Having witnessed centuries’ changes, the gorgeous Dujiangyan likes a record of the history attracting a growing number of tourists with the picturesque and splendid landscape. On November 29, 2000, Dujiangyan was listed as the world cultural heritage by UNESCO. Nowadays, Dujiangyan is not only the irrigation work, but also a popular scenic spot with many charming sceneries around--just like many stars twinkling around the moon.
Wangjiang Pavilion with a height of 39 meters is the most shinning architecture in the Wangjiang Park that covered by green bamboo woods. Wangjiang Pavilion, built in Qing Dynasty (1644-1912), was designed as an octagonal shape with the overhanging eaves, sharp golden roof, and various exquisite figure carvings and clay sculptures of animals decorating each floor. Located on the bank of Jinjiang River, Wangjiang Pavilion provides an ideal angle for river viewing, from which it derived the present name “Wangjiang Lou”.
China's long history, vast territory and cultures have gestated the distinctive Chinese culinary art. With some thousand years of creative and accumulative efforts, the Chinese cuisine has become increasingly popular among overseas gourmets. This tour is especially designed for those Chinese cuisine lovers and gastronomists. Begin our tour in Beijing, you can witness and climb the magnificent ancient construction of the Great Wall, enjoy private family feast at one restaurant in the depth of Hutong, also a sumptuous emperor's dinner is served there. The Huaiyang cuisine in Yangzhou and Nanjing are surely to give you a deep impression and bring you aftertaste. Also included is a memorable visit to Yuyuan Garden in Shanghai, be seated comfortable tasting the snacks while intoxicating in the wonderful sceneries. Pay a visit to Huangshan Mountain and degust the Hui cuisine. We flight to Chengdu to sample the Sichuan spicy food. Then come to Guilin, you experience a cruise on the world-wide famous Li River through stunning karst landscapes in Guilin and taste local special in Yangshuo. Our tour ends in Guangzhou, be amazed at how many materials are used in the Cantonese cuisine. For a complete savory food tasting and culture learning, you are welcomed to join us and start this yummy tour.
Itinerary
Our tour guide will welcome you at the airport upon your arrival in Beijing, and you will be accompanied to check in your hotel.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included:
We will travel to [Mutianyu Great Wall] , 80 kilometers northeast of Beijing. Mutianyu Great Wall is characterized by many watchtowers on overlapping mountain ranges. The wall, built with slabs of stone, is crenellated on both sides with bricks. After the visit, we are going to have a taste of [Peking duck dinner]. It is said that trying the crispy and tasty Peking duck dinner will perfect your Beijing journey. Therefore, we will experience the special flavor of Peking duck in Quanjude restaurant. Due to its unique and delicate cooking way, the taste of the duck would make people unforgettable for a long time. After the duck is roasted and dried, it looks dark red, shining with oil and crisp skin. Can you resist the temptation to taste it once you see the attractive duck.
When served, the chef will show you the whole duck. Then, he will slice it into thin pieces with both skin and meat on. You can wrap duck slices, onion, and sauce in a pancake or a sesame bun. Other parts of the duck are served as either cold dishes or hot dishes. The bones can even be decocted together with Chinese watermelon and cabbage.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper
[Hutong](Chinese word for alleys in Beijing) is the place where we will start our China gourmet tour in Shichahai area. [Shichahai area] is adjacent to second ring road, and we will drive there. Once you step into the Hutong, you cannot help yourself to surprising at the authentic traditional culture in the old Beijing. Tourists from all over the world travel here to appreciate the Hutong either by sitting in a rickshaw or walk around them. Beijing is a fabulous cultural city famous for its eating culture, and there is famous saying that "a good restaurant never worries about its remote location". The one we are going to explore is family feast of the Mei Mansion Restaurant. This mansion is the former residence of Mr.Mei lanfang- the famous Beijing opera performer who is well-known around China. You may curious about the distinguishing feature in the family feast there and the particular taste of the dishes. There are three major principles in cocking the dishes, that is to say firstly the food should not be fatty and greasy; secondly the food should be good to the protection of people’s throat and voice; thirdly the food should be beneficial to skin. As you see, the food in Mei Mansion Restaurant is really good to people‘s health. The Mei family feast successively combined Huaiyang dishes in south and Beijing Tan family dishes, and especially famous for its unique cooking of fish. The highly recommended dish is the "Seven Color Shredded fish". It is said that chicken conjee is a daily dish for Mr. Mei, and it is a dish elegantly made with thick fragrance of chicken soup and vegetable juice to the conjee when cocking. So it is the exquisite prepared way make it a delicate and tasty dish.
It is good to take a walk along the Hutong or take a rickshaw to run through the area after lunch at the Mei Mansion. Hutongs in Shichahai area are former residences of many influential officials in the past. Twisty and peaceful Hutongs can best represent the culture and history of ancient Beijing.
The courtyard in Prince Gong Mansion is one of the best preserved courtyards in the capital, and we will have dinner in somewhere place nearby. It is a meal that cares for the way of keeping good health and combining primes of all Chinese dishes, and it is delicately-presented meal with deluxe flavors.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast
[Tian'anmen Square] has perfect location on the central axis of old Beijing, one of the largest city squares in the world. So we will take a walk there after breakfast to enjoy the especial sightseeing in the morning there. In the center of Tian'anmen Square stands the Monument to the People's Heroes. Our next stop will be the [Forbidden City] which is the majestic palaces for the emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The city contains 800 ceremonial buildings, 9,999 rooms, and a courtyard that can hold 100,000 people. You can appreciate the best ancient Chinese architectural styles that are well preserved here, giving you an imposing view.
Fortune Street is our next destination for sightseeing after lunch, a fantastic street gathering gourmet and tasty foods from all over the world. You are free to choose and look around, try different snacks and dishes. There are lots of restaurants for your choice of dinner, and we highly recommend an Australian Jack Restaurant that famous for its drunk kangaroo cook with red wine. Meanwhile, there is also an Italian restaurant with its bizarre shape pizzas welcomes you. A Thailand restaurant is famous for its golden crab in thick soup. Of course, there are more and more nice foods for you to explore and enjoy.
Stay overnight in Beijing.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
When we finish our breakfast, we will take a flight to Nanjing- one of the eight great ancient capitals in China. And the tour guide will welcome you at the airport at your arrival and then you will move to your hotel. Later, we will gather in the hotel in the afternoon and go to the [Nanjing Confucius Temple] (Fuzimiao in Chinese). It is a temple that honors Confucius who is the greatest ancient Chinese philosopher and thinker. The temple was first constructed in 1034 during the Song Dynasty to complement the Jiangnan Examination School (see below), where the imperial examinations were administered. Scholars came to the temple to pray for success and demonstrate their humble respect for Confucius. Nowadays it remains a street distinguished for its tasty food streets, and has become one of the four snack representative streets in China. Here you can find flavor snacks of every area in China, such as the eight peerless snacks made by eight long history shops, including salty and sweet flavors, with delicate shapes and wraps. Certainly, there are other snacks that can bring you persistent aftertaste. The bright lights and river scenery of Confucius Temple will definitely a wonderful part of your journey to Nanjing.
Stay overnight in Nanjing.
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning we will drive to Yangzhou and it is a journey about one and half hours and when arriving there, we will be received by a nice tea shop. Yangzhou is a highly developed city in Tang and Song dynasties, and now it is still famed for its temperament of slowing tasty food and elegantly life attitude. Local people like to drink morning tea to express their peaceful mind to life, and Huaiyang refined snacks are primary features of morning tea. There are many dishes you should try such as steamed dumplings filled with soup of crab’s roe and five tin dumplings. Drinking the morning tea can really refresh your mind, and later we will take a walk to appreciate the beautiful small city. And you can also choose to take a boat to view the Slim West Lake. At lunch time we gather at the Daming Temple, our first mission is to eat a vegetarian meal because this kind of meal is only available for visitors at noon. No matter how similar those dishes are look like meat, don't be misguided by your eyes, they are one hundred percent made of vegetables, such as lotus root, mushroom, bean curd, and so on. We will visit [Daming Temple], which is famous for the unique garden scenery. And we will have the well-known Wensi bean curd as our dinner at a local restaurant. It is a monk named Wensi that made this dish and his cocking talents were appreciated by the emperor, and the dish became popular in that place from then on after it was tasted by the emperor. Finally we will drive back to Nanjing.
Stay overnight in Nanjing.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, we will go to another destination-Shanghai by train and we will reach Shanghai at lunch time. After a short rest at the hotel, we set out to the Laozao Restaurant to savor the elegant Shanghai Benbang dish. The cookers in the restaurant are talented so much that they retain original taste of the material in every dish, showing you extraordinary cooking art. After lunch, we will pay a visit to the [Jade Buddha Temple], an exquisite structure famous for its Buddha statue which is carved of solid white jade and decorated by jewels. And [Outer Bund] will offer you a grand view of Shanghai and you may marvel at how modern this metropolis is while still containing its old traditions. We highly recommend you to take a walk on the [Nanjing Road], the most prosperous commercial street. As for dinner, you can choose to eat western food or Chinese food as you like, lots of wonderful western restaurant can be found in the city.
Stay overnight in Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast
In the morning, we will go to visit the [Yuyuan Garden] after enjoying a leisurely breakfast; Yuyuan Garden is not only a famous classical garden in south China, but also a major historic and cultural site under state protection. There are more than 500 kinds of snacks gathering here for you to choose, we highly recommend the Nanxiang Steamed Bun Stuffed with Pork and Crab Roe and Spring Rolls. Then we will go to Huangshan by plane.
We will arrive Huangshan by dinner time. The food of Huangshan Mountain featured with Hui cuisine style, which is one of the eight famous cooking styles in China. Temperature in cooking, good braising and stewing are well represented in Anhui Cuisine. Often hams will be added to improve taste and sugar candy added to gain. We will have our dinner in a local restaurant to savor the Huangshan food, especially the dish of strange flavor fish, stone chicken, sesame seed cake and others.
Stay overnight at Huangshan City.
Meals included: Breakfast
Early this morning we [take cable to climb the Huangshan Mountain], enjoy the incredible view on the way to the top mountain. Mt. Huangshan is featured by the four wonders, namely, odd-shaped pines, grotesque rock formation, seas of clouds and crystal-clear hot springs. There is famous saying China goes “you won't want to visit any other mountains after visiting wu yue (Five Great China Mountains), and you won't wish to see even wu yue after returning from Mt. Huangshan.” From the slam we can see that how unique and beautiful Mt. Huangshan is. In the afternoon, we will take cable downwards and take our car/van/bus going back to Huangshan City. After that we will take a flight to Shanghai In the evening.
Stay overnight in Shanghai.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
Your morning time is up to your own arrangement, but we will go to Chengdu by plane in the afternoon. Upon arrival, be met by the guide and transferred to the hotel. There are markets and street hawkers fill the streets dealing in everything you could possibly imagine, ranging from snakes and snails to fortunes and foot scrubs, therefore, you can have leisure walk the street and explore the markets as much as you want. And you can do lots of many other things in Chengdu: feast on some great food and soak up some of the mellow atmosphere in one of the thousands of tea houses dotted about the city.
Stay overnight in Chengdu.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
We will go to explore the Chengdu City, a famous Chinese cultural city, endowed with unique natural conditions, beautiful environment and profound history, after a leisurely breakfast. [People’s Park] and [Kuanzhai Alley] enable you to experience local people’s leisure life, and feel the relaxing pace of this southwestern city that boasts “Heaven of Abundance”.
Sichuan Cuisine is considered as the four major style of cooking in China, it's excellent for the spicy taste. Your trip to Chengdu should definitely include sampling the Sichuan cuisine. The typical tableware -- hotpot dinner will let you know what real Sichuan spicy food is. More than 400 kinds of dishes such as Sautéed Pigeon Breast in XO Sauce, Stir-Fried Duck Tongues with Sichuan Chili, Kung Pao Chicken, as well as 2000 kinds of snacks such as Sichuan Style Wonton, Tangyuan (Glutinous Rice Balls) are included in Fermented Glutinous Rice Soup. Since the food is spicy you should make sure that your stomach can undergo that. Besides, Sichuan brocade, embroidery and lacquer ware are well- known souvenirs.
Stay overnight in Chengdu
Meals included: Breakfast
[Chengdu Giant Panda Researching and Breeding Base] is our first destination in this morning ad we will take a private bus to get there. The center is located on the mountain of Futoushan in the northern suburbs of the city. The best time to visit those pandas is in the morning, between 8.30 and 10am, during feeding time when the cute black and white bear may bring you great fun. If you go there at other time, you will find that the bears will be indulging in their favorite pastime, sleeping! Then we go to a local restaurant to feast on various delicious foods. And this afternoon we will take a flight to Guilin.
You can take rest in the hotel once you arrival in Guilin, but if you are still energetic enough you can walk around downtown of the small city for a brilliant night view.
Stay overnight in Guilin.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, we are going to start one of the highlight journeys -- [Li River cruise]. Li River, also known as, the Lishui River, this waterway feeds the lush, green vegetation that offers people such perfect scenery. For many visitors, taking a cruise down the Li River should be at the top of your list for things to do. On either side of the river are sheer limestone cliffs that enhance the overall experience. You can also use your digital camera to take photos of the picturesque landscape. When we get off the ship, we will walk to the West Street, which has received countless international visitors from all over the world and reputed as "Earthly Village in China". Now there are over 300 cafes, restaurants, hotels art crafts and tourist stores, foreign language clubs, internet centers and Kungfu schools in the600 meters long street.
This afternoon we participate in a [cooking class], carry forward your talent and bring out some delicious three Chinese dishes for a [DIY dinner].
Stay overnight in Yangshuo.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch , Supper
Guilin rice noodles are the number one breakfast choice for the local people of the Guilin area. These noodles are snow white, delicate, soft, smooth, and tasty. There are many cooking methods of Guilin Rice Noodle and they are characterized by the making of a spicy soup. So it is a good chance for you to taste rice noodles in Guilin. After a [lunch with some Rice Noodles] in Guilinese Restaurant, we depart for a city tour. As we all known that [Elephant Trunk Hill] is the symbol of Guilin, and it looks like an elephant drinking water from the river. The [Reed Flute Cave] is one of the most spectacular caves displaying karst geographical formation in various shapes. After the above visits, we will continue to the nearby [South China Sea Pearl Museum], where we can learn some knowledge of pearls and real sea pearls are available to you at competitive prices. Dinner is at Zhengyang Soup City, where we sip the Duck Soup with Gingko en Casserole. In the evening, we recommend you to take a cruise in the city's central area on a water system, making you have more deep impression of beautiful Guilin.
Stay overnight in Guilin.
Meals included: Breakfast , Lunch
In the morning, we drive to the airport for a flight to Guangzhou. Guangzhou City is not only famous for its flourishing economies and opened trade business but also famous for its foods and attractions. So Guangzhou will be the first stop on any gastronomic tour of China. Guangzhou food, also known as Cantonese food (Yue Cai) is celebrated as the king of Chinese cuisines. The famous Cantonese dishes include whole roast pork, steamed fish, roast pigeon, poached chicken, Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce, and a wide range of crispy green vegetables and so on. After a short rest, we head to a local restaurant famous for its Guangdong style : Wenchang chicken, fish maw and mushroom soup, stewed abalone with fish maw. [Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family] and the [Museum of Nanyue King's Tomb] are our destinations after we finish our lunch. The Ancestral Temple of the Chen Family, built between 1890 and 1894 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, is the greatest, best preserved, and best decorated ancient architecture existing in Guangdong province. Your dinner is on your own choice, and we suggest you to din in a seafood restaurant, where you can go to the glass bowl to choose swimming fish, crab, lobster, and others and the waiter will take them to the kitchen, you can drink tea while waiting, and then feast yourself on the juicy and delicious seafood.
Stay overnight in Guangzhou.
Meals included: Breakfast
Guangzhou is not only famous for the highly developed moderns full of vigor and current fashions but also boats for its traditional customs. After breakfast, we will go to visit the [Yuexiu Park] where we can see the [Statue of Five Goats], the symbol of Guangzhou City. And then we will move to the top of the [Guangzhou Tower], which is the highest TV tower in Asia. [Shangxiajiu commercial street] is also includes in our destinations, a very long street with fashion clothing and various commodities displaying in shops on each side of the street. It is also a place where you can see the traditional building style-Qi building. There is a famous saying that can fully represent the popularity of Guangzhou foods: where there are Chinese, there are Cantonese; where there are Cantonese, there is Cantonese cuisine".
A later lunch named Xiawucha is arranged in Tao Tao Ju Restaurant, locating at the Shangxiajiu Street or Panxi Restaurant which is in a garden. Both of these two restaurants are thought as greatest places for dim sum that is the most typical and outstanding Cantonese snack.
Stay overnight in Guangzhou.
Meals included: Breakfast
You can rest in your hotel in the morning or do whatever you like to arrange your journey until you have prepared well to be transferred to the next destination or for departure to Hong Kong.
Meals included: Breakfast
Pricing & Accommodation
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US Dollar -
Euro -
GB Pound -
CA Dollar -
AU Dollar -
HK Dollars -
Renminbi
| 1 person | 2-5 persons | 6-9 persons | ≥10 persons | Single Room Supplement | |
| First Class Tour | $6140 | $3922 | $3415 | $2819 | $1200 |
| Comfortable Tour | $5034 | $3249 | $2736 | $2307 | $690 |
| Standard Tour | $4268 | $2821 | $2397 | $1890 | $440 |
* Price in every box above is for each person.
* The default currency is in US dollar. Please use the Currency Converter to see the equivalent quote in your currency. Price is for references only, it may vary according to your actual travel itinerary, travel time, hotel price rise or fall, US dollar exchange rate fluctuation, car fuel price change and government tax adjustment, etc..
* The price is only for your reference and it is subject to seasons, high or low.Please send us your inquiry if you are interested.
* The differences between First Class Tour, Comfortable Tour and Standard Tour are mainly reflected in the hotels we use. For First Class Tour, we use mostly 5 star hotels (or hotels corresponded to 5 star ones), 4 star hotels for Comfortable Tour and 3 star hotels for Standard Tour. But there’re exceptions when there come home stay experience, remote destinations and other specified circumstances in the itinerary.
Inclusions / Exclusions
Inclusions:
- Attraction Entrance Fees
- Centrally Located Hotels
- Authentic Chinese Food
- Private Experienced Guides
- Private Cars/Van with Drivers
- Internal Flights/Train(s) in China
- Luggage Transfers
- Airport Taxes and Fuel Fees
- Service Charge & Government Taxes
- Travel Insurance
Exclusions:
- International Airfare to Enter/Leave China
- China Entry Visa Fees
- Excess Baggage Charges
- Personal Expenses
- Single Room Supplement
- Tips or Gifts to Guides/Drivers/Bellmen
Important Information
How to Pack up
We suggest that each person packs up one rollable suitcase with the weight under 20 kg/44lb. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones.
Checklist
It's only for reference and you may not need all of them. Choose from below according to the tour you pick up:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets (with photocopies)
USD cash and travelers checks
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
ChinaExpeditionTours vouchers and trip dossier
Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Alarm clock
Flashlight
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses
Insect Repellent
Water bottle and Plastic mug for train journeys
Ear plugs for train journeys or light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-April. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Umbrella or waterproof jacket
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera, film and memory chip
Reading/writing material
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Local Dress
Generally speaking, the dress standard is more conservative in China than it is in western countries. Things also changes quickly, nowadays the young Chinese share the same hobbies with their western counterparts. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of summers. In predominately Buddhist and Muslim regions we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites.
Spending Money
Every traveler is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travelers may drink more than others while other travelers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Money Exchange
As currency exchange rates in Asia fluctuate often we ask that you refer to internet for the recent exchange rates. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and MasterCard and other credit cards in most Chinese cities. We also recommend the use of cash and travelers checks in USD currency. Major credit cards are accepted in big shops but they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. For the small shops and the street venders, they take cash (either Chinese Yuan or US dollar) only.
Meals
Eating is a big part of your traveling in China. Travelling with ChinaExpeditionTours, you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally breakfasts and lunches are included except dinners to give you the flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. Your group leader or local guide will be able to suggest favorite restaurants during your trip.
Emergency Fund
Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an "emergency" fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control, necessitate a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in travel industry in Asia, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from $6-$10 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for driver, it could be half. If necessary, ask your tour leader or call your ChinaExpeditionTours tour advisor for specific recommendations based on the circumstances. If you have a tour leader for the whole tour, at the end of the trip if you felt he/she did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference. However as a guideline $6-10 USD per person, per day can be used.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are all e-tickets. They are issued locally and you will be given the information of them prior to the flight departure.
Laundry
Generally laundry facilities are offered by our hotels for a charge. You also can go to a laundry service center near your hotel to have your clothing washed at a lower cost. There will be times when you may want to or have to do your own laundry so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Safety and Security
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, air tickets, travelers' checks, cash and other valuable items. Many of the hotels we cooperate with have safety deposit boxes which are the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. When travelling on a trip, please note that your group leader or local guides has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader or local guides will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader or local guides will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of China but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is not acceptable for ChinaExpeditionTours travelers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. Use of illegal drugs is completely contrary to this philosophy and local law. Our group leader or local guides has the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or used.
Health
If you want to fully enjoy your trip abroad, a good health and confidence in physical strength are important. This trip may contain a fair amount of walking up and down steps in towns or climbing mountains. You should consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders or local guides are prohibited from administering any type of drug including headache tablets, antibiotics, etc. In China pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting a tour please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in this dossier for trip specific information. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is highly suggested to bring forth. ChinaExpeditionTours reserves the right to exclude any traveler from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader or local guides they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Medical Form
It is very important you are aware that, as a minimum, an "average level of fitness and mobility" is required to undertake our easiest programs. Travelers must be able to walk without the aid of another person, climb 3-4 flights of stairs, step on and off small boats, and carry their own bags at a minimum. Travelers over the age of 70, or travelers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their physician. This is to ensure that senior travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip. While our leaders or local guides work hard to ensure that all our travelers are catered for equally, it is not their responsibility to help individuals who cannot complete the day's activities unaided.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. You must have comprehensive travel insurance that covers you for medical costs associated with hospitalization, emergency travel and repatriation back to your home country. Please take your insurance policy with you when you travel. You may take other cover, of course, but we require you to be adequately insured before we can allow you to participate in our programs. Your ChinaExpeditionTours leader or local guides will need to see and record your policy details at the pre-tour briefing at the starting city, so please bring a copy along to the meeting. If you arrive without travel insurance your tour leader or local guide will require you to purchase a policy before you continue your journey with us.
If you are covered by a policy arranged through your credit card company you will be asked to provide evidence of this cover, as well as a 24-hour emergency contact number. Many credit card companies do not provide an insurance policy number. In this instance, the tour leader or local guides will need to record your credit card number, as this is required to activate any request for emergency assistance. You should also bring along the travel insurance information booklet provided by your credit card company. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements set out by your credit card company in order to be effectively covered and that the cover offered is of a suitable standard.
Passport & Visas
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport.
Please note that visas for China and Hong Kong are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. Americans, British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for China. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your government. For the most up to date information please check your governments' foreign ministry website. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travelers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in. Please note if you are travelling from China, into Hong Kong then back into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Note that on some occasions people transiting through China on way to Hong Kong have been made to go through immigration and had their single entry visa stamped making this invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit.
Keeping in Touch
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Email cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the country, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travelers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact us so we can get into touch with your tour leader or local guide quickly by their cell phone and they can pass their cell phone to you! We recommend that family and friends don't try to contact you through phoning hotels en route, as our hotels are subject to change.
Feedback
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important to us and we'll record you and give you ChinaExpeditionTours travel points so you can use the points to get discount for your next ChinaExpeditionTours trip or your friends' ChinaExpeditionTours tours.
