Essential China

Travel from Beijing to Shanghai for a taste of ancient and modern China

Visit iconic sites and bring the fascinating history and culture of China to life. Beijing’s past spans three millennia and the scale of Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City never fail to amaze. Leaving the grandeur behind, explore the narrow hutongs of the old town. Head out of the city and step foot on one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall; here, we begin to comprehend the magnitude of this construction as it snakes across the mountains to the horizon and beyond. In Xi’an, we explore the vibrant Muslim Quarter and see the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin. A trip to China would not be complete without visiting Chengdu to see giant pandas. End in cosmopolitan Shanghai, with its unmistakable skyline illuminated at night.

Sustainability and Impact

At Exodus, we thrive on travel, and we firmly believe our adventures should help destinations thrive too.

As a certified B Corp, we aim to take a ‘nature positive’ approach across our adventures, including carbon and waste reduction, animal welfare and support for rewilding and conservation. We also seek to contribute to local communities, providing economic opportunity and empowerment.

• Learn more about our Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan, including our commitment to rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller

• Read about the work of the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation.

• Find out how you can travel more sustainably here.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

This is an adventurous trip and you should come prepared for the experience. There are large numbers of visitors at many sites and the summer heat (particularly July and August) can be intense.

Walking: Although not strenuous, the amount of walking on most days is considerable and fast-paced (we recommend comfortable walking shoes). Good fitness levels are essential. For the Great Wall visit, the walk up and down from the wall is quite steep; for anyone not wanting to do this, there is the option to take a cable car.

Transport: Our train journeys are an efficient way to cover large distances. However, the train stations are very large and can involve walking for 15-20 minutes with your luggage.

You need to be able to carry your own luggage unassisted, so please pack accordingly. It is also essential that all group members are punctual to ensure we do not miss any services.

Pace: With at least two nights in every location and a free day in Xi’an, the pace should not be too tiring but there are some early starts and long days. On days 8 and 9 in particular, early starts are required to view the pandas and to catch our morning flight to Shanghai.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

China

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for hepatitis A, polio, tetanus, typhoid, hepatitis B, Japanese encephalitis, rabies, tick-borne encephalitis and tuberculosis. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission.

Additionally, if you’re visiting Hong Kong on your trip, please be aware that dengue fever is a known risk. This is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available; therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten: apply insect repellent and wear long-sleeved shirts and trousers.

Visa

China

Most nationalities require a visa to enter China, including holders of British, US, Canadian and Australian passports. This must be obtained prior to departure. Applicants aged between 14 and 70 are required to make an in-person visit to a Chinese visa application centre where biometric data is collected. 

The Chinese authorities require a letter of invitation, which Exodus will provide you with approximately eight weeks before the start of the trip. This details all your accommodation bookings. Along with this, you need to supply a copy of your flight details, which are on your invoice if you have booked directly through Exodus.

For further information on the process for British passport holders, please see here.  

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. 

If you’re a UK citizen and would like assistance with obtaining visas, please call Travcour on 020 8543 1846 or visit their website: www.travcour-vls.com

Some governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below. 

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/china 
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/china 
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china/entry-requirements 
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/China.html 

Essential information: We must have a clear copy of the photo page of your passport. This is required to book certain ground services in China and your booking is not fully confirmed until it has been received. This must be emailed as an electronic scan to customerops@exodus.co.uk at least eight weeks prior to your trip. 

Food & Drink

All breakfasts and one lunch are included.

One of the major draws of China is its exciting and varied cuisine. On this trip, you can try many different dishes selected with your tour leader’s help and based on the group’s dietary requirements and preferences. Meals generally consist of shared dishes, which is the best way to experience as many different ingredients as possible and try things you might not usually choose. Examples of popular dishes include: ma po tofu, a delicious tofu dish made with beef, chillies and onion; gong bao chicken, a very popular dish with chilli and peanuts; Peking duck, served with hoisin sauce and pancakes; and dumplings in many shapes and sizes. Chengdu in Sichuan province is known for its spicy hotpots but you can request mild options too. There are many different dishes to try and your leader will always try to accommodate tastes, but if you do tire of Chinese food there are often opportunities to eat Western-style dishes in the cities we visit.

Vegetarians can be accommodated quite easily. Vegans will find options are limited. Not all food allergies and intolerances are well understood in China. Options that contain no gluten at all are very limited (as for example soy sauce contains gluten and is very widely used).

Weather

Beijing and Xi’an: Northern China has warm (25C+/77F+), quite humid summers, and cold dry winters. If you travel between June and August, it will be hot everywhere, except in the mountains (around the Great Wall). Some rain must be expected, possibly heavy. If you travel in September/October, you will probably get less rain and the temperatures will be fairly warm (around 20C/68F) everywhere. November is starting to get cooler (3C-13C/37F-55F) and can sometimes feel chilly. The Great Wall region will be colder than the cities due to the mountainous terrain.

Shanghai: South China is subtropical with hot (30C/86F), wet summers (May to September), and warm, relatively dry winters (November to March), though rain is possible at almost any time of year.

The winter months in China are cold (3C/37F). If travelling in November/March, be prepared for temperatures to drop below freezing at night in the north, but with almost guaranteed dry sightseeing. The weather is milder in the south.