Chengdu and giant pandas
Home to many of China’s natural wonders, wildlife preserves, archaeological sites, and historical buildings.
Where old and new, and history and innovation, live side by side. There are many ways to see sprawling China with us – whatever you choose, there will undoubtedly be colour, culture and cuisine to enchant you.
While China has emerged as a global superpower, it still retains a rich history and distinctive culture all of which you can experience on a tailor-made holiday. From the man-made wonder of the Great Wall to the natural beauty of Yunnan, China is a land of both rare beauty and stark contrasts.
China has over 5,000 years of enthralling history, 48 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, cutting edge cities, a fascinating culture, magical landscapes, minority tribes and delicious cuisine. A world apart from our culture, an expert who knows and loves the country is invaluable when creating a tailor-made holiday to China.
The iconic sites of China are well visited for a reason so shouldn’t be missed on a first-time visit to the country. From the Terracotta Warriors in Xian to the magical karst limestone peaks of Yangshuo and the mighty Yangtze River. Our experts can combine these well-trodden routes with far less visited parts of the country.
Take the time to travel a little further to places such as the Silk Road city of Kashgar, or the exceptionally preserved Ming dynasty walls of Pingyao city, and Datong, home to the Yungang Caves and their carved Buddha’s. China is home to many minority tribes many of which are found in the less visited regions on Guizhou, Qinghai and Yunnan – time spent with these people is a rare glimpse into a fast disappearing China.
Here are a selection of activities and experiences you could consider including in your holiday to China.
Every captivating tailor-made itinerary needs a perfect base. Our team has handpicked this collection of properties to give you luxury options in styles to suit any adventure.
A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.
You will not be able to access or use social media platforms such as Facebook, Whats app, Twitter and Instagram – these are banned in China. Email is fine.
Like anywhere where street food is the norm, we always advise eating at places which appear busy with fresh produce. The food on offer in China is like nowhere else, so trying some of the delicacies on offer will be like nowhere else on the planet and provide new culinary experiences.
Mandarin is difficult to speak and understand and although English is becoming widely spoken throughout the country especially within the cities, never presume you will be understood. If spending a day at leisure in a city we would recommend writing down the name of your hotel and any sites you may wish to visit in Mandarin as a taxi driver or local won’t necessarily understand English. In Hong Kong, Cantonese is the official language, with English closely followed. Embracing the local language is all part of the adventure and you will certainly raise a few smiles when you have a go!
Luckily nearly everything you will need is available in China. We do advise if you require any kind of medication to bring it with you as it can sometimes be hard to find the right one. Toiletries are also something we suggest, such as sun cream, insect repellents and preferred shampoos and moisturisers.
No, your guide would not travel with you for your train journey. Your local guide will leave you at the station with full instructions and directions for boarding the train and you will then be met from the train at your arrival destination. If travelling with a party of 10 or more it would be more normal for a national guide to accompany the group throughout, including train travel.
China is eight hours ahead of GMT.
Using your mobile is possible if international roaming is provided, but this can be very expensive. If you are looking to use your phone frequently, it is possible to purchase a pre-paid sim card for an unlocked phone, which can be topped up as you go.
Phones are available at most hotels and restaurants. Phoning from any hotel room can be very expensive. Enquire at the reception.
86
Haven’t found what you’re looking for?
These may be uncertain times but they are, without a doubt, still full of opportunity to discover the extraordinary safely. Through knowledge and expertise, we can connect you to those destinations embracing travellers with the added confidence of flexible booking and decades of insight.
Are you ready to discover extraordinary once again?