How to Pack up
We suggest that each person packs up one rollable suitcase with the weight under 20 kg/44lb. You will also need a day pack/bag to carry water, cameras and other electronics like iPods and mobile phones. You don't need bring your kites far away from home. We do that!
Checklist
It's only for reference and you may not need all of them. Choose from below according to the tour you pick up:
Passport (with photocopies)
Travel insurance (with photocopies)
Airline tickets/e-tickets
USD cash and travelers checks
Credit or debit card (see personal spending money)
ChinaExpeditionTours vouchers and trip dossier
Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
Day pack for daily personal items
Wet wipes / Moist towelettes
Alarm clock(on your cellphone)
Flashlight(on your cellphone)
Sun hat, Sun block, Sunglasses
Insect Repellent
Water bottle and plastic mug for train journeys
Ear plugs for train journeys or light sleepers
Small towel and swim wear
Toiletries (biodegradable)
Sturdy walking shoes/Sport sandals (for warm seasons)
Money belt
Shorts for summer months (June – September)
Long pants
Shirts/T-shirts
Warm clothes for Nov-Mar. Fleece, Jacket, hat and gloves
Umbrella or waterproof jacket.
Cover for backpack or plastic bags to keep clothes dry.
Camera with capable enough memory card
Reading/writing material
Binoculars
Pocketknife
First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder, extra prescription drugs you may be taking).
Local Dress
In China, the dress code generally tends to be more conservative compared to Western countries. While cultural norms evolve rapidly, contemporary Chinese youth often share similar interests with their Western counterparts. When packing, opt for loose, lightweight, and long clothing to ensure comfort in the typically hot and humid summer climate. In regions predominantly influenced by Buddhism and Islam, we emphasize the importance of dressing respectfully. It is advised to avoid very short shorts/skirts and singlets/tank tops when visiting temples, mosques, or other holy sites.
Spending Money
Every traveler is different and therefore spending money requirements will vary. Some travelers may drink more than others while other travelers like to purchase more souvenirs than most. Please consider your own spending habits when it comes to allowing for drinks, shopping and tipping. Please also remember the following specific recommendations when planning your trip.
Payment during Your Trip
First of all, we recommend the use of cash in USD currency. There are many ATM machines that accept both Visa and MasterCard and other credit cards in most Chinese cities. Major credit cards are accepted in shopping malls and big shops but mostly they may charge a 2-4% transaction fee. For small shops and street venders, traditionally they take cash (either Chinese Yuan or US dollar) only. But nowadays, for almost all merchants/sellers, including shopping malls, big shops, small grocery stores and street venders, they all accept WeChat Pay or AliPay. Learn more about how to use Mobile Payment in China.
Meals (dining for seniors or people with limited mobility)
Culinary exploration plays a significant role in your travel experience in China. With China Expedition Tours, you have the opportunity to savor a diverse range of exquisite cuisine available nationwide. Typically, breakfasts and lunches are included in the itinerary, while dinners are left optional to provide flexibility in choosing where, what, and with whom to dine. Throughout your journey, your group leader or local guide will offer recommendations for favored restaurants, enhancing your dining experience.
Given the distinct dietary requirements for seniors, we place significant emphasis on the offerings provided by the selected restaurants. Our approach is focused on achieving a harmonious balance between meeting the preferences of the seniors and ensuring that the food choices align with both health considerations and the distinctive features offered by the restaurants. Thus far, our efforts have been successful in achieving a thoughtful equilibrium in catering to the diverse needs of the seniors while incorporating wholesome and distinctive menu options provided by the selected restaurants.
Emergency Fund
It is imperative to ensure access to a supplementary fund of at least USD 200 (or equivalent) as an "emergency" reserve. This reserve is intended to be utilized in situations beyond our control that may necessitate alterations to our planned route. It is important to emphasize that such occurrences are infrequent.
Tipping
It is customary to tip service providers in travel industry in Asia, at approximately 10%, depending on the service. Tipping is expected - though not compulsory - and shows an expression of satisfaction with the people who have assisted you on your tour. Although it may not be customary to you, it is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels. Recommendations for tipping local guides would range from $3-$5 USD per person per day depending on the quality and length of the service, for driver, it could be half. If necessary, ask your tour leader or your China Expedition Tours tour consultant for specific recommendations based on the circumstances. If you have a tour leader for the whole tour, at the end of the trip if you felt he/she did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. The amount is entirely a personal preference, however as a guideline $3-5 USD per person, per day is suggested.
Local Flights
All internal flights are included in the quote 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 all e-tickets. They are issued locally and you will be given the information of them prior to the flight departure.
Laundry
Generally laundry facilities are offered by our hotels for a charge. You also can go to a laundry service center near your hotel to have your clothing washed at a lower cost. There will be opportunities when you may want to or have to do your own laundry, so we suggest you bring non-polluting/biodegradable soap.
Safety and Security
We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe keeping of your passport, cash and other valuable items. Many of the hotels we cooperate with have safety deposit boxes which are the most secure way of storing your valuables. Lockable luggage is recommended.
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. When travelling on a trip, please note that your group leader or local guides has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it is deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Your leader or local guides will accompany you on all included activities. During your trip you will have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your group leader or local guides will assist you with options available in a given location please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and we offer no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
Health
For such an Accessible Classic China Discovery, you are highly suggested to consult your doctor for up-to-date medical travel information well before departure. We recommend that you carry a First Aid kit as well as any personal medical requirements. In China pharmacies tend to stock the same western medicines as you get at home but they are usually produced locally so please bring the full medicine name with you when trying to purchase a prescription medicine. When selecting a tour please carefully read the itinerary and assess your ability to cope with our style of travel. Please refer to the Physical and Culture Shock ratings in the itinerary. For travelers over 70 years a completed Medical Form is required. China Expedition Tours reserves the right to exclude any traveler from all or part of a trip without refund if in the reasonable opinion of our group leader or local guides they are unable to complete the itinerary without undue risk to themselves and/or the rest of the group.
Medical Form
Travelers over the age of 70, or travelers with a pre-existing medical condition, are required to complete a short medical questionnaire, which must be signed by their doctor. This is to ensure that senior travelers have the necessary fitness and mobility to comfortably complete their chosen trip.
Travel Insurance
Our tour package includes Travel Insurance we buy from our insurance company/agent in China. Although, we still highly suggest that you purchase your own Travel Insurance from your insurance company/agent in your country before your trip.
Passport & Visas
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your air tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport.
Please note that visas for China and Hong Kong are the responsibility of the individual traveler. The visa requirements for your trip vary depending on where you are from and where you are going. Americans, British, Canadians, Australians and New Zealanders do currently require a visa for China. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your government. For the most up to date information please check your governments' foreign ministry website. It is important that you check for yourself. For most travelers there will probably have an embassy and consulate in the country that you live in. Please note if you are travelling from China, into Hong Kong then back into China, you will need a double entry Chinese visa. Note that on some occasions people transiting through China on way to Hong Kong have been made to go through immigration and had their single entry visa stamped making this invalid. Do not allow your visa to be stamped if you are only going through transit.
Keeping in Touch
Internet access is everywhere now in China, even in a small village. So, with your smartphone, iPad or laptop, you can get connected with your family and friends easily. So far, some social media such as Facebook, Instagram, X, WhatsApp, etc. are not available in mainland China. However, there’s something called VPN. We highly recommend you to get a VPN on your smartphone before your China trip, so that you will get the full accessibility of those social medias during your China trip. Learn more about the VPN usage here.
WhatsApp and WeChat are both very convenient for live contact. We strongly recommend you to add our Customer Care’s WhatsApp and WeChat (86 139 7836 9041 or 86 189 7869 1566), so that you and us are able to contact each other anytime necessary.
Feedback
After your trip with us, we want to hear from you! Your feedback information is so important and valuable to us and we'll record it and give you CET travel points so you can use the points to get discount for your next CET trip or your friends' CET tours. Therefore, we appreciate your understanding of our “China Expedition Tours Evaluation Questionnaire” at every destination, and our email to you for overall feedback after your trip.
