7-Day China: Cultural Sites & Epic Cities, from Beijing to Chengdu Tour Code: 500-20570 GAdventures ACXC

Golden Week falls between October 1st and 7th each year. Please note that Golden Week is a semi-annual 7-day or 8-day national holiday for the people of China. This is a very busy time of the year for domestic tourists, so expect some crowding at major attractions. We recommend booking these dates well in advance as accommodations and transportation availability is extremely limited.

Explore some of China's most famous cities with your CEO and on your own, Spend a day at one of the wonders of the world: the Great Wall of China, Visit the mysterious and remarkable Terracotta Warriors

The information in this trip details document has been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. The itinerary featured is correct at time of printing. It may differ slightly to the one in the brochure. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements. Please note that our brochure is usually released in November each year. If you have booked from the previous brochure you may find there have been some changes to the itinerary. VERY IMPORTANT: Please ensure that you view a final copy of your Trip Details a couple of days prior to travel, in case there have been changes that affect your plans.

While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The Trip Details document is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.

1. Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites. It's important to let your family and friends know that you might not be able to stay in touch over your usual methods. The Chinese Government restricts certain websites such as Google, Dropbox, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WordPress, Whatsapp etc. It may be possible to still access some of these websites using a VPN. If you wish to stay in touch with your friends and family through the above blocked sites, we suggest you research installing a suitable VPN on your device prior to travel or turn on your data roaming if needed. 2. LUGGAGE - As we use (sometimes crowded) local transport please note backpacks are much more suitable than suitcases for this style of trip. Train travel means that bags have to be stowed either overhead or under beds, so travelling as light as possible is recommended.

All our G Adventures group trips are accompanied by a G Adventures Chief Experience Officer (CEO) in China. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. They will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the countries visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. We also use local guides where we think more specific knowledge will add to the enjoyment of the places we are visiting.

Max 18, avg 15

No meals included

Eating is a big part of travelling. Travelling with G Adventures you experience the vast array of wonderful food that is available out in the world. Generally meals are not included in the trip price when there is a choice of eating options, to give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat. It also gives you more budgeting flexibility, though generally food is cheap. Our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There is no obligation to do this though. Your CEO will be able to suggest favourite restaurants during your trip. Breakfast in China will usually be Asian style consisting of noodles or congee (rice porridge) or bread and eggs. Vegetarians will be able to find a range of different foods, although in some areas the choice maybe limited. For all trips please refer to the meals included and budget information for included meals and meal budgets.

Bullet train, overnight train, metro, public bus, private vehicle, walking.

All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.

We believe solo travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and solo travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.

Hotels (5 nights), overnight sleeper train (1 night).

Day 3 (Overnight train).

For details of your joining hotel please refer to your tour voucher, G Account, the G Adventures App or contact your travel agent. If you would like to book an airport Arrival transfer for your tour, please contact our Sales Team or your Travel Agent in advance of travel. If you have paid in advance for an arrival transfer, a G Adventures representative will be at the airport to meet you. If for any reason you are not met at the airport, please call our local support line. If you are unable to make contact for whatever reason, please make your way to the joining point hotel via taxi. If you have not pre-booked an arrival transfer with G Adventures, you can take the subway or the Airport Express Train. Please note that day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned on this day. Upon arrival to your Joining Hotel (note that check-in time will be in the afternoon), look for a note or bulletin board in the reception with a note from your CEO. This note will give the details of your Welcome Meeting on day 1 (usually between 5pm and 7pm). If you don't see a note, please ask reception for details. If you are arriving later and will miss the Welcome Meeting, your CEO will leave a note at reception for you with any information you may need, and with morning instructions for the next day.

Should you need to contact us during a situation of dire need, it is best to first call either the G Adventures Local Representative or our G Adventures Local Office. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information. AIRPORT TRANSFER: If you have purchased an arrival transfer through G Adventures or if an arrival transfer is included in the cost of your tour, please note that: Your arrival transfer has been arranged based on flight information provided to us. If your arrival transfer does not arrive within 30 minutes after you have exited the arrivals area please call or go to the information centre and ask the staff there to help to call our local G Adventures Transfer provider directly at: +86 18122213686 – if the driver cannot arrive anytime soon, please take a taxi to your start point hotel. If you are advised of a flight schedule change or flight cancellation within 48 hours of your scheduled arrival time, please call the emergency contact number to advise of your new arrival flight information. If you do not, we will not be able to rearrange your arrival transfer and you will need to make your own way to the starting hotel at your own expense. EMERGENCY CONTACT NUMBERS: G Adventures Local Tour Operator (China): Head Office: +86 18122213686; Beijing Office: +86 010-65128789 or +86 13379009576. If you are unable to contact our local office, please call: Toll-free North America only: 1 888 800 4100; Calls from UK: 0344 272 0000; Calls from Germany: 0800 365 1000; Calls from Australia: 1 300 796 618; Calls from New Zealand: 0800 333 307; Outside North America, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and the UK: +1 416 260 0999.

If you would like to book an airport Departure transfer for your tour, please contact our Sales Team or your Travel Agent in advance of travel.

Cold weather: Long-sleeved shirts or sweater, Scarf, Warm gloves, Warm hat, Warm layers. Documents: Flight info, Insurance info, Passport, Vouchers and pre-departure information, Visas or vaccination certificates. Essentials: Toiletries, Binoculars (optional), Camera, Cash/credit/debit cards, Day pack, Ear plugs, First-aid kit, Flashlight/torch, Fleece top/sweater, Footwear, Hat, Headphones, Locks for bags, Long pants/jeans, Moneybelt, Outlet adapter, Personal entertainment, Reusable water bottle, Shirts/t-shirts, Sleepwear, Small travel towel, Sunglasses, Swimwear, Watch and alarm clock, Waterproof backpack cover, Windproof rain jacket. Health & Safety: Face masks, Hand sanitizer, Pen. Warm Weather: Sandals/flip-flops, Shorts/skirts, Sturdy water shoes/sandals, Sun hat/bandana, Swimwear.

All countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements. It is your own responsibility to have the correct travel documentation. CHINA: If you require a visa to enter China, you may also need an official Letter Of Invitation (LOI) before you can apply for your Chinese visa. If you require a Letter of Invitation to apply for a Chinese visa, please fill out the request form. The visa support link will be sent to you or your travel agent by email when you confirm your booking. Please ensure that you list the same details as appear on your LOI when filling out your Chinese Visa Application form. As Chinese visas are dated specifically for entry and exit, please ensure you enter the correct dates as per your flights. Do not submit the application until 3 months prior to your entry into China. The LOI will be issued within 10 business days of receipt. IMPORTANT: if you require a visa for China and plan to travel within 3 months of your entry into China, we strongly recommend that you avoid travel outside of your home country during the period between your visa application up until the time your visa is approved. Travellers must have at least two blank passport pages available for each country they will visit on your tour.

Every traveller is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travellers may drink more than others while other travellers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping.

As currency exchange rates in Asia fluctuate often we ask that you refer to www.xe.com for daily exchange rates. As of April 2024 the exchange rate for China was 1 USD = 7.25 CNY. Although the most common payment methods in China are apps such as WeChat Pay and Alipay, we strongly recommend carrying some cash as a backup, since credit cards or mobile apps may not always work. We also suggest setting up either WeChat Pay or Alipay on your device before arriving in China. This will require you link a credit or debit card to these apps and also set up a data roaming package to use in China so that you can make payments locally. Credit cards may work with big venders in first tier cities but it's not guaranteed and less likely to work in other cities or small venders.

Please also make sure you have access to at least an additional USD $200 (or equivalent) as an 'emergency' fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (ex. a natural disaster) require a change to our planned route. This is a rare occurrence!

Departure Tax is included in all International and Domestic tickets in China.

Traditionally in China tipping is not expected and thus there is no need to tip in restaurants and your general interaction with locals; however, tipping is customary - though not compulsory - in the tourism industry. There are times during the trip where there is opportunity to tip the local guides or drivers we use. Recommendations for tipping drivers and local guides would range from 1 to 3 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service. A suggestion would be for each group member to contribute anonymously by putting their tip into an envelope. Also at the end of each trip if you felt your G Adventures CEO did an outstanding job tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $5 USD per person per day can be used.

Beijing: Lama Temple Visit (25CNY per person), Temple of Heaven, Forbidden City Visit. Mutianyu: Cable Car at Great Wall (100-140CNY per person), Toboggan at Great Wall (100-140CNY per person). Xi'an: Cycling Xi'an City Walls (45-45CNY per person). Chengdu: Giant Panda Breeding Center (58CNY per person).

Please note inoculations may be required for the country visited. It is your responsibility to consult with your travel doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit and hand sanitizers/antibacterial wipes as well as any personal medical requirements. Please be aware that sometimes we are in remote areas and away from medical facilities, and for legal reasons our leaders are prohibited from administering any type of drug. In Asia pharmacies tend to stock the same western drugs as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full drug name with you when trying to purchase a prescription drug. When selecting your trip please carefully read the brochure and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. G Adventures reserves the right to exclude any traveller from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our CEO they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.

Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling. Leave your valuable jewellery at home. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. When travelling on a group trip, please note that your group leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your CEO will accompany you on all included activities. During free time, any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity. Although the cities visited are generally safe during the day, there can be risks at night. It is our recommendation to stay in small groups and to take taxis to and from restaurants. Water based activities should only be participated in with a guide. Swimming, including snorkeling, is always at your own risk.

We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling. Leave your valuable jewellery at home. Many of the hotels we use have safety deposit boxes. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage.

Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts the rest of the group at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for our travellers. The exploitation of people in the sex trade is completely contrary to our philosophy. Our CEOs have the right to expel any member of the group if drugs are found in their possession or if they utilize the services of paid sex workers, in any capacity.

Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader. A minimum coverage of USD200,000 is required for medical expenses including emergency evacuation and repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. Some tours include adventure activities that require extra coverage; please review your itinerary and make sure that you are covered for all included activities. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip with a credit card in your name.

In Asia the dress standard is more conservative than it is back home. When packing try to pick loose, lightweight, long clothing that will keep you cool in the usually hot and humid climate of Asian summers. In predominately Buddhist countries we ask that you dress respectfully and avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tanktops when visiting temples or mosques or other holy sites.

No, international flights are generally not included in the price of your tour. However, on some combo tours travelling between two different countries, international flights are included as part of the itinerary and price of the tour. Please speak to your GCO or booking agent for further details. In addition, check-in times and baggage allowances/restrictions vary by airline and can change at any time. For the most up-to-date information for your flight, please contact your airline. We recommend checking in online in advance to avoid potential delays at the airport.