Essential China
Essential China
Essential China
11 Days Starting in Beijing and ending in Shanghai
Visiting: China
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ACD
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
5 - 16
Age range:
16-99
Special diets catered:
Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Visit China's iconic sites and bring its fascinating history and culture to life! Beijing's history stretches back three millennia and the scale of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City never fail to amaze. Leaving the grandeur behind, explore the old town's narrow 'hutongs', and have a class in the traditional Chinese craft of papercutting inside one of the homes. Head out of the city and step foot on one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall; here you'll begin to comprehend the magnitude of this construction as it snakes across the mountains to the horizon and beyond. Juxtaposed to this is Xi'an's vibrant Muslim Quarter, where we catch a shadow puppetry show at Gao's Family Mansion. Xi'an is most famed for the nearby Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, where excavations have revealed thousands of hand-crafted life-size and lifelike army figures. A China holiday would not be complete without a trip to Chengdu to see the endangered Giant pandas - these black and white furry animals are a national emblem and a rare sight. End in cosmopolitan Shanghai, with its unmistakable skyline illuminated at night.
Highlights
Itinerary
The group flight is an overnight flight, scheduled to depart London this
evening.
Day 2
The group flights are scheduled to arrive into Beijing this afternoon. Free
transfers are included for any flight as long as you have provided Exodus
with your arrival details in advance (please specify if you arrive into PEK
airport of the new airport, PKX – Daxing). You will be met upon arrival and
transferred to our hotel. There will be a welcome briefing at approximately
6pm where you will meet your tour leader and the rest of the group (please
see the noticeboard in the hotel reception for further details).
*Dong Fang Hotel / *Traditional View Hotel *or similar*
Day 3
We’ll head straight to Tiananmen Square (approx. 30 minutes by public
bus/metro), one of the largest squares in the world, able to hold over a
million people. The square is named after the 'Tiananmen' meaning 'Gate of
Heavenly Peace' located at its north, which leads to the Forbidden City.
Continuing on foot, we spend a few hours exploring the innumerable courtyards
and temples the Forbidden City. Exiting via the north gate of the complex, we
walk directly to Jingshan Park and climb up to the top of the hill for a
different vantage point.
After lunch, we go on a walking tour of some of Beijing’s traditional
'hutongs' (narrow alleys of the old town) where we'll visit a local's house
and try and master the art of paper-cutting, a traditional Chinese craft.
Afterwards, we’ll meander our way through the hutongs and back to the
hotel.
*Dong Fang Hotel / Traditional View Hotel or similar*
Day 4
We leave the capital and head into the countryside to visit one of the
best-preserved sections of the Great Wall, at Mutianyu (approx. 2 hours’
drive). It is an impressive sight, snaking across mountains and valleys into
the distance. We take the shuttle bus to the ticket office and from there
it’s about a 40-minute uphill walk to the top of the Great Wall (anyone not
wanting to walk can pay to take the cable car, which takes about 8 minutes).
We spend the next couple of hours or so walking along the top of the wall.
There are some steep steps to navigate and anyone who suffers from vertigo
may find it difficult. This section of the Great Wall used to serve as the
northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs. The wall here
stands up to 8.5 metres high and 5 metres wide, and there are 22 watchtowers
along its 2,250m stretch.
We’ll leave the wall behind and drive a short way to our lunch stop in a
local village and then drive directly to the train station in Beijing,
arriving in the late afternoon/early evening in time to catch our overnight
train to Xi’an (approx. 12 hours) which is scheduled to depart at 20:40
(the schedule may be subject to change throughout the year) - please see the
'Accommodation' section for more details. We recommend purchasing food
beforehand as there is a limited selection on board.
*Overnight train*
Day 5
The train is scheduled to arrive into Xi’an at about 8:30am (again, this
may be subject to change). We take a short transfer to the hotel, drop off
the luggage, and freshen up in the lobby bathroom (the rooms won’t be
available for check-in until later). Xi'an is one of China's former capitals
and one of the few cities in China to have retained its city walls, probably
because they are so massive that no revolutionary was willing to tackle the
huge task of removing them. Today, after an opportunity to try some local
Chinese breakfast, we will embark on a walking tour, passing the Bell and
Drum Plaza and exploring the spice markets of the vibrant Muslim quarter
where we visit Gao’s family mansion and enjoy a shadow puppetry show
(depending on the show time). We’ll return to the hotel to check-in at
about 2pm, and the rest of afternoon is free.
*Bell Tower Hotel or similar*
Day 6
Today we visit the famous Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin (the transfer is
approx. 2 hours each way). Originally four armies were planned, at each point
of the compass, life-size and lifelike. Three have been found and it is
assumed the Emperor's successors decided enough was enough before the fourth
was begun. The first pit excavated had an estimated 6,000 figures in its one
army. The third pit has been opened to the public, which contains the
'command post' for the entire operation. This is one of China's great tourist
attractions, and some people may find the sheer numbers of visitors
overpowering. After our visit we will take our lunch at a local farmer's
restaurant nearby before driving back to Xi’an.
*Bell Tower Hotel or similar*
Day 7
There are no planned activities today but your leader will provide
information on what is available to do and help you to arrange it. Perhaps
you might like to walk along or hire bikes and cycle along the city walls to
appreciate the sheer scale of these constructions. For a full day excursion,
you might like to visit Mount Huashan for some walks with magnificent views
(please note that we strongly advise against the plank trail due to safety
concerns and anyone wanting to do this will be asked to sign a form releasing
them from the tour as Exodus accepts no responsibility for this activity).
*Bell Tower Hotel or similar*
Day 8
Take a short transfer to the train station and board a late morning bullet
train to Chengdu (approx. 4 hours), the capital of Sichuan province, arriving
in the early afternoon. This region is recognised throughout China as being
'the spicy province', and major flavour combinations include garlic, star
anise, chili peppers, and the ever-present Sichuanese peppercorn (hua jiao).
We recommend having a ‘hotpot’ dinner during your stay here (spicy or
mild broths are available).
In the late afternoon we set off on foot for a walking tour, passing through
the city centre square (Tianfu Square) and visiting the People’s Park
where, weather permitting, we can see and have a go at Chinese water
calligraphy.
*Chengdu City Garden Hotel or similar *
Day 9
We leave early today to spend the morning visiting the Giant Panda Breeding &
Research Base located 10km out of the city. These furry animals once roamed
over large expanses of Asia but the last survey estimated the world’s
population of wild Giant Pandas at only 1,864. Giant Pandas eat for up to
fourteen hours a day and so hopefully we will witness these highly endangered
animals feeding, as this is when they're most active. Otherwise we will have
the opportunity to watch the Pandas indulge in their next favourite past time
- sleeping! Afterwards we drive back to Chengdu and the afternoon is free to
explore at your own pace.
*Chengdu City Garden Hotel or similar *
Day 10
We catch an early flight to Shanghai so we’ll take a simple box breakfast
with us from the hotel. The flight duration is approx. 2.5 hours: we should
land by late morning and arrive at our hotel by lunchtime. With a population
of around twelve million, Shanghai is a cosmopolitan coastal hub with a
futuristic skyline.
This afternoon we take the public bus (metro) to visit the Shanghai Museum,
which has 11 galleries housing some of China's most beautiful and best
preserved cultural relics - some over 5,000 years old!
*Shanghai Kingtown Plaza Hotel or similar *
Day 11
After breakfast we’ll set off to discover some of the highlights of
Shanghai on foot, starting with the famous Bund waterfront area to see the
iconic buildings, before moving on to explore Nanjing Road (Shanghai's
equivalent to London’s 'Oxford Street') and the French Concession with its
tree lined avenues, cafes and Tudor mansions. The afternoon is at your
leisure.
*Shanghai Kingtown Plaza Hotel or similar *
Day 12
The tour ends after breakfast. For those on the group flight to London the
flight is in the morning, with a same day arrival into London in the evening.
What's Included
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Meals
10 breakfasts, 1 lunches, 0 dinners.
* All breakfasts and 1 lunch
* All accommodation
* All transport and listed activities
* Tour leader throughout
* Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)
* Arrival and departure transfers
What's Not Included
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Chinese Visa - GBP201 with Travcour or GBP151 plus GBP18 special delivery direct with embassy
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Single accommodation, excluding sleeper train (available on request)
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Travel insurance
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Vaccinations
Accommodation
We spend nine nights in hotels and one night on a sleeper train.
In all the cities, we stay in good tourist-class hotels with twin rooms and private facilities. Nearly all are locally rated at least three-star and, wherever possible, located as near to local attractions as possible.
There is one overnight sleeper train, from Beijing to Xi’an (journey time approximately 12 hours). For this, we book soft-sleeper class, where you are accommodated in comfortable four-berth (bunk bed-style) cabins. Please note, while every attempt is made to place passengers together in the same
earby cabins, this is not always possible due to availability and you may find yourself sharing a cabin with other non-Exodus train passengers. However, we never place a solo traveller in a cabin by themselves (they are always either with another passenger on the trip or with the leader). Clean bedding is provided and there are shared washrooms on board but you may choose to bring your own sheet. The train itself is of a good standard, although facilities such as washrooms and toilets are shared with other passengers and the cleanliness can never be guaranteed.
The hotels usually used are named in the detailed itinerary; however, these may be subject to change by departure date, depending on availability. Chinese government officials occasionally take over hotels at short notice and so there can sometimes be last-minute hotel changes that are beyond our control. In this event, we book an alternative of the same local rating but we cannot guarantee the facilities will be the same.
A limited number of single supplements are available on a ‘first-come, first-served’ basis, excluding the overnight train. Please request this at the time of booking.
Food
All breakfasts and 1 lunch included.
One of the major draws of China is its exciting and varied cuisine. On this
trip, you will be able to try many different dishes that will be carefully
selected with your leader's help and based on the group's dietary
requirements and preferences. Meals generally consist of shared dishes, which
is the best way to experience as many different ingredients as possible and
try things you might not usually choose. Examples of popular dishes include
Ma Po Tofu, a delicious tofu dish made with beef, chillies and onion, Gong
Bao chicken, a very popular dish with chilli and peanuts, the iconic Peking
Duck, served with hoisin sauce and pancakes, and dumplings in many shapes and
sizes. Chengdu in Sichuan province is known for its spicy hotpots but you can
request mild options too. There are many different dishes to try and your
leader will always try and accommodate tastes, but if you do tire of Chinese
food there are always opportunities to eat Western-style dishes in the cities
you visit. For vegetarians or those with dietary requirements, many of the
traditional dishes can be amended to omit the meat products.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes, our local guides are English speaking.
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
The minimum age for this tour is 16 years old.
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Are flights included in this tour?
International flights are not included with this tour.
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Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?
We are happy to assist with pre and post tour accommodation. Please enquire for detailed information.
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Who is Exodus Travels?
At Exodus Travels, we've been exploring the world for nearly 50 years. From Walking and Trekking, Cultural and Cycling, Responsible Wildlife, to Polar and our new Premium Adventures, we are proud to offer award-winning small group and self-guided tours to 100+ countries worldwide.
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Is there a supplement for solo travellers?
If you would like to be paired with a tour member of the same gender, there is no additional charge. A single supplement can be requested if you would like your own room.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Exodus has been trading since 1974
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.
Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
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