China

Don’t miss the awe-inspiring Great Wall—make the most of your visit by combining a trek along remote lengths of the Wall with rural camping or homestay in a local village

Explore China’s largest and best-preserved collection of ancient buildings at Beijing’s imposing Forbidden City, the world’s largest palatial complex

Spend a day among the tranquil lakes, splendid temples, pavilions and imperial gardens of Beijing’s Summer Palace, the epitome of classical Chinese garden design

Take a hike through Yunnan province’s spectacular Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the deepest gorges in the world

Head to Xian to witness the surreal sight of the 8,000+ life-sized, life-like sculptures of the Terracotta Army

Cruise through the Yangtze River’s breathtaking Three Gorges

Immerse yourself in the ancient city of Lhasa, the gateway to stunning rural Tibet and the heart and soul of Tibetan culture

Marvel at the heavily forested, mist-enshrouded granite peaks of Huángshan

Traverse the Chinese section of the ancient trading route, the Silk Road

Trek to the remote Kangshung Face of Earth’s highest peak, Mount Everest

Join the Trans-Siberian Railway from Beijing for an epic journey to Russia via Mongolia

Make a pilgrimage to Tibet’s sacred Mount Kailas during the Saga Dawa festival

Pummel your senses in the super-modern, non-stop party metropolis of Shanghai

Watch Shaolin monks demonstrate kung fu, take a martial arts class or just enjoy the hypnotic sight of hordes of locals practicing tai chi and qigong in parks and public squares

Eat your way around this food-lovers paradise, sampling each of China’s eight regional culinary traditions

China experiences a rather broad temperature range throughout the year. In late summer, early autumn trips (August to September) expect warm to hot days with temperatures up to 25-30°C (78-87F) and a slight chance of rain.

During October the days are mild and dry, from 15-20°C (60-69F), and nights are cooler. In late October there is increasingly a cooler (but not cold) westerly wind, which lowers temperatures, particularly at night. The days, however, remain mild.

Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces, where we cycle, is China's most southerly province and experiences a rather broad temperature range throughout the year. On summer trips (Jun to Sep) expect hot, humid days with temperatures up to 33°C (91F) and a small chance of some rain - although daytime temperatures in the hills further north in Guangdong Province should be milder. During October, the days are mild, from 15-26°C (60-79F) and nights are cooler. Some rain is also possible at this time.

On winter trips (Nov-Feb) there will be quite cool days of 12-15°C (54-60F) and cold nights - upon occasion night temperatures can fall to below freezing in the north of Guangdong.

In Beijing the winter (Nov-Feb) temperatures can drop below -10°C (2-3 F) and you will need thermal underwear, a heavy coat, hat, gloves, etc. There may be snow in the capital during December and January - don't be put off as it can be a plus, there are many less tourists and the city looks spectacular clothed in white!

In summer the days may be hot, up to 30°C (86 F) but it is more likely to be quite pleasant. Rain can occur at any time but is more likely in spring, March-May. We suggest you pack a waterproof jacket with hood for all departures.

The whole of China (including Tibet) is +8 hours ahead of UTC/GMT

Chinese language is comprised of many different dialects, which some would argue are different languages, because although they share a common writing system, spoken variations of Chinese are often unintelligible to speakers of other dialects.

Modern Standard Chinese (aka Mandarin, Beijing dialect) is the primary and official language of China. In addition, Mongolian is official in Inner Mongolia, Uighur and Kyrgyz are official in Xinjiang, Zhuang is official in Guangxi; Yue (Cantonese) is official in Guangdong and Tibetan is official in Tibet

Different ‘dialects’ include Yue (Cantonese), Wu (Shanghainese), Minbei (Fuzhou), Minnan (Hokkien-Taiwanese), Xiang, Gan and Hakka dialects.

Most people involved in tourism or business, as well as many students, will speak a good deal of English, however any attempts to speak basic Chinese will be warmly received by the people you meet.

Renminbi (aka Yuan)

EUR, AUD, GBP and USD in good condition can be exchanged in China. We recommend withdrawing or exchanging enough cash in major cities to cover expenses between destinations.

Credit card payments and ATMs that accept international cards are available in major cities such as Beijing, Xi’an, Lanzhou, and Urumqi, but may not be accessible in smaller towns. We recommend withdrawing or exchanging enough cash while in the larger cities to cover expenses between destinations. In cases where no ATM is available, your guide can assist with currency exchange. Please note that mobile payments like Alipay and WeChat Pay are now widely used throughout China. While international travellers may not always be able to use these platforms directly, our local guide will be available to assist with any payment situations that arise.

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Electricity in China is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. Plugs vary, often from town to town, and can be 3 pronged angled, 2 flat pins or 2 narrow round pins. Plug types are A, C & I.

Electricity in China is 220 Volts, at 50 hertz. Plugs vary, often from town to town, and can be 3 pronged angled, 2 flat pins or 2 narrow round pins. Plug types are A, C & I.

Your safety is our number one concern. Our safety track record is exemplary thanks to careful management and thorough consultation with local partners. Our industry leading risk management procedures have become a skill that we continue to refine. Our leaders in the field are highly trained and have safety as their number one priority. Expert leaders, risk assessments, quality inclusions and your financial security all come standard when you travel with us.

Please refer to our Travel Advisory page for updates on recent events, travel warnings and advice.

We strongly recommend that all clients take out travel insurance at the time of booking to cover against sickness, accident, loss of baggage, unexpected alterations to travel arrangements and travel disruption, emergency evacuation, cancellations, etc. Insurance information is enclosed with your pre-departure information. Please contact us if you would like to obtain a quote for your trip duration.

We suggest that you consult your doctor, local government inoculation centre or a travel medical specialist in order to get the most current advice regarding vaccination requirements.

Money and valuables should always be stored safely when travelling. Keep your passport with you at all times and do not leave it in your main luggage. You will need it to change money and check into hotels. Where safety deposit boxes are available, we recommend that you use them. Keep jewellery and valuables to a minimum.