China

With flights of 10 to 12 hours from the UK, when you arrive in China you will be rewarded with a once-in-a-lifetime experience – whether you explore Hong Kong or exciting Beijing.

There is an experience for everyone and there is a tour for every kind of traveller.  Travelling with a group tour is the most popular way to see China, offering you the opportunity to share the experience with like-minded people.  Alternatively, you may prefer the degree of independence offered by private tours.  

There are the classic tours to visit the must-see, iconic sights such as ancient Beijing, the Great Wall of China, vibrant Shanghai, Xian's Terracotta Warriors, the renowned Giant Pandas and the epic 4,000-mile Yangtze River.

Journey along the historic Silk Road, admire the mountains of Zhangjiajie and explore the roundhouses of Xiamen. Or, why not pursue your passion with a unique special interest tour, including cookery, gardening and photography.

When to visit

China benefits from varied weather patterns all year round, and the changing seasons provide a wealth of experiences whenever you travel.

During spring and autumn enjoy the cool, crisp air and big skies at the Great Wall and the subtropical warmth of Guilin and the Yangtze River, and in summer take in the lush mountain scenery and crystalline turquoise water of Nine Villages Valley, or explore the grasslands of Mongolia or Shangri-La in Yunnan.

In winter the festivals take over. See majestic ice sculptures in Harbin, explore the Forbidden City glistening under a sprinkling of snow, and join the revellers in Hong Kong or Shanghai at Chinese New Year

A visa is required for China – some tour operators even include this in the price of your tour and will complete the paperwork for you once they have received your passport and passport-sized photos. You do, however, need to allow at least six weeks to complete the visa process.