Current as of: March 28, 2024 - 19:47

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise Trip Notes

  • Ways to Travel: Guided Group, Private Group Adventures, Small Ship Cruises
  • Destination: China
  • Programmes: Culture
  • Activity Level:

    1 out of 7 - Leisurely

  • 19 Days: Land Only
  • Ages: 16+
  • Trip Code: ACE

Trip Overview

Embark on a comprehensive China tour covering the length and breadth of the country

The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Terracotta Warriors and giant pandas – China’s iconic sights need little introduction, and we visit them all on this comprehensive, va­ried journey. Equally inspiring are the great natural attractions, including the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River and the serene limestone mountains around Yangshuo. China remains one of the must-visit destinations; from ultra-modern Shanghai to the ancient villages, this trip reveals a country as fascinating and beguiling as ever.

At a Glance

  • Travel by train/overnight train, private minibus, public bus, cruise boat and one internal flight
  • Group normally 5 to 18, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
  • 13 nights in comfortable hotels, three nights in comfortable four-star cruise boat with outward-facing twin-berth air-conditioned cabins, all en suite, and two nights in first-class sleeper train with soft-bed berths
  • Fast-paced itinerary

Highlights

  • See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
  • Visit a quieter section of The Great Wall
  • Cruise down the Yangtze River past the Three Gorges Dam
  • Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base near Chengdu
  • Discover rural Yangshuo and its limestone karst scenery

Is This Trip for You?

This trip is graded Activity Level 1 (Leisurely). For more on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page.

This trip encompasses the best parts of China in a relatively short time period. There is a lot to see and do, and the distances covered are large, but the tour is designed so it doesn’t feel too rushed.

You should come ready for an experience: China can be hard work and the summer heat and bustle of some cities can be a little overwhelming. That said, there are places where you can find peace and quiet, and we regularly try to incorporate these in the itinerary. Although summer temperatures can frequently top 30C (86F), there are many places with air conditioning (hotels, transportation and restaurants/shops).

Please note, there are several occasions where you will need to carry your own luggage on this trip, mainly when journeying to/from the train stations and along the long platforms; sometimes there will only be stairs for access. Trolleys and porters are often available, but not always. Many find it useful to bring luggage with wheels.

Adult min age: 16

Min group size: 5

Max group size: 18

Itinerary

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

Land Only

  • Start City: Beijing
  • End City: Shanghai

Land Only Itinerary

Day 1
Arrive Beijing

Catch your free airport transfer to the hotel in the centre of Beijing. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, in which we meet our leader and the rest of the group. For dinner, we can get our first taste of authentic Chinese cuisine – ask your leader for their top tips on where to go.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

Day 2
Sightseeing in Beijing

The exploration of Beijing today will include the Forbidden City, with its innumerable courtyards and temples, as well as Tiananmen Square, the largest square in the world and able to hold more than 1m people. We take a walking tour of the hutongs (narrow alleys) to see what is left of old Beijing and its traditions. This afternoon is free to explore.

Note

Following the Covid-19 pandemic, maximum numbers of daily visitors to the Forbidden City have been significantly reduced, impacting availability of tickets. Our local team aim to secure tickets for the Forbidden City, but if unable to do so, we’ll visit the Ancestral Temple (used during the Ming and Qing Dynasties to offer sacrifices to ancestors, and architecturally quite similar to the Forbidden City) and the Summer Palace (a complex of lakes, gardens and palaces from the Qing dynasty) instead. You will be advised at the start of the trip if this change needs to be made.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3
Visit the Great Wall

We leave the capital and head into the countryside to the Great Wall, around a two-hour journey to the north of the city. We go to one of the best-preserved parts: Mutianyu, an impressive sight as it snakes into the distance across mountains and valleys.

The wall here is up to 28ft (8.5m) high and 16ft (5m) wide, and has 22 watchtowers on its 7,380ft (2,250m) long stretch. We spend a few hours exploring – please note, there are steep steps; clients who suffer from vertigo may find it difficult (there is an optional cable car).

Lunch is at a local restaurant on the return to Beijing; expect traditional northern Chinese cuisine with vegetables (aubergine/eggplant, lotus roots, mushrooms etc), tofu, chicken, pork and much more.

There is the option of seeing an acrobatic, kung fu or opera show this evening in Beijing.

Accommodation: Dong Fang Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4
Beijing; overnight train to Xi'an

This morning, we visit the Temple of Heaven, followed by the Summer Palace where you can witness how vast the exclusive playground of China’s emperors and their concubines once was.

In the evening, we board an overnight train (approximately 12 hours) to the ancient city of Xi’an. We recommend purchasing food before the train as there is a limited selection on board. 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. Sleepers are four-berth bunks and bedding is provided.

Accommodation: Overnight train

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 5
Morning walking tour of the Muslim quarter and mosque; free afternoon or optional cycle ride

Xi’an is a former capital 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 a Chinese breakfast, we embark on a walking tour, passing the Bell and Drum Plaza to the Muslim quarter, where we visit the Great Mosque. The Muslim quarter is a fascinating place to visit, especially in the evening when it comes alive with bustling bazaars and food stalls. This afternoon is free. To appreciate the sheer scale of the city walls, hire a bike and cycle along them.

Accommodation: Bell Tower Hotel Xi’an (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6
Day trip to the Terracotta Warriors

Today we visit the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. Originally four life-size and life-like armies were planned, marking each point of the compass. 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 the great tourist attractions, and some may find the number of visitors overwhelming. After our visit, we lunch at a nearby farmer’s restaurant with the opportunity to taste fresh seasonal produce, home-made noodles and bread.

The evening is free for further exploration in Xi’an. Perhaps your leader will take you to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda Square to witness a (free) water and light show.

Accommodation: Bell Tower Hotel Xi’an (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 7
Bullet train to Chengdu; afternoon sightseeing tour

We transfer to the train station and catch a morning bullet train (approximately 4hr 15 min) to Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, arriving around lunch/early afternoon. This area is recognised throughout China as being the spicy province, and it certainly lives up to its name. Major flavour combinations include garlic, star anise, chillies, and the ever-present Sichuanese peppercorn (hua jiao) which is used in many recipes. In the afternoon, your leader will take you on a walking tour (which also includes using public buses) through the lively parks and city centre square for a taste of local life.

Accommodation: Chengdu Holiday Inn Express Gulou (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8
Giant Panda Breeding centre; sightseeing trip to Leshan Giant Buddha; return to Chengdu

With an early start, we visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Hopefully, these intriguing and rare animals will be feeding, as this is when they’re most active; otherwise, we can watch them indulge in their most common form of entertainment: sleeping!

Today, we visit a Unesco World Heritage site near Chengdu – the Leshan Giant Buddha. About two to three hours’ drive from Chengdu, this 233ft (71m) tall Buddha carved into the cliff face is the biggest sitting Buddha in the world and took almost 100 years to complete. Either see it by river boat or by walking around it in the mountain (be prepared for crowds and long queues if you walk). Your leader can advise you on the best way to visit depending on the season. We return to Chengdu in the late afternoon.

In the evening, we can taste Sichuanese cuisine at a Chengdu hotpot dinner. The typical flavours of this much-loved dish are created with Sichuan pepper and involve a certain amount of interaction as the food is cooked in a large hotpot by the diners themselves. Those not a fan of spice can omit the peppers from the hot broth in which the food is cooked.

Accommodation: Chengdu Holiday Inn Express Gulou (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9
High speed train to Yichang

We by high speed train to Yichang (approximately seven hours), the embarkation point for our Yangtze river cruise. On arrival, we board our cruise boat and settle into our cabins. We stay in air-conditioned twin-berth cabins with en suite bathrooms.

Accommodation: Victoria JENNA Cruise Ship (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Days 10 - 12
Three full days cruising the Yangtze River, including the Three Gorges and dam

We spend two days cruising one of the great rivers, as we head up the Yangtze, passing towering cliffs and gorges. To limit the impact of flooding, the Chinese government built a massive dam. This flooded the Three Gorges of Qutang, Wu and Xiling and a journey among these wonders is a must for any visitor to China. Nights are spent on the boat. There is also time for shore excursions, as the boat docks at smaller towns and villages, and to explore the lesser gorges on smaller boats, depending upon water levels.

The day-to-day schedule for the cruise can change with weather and river conditions, and the permissions of navigation authorities. Activity details will be explained in the briefing and the river guide will give more information after boarding. The cruise will cover what is commonly considered as the essence of the Three Gorges. If water levels are suitable, we’ll cruise through a series of locks in the dam itself (dependent on the weather and river traffic).

Accommodation: Victoria JENNA Cruise Ship (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 13
Disembark cruise; train from Chongqing to Guilin, to Yangshuo

We complete our cruise this morning and disembark in Chongqing. We travel by train from Chongqing to Guilin (approximately four hours) and than drive through towering limestone scenery to Yangshuo and have an afternoon walking tour. The surrounding region is famous for the steep-sided karst mountains that pierce the otherwise flat landscape of paddy fields. Despite its small size, Yangshuo has quite a good tourist infrastructure.

Accommodation: Yangshuo New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 14
Explore the countryside by bike; meal with a local family

This morning gives us the opportunity to appreciate the spectacular landscape on two wheels; as we take a bike and ride towards Moon Hill, one of the most famous in the area. The biking is at a leisurely pace, and there are plenty of stops to hydrate and appreciate the glorious scenery! Lunch is spent with a local family, giving us the opportunity to sample some new dishes and create friendships over food. Expect delicious dishes such as clay-pot taro, stir-fried chicken and veggies, and traditional fried eggs. Please note that for anyone unable to or not wanting to cycle, your leader can arrange a taxi or minivan to take you on a scenic drive through the countryside to meet the group at the lunch stop (at your own expense). The afternoon is free to relax or enjoy one of the many optional activities Yangshuo has to offer.

Accommodation: Yangshuo New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15
Free time in Yangshuo, cooking class

This morning is free to relax and enjoy the scenery and laid-back atmosphere of Yangshuo. There are many optional activities available: cruise on the Li River, visit the Black Buddha caves, enjoy a Chinese massage or kung fu class, or watch the Liu Sanjie Show, an outdoor performance on a natural stage formed by the Li River and 12 peaks. Even if you choose to relax, this is an ideal place: you can take a stroll around the market and examine the local produce or rest in one of the cafes and watch the world pass.

In the afternoon, we have a cookery class, led by a local host, learning how to make some of China’s most iconic dishes, before enjoying our culinary creations for lunch.

Accommodation: Yangshuo New West Street Hotel (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 16
To Guilin for flight to Shanghai; evening tour along the Bund

In the morning, we transfer to the airport at Guilin to fly to Shanghai, a city with an international feel. In the evening, we take a walking tour of the Bund area, to see the illuminated buildings along the riverside. We can visit the Jin Mao Tower (optional), one of the tallest buildings in the world, which has a spectacular view of Shanghai from the observation deck.

Accommodation: Shanghai Kingtown Hotel Plaza (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 17
Visit Xitang water town

We have an early start (around 7am) to avoid the crowds at the ancient water town of Xitang; famous for its cobbled streets and bridges arching over the many canals. There are several well-preserved buildings from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, and the town is a delightful place to explore on foot. We lunch here before returning to Shanghai (around two hours) where the evening will be free.

Accommodation: Shanghai Kingtown Hotel Plaza (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 18
Full day in Shanghai

We visit the Shanghai Museum this morning, followed by the Yu Yuan garden; the rest of the day is free to explore. Though it no longer warrants the title Paris of the East, many of the vestiges of its colonial past are still apparent. It is worth strolling along Nanjing Road (the main shopping street in Shanghai) or visiting Shanghai Tower (the tallest building in China at 2,073ft/632m high) or the smaller Oriental Pearl Tower to admire its Space Age design.

Optional activities this evening include the much-loved Shanghai Acrobatic show.

Accommodation: Shanghai Kingtown Hotel Plaza (or similar)

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 19
End Shanghai

The tour comes to an end after breakfast. You may want to begin your return journey home, but if you’d like to continue the adventure, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

Meals included: Breakfast

Accommodation

Hotels, Boat and Train

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

On this trip, you will spend 13 nights in comfortable hotels, four nights on a cruise boat with two-berth air-conditioned cabins, all en suite, and one night on a sleeper train.

Nearly all the hotels are locally rated as at least three-star and, wherever possible, located as near to local attractions as possible. The overnight train is in ‘soft sleeper’ cabins, which are four-berth (bunk beds) private cabins. 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 – there is one Western-style toilet and one Asian-style squat toilet per carriage, plus a washroom for brushing your teeth, and a water heater for making tea/coffee or instant noodles. Bedding is provided but we recommend you consider taking a thin sleep sheet. While we make every attempt to place passengers together in cabins, sometimes this is impossible; however, we will never place a solo traveller in a cabin by themselves (they will always be either with another passenger on the trip or with the leader). If you are travelling in a pair, it may be possible to upgrade to ‘deluxe soft sleeper’ two-berth private cabins on the overnight train, please request this with your sales representative in advance. This is subject to availability and only possible for clients travelling in pairs due to new regulations.

For the Yangtze River cruise, we usually use the Victoria JENNA Cruise which has a local rating of 5 stars, approximately equivalent to 4 star by international standard. Refurbished in 2018, the Victoria Jenna sets the standard for fine luxury river cruising. Facilities include two restaurants, four elevators, a three-story atrium lobby, two lounges, three bars, a fitness centre, two full-sized lecture rooms, reading room, artist corners and gift shop. All cabins have private balconies, private bathrooms with a bathtub and shower, and are air-conditioned throughout by the central air-conditioning system. The Jenna is equipped with Wi-Fi. The ship carries around 570 passengers.

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

Imperial China & Yangtze River Cruise

If you prefer to have your own room, it is possible to book a single supplement subject to availability – please request this at the time of booking. The single supplement does not apply to the overnight trains.

Single supplement from USD 1,170

Food & Drink

There are 18 breakfasts, nine lunches and three dinners included.

One of the major draws of China is its exciting and varied cuisine. On this trip, you can try many different dishes 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 of beef, chillies and onion; gong bao chicken, a very popular dish with chilli and peanuts; peking duck, served with hoisin sauce and pancakes; and dumplings in many shapes and sizes. A very popular dish in the Sichuan province is hotpot (huo guo), which can be served as spicy as you wish and consists of a simmering metal pot of stock in the middle of a table served with ingredients such as quail eggs, local vegetables and several meats.

There are many different Chinese dishes to sample, and the leader will always try to accommodate tastes, but if you wish, there are always opportunities to eat Western-style food. For vegetarians or those with dietary requirements, many of the traditional dishes can be amended to omit the meat products.

Transport

Road travel will be by private minibus and taxis, public buses and metro in some cities. The drive (approximately 30 minutes) at the Three Gorges Dam is operated by the Three Gorges Dam Company (they are the only supplier permitted to operate this route) and as such Exodus cannot guarantee that all seats will have operational seatbelts. On the sleeper trains, we use first-class soft-seat or soft-sleeper, which (although not quite up to Western first-class standards) are comfortable and clean. Usually these are four-berth (bunk beds and mixed genders). On the bullet trains, we use second-class seats. All flights will be in economy class, we usually use Shanghai Airlines for the flight from Guilin to Shanghai. Most of the driving days are not long, usually no more than four hours. The boat used is tourist class as detailed in the accommodation section.

Weather & Seasonality

Beijing and Xi’an

The north of China has warm (25C/77F), quite humid summers, and cold, dry winters. If you travel between June and August, it will be hot almost everywhere, except in the mountains. Some rain must be expected, possibly heavy. If you travel in September/October, you will probably get less rain and the temperatures will be fairly warm (around 20C/68F) everywhere. November starts to cool (3C-13C/37F-55F). The Great Wall region will be colder than the cities due to the mountainous terrain.

Yangtze River Gorge

The central region of China has very warm, humid summers and cold winters. Expect rainfall in summer. In July/August, temperatures along the Yangtze River can reach 40C (104F) and in spring/autumn will be 22C-26C (72F-79F). November is the shoulder season and is more prone to overcast days; expect it to be quite cool – Yichang: 9C-17C (48F-63F) and Chongqing: 3C-13C (37F-55F).

Yangshuo/Shanghai

The south of China is subtropical with hot (30C/86F), wet summers (May to September), and warm, relatively dry winters (November to March), though rain is possible at almost any time of year.

Winter in China is cold (3C/37F), so if travelling in November/March, be prepared for temperatures to drop below freezing at night in the north, but with almost guaranteed dry sightseeing. The weather is milder in the south.

Joining Instructions

Key information

Start hotel: Dong Fang Hotel, Beijing
Phone: +86 10 6301 4466
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. There will be a welcome briefing in the evening, but if you miss it the leader will update you separately
Airport: Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) or Beijing Capital airport (PEK).

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately 40 minutes’ drive from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers for any flight into Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) or Beijing Capital airport (PEK). Transfers need to be booked with us at least two weeks before the start of the trip.

If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.

Catching your return flight

Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers to Shanghai Pudong airport (PVG) or Shanghai Hongqiao airport (SHA) from the end hotel.

Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start (or pre-tour) hotel and from the end (or post-tour) hotel and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends; transfers to other hotels in the same city and/or on different dates may attract an extra charge. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.

Full joining instructions including local emergency numbers will be sent to you as part of our Final Joining Instructions. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier please contact our office or your travel agent.

Location start: Beijing
Location end: Shanghai

What To Take

Essential Equipment

As you will be moving from point to point, pack light and only bring one main suitcase with you, weighing no more than 44lb (20kg), this is the limit for the flight and train. There is a 5kg hand luggage allowance on the flight.

  • In addition to your normal daily clothes, we recommend light casual cotton clothing. Please remember, you will be expected to cover your legs and arms (to the elbow) in some temples and palaces
  • Sandals are useful as they are cooler and easier to take off when visiting temples
  • A light pair of long underwear, a fleece, hat, gloves, and a windproof or down jacket if visiting from November to April
  • Lightweight walking boots or strong trainers that give proper ankle support for the Great Wall walk
  • Cycling helmets are unlikely to be available for hire; if they are, the quality cannot be guaranteed. We therefore strongly suggest you bring your own if you want to cycle on the free days

For the train journeys, airport-style security has to be passed through and all luggage travels with you in the compartment. Aerosols are not permitted on trains. There are are also limitations on the quantities of certain other items, including nail polish, hair dye (up to 0.6floz/20ml). Items the could be classified as weapons, such as scissors and pocket knives could be confiscated even from your main suitcase, so are best left at home. The overnight trains are generally very clean, but as standards vary, you may feel more comfortable bringing a sleeping bag liner or similar to sleep in. You may also wish to take earplugs just in case there are louder sleepers in the berth!

Water included

Plastic bottles are a big issue in many countries where recycling isn’t yet widely available; they often end up in landfill or get burned. Both processes are harmful to the environment and we would like to reduce our impact here. For your trip, we provide an alternative to single-use plastic bottles to reduce the plastic used. This means that safe drinking water will be available throughout; all you need to do is bring a bottle to refill along the way. Please add this to your packing list.

Optional Equipment

  • Lightweight waterproof jacket or umbrella
  • Sleeping bag liner or similar
  • Earplugs
  • Large bum bag (fanny pack) or small close-fitting daysack
  • Shoes with relatively stiff soles for biking, eye-protection (sunglasses) and a water bottle or hydration system (eg CamelBak) are also useful

Practical Information

Visa

China

Most nationalities require a visa to enter China, including holders of British, US, Canadian and Australian passports. This must be obtained prior to departure. Applicants aged between 14 and 70 are required to make an in-person visit to a Chinese visa application centre where biometric data is collected. 

The Chinese authorities require a letter of invitation, which Exodus will provide you with approximately eight weeks before the start of the trip. This details all your accommodation bookings. Along with this, you need to supply a copy of your flight details, which are on your invoice if you have booked directly through Exodus.

For further information on the process for British passport holders, please see here.  

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. 

If you’re a UK citizen and would like assistance with obtaining visas, please call Travcour on 020 8543 1846 or visit their website: www.travcour-vls.com

Some governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below. 

Essential information: We must have a clear copy of the photo page of your passport. This is required to book certain ground services in China and your booking is not fully confirmed until it has been received. This must be emailed as an electronic scan to customerops@exodus.co.uk at least eight weeks prior to your trip. 

Vaccinations and Health

China

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis and tuberculosis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Additionally, if you’re visiting Hong Kong on your trip, please be aware that dengue fever is a known risk. This is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten: apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers.

Local Time

China's time zone: Asia/Shanghai (UTC +08:00)

Electricity

Wifi, apps and websites in China

In China, certain websites and phone apps are blocked, including Google (and therefore Gmail accounts), Facebook and WhatsApp. You may get coverage of these occasionally but, for the most part, they will not work during your stay. Alternative web search engines such as Bing are available. The local people commonly use an all-in-one app called WeChat for messaging, voice and video calls, photosharing and language support. If staying connected is important, you may want to download WeChat before you go (and ask those who you want to stay in touch with to do the same).

Money

China's currency: Chinese yuan (also known as renminbi) (CNY)

ATM Availability

ATMs are available in all major towns and cities. Most take British/European cards, but your leader can advise you. Credit cards are accepted in hotels and large establishments, such as shopping malls, but are not recommended for day-to-day spending. Many restaurants throughout China use WeChat Pay, an electronic payment made through the application on your mobile phone/device.

Extra Expenses & Spending Money

Allow about 3,560-4,480 Chinese yuan (US$525-US$660) for the optional activities mentioned and meals not included, more if you include options given to you locally by your leader not mentioned here. Please note, this does not include tips.

Optional excursions

There are several optional activities, which your leader can arrange for you. They are subject to availability; your leader will let you know what is available and the local costs. Payment should preferably be made in yuan. Below is an indication of the optional activities and their approximate costs, but these may vary throughout the season or depending on the number of participants.

Beijing

  • Opera: 265 yuan (US$39)
  • Kung fu show: 265 yuan (US$39)
  • Cable car at the Great Wall: 100 yuan (US$14) one way, 140 yuan (US$19) return

Xi’an

  • Bell and Drum Tower entry: 50 yuan (US$8)
  • Bike rental on the city walls in Xian (90 minutes): 45 yuan (US$7)
  • Tang Dynasty show and dumpling banquet: 275 yuan (US$40)

Yangtze Cruise

  • Evening show War of the Three Kingdoms: 290 yuan (US$42)
  • White Emperor City 290 yuan (US$42)
  • Upgrade to VIP restaurant on cruise: 398 yuan (US$58), depending which boat is used on your departure

Yangshuo

  • Liu Sanjie show: 326 yuan (US$45) per person, based on VIP Ticket B Zone
  • Li River cruise: 300 yuan (US$42) per person, for a 3-star cruise
  • Bike rental: 30 yuan (US$4) per day; cycling guide: 300 yuan (US$42) per group
  • Taiji/calligraphy/Chinese painting lesson: 100 yuan (US$15)

Shanghai

  • Acrobatic performance: 275 yuan (US$40)
  • River cruise: 150 yuan (US$22)

Chengdu

  • Sichuan Opera: 166 yuan (US$24)

It is not compulsory to join any of these optional activities and your leader can recommend many more options. It is also possible to arrange many of these activities independently, if you prefer. The prices quoted above generally do not include transportation to get to these activities, which will cost extra, and there are more expensive tickets available for better seats at various performances.

Tipping

This is entirely at your own discretion; however, with the increase in tourism in China, tipping has become customary. The leader will suggest to the group they donate approximately 280 yuan (US$40) per person towards a kitty on arrival. This money is then used for tipping local guides, hotel porters, drivers etc, taking the hassle out of doing it yourself. If you do not wish to contribute, you are, of course, free to do so.

You will also be expected to tip the crew on the Yangtze boat, which is not covered in the tip kitty, please allow about 180-200 yuan (US$26).

If you feel your tour leader has performed well over the course of your trip, you may want to show your appreciation of their services. The sum you choose to give is entirely personal, but as a guide, 30-35 yuan (US$4-US$5) per person per day would be a reasonable starting point. The tipping kitty explained above is entirely separate from any contribution to the tour leader. Our local staff are paid fairly for their work with Exodus.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that have a positive impact on the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Learn more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

  • Local guides keep you well informed about local traditions and cultural-social sensitivities.
  • This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels, restaurants, and other enterprises, and by championing locally produced food wherever possible.
  • This trip visits local communities in Beijing hutongs and in the Xian Muslim quarter. This provides an opportunity to gain an insight into culture and heritage.
  • During this trip, we have lunch with a local family, which enables the sharing of cultures.
  • Read more about our other initiatives here.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

  • By travelling in a small group, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
  • We work with our partners on the ground to proactively reduce waste; this includes eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles by providing refills for reusable bottles.
  • The payment of entrance fees to natural reserves and archaeological sites generates income, which is used for upkeep and development of these important sites.
  • Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices regarding working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
  • We visit the Chengdu panda breeding centre and the fees collected fund their important work on conservation of this endangered species.
  • We rewild 1,075sqft (100sqm) per passenger to compensate for all trip and flight emissions.
  • Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration hereincluding our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels with us.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

  • Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food, which has not been transported long distances.
  • On Days 2, 4 and 18, we use public transport for the city tours, which reduces the carbon footprint of the group.
  • Our local partners have reached B Corp Certification, which requires that they demonstrate high social and environmental performance.
  • Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

  • Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
  • Plastic waste reduction: Please bring a reusable water bottle on this trip, also consider avoiding single-use hotel toiletries, which generate a large amount of plastic waste.

Important Information

Your safe participation 

When booking this trip, you should be confident in your ability to participate in all activities described in these Trip Notes. If you have any doubt about your suitability, please call the Exodus office and ask to speak to one of the experts on this itinerary. 

Although our leaders are well trained to deal with different capabilities, if they have any concerns about someone’s ability to safely take part in an activity, or their impact on other people’s enjoyment, we authorise them to take necessary action which, in some circumstances, may involve asking someone to miss that activity. 

By booking this trip you agree to our Booking Conditions which clearly state that our leaders have the authority to do this. In these rare instances we will ensure anyone sitting out is safely provided for and offered alternative options where possible. Refunds will not be provided for activities missed and customers may be liable for additional costs incurred. 

How to Book

  1. Check availability: Go online to check availability, or contact us by phone or email.
  2. Secure your place: You can provisionally hold a place on this trip, usually for between three and seven days.
  3. Complete your booking and payment

When you’re ready to book, go to our website for online bookings, book over the phone or you can complete a booking form (available online or on request by calling us). We accept all major credit and debit cards, or you can pay be cheque.

After booking

You will receive your booking confirmation letter and invoice, which includes extra information and guidance about your travel arrangements.

Full joining instructions, including local emergency numbers and details of how to reach the start point, will be sent to you approximately two to three weeks prior to departure. If you do not receive these at least a week before departure, or require them earlier, please contact our office or your travel agent.

Trip Note validity

These Trip Notes are valid from the “Current as” date on page one. They will occasionally be updated after booking and before departure; if there are any updates that significantly impact the inclusions or itinerary, customers will be written to separately. They will also receive a link to the most up-to-date Trip Notes with their Final Joining Instructions before travelling.

The information in these Trip Notes is given in good faith. Where differences exist between the Trip Notes and our current brochure or website, the Trip Notes supersede the brochure and website. All holidays can be subject to unexpected changes; to enjoy them you should be prepared to be flexible where necessary. Occasionally, it may not be possible to follow the itinerary as planned. This may be for a variety of reasons – climatic, political, physical or other. In these circumstances we will make the best-possible alternative arrangements that maintain the integrity of the original itinerary.

Licensing

Exodus is fully licensed and bonded as a tour operator. We hold Air Traffic Organisers Licence (ATOL) number 2582, issued and bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). We are also bonded to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and we are members of the Federation of Tour Operators (FTO) and ABTA – The Travel Association. This means you can book your Exodus holiday with confidence, as all money paid to us for your trip is fully protected.