, prices in big cities (especially touristy ones!) are significantly higher than anywhere else
  • Public transportation. China not only has a cheap and effective taxi system within its cities, but an effective and very affordable rail system. If you plan to travel within the country, a ticket on a sleeper train will not only save you the cost of a hotel room, it will be at least half the price of a flight!
  • Check your credit card fees. This rule stands for all international travel -- make sure you are using a credit card with minimal, or no, international fees when making payments. Or sign up for WeChat, which is the most common method of payment in China, and only uses your phone.
  • Eat like the locals. Not only is this food likely to better, and is guaranteed to be authentic, eating Chinese food in China is much cheaper than eating any other foreign food. When in Rome! Another tip if you are eating a single portion of food, ask for your meal “xiao pan.” This will cut the size of meal, and reduce the price as well.

Always Find the Best

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