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06th February 2012
Lugu Lake could be part of a China tour

03rd February 2012
Tailor made tours of China could include Fuzhou

02nd February 2012
Food 'is a major holiday factor'

01st February 2012
Hainan becomes more popular

30th January 2012
Experience camellia picking in the Songyang county

We can offer services with the following international airlines for our tours, if you have a preferrred partner or destination that is not listed please enquire and we will do our best to meet your request (subject to availability). The quickest and easiest option for UK passengers is a direct flight from London.

 

Air China, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Emirates, KLM, Lufthansa                

 

If you choose not to depart from London directly, there are UK regional transfers available with BA and KLM and international in-direct* options where you change before taking an onward connection to China.

 

Read more about flights here

 

Internal flights are the quickest and most convenient way to cover large distances domestically, we also offer transport in the form of private cars, coaches, cruise liners and trains

 

 

Domestic train travel in China is a great way to see more of the countryside and scenery away from the big cities, to cover large distances between popular destinations like Beijing - Xian - Shanghai we normally suggest taking an overnight sleeper train, private berths with 4 bunks are available and it saves you the price of a hotel or flight.

Read more about taking a train on our Tours and Holidays. 

 

Taking a taxi is a most comfortable, easy and secure way of getting around. There are plenty of them available in cities big or small. Simply hail one and the next available taxi will pull over for you.

Prices vary from city to city, but on the whole they are quite affordable.

 

Our tours and holidays can give you the opportunity to experience some truly wonderful river scenes ranging from the Yangtze River - where we use 5 star liners of Victoria Cruises, to enjoying a buffet lunch on the Li River near Guilin.

 

 

 

Whether you are on a group or private tour, if you have purchased a full package from China Links Travel you will receive a comprehensive guide service. An English speaking guide will meet you at the airport, deliver you to the hotel and accompany you on your tour of the city. They do not fly (or take bus/train) with you from one city to the next - you have a new local guide for each destination.

 

 

Read more about the customs regulations for what you can bring in and out of the country.

 

 

 

Electricity supply is 220 volts and plugs are mostly two-pin in China. You may bring your own international travel adaptor or the hotel will be able to lend you one.

 

 

The major national holidays, such as Chinese New Year, that are celebrated can involve full or partial closure of public and tourist facitlities. So, unless you have a specific reason to be there at that time, the flood of domestic Chinese travellers can book up hotels, gridlock the transport network and generate large queues at the tourist attractions - are best avoided.

See here for list of Public Holidays in 2010 and 2011

 

 

You should check with your GP what vaccinations are required when planning a trip, this will depend on your medical history, where you are going and what activities you plan to do.

Read more on our tips to stay healthy

 

 

The currency of China is the RMB (pronounced "ren men bi" in Mandarin) or Yuan.

Colloquially known as the "kuai" this comes in paper notes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100.

 

Read more about money and payment options in China

 

Safety & Security

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides detailed and up-tp-date travel advice for all travellers visiting China, it is highly recommended reading before your trip.

 

 

Overall China is a safe country and most people you meet will be friendly, honest and trustworthy. However, travel and living conditions differ from the UK so exercise caution and stay alert. Read our tips to stay safe

 

 

Each passenger booked on a China Links Travel holiday must have adequate insurance. The insurance premium has to be paid at the time of booking and is non-refundable. We would like to recommend our own travel insurance but if you wish to take out a different policy, or if you already have one please send us a copy of your documents for our refererence

 

 

Outside of the hotels and western areas of China, expect the public conveniences to be of the "squat" variety. You will most likely smell them before setting eyes on them, always keep your own supply of tissues to hand because this commodity is almost always never supplied. If at all possible, try to restrict yourself to the facilities at hotels and restaurants.

 

 

It is generally considered that April, May, September and October are the peak tourist seasons where the weather is most comfortable for the popular tourist destinations. Covering such a vast land area you could likely encounter cold winters in the north through to hot and humid summers in the south.

See more info for Weather & Climate