China on a Shoestring

21 days
•
From Beijing to Shanghai
4.6
23 traveler reviews
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 1
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 2
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 3
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 4
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  • I have recommended explore to friends and family.

    J
    Judith, traveled in May
    5.0
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 6
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 7
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 8
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 9
  • China on a Shoestring - Explore! 10
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Plan your adventure:
Gold Operator
Explore!
In-depth Cultural
Immerse yourself in rich history and local traditions
Group Tour
Join a group and forge lifelong friendships
Fully Guided
An experienced guide will be with you for the entire tour
Guided in English
Group Size 7 - 14
Ages 14+

Places You’ll See

  • Yichang
    Yichang
  • Chongqing
    Chongqing
  • Chengdu
    Chengdu
  • Yangshuo
    Yangshuo
  • Guilin
    Guilin
  • Shanghai
    Shanghai
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore the vast Forbidden City in Beijing
  • Walk the Great Wall at Mutianyu
  • See the Terracotta Warriors in Xian
  • Cruise the Yangtse River and visit gorges
  • Meet Giant Pandas at Chengdu's center

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 Join trip in Beijing
  2. Day 2 Discover the sights of Beijing including the Forbidden City
  3. Day 3 Discover the Temple of Heaven, free afternoon in Beijing
  4. Day 4 Walk the Great Wall; overnight train to Xian
  5. Day 5 Free time to explore Xian's Muslim Quarter
  6. Day 6 Discover the Terracotta Army; optional Tea Ceremony
  7. Day 7 Morning train to Yichang; board the Yangtse riverboat
  8. Day 8 Cruise down the Yangtse River and through Xiling Gorge
  9. Day 9 Continue down the Yangtse River; passing through Wu and Qutang Gorge
  10. Day 10 Visit Fengdu Ghost City and take part in the Captain's farwell dinner
  11. Day 11 Disembark riverboat; bullet train to Chengdu
  12. Day 12 Visit the Panda Research Centre and take the bullet train to Sanjiang before driving to Ma An Zhai Village
  13. Day 13 Drive to Ma An Zhai Village. Evening with local family
  14. Day 14 Meet Yao families in Longji and Dazhai Village
  15. Day 15 Hike from Dazhai to Pingan, passing incredible views
  16. Day 16 Transfer from Pingan to Yangshuo
  17. Day 17 Free day in Yangshuo; optional bike hire and cooking classes
  18. Day 18 Transfer to Guilin; overnight train to Shanghai
  19. Day 19 Free day in Shanghai; stroll along the Shanghai Bund
  20. Day 20 Optional visit to the Pearl TV and Radio Tower
  21. Day 21 Trip ends in Shanghai
Want to read it later?

Download this tour’s PDF brochure and start tour planning offline

What's Included

Expand All
  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport
  • Free eSIM
    TourRadar offers the lead traveler (the person who booked) a free 1GB eSIM for the trip. The eSIM is redeemable only through the TourRadar app 72 hours before departure.
  • Optional Extras

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Additional Services

Customer Photos

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Operated by

Explore!

4.5
(8,552 reviews)
This operator has high review ratings and responds promptly to enquiries

Number of tours

533

Age Range

16 to 85 years old

Response time

within 1 day

Response rate

96%

Explore is a global adventure travel company with 42 years’ experience in...

Read more

Sustainability Initiatives

Reduce Carbon Emissions

Animal Welfare

Supporting Destinations

Sustainability Programs

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Excellent
    4.6
  • Itinerary
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Guide
    Excellent
    4.8
  • Transport
    Excellent
    4.9
  • Accommodation
    Excellent
    4.1
  • Food
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Tour Operator
    Explore!
    4.5
  • Most Recent
  • Most Popular
  • Highest First
  • Lowest First
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    -
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review.
    Trip date: August 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    This was our first excursion with Explore. From beginning to end every day was a highlight, mainly due to the itinerary and Oliver’s attention to detail, ensuring we got the very best out of the tour.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your lovely review and praise for Oliver.
    Trip date: September 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    Really enjoyed out trio and have already recommended Explore to family and friends.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review and recommendation.
    Trip date: September 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    Great trip. Learned a lot about China and looking forward to building on this now we are back. Great food, fascinating itinerary and a truly superb guide. Thank you Oliver.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review and praise for Oliver.
    Trip date: September 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    -
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review.
    Trip date: September 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • A
    · December 23rd, 2019
    Our group of 18 were one of the best Explore groups I've travelled with. I think we 'behaved' well in that we always turned up on time or even early, and we got on very well with Oliver. He gave us his email address because I think he wanted to keep in touch.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review and praise for Oliver!
    Trip date: September 2019
    Review collected by Explore!
  • R
    · November 2nd, 2019
    You will see a huge variety of things, ranging from ancient buildings, spectacular scenery, Pandas, everyday life of remote communities and cities. The trip goes mainly by public transport so you will see the real Chinese way of live and interact with Chinese domestic tourists.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review and sharing your photos. Glad you enjoyed your trip!
    China on a Shoestring customer review photo 1China on a Shoestring customer review photo 2China on a Shoestring customer review photo 3China on a Shoestring customer review photo 4China on a Shoestring customer review photo 5China on a Shoestring customer review photo 6
    Trip date: October 2019
  • A
    · May 17th, 2019
    More of the same
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review. Hope to travel with you in the future.
    Trip date: October 2018
  • A
    · May 17th, 2019
    An excellent experience.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review. Hope to travel with you in the future.
    Trip date: August 2018
  • A
    · May 17th, 2019
    As an introduction to China it was excellent.
    Show more
    Explore! commented on this review
    Thanks for your review. I am really pleased that you enjoyed your trip to China and hope to see you travelling with us again in the future!
    Trip date: March 2018

What our customers ask about this tour

The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
All questions
  • L

    Lawrence

    Asked on January 30th, 2024

    How much does the China on a shoestring tour 21 days cost? What are the departure dates?

    Price / Availability
    Tour Details
    • Explore!Operator•Written February 2024

      Unfortunately we no longer run this trip, my sincerest apologies. Please let me know if there were any other trips you were interested in.

Can’t find the answer to your question?
Reach out to the experts at Explore! with your enquiry, they usually respond within 1 day.

No departure dates available

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Plan your adventure:

Good to Know

Tour ID: 124809

  • Currency
    ¥
    Yuan Renminbi
    China
  • Plugs & Adapters

    As a traveler from New Zealand you will need an adaptor for type G.

    Type G
    China
    Type I
    China
  • Vaccines
    • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
    • Typhoid - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Hepatitis A - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Cholera - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
    • Tuberculosis - Recommended for China. Ideally 3 months before travel.
    • Hepatitis B - Recommended for China. Ideally 2 months before travel.
    • Rabies - Recommended for China. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Yellow fever - Certificate of vaccination required if arriving from an area with a risk of yellow fever transmission for China. Ideally 10 days before travel.
    • Japanese B encephalitis - Recommended for China. Ideally 1 month before travel.
    • Tick-borne encephalitis - Recommended for China. Ideally 6 months before travel.
  • Visa
    • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
    • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
  • Payment information
    • For any tour departing before October 20th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after October 20th, 2025, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Explore!. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 75 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
    • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Explore! will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
    • The following cards are accepted for "Explore!" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
  • Cancellation Policy
  • Accessibility
    Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.
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AdultsAges 18 or above

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