Know Before You Go

Your advisor starts with your interests, time, budget and companions, then works with you on routes, accommodation, private transport and local experiences. You can inquire before deciding dates. Reservations follow once the plan, quote and service terms are agreed.

An advisor will first reply within 24 hours. After discussing your needs, we usually deliver a draft itinerary in 2–3 business days.

Minor adjustments can be made up to 15 days before departure. However, some pre-booked hotels or tickets may be non-refundable. We recommend reviewing every detail carefully at confirmation — we'll do our best to accommodate your needs.

We plan private custom journeys through China’s popular cities and natural landscapes. Find inspiration in destinations such as Beijing, Shanghai, Yunnan, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Tibet, then combine places around your interests, time and companions. Specific services and arrangements are confirmed in your plan.

It depends on what you want. Beijing is the capital of history and culture — the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, and hutong alleys give you 'ancient China' in one stop. Shanghai is the modern gateway — the Bund, the Lujiazui skyline, and nearby water towns show today's China. For a first visit of 5 days or fewer, most travelers pick Beijing. If you can spare 7+ days, do both cities — the bullet train links them in 4.5–6 hours. Our Beijing Heritage Classic and Shanghai Modern Classic tours work solo or back-to-back.

Both are world-class landscapes with completely different characters. Guilin (Yangshuo) is a karst ink-painting scenery: Li River bamboo rafts and cycling through rice-paddy peaks — relaxed pacing that suits photographers, families, and honeymoons. Zhangjiajie is a sandstone-pillar forest: 3,000+ stone columns, the Avatar floating-mountain prototype, glass walkways, and Tianmen Mountain's winding road — more dramatic, better for hikers and thrill-seekers. Allow 3–4 days for Guilin, 3 for Zhangjiajie. Can't decide? Our custom trips can chain both via Changsha and show you two kinds of mountains in one journey.

For the classic first route (Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai), 10–12 days is comfortable and 8 days is the compact version. With a week or less, pick one or two cities and go deep rather than rushing. For regions such as (Xinjiang, Tibet, the Qinghai-Gansu loop, Yunnan), budget 7–10 days each — they're vast, and depth beats checkboxes. Not sure how to structure it? Tell us your holiday length and interests and we'll draft a plan for free.

Choose based on how much planning support you want, your travel experience and your companions’ needs. Private custom travel suits families, friends and private groups who want help with routes, stays, transport and local experiences. Start with cities or natural landscapes and leave room for independent exploring if you wish. Arrangements depend on distances, seasons and availability.

Tour prices listed on our website generally do not include flights, so you can fly from wherever is convenient. We're happy to help book flights separately — costs will be quoted additionally. A detailed final quote is provided once the itinerary is confirmed.

We guarantee transparent pricing. All included and excluded items are clearly listed in your trip confirmation. Common optional activities (camel rides, costume rentals, etc.) are always communicated in advance so you can budget accordingly.

Yes! Groups of 6 or more enjoy discounted rates. The exact savings depend on group size and destination — contact us for a custom quote.

You can reach us in several ways: 1) Fill out the custom trip form on our website; 2) Message us directly on WhatsApp or LINE; 3) Email service@hangchentravel.com. We respond within 24 hours.

We recommend booking 4–8 weeks ahead. During peak seasons (July–September and Chinese New Year), 2–3 months is ideal. Popular sites like Tibet and the Mogao Caves require advance permits, so more lead time is needed.

Private custom planning can start with one traveler and also suits families, friends and private groups. Vehicles, rooms and activities are planned around your actual group size. There is no blanket small-group size limit across all itineraries; departure availability and price depend on your confirmed plan.

We suggest hotels or distinctive local stays based on your budget, companions and preferences. Share your room and bed requirements, whether children are travelling and any other needs. Properties, room occupancy and costs depend on the agreed plan and availability.

Private transport and transfers can be arranged around your itinerary. Share your group size, luggage and pickup locations so your advisor can confirm the vehicle, service hours, covered routes and costs. Full-trip vehicle use is not automatically included in every route.

Tell your advisor whether you need a guide or tour leader, your preferred service language and the experiences you want to explore. Staffing, service days and fees depend on the destination and itinerary and will be confirmed in your written plan.

We accept bank transfers, Alipay, and WeChat Pay. Typically, a 30% deposit is required to confirm the booking, with the balance due 7 days before departure. Detailed payment instructions are provided at confirmation.

Refunds depend on timing: cancel 30+ days before departure for a 50% deposit refund; 15–29 days for 30%; within 14 days, the deposit is non-refundable. For unforeseen circumstances, contact us and we'll work something out.

Our hours are Monday–Sunday, 9:00–21:00 Beijing Time. We first reply to email, WhatsApp and LINE inquiries within 24 hours. After discussing your needs, we usually provide a draft itinerary in 2–3 business days.

Before departure, confirm your trip contacts and emergency contact arrangements with your advisor. In an emergency, contact local emergency services first and reach your travel service contacts through the agreed channels. Accompanying staff and service hours depend on your itinerary.

Expect roughly ¥560-660 for second class. The line uses floating fares — up to 20-30% variation by train and date — so treat 12306's live price as the truth.

The fastest G trains do it in about 4.5 hours; most run 5-6. Door to door, counting airport transfers and check-in, rail usually beats flying on this corridor.

Beijing South and Shanghai Hongqiao, both directly linked to the metro. The stations are airport-scale — budget 40-60 minutes from door to platform.

Yes — counters and some machines accept passports. Popular trains sell out when sales open, so book ahead on 12306 (foreign passport registration supported) or Trip.com, and use the waitlist feature.

On corridors of 4-5 hours or less, rail usually wins door-to-door with far better punctuality. Beyond six hours, a discounted flight wins.

Yes. Major international eSIM platforms sell mainland-China data plans that activate on landing. Confirm the plan lists China mainland specifically — many Greater China plans cover only Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

Most travel eSIMs are data-only. Tourists rarely need a local number — hotels, rides and payments all happen inside apps; your primary roaming SIM can catch any SMS codes.

Yes — that is the recommended setup: primary SIM for voice, eSIM for data. Your home number keeps receiving bank codes and family texts unaffected.

Most platforms support instant online top-ups that activate within minutes. Choosing a refillable plan beats buying one oversized package.

Nearly all plans allow tethering (a few unlimited plans except it). One phone powering one laptop is effortless; groups often do better with one plan each.

Cellular iPads and eSIM-capable laptops install plans directly; everything else rides your phone's hotspot.

Not necessarily. An eSIM solves connectivity; restrictions on some foreign services apply regardless of how you connect. If your trip depends on them, prepare before departure per our China internet guide.

The local app ecosystem — WeChat, Amap, Alipay, domestic streaming — runs at fully normal speeds. Downloads, navigation and payments are smooth throughout.

Generally no. Hotel WiFi runs in the same network environment as mobile data, so foreign-service availability is identical; WiFi saves data, it does not change reach.

Yes. WeChat voice and video calls are stable and free for both sides on WiFi or data — the default way to stay in touch with people in China.

Major airports have it, but authentication usually requires a mobile number for a code. Travelers with eSIM or roaming use that number; staffed desks can also help.

Yes. Mainland iCloud operates through a local partner; photo sync, backups and Find My work normally.

Not advised. Foreign SIMs roam in the mainland only where carrier agreements allow — some fail entirely. Without data, payments and navigation stall immediately. Carry roaming or an eSIM.

Roaming is zero-setup but pricey, suiting trips under a week; eSIMs offer better value and flexible data and suit most travelers. Both solve connectivity only.

Risky. Some foreign apps are absent from mainland app stores, and the network complicates installs. Finish every download, account and setup before departure.

The international TikTok is not reachable from the mainland. The domestic counterpart, Douyin, offers a similar experience and works fully.

Install both. Alipay is the workhorse — most reliable foreign-card support and the best English interface — while some merchants are WeChat-only, and you need WeChat itself for messaging and ride-hailing anyway.

No — the apps do not dispense cash. Use a physical UnionPay, Visa or Mastercard bank card at a matching ATM; daily limits apply.

The occupational hazard of a cashless country: shared power banks rent by scanning a QR code at essentially every restaurant and mall. Carry a cable and start important days above 50%.

Refunds return to your linked international card automatically, usually within 1-14 business days; progress is visible in the app.

Start with ¥300-500 and top up as needed. Loading locks in the day's exchange rate, suits small frequent payments and trips fewer bank fraud filters.

At store terminals, Apple Pay rides the UnionPay system, so foreign-card wallets mostly fail. The workable equivalent is adding your international card inside Alipay.

Coverage is near-total, from five-star hotels to street stalls. For the rare holdout — remote stalls, some temple tickets, deposit locks — keep a little cash.

¥300-500 is plenty. Mobile payments cover over ninety percent of situations; cash is a reserve, not a strategy.

Visa requirements depend on your passport, travel purpose, length of stay and complete itinerary. Unilateral visa exemptions, bilateral agreements and visa-free transit have different conditions. The National Immigration Administration added Indonesia to the 240-hour transit scheme in 2025, so the old 54-country figure is outdated. Check the latest immigration and Chinese embassy notices for your departure date. If no exemption applies, arrange the appropriate visa in advance.

Checked: 2026-09-12

Official policy source

Visa requirements depend on your passport, travel purpose, length of stay and complete itinerary. Unilateral visa exemptions, bilateral agreements and visa-free transit have different conditions. The National Immigration Administration added Indonesia to the 240-hour transit scheme in 2025, so the old 54-country figure is outdated. Check the latest immigration and Chinese embassy notices for your departure date. If no exemption applies, arrange the appropriate visa in advance.

Checked: 2026-09-12

Official policy source

Yes. Foreign passport holders must obtain the Tibet Travel Permit (入藏函) before entering Tibet. The application goes through a registered Tibet tour operator, and foreign visitors must join an organized itinerary — fully independent travel is not possible. Border passes are additionally required for Everest Base Camp and the Ngari region. Travelers from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are exempt. Our Tibet tours include permit handling and a guide throughout — you only need to provide your passport details.

Lhasa sits at about 3,650 m, and some travelers experience mild altitude symptoms — headache, breathlessness, or trouble sleeping — that usually ease within 1–2 days. Our advice: take it easy for the first two days, avoid strenuous activity and alcohol, drink plenty of water, and sleep well; consult your doctor about preventive medication beforehand. Our Tibet itineraries are designed with a gradual gain in altitude, and your guide monitors how you feel throughout.

No — tap water in China is not drinkable without boiling. Drink bottled water, or use the electric kettle provided in virtually every hotel room; hot water and tea are available in almost all hotels and restaurants. We keep bottled water in our tour vehicles throughout your trip.

Squat toilets are the norm at scenic spots and street-level public restrooms, while shopping malls, hotels, airports, and upscale restaurants usually have Western-style toilets (many public restrooms also have an accessible sit-down stall). Carry your own tissue and hand sanitizer, as toilet paper is not always provided. China's recent 'toilet revolution' has greatly improved the number and cleanliness of public restrooms in cities and major attractions.

China uses 220V/50Hz power. The most common sockets are two flat pins (Type A, same as the US/Japan) and three angled pins (Type I, same as Australia/NZ). US two-pin devices plug straight in; European (Type C/F) and UK (Type G) plugs need an adapter. Most modern phones and laptops have 100–240V chargers and work fine, but older 110V appliances like hair dryers should not be used. A universal travel adapter covers everything.

Almost all daily spending can be handled by mobile payment — both Alipay and WeChat Pay accept international cards (see our payment guide). Still, we recommend carrying a small amount of cash (around RMB 200–500): street vendors, temple donations, and some rural shops may only take cash. You can exchange money at airport counters or withdraw from ATMs that accept foreign cards.

Google Maps technically loads in China, but it has two problems: it needs proper network access (see our internet guide), and its location drifts by dozens to over a hundred meters with outdated listings. We recommend switching to Amap (Gaode) or Baidu Maps inside China — both offer web versions and English interfaces. For taxis, use DiDi's international app, which supports English and foreign cards. On our tours, your driver and guide handle all navigation.

Hotels should not refuse international guests because they lack a supposed foreign-guest qualification. You still need valid identification and accommodation registration. Confirm the registration process and reception services before booking. A 2024 notice from China's Ministry of Commerce and six other departments prohibits qualification barriers to hosting international guests.

Checked: 2026-09-12

Official policy source

Yes. Nearly all high-speed stations offer left luggage — either staffed counters or self-service lockers — typically RMB 10–30 per bag per day depending on station and locker size. Smart lockers take mobile payment; staffed counters may ask for ID. At busy hubs like Beijing South or Shanghai Hongqiao, lockers fill up on holidays — drop bags early. Storing big luggage on a transit day while you explore light is a common and convenient trick.

'Golden Week' refers to China's two nation-wide holidays: Chinese New Year (January–February, about 8 days) and National Day (October 1–7). Hundreds of millions of people travel at once: top attractions are packed, train tickets sell out, and hotel rates jump. If your dates are flexible, avoid these windows; if not, book 1–2 months ahead and bring patience for queues. That said, New Year temple fairs and lantern displays are a once-a-year experience.

China is generally great value. Rough per-person daily budgets (excluding international flights): budget style around RMB 300–500 (hostels/budget hotels, second-class high-speed rail, local eateries); comfortable style around RMB 800–1,500 (4-star hotels, private car or soft sleeper). First-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai run 20–40% pricier than the west (Xinjiang, Gansu). Attraction tickets typically cost RMB 40–200, and a hearty local meal can be RMB 30–60.

Yes, with some preparation. Airports, metro systems, and major stations in big cities have English signage, and younger people usually manage basic English. English menus are less common, so install a translation app (Youdao, or Google Translate with offline Chinese pack). The real challenge is the west and rural areas. If you would like language support, tell your advisor which language and service days you need. Staffing and costs will be confirmed in your private travel plan.