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Essential China

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  • No booking fees
See Itinerary
  • duration 11 days
  • tour type Group
  • age requirement 16+ yrs
  • guiding method Live Guide/Instructor
map
  • Starts Beijing, China
  • Ends Shanghai, China
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Beijing's Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan Park 
  • Giant pandas at Chengdu's Breeding & Research Centre
  • One of the bestpreserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
  • The famous Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin, near Xi'an
The Essential China tour starts in Beijing and ends in Shanghai. It is a cultural, religious and historic sites trip that takes 11 days taking you through Beijing, Shanghai, Tiananmen Square and 5 other destinations in China. Essential China is a guided small group tour that includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

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.
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CUSTOMER REVIEWS ABOUT EXODUS TRAVELS
4.5 - Excellent
Based on 4,280 reviews
Review for another Exodus Travels tour
5 - Excellent
“This trip was incredible from beginning to end. The locations we visit, the various mode of transports and hotels selected were brilliant. The guide was incredible in every possible way. By the end of each day I thought "surely it can't get any better"... yet each day we discovered new breathtaking landscapes, tried mouthwatering food and understood more about this incredible country and multitude of cultures. I can't recommend this trip enough.”
Review for another Exodus Travels tour
5 - Excellent
“Overall a very enjoyable trip. Visiting 3 islands made the week seem longer and more varied. The walks were generally leisurely but there were a couple of hills which we climbed in the hottest part of the day, but that could not be avoided. Thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend.”
Review for another Exodus Travels tour
4 - Very Good
“This was a hugely enjoyable trip made by our delightful and knowledgeable guide, Marinella Bozzetti . The tour took us through beautiful countryside and fascinating historic towns and the distances and hills were reasonable for regular cyclists with a good level of fitness. I would rate the trip as excellent but felt our tour guide could have done with more back up - at the very least there should be a spare bike of equivalent standard so that bikes could easily be replaced if necessary.”
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Arrive Beijing
  • Day 2: Sightseeing including the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and a walking tour of the hutongs including a class in traditional paper cutting
  • Day 3: Visit the Great Wall of China; return to Beijing and take an overnight train to Xi’an
  • Day 4: Arrive Xi’an; afternoon walking tour of the Muslim Quarter with a shadow puppetry show at Gao’s family mansion
  • Day 5: Excursion to the Terracotta Warriors
  • Day 6: Free day in Xi’an; optional cycling along the old city walls or Mount Huashan day trip
  • Day 7: Bullet train to Chengdu; afternoon walking tour around the People’s Park – try Chinese water calligraphy (weather permitting)
  • Day 8: Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Centre
  • Day 9: Fly to Shanghai; afternoon visit to the Shanghai Museum
  • Day 10: Explore the Bund waterfront area and the French Concession
  • Day 11: End Shanghai
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • 9 nights hotels and 1 night sleeper train , Premium departures available: 10 nights upgraded accommodation (no sleeper train), upgraded transport and 2 dinners in 'Michelin' class restaurants included , All accommodation
Meals
  • All breakfasts and 1 lunch included , All breakfasts and 1 lunch
Transport
  • 11 days land only/12 flight inclusive
  • Travel by bullet train, sleeper train, domestic flight, metro/public bus and private coach
  • All transport and listed activities
  • (if booking incl. flights)
Others
  • Optional single supplement, available on request (excludes sleeper train)
  • Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Min age 16 yrs
  • Tour leader throughout
  • Arrival and departure transfers
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Beijing and from Shanghai are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
  • Travel insurance is not included in this Essential China tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. We recommend purchasing it from World Nomads.
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Essential China tour. You can cancel the tour up to 62 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 61 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 25 March 2021, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 25 March 2021, a deposit of 10% is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 61 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Essential China tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. We recommend using World Nomads' travel insurance.

Visa

For this Essential China tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are travelling to, as part of this itinerary.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s ‘Safe Travels’ stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene protocols have been adhered to.
  • An average group size of maximum 10 people have been implemented on this tour to protect against COVID-19. Local authority requirements will furthermore be followed.
  • Wearing a mask, hand washing and sanitizing has been implemented on this package tour. Frequently touched surfaces are regularly disinfected. Hygiene safety measures and distancing will furthermore be followed in transportation, accommodation and meal venues.
  • Several COVID-19 distancing measures have been adopted on this package tour to keep travellers safe.
NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
  • Jane Andersen
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  • Rasmus Juul Olsen
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