Explore China

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
  • Booking Type Instant booking
  • duration 12 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 15-99 yrs
  • max group size 12
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-3079
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Shanghai, China
  • Ends Beijing, China
  • +4
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Explore the Longmen Grottoes and wonder at the thousands of Buddha statues carved directly from the limestone cliffs, including the 17-metre-high Vairocana.
  • Take a spectacular walk along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and see towers that date back to the Ming dynasty about 600 years ago.
  • Fall in love with Chinese food during a vegetarian feast at a Buddhist temple, a home-cooked lunch with a family in rural Xi’an, a Beijing (Peking) duck dinner, and more.
  • Check out the mind-blowing Terracotta Army, then head to a local’s house for lunch and some insight into how life has changed since farmers discovered the vast mausoleum.
  • Immerse yourself in Tibetan culture with a two-day stay in Xiahe, an autonomous Tibetan region with a deeply ingrained Buddhist tradition centred around the legendary Labrang Monastery, without having to apply for a permit for Tibet.
The "Explore China" tour starts in Shanghai and ends in Beijing. It is a cultural, religious and historic sites trip that takes 12 days taking you through Luoyang, Xiahe, Beijing and 3 other destinations in China. "Explore China" is a guided small group tour that includes accommodation in hotels, transport, meals and others.

Capture the spirit of China on this 12-day tour from Shanghai to Beijing. From fast-paced modern cities to the well-preserved remnants of a long and storied history, this adventure reveals the many sides of one of the world’s great cradles of civilisation. We think it’s important to contrast the big and the bold with quiet moments and real connections. That’s why our tour of the Terracotta Warriors finishes with lunch at a local family home, and why we spend a few days in the Tibetan Buddhist town of Xiahe before tackling boisterous Beijing. Whether you’re scaling the Great Wall or sharing crispy Beijing (Peking) duck with your fellow travellers, this tour is packed with unforgettable moments.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Shanghai
  • Day 2: Shanghai
  • Day 3: Luoyang
  • Day 4: Shaolin – Luoyang
  • Day 5: Longmen – Xi'an
  • Day 6: Xi'an
  • Day 7: Xiahe
  • Day 8: Xiahe
  • Day 9: Lanzhou – Beijing
  • Day 10: Beijing
  • Day 11: Beijing
  • Day 12: Beijing
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Hotel (11 nights)
Meals
  • 11 Breakfasts, 4 Lunches, 3 Dinners
Transport
  • Plane , Private vehicle , High Speed Train , Subway , Taxi
Guide
  • An expert tour leader
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Arrival Transfer
  • Shanghai - Leader-led Orientation Walk
  • Shanghai - Yuyuan Gardens
  • Shaolin - Temple, Pagoda Forest & Kung Fu show (entrace fee and transport included, leader-led)
  • Shaolin - Buddhist vegetarian lunch
  • Luoyang - Longmen Grottoes (entrance fee, transport included)
  • Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour
  • Xi'an - Home-cooked lunch
  • Xiahe - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Xiahe - Labrang Monastery (entrance fee, local guide)
  • Xiahe - Tibetan family visit & lunch
  • Xiahe - Sangke Grassland (transport included)
  • Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
  • Beijing - Leader-led Hutong walking tour
  • Beijing - Forbidden City
  • Beijing - Beijing duck dinner
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Shanghai and from Beijing 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 Explore China tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 187 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
Why Book with Bookmundi
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
Excellent
4.65 Average 674 Reviews
GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Explore China tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 24 May 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 24 May 2024, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Explore China tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Explore 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 traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you
  • The best way to experience a place is by doing as the locals do – and in this case that means using public transport such as trams, buses or metro at some locations. It’s better for the environment and you’ll get an authentic look at daily life, just be aware you may find yourself sharing a busy bus ride with local commuters (for example). Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious, but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face-to-face with the country and its people.
  • This trip travels to altitudes of up to 3100 metres above sea level and as a result, some travellers can feel the effects of altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health.
  • In order to see as much as possible, this tour includes some long journeys. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
  • You'll need a reasonable level of fitness for the Great Wall walk. Shoes with good support and grip are essential. There are many steps and slopes on the way, so be prepared for a tough climb in sections. You are free to walk as far as you want, and it is possible to reach the section we visit via cable car.
COVID VACCINATION POLICY
  • Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.
  • Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.
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 global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.
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.
Welcome!

Sign-in to unlock instant trip discounts. Create wish lists and save up to USD 1,500.

Facebook
G
More login options here.