Essential China

11 days
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Small Group Tour
Visit iconic sites and bring the fascinating history and culture of China to life! Beijing’s past spans three millennia and the scale of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City never fail to amaze. Leaving the grandeur behind, explore the narrow hutongs of the old town. Head out of the city and step foot on one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall...
26%
$4,050
From$3,000
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Jingshan Park in Beijing
    • See giant pandas at Chengdu Breeding & Research Centre
    • Marvel at one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
    • Admire the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
    • Discover the Bund waterfront area and French Concession of Shanghai

What's this trip about?

    Visit iconic sites and bring the fascinating history and culture of China to life! Beijing’s past spans three millennia and the scale of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City never fail to amaze. Leaving the grandeur behind, explore the narrow hutongs of the old town. Head out of the city and step foot on one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall; here, we begin to comprehend the magnitude of this construction as it snakes across the mountains to the horizon and beyond. In Xi’an, we explore the vibrant Muslim Quarter and see the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. A trip to China would not be complete without visiting Chengdu to see giant pandas. End in cosmopolitan Shanghai, with its unmistakable skyline illuminated at night.Travel from Beijing to Shanghai for a taste of ancient and modern China

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age range16 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityBeijing
End CityShanghai

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Asia
  • China

Attractions

  • Chengdu
  • Shanghai

Activities

  • Culture

Trip includes

    • All breakfasts and one lunch
    • All accommodation
    • All transport and listed activities
    • Tour leader throughout
    • Arrival and departure transfers

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Arrive Beijing

Welcome to Beijing, the capital of China. There is a welcome briefing at approximately 6pm, in which you meet your tour leader and the rest of the group (please see the noticeboard in the hotel reception for further details). Free arrival transfers are available for ...

Day 2 Sightseeing including the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park and a walking tour of the ‘hutongs’

We head straight to Tiananmen Square (approximately 30 minutes by public bus/metro), one of the largest squares in the world, able to hold more than a million people. The square is named after the Tiananmen (meaning Gate of Heavenly Peace) at its north, which leads to...

Day 3 Visit the Great Wall of China; return to Beijing and take an overnight train to Xi’an

We leave the capital and head into the countryside to visit one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall, at Mutianyu (approximately two hours’ drive). It is an impressive sight, snaking across mountains and valleys into the distance. We take the shuttle bus t...

Day 4 Arrive Xi’an; afternoon walking tour of the Muslim Quarter

The train is scheduled to arrive into Xi’an at about 8.30am (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 a former capital of Chi...

Day 5 Excursion to the Terracotta Warriors

Today we visit the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin (the transfer is approximately two 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 decide...

Day 6 Free day in Xi’an; optional cycling along the old city walls or Mount Huashan daytrip

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 (or hire bikes and cycle) along the city walls to appreciate the sheer scale of these constructions. F...

Day 7 Bullet train to Chengdu; afternoon walking tour around the People’s Park – try Chinese water calligraphy (weather permitting)

Take a short transfer to the train station and board a late morning bullet train to Chengdu (approximately four hours), the capital of Sichuan province, arriving in the early afternoon. This region is recognised throughout China as being ‘the spicy province’ and major...

Day 8 Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Centre

We leave early today to spend the morning visiting the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Base located 6mi (10km) outside the city. These furry animals once roamed large expanses of Asia but the last survey estimated the world’s population of wild giant pandas at onl...

Day 9 Fly to Shanghai; afternoon visit to the Shanghai Museum

We catch an early flight to Shanghai, so we take a simple box breakfast with us from the hotel. The flight is approximately 2hr 30min; we should land by late morning and arrive at our hotel by lunchtime. With a population of around 12m, Shanghai is a cosmopolitan coas...

Day 10 Explore the Bund waterfront area and the French Concession

After breakfast, we set off to discover some of the highlights of Shanghai on foot, starting with the Bund waterfront area to see iconic buildings, before exploring Nanjing Road (one of the busiest shopping streets on the planet) and the French Concession with its tre...

Day 11 End Shanghai

The trip ends in Shanghai after breakfast and we begin our return journeys home. If you’d like the adventure to continue, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay. Free transfers are included for everyone to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (...

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,000
Price per day$273
Last Updated: 4/24/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
Double Standard
Availability
19 Sep 2024
29 Sep 2024
$3,300
2 spots left
12 Oct 2024
22 Oct 2024
$3,000
5 spots left
25 Oct 2024
04 Nov 2024
$3,000
8 spots left
22 Nov 2024
02 Dec 2024
$3,000
8 spots left
12 Apr 2025
22 Apr 2025
$3,300
8 spots left
08 May 2025
18 May 2025
$3,300
8 spots left
07 Jun 2025
17 Jun 2025
$3,300
8 spots left
05 Jul 2025
15 Jul 2025
$3,300
8 spots left
30 Aug 2025
09 Sep 2025
$3,300
8 spots left
11 Oct 2025
21 Oct 2025
$3,300
8 spots left

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Exodus Travels.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Exodus Travels Reviews & Ratings

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Tour Operator

Exodus Travels

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It is all about adventure. That is what Exodus was founded upon and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on.

At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved.

This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday.

Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments.

All our office staff have a passion for travel and adventure, and between us we’ve notched up experience that spans 171 different countries. That’s not all. In their former lives, our team members have been professional archaeologists, wildlife guides, overland drivers, mountain leaders, diving and ski specialists and mountain bike gurus – so no-one is better placed to create tours that appeal to a wide range of specialist interests.

Their care in putting all the details in place really shines through too. Extensive planning, research, fact-finding and training are a sign of our commitment to providing a holiday where your enjoyment, value for money and safety come first. It’s a telling reason why we remain one of the leading worldwide adventure tour companies. It is no exaggeration to say that our tour leaders can make a world of difference to the enjoyment of your holiday – so we choose them carefully. The result is that, in 2013, 93% of our clients stated that their leader exceeded their expectations. Where possible, we train and employ local leaders because they can provide invaluable insights that enrich the trip. What’s more, this investment in local staff really helps us benefit both them and their community.

Why we love this operator
With a huge range of trip styles and themes, they cater to basically every type of traveler out there- even those with super specific interests.
What they’re known for
Global trips to both classic and exotic destinations with a focus on themed adventures, exciting physical activities and discovery of local culture.

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Logistics

What's excluded

    • Travel insurance
    • Vaccinations
    • Chinese visa (see Visa section for more info)

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/nearby 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.
Cancellation policy

The cancellation policies of this trip when booked through Travelstride are determined by the stated policies of the tour operator - Exodus Travels.

If you or any other member of your party decides to cancel a confirmed booking you must notify Travelstride in writing. Your notice of cancellation will only take effect when it is received in writing by Travelstride and will be effective from the date on which we receive it.

If You Cancel Your Holiday
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time. Written notification from the lead name or your travel agent must be received at our offices. 

Since we incur costs in canceling your travel arrangements, you will have to pay cancellation charges as follows (see also the exceptions below): 

  • More than 42 days - No cancellation fee. Deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original booking. Any remaining balance will be refundedThis excludes all non-refundable costs as set out in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 41 and 21 days (inclusive) - No cancellation fee. Balance and deposit can be transferred to a new booking departing within 2 years of date of travel of original bookingThis excludes all non-refundable costs as further explained in clause 4 above (for example international and domestic flights and local services).
  • Between 20 and 15 days (inclusive) - 80% of the holiday cost
  • 14 days or less; or failure to join the holiday (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Certain trips may involve different cancellation charges; you will be advised if this is applicable to your holiday during the booking process.For Polar holidays, the following cancellation charges will be made for all Polar holidays. Period before departure in which you notify us: 

Cancelation charge

  • More than 133 days - Deposit only
  • 133 days or less (or failure to join the holiday) (inclusive) - 100% of the holiday cost

Notes (i) Your deposit is non-refundable, even if the cancellation charge calculated is lower than the deposit amount paid; (ii) If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges; (iii) certain travel arrangements may be subject to higher cancellation charges and could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements from the moment the booking is confirmed.

If You Change Your Booking

If, after our Booking Confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be in writing from the lead name or your travel agent. You will be asked to pay an administration charge of $60, and any further cost we incur in making this alteration (including those charged by third party suppliers who provide the component parts of your booking).  You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Note: Certain travel arrangements may not be changeable after a reservation has been made and any alteration request could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.

You can transfer your booking to another person, who satisfies all the conditions that apply to this booking, by giving us notice in writing at least 7 days before departure provided that the new lead passenger accepts the transfer and these Terms and Conditions. Both you and the new traveler are responsible for paying all costs we incur in making the transfer. Please bear in mind that certain airlines and other transport providers treat changes as a cancellation and charge accordingly, up to 100% of the cost for that part of the arrangement. Where applicable these charges will be passed on to you.

If We Cancel Your Booking

Exodus reserves the right to cancel an itinerary before departure for any reason whatsoever, including too few participants ,logistical problems, a Force Majeure Event (as defined in Section 8), or any other circumstances that may make operation of the trip inadvisable. All trip payments received will be promptly refunded, and this refund will be the limit of Exodus’s liability without any further obligation on Exodus’s part. Exodus is not responsible for any expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for the trip, including non-refundable or penalty-carrying airline tickets, special clothing, visa or passport fees, or other trip-related expenses.

If We Change Your Booking

  1. Changes to the price. We can change your holiday price after you’ve booked, only in certain circumstances. Changes in the price of the carriage of passengers resulting from changes to the cost of fuel or other power sources, the level of taxes or fees imposed by third parties including tourist taxes, landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked.

  2. Changes other than the price. It is a term of your booking that we are able to make changes to any aspect of your booking. If the change is insignificant, we will ensure that you are notified about it. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your accommodation to another of the same or higher standard. If we are forced by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below.

    2.1 - We will contact you and you will have the choice of accepting the change or having a refund of all monies paid. You can also accept an alternative holiday, where we offer one (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value). We will tell you the procedure for making your choice. Please read any notification of changes carefully and respond promptly as if you do not respond to us within the timescale given your booking may be canceled.

    2.2 - If you choose to accept a refund then that is the only liability we have and we will not be liable for any further sums, compensation or otherwise and you are advised to adequately insure yourselves against cancellation for any reason

Please note that insurance premiums and amendments charges are not refundable in any circumstances. 

Once you have put down a deposit for a tour, you are unable to cancel and re-book within a promotional period and we reserve the right to amend the pricing on any new booking you make within that time. If you cancel a tour and book the same tour under a promotional code, we reserve the right to decline the booking.

Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration or cancellation could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements in addition to the charge above.

If the reason for your cancellation is covered under the terms of your insurance policy, you may be able to reclaim these charges.

Where possible, we will deduct the cancellation charge(s) from any monies you have already paid to us.

For more additional details, see the booking conditions of TruTravels at the following web address: https://www.exodustravels.com/us/about-exodus/exodus-booking-conditions.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
All breakfasts and one lunch are included. One of the major draws of China is its exciting and varied cuisine. On this trip, you can try many different dishes 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; 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 to accommodate tastes, but if you do tire of Chinese food there are always opportunities to eat Western-style dishes in the cities we visit. For vegetarians or those with dietary requirements, many of the traditional dishes can be amended to omit the meat products.
Age Requirements
16 years and up
Additional Information
  • Travel by bullet train, sleeper train, domestic flight, metro/public bus and private coach
  • Nine nights in hotels and one night on a sleeper train
  • All breakfasts and one lunch included
  • Optional single supplement, available on request (excludes sleeper train)
  • Group normally 5 to 16, plus leader. Minimum age: 16
Trip ID
exodus-ACD

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