• Brochure 2011
• Special Offers
• China Education Programme

China tour company

As a country that has fascinated outsiders down throughout the centuries and continues to do so, especially in the light of its phenomenal economic growth over the last couple of decades, travelling to China for a holiday is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people from all over the world. Even though it is slowly opening up to the outside world it can still sometimes be difficult to arrange a visit there with visas and other requirements being something of a hassle if you choose to go it alone. As specialists in organising trips to this country we have close contacts with many companies and individuals there and so are able to facilitate your holiday, whether you are looking for a fully guided package or simply want some help in booking a hotel and completing the necessary paperwork in order to obtain a visa in good time. We have pre-arranged breaks of varying lengths where there is a fixed itinerary of some beautiful and interesting places to visit or you can choose to go on one of our tailor made China tours where you can tell us which places you wish to visit and the type of hotel that you want to stay in and we will calculate the cost for you and organise everything. Being based in the United Kingdom you can rest assured that after making a booking with us your money is protected by ATOL in the very unlikely event that we experience any financial difficulties ourselves.

Star attractions

There are many attractions in China and most people have heard a lot about them, but seeing them in real life is a totally new experience that can be breathtaking at times. The famous Terracotta Warriors and the Forbidden City are just two examples of attractions you can visit whilst you are there. Apart from the historical sites that abound in this country there are also many places of outstanding natural beauty that we can recommend and organise visits to as well if you wish. Tiananmen Square and the Summer palace are two other places not to be missed during your time there. The most famous attraction does not need to be spelled out and Great Wall of China Tours are one of our most popular packages. This fantastic construction dates back to the 5th century BC, when it was originally built with compacted earth. It was maintained and developed continuously up until the 16^th century and is the only man-made development in the world that can be seen from space. As if this was not enough for one trip you can also take in the Temple of Heaven, the Great Mosque, the Yu Yuan garden and many other places too. If you have the time then you could spend months exploring this mysterious and beautiful country. If you only have a limited amount of time do not worry though as we can arrange packages that include the main highlights for you, to make the most of your time there.

Practical considerations

In common with visits to any far flung locations where the culture and environment is very different to that of your home country there are a few things to bear in mind when visiting this vast land for the first time. A China tour should be something that you can look back on years later with fond memories of a highly enjoyable trip and with a little preparation beforehand we can help to ensure that your journey goes without a hitch. The first thing to think about is the time of year that you want to visit as the weather is more conducive to a pleasant trip in certain seasons. We would recommend either Spring or Autumn as being the best times to go but some people prefer to visit during the Summer or Winter as there are less tourists there then. As you will find in many parts of Asia, tap water is best avoided as far as drinking it goes. The currency used in China is the Yuan and is pegged to the US dollar so it is easiest to take travellers cheques denominated in dollars, to exchange when you are there. The rate does vary so it is best to check on the internet before you leave. When you go on one of our escorted tours to China we will assist you with these sorts of things so do not fret about them. We will also arrange the most comfortable train carriages for any journeys by rail.

In the big cities

No visit to China would be complete without a look at the rapidly growing cities there. Beijing, previously known as Peking, is the capital city of the PRC (People’s Republic of China) and has been for many centuries. It is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, the other three being Nanjing, Luoyang and Xian. Beijing is where you can see the Forbidden City, Summer Palace and the Temple of Heaven mentioned previously, as well as other attractions such as the Ming Tombs. One of the other ancient capitals that we arrange visits to is Xian which is where the Tomb of Emperor Qin and the Terracotta Warriors are to be found. Beijing, although the capital city and home to some 17 million people is actually the second largest city in China, the largest being Shanghai where over 20 million people live and where the focus is on economic activities as opposed to Beijing which is centred around politics and culture. China holiday tours are a great way to see all these places which you might find difficult to plan on your own. If you are looking for natural beauty in a city then Guilin is the place for you, situated on the west bank of the Li River. It has been well known for its unique and picturesque scenery for many years. Whilst you are there we can arrange a cruise down the Li River for you and a visit to the Reed Flute Cave as well.

The language and culture

As in the USA and various other countries, tipping is taken for granted in China and so following this custom is highly recommended if you wish to receive the best service possible and get along with the locals as well as you can. Regarding the language, there are many different dialects or variations but the most widely spoken and the one that you should look at if you wish to try and learn a few phrases before your visit, is Mandarin Chinese. Holidays in China are great fun whether or not you know any of the language but it is always nice to make an attempt to speak some of it and you will undoubtedly delight the people that you meet on your travels if you do so. Chinese culture dates back further than that of almost any other country’s and is very complex as well. Nobody will expect a Western tourist to be familiar with all its nuances so just being polite at all times is the best way to go. The cuisine to be found there is an integral part of the culture and the huge variety of dishes comes from the fact that when emperors used to hold banquets they would have a hundred dishes at each meal. There are many exciting types of food that you can try when you are in China but if you prefer to stick to your regular diet then you will find that the large hotels have a western-style buffet breakfast.

Great Wall of China Tours

All of our main pre-arranged tours take in this magnificent sight that was described above in the section on the star attractions, and they last from 9 to 17 days. You can, as also mentioned at the start, send us an itinerary of places that you have picked out yourself that you would like to visit and we will make all the arrangements for you and provide you with a guide for your holiday. The actual cost of such holidays will vary of course depending on the length of your stay, the amount of places that you would like to visit and the class of accommodation that you require. As it will all be arranged especially for you it will be a little more expensive than one of our regular tours but you will have the flexibility of going exactly where you want to. If you would like to go on one of our normal packages but include something different as well then you could look at our extensions that we offer such as 3 nights in Hong Kong or a 4 night cruise down the River Yangtze. Whichever type of China holidays you are interested in you can be sure that we will do our utmost, from your first contact with us to the time when you are safely back home, to ensure that you are completely satisfied with our service at all times and have the best time possible in this fantastic country with so much to see.