China: Big Cities & Iconic Culture

What's Included

• Accommodation
  Hotels (11 nights), overnight sleeper train (1 night), Hakka guesthouse (2 nights).

• Welcome Moment

  Meet Your CEO and Group.

• First Night Out Moment

  Connect With New Friends.

• Big Night Out Moment

  Enjoy a night out in Shanghai.

• Discover Moment

  Explore Yangshuo.

• Local Living Moment

  Experience life in a Hakka Tulou in Hongkeng Village.

• Tour of Tiananmen Square

  Guided tour of the symbolic centre of Chinese power.

• Jingshan Park visit

  Visit Jingshan Park for a bird's eye view of the Forbidden City.

• Orientation walk in Beijing

  Orientation walk to get your bearings in Beijing.

• Visit to the Great Wall of China

  Included visit to the Great Wall of China.

• Visit the Terracotta Warriors

  Guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors.

• Tour the Xi'an Muslim Quarter

  Orientation walk in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter.

• Tianfu Square visit

  Visit Tianfu Square in Chengdu.

• Orientation walk in Chengdu

  Orientation walk to get your bearings in Chengdu.

• Overnight stay in a traditional Hakka Village

  Stay in a traditional Hakka Tulou in Hongkeng Village.

• Cycle tour through Yangshuo city and countryside

  Cycle tour through Yangshuo city and countryside.

• Orientation walk in Yangshuo

  Orientation walk to get your bearings in Yangshuo.

• Chinese lunch in a local Yangshuo community

  Enjoy a Chinese lunch in a local Yangshuo community.

• Guangzhou city tour

  Tour of Guangzhou including Yuexiu Park, Chen Clan Academy, and Shamian Island.

• CEO-led walk through old town Shanghai

  Walk through old town Shanghai with your CEO.

• Free time in Shanghai

  Enjoy free time to explore Shanghai.

• Transport

  Travel by bullet train, overnight train, metro, public bus, private vehicle, bicycle, and walking.

What's Not Included

• Meals

  Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options.

• Personal Expenses

  Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional food and drinks, and optional activities are not included.

• Travel Insurance

  Travel insurance is not included and is highly recommended.

• International Flights

  International flights to and from the starting and ending points are not included.

• Visa Fees

  Visa fees and any related expenses are not included.

Accommodation

Experience a blend of comfort and culture with 11 nights in hotels, a night on an overnight sleeper train, and 2 nights in a traditional Hakka guesthouse.

Transport

Bullet train, overnight train, metro, public bus, private vehicle, bicycle, walking.

Meals Included

1 lunch

Group Size

Max 18, avg 15

Solo Travellers

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Meals

Eating is a big part of travelling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Breakfast in China will usually be Asian style consisting of noodles or congee (rice porridge) or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice maybe limited. While trekking in remote regions food is included, plentiful and made of fresh local ingredients. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Mode of Transport

Travel through China using a variety of transport modes including bullet trains, overnight trains, metro, public buses, private vehicles, bicycles, and walking.

Local Dress

In Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers. In predominately Buddhist countries we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites.

Important Notes

1. Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites. It’s important to let your family and friends know that you might not be able to stay in touch over your usual methods, be it – social media or email. The Chinese Government restricts certain websites such as Google, Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WordPress, Whatsapp etc. It may be possible to still access some of these websites using a VPN. If you wish to stay in touch with your friends and family through the above blocked sites, we suggest you research installing a suitable VPN on your device prior to travel or turn on your data roaming if needed.



2. INTERNET ACCESS

Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites, certain websites such as Google, Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WordPress,etc. It may be possible to access some of these websites using a VPN. If you wish to use above blocked sites, we suggest you get a suitable VPN on your device prior to travel.



3. LUGGAGE

As we use (sometimes crowded) local transport please note backpacks are much more suitable than suitcases for this style of trip. Train travel means that bags have to be stowed either overhead or under beds, so travelling as light as possible is recommended.

Group Leader

All our G Adventures group trips are accompanied by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) in China. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting – we think it's the best of both worlds.

What to Take

What you need to bring depends on the trip you have chosen and the countries or regions you are planning to visit. We suggest that you pack as lightly as possible as your are expected to carry your own luggage. As a rule we try not to have to walk more than 15-20 minutes with your bags which is why we recommend keeping the weight of your bags between 10-15kg/22-30lb. Suitcases are not recommended for G Adventures trips! Most travellers carry a backpack or rolling bag of small to medium size (no XXL ones please!) as they need to fit under the beds when travelling on sleeper trains. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like ipods and mobile phones.



Do not bring any knives or swords into China (gifts or otherwise). If they do make it into the country, they will not be permitted on trains. If you purchase a knife or sword while travelling elsewhere before arriving in China your best option is to post/mail it home before entering the country as no post/mail companies in China will accept it as a parcel.

Spending Money

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers 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.