Rickshaw Travel

ABTAATOL Protected

  • Destinations
  • Family holidays
  • Travel guides
  • About us
  • Blog
My Travel Plan
Loading...

Your travel plan is empty!

Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan. Click on 'My Travel Plan' to see what you've added and send it to us. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day.

Get started!

Added so far...

We'll create your dream holiday

    Next, review & send us your travel plan for your quote

    Request your quote

    Or view/email a copy of your travel plan

    View your travel plan
     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

     Your next steps

    1. Add your favourite trips or an itinerary to your travel plan
    2. Click the Request your quote button to send it over to us
    3. Our travel specialists will piece your holiday together (including transport & accommodation) and send you a quote within one working day

    • Destinations
      • Asia
        • Bhutan
        • China
        • India
        • Japan
        • Nepal
        • Sri Lanka
        • Tibet
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Laos
        • Malaysia
        • Myanmar
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
      • Central America
        • Belize
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Guatemala
        • Mexico
        • Nicaragua
        • Panama
      • South America
        • Argentina
        • Bolivia
        • Brazil
        • Chile
        • Ecuador & Galapagos
        • Peru
      • View all destinations
    • Family holidays
      • Asia
        • India
        • Sri Lanka
      • South East Asia
        • Borneo
        • Cambodia
        • Indonesia
        • Thailand
        • Vietnam
      • North America
        • Canada
        • USA
      • Central America
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
      • South America
        • Peru
    • Travel guides
      • Travel guides by destination
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • Ecuador
        • Galapagos
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Japan
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Vietnam
      • Family Holiday Guides
        • Borneo
        • Canada
        • Costa Rica
        • Cuba
        • India
        • Indonesia
        • Malaysia
        • Peru
        • Sri Lanka
        • Thailand
        • USA
        • Vietnam
      • Inspiration
        • Beaches
        • City stopovers
        • Diving and snorkelling
        • Food & drink
        • Honeymoons
        • Self drive
        • Trekking
        • Unique experiences
        • Wildlife & safari
      • Where to Go When
        • January
        • February
        • March
        • April
        • May
        • June
        • July
        • August
        • September
        • October
        • November
        • December
    • About us
      • Discover more
        • Our values
        • Meet the team
        • How we work
        • Work with us
        • Customer reviews
        • In the news
        • Contact us
      • Responsible travel
        • Responsible travel
        • Animal welfare
        • Local projects
        • Our Responsible Travel Policy
        • How to be a responsible traveller
      • Travel Advice
        • Accommodation
        • Covid-19
        • Flights
        • Honeymoon Gift Service
        • LGBTQ+ travellers
        • Refer a Friend
        • Travel insurance
        • Visas & passports
    • Blog
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth AmericaView all destinations
    BhutanChinaIndiaJapanNepalSri LankaTibet
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaLaosMalaysiaMyanmarThailandVietnam
    Canada
    BelizeCosta RicaCubaGuatemalaMexicoNicaraguaPanama
    ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilChileEcuador & GalapagosPeru
     
     
    AsiaSouth East AsiaNorth AmericaCentral AmericaSouth America
    IndiaSri Lanka
     
    BorneoCambodiaIndonesiaThailandVietnam
     
    CanadaUSA
     
    Costa RicaCuba
     
    Peru
     
    Travel guides by destinationFamily Holiday GuidesInspirationWhere to Go When
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador
    • Galapagos
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Japan
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Vietnam
    • Borneo
    • Canada
    • Costa Rica
    • Cuba
    • India
    • Indonesia
    • Malaysia
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Thailand
    • Vietnam
    • USA
    BeachesCity stopoversDiving and snorkellingFood & drinkHoneymoonsSelf driveTrekkingUnique experiencesWildlife & safari
    • January
    • February
    • March
    • April
    • May
    • June
    • July
    • August
    • September
    • October
    • November
    • December
    Discover moreResponsible travelTravel Advice
    Our valuesMeet the teamHow we workWork with usCustomer reviewsIn the newsContact us
    Responsible travelAnimal welfareLocal projectsOur Responsible Travel PolicyHow to be a responsible traveller
    AccommodationCovid-19FlightsHoneymoon Gift ServiceLGBTQ+ travellersRefer a FriendTravel insuranceVisas & passports

    Rickshaw Ramblings

    • Browse by Destination
    • Argentina
    • Bhutan
    • Bolivia
    • Borneo
    • Borneo for Families
    • Brazil
    • Brighton
    • Cambodia
    • Cambodia for Families
    • Canada
    • Canada for Families
    • Chile
    • China
    • Costa Rica
    • Costa Rica for Families
    • Cuba
    • Ecuador & Galapagos
    • Family
    • India
    • Indochina
    • Indonesia
    • Indonesia for Families
    • Japan
    • Laos
    • Malaysia
    • Mexico
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Nicaragua
    • Panama
    • Peru
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sri Lanka for Families
    • Thailand
    • Tibet
    • USA for families
    • Vietnam
    • Vietnam for Families
    • Browse by Theme
    • 24 hours in...
    • Competition
    • Cultural
    • Customers stories
    • Family travel
    • Food and drink
    • Friends of Rickshaw
    • History
    • Responsible travel
    • Top tips
    • Wellness
    • Wildlife

    27th July 2015 by Fiona • 10 min read

    Handy tips for your first China trip

    info-btn Top tips pin China

    Share:

    Man at Great Wall of China

    Speak to our China specialist

    Enquire now

    As the old Chinese proverb goes, “be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” Oh yes. As a merry gang of globetrotters, that’s one motto the Rickshaw team can get on board with. And what better place to go for a, erm, ‘trot’ than the home of the proverb itself! To make life easier, our resident China Travel Specialist Fiona has answered some of her frequently asked questions…

    When to go

     

    yuyuan garden shanghai

    It’s possible to travel to China all year round, but there are some specific climate zones and seasons to bear in mind. We recommend visiting during the spring or autumn when the weather is pleasant and you can dodge some of the crowds by travelling outside of the peak tourist season.

    It’s worth bearing in mind when planning your trip that Chinese New Year occurs in either January or February and most locals take this opportunity to visit family. This means most flights, trains, buses and accommodation are full or very expensive!

    Although April – May and September – October are the best months to visit, we wouldn’t recommend travelling in the first week of May or the first week of October as these are also national Chinese holidays and once again all means of transport and accommodation can get booked up really quickly.

    Where to go: North China

     

    couple at the great wall, china

    North China is home to heaps of cultural spots, from the famous Great Wall to nomadic villages, and is known for its dry, hot summers and long, cold winters. On the other side of the coin, the winter months here are very cold and Beijing’s daytime temperatures are usually around freezing. So, if you’re planning a winter break, be sure to pack warm clothing to keep you snug.

    View our North China trips

    Where to go: South China

     

    Customers sitting on bamboo raft in China

    Whether you want to explore ancient lantern-lit cities or sail between breath-taking karst mountains, South China has it all. With more of a subtropical climate than in the north, the south enjoys long, hot and humid summers (with plenty tropical showers thrown in for good measure), and cool, short winters.

    View our South China trips

    Getting around China

    China is a vast country and often domestic flights can have both unpredictable schedules and very high fare tags to go along with them. Travelling by train offers a more affordable and adventurous way to get from place to place.

    If you’re planning on travelling by sleeper train, there are two cabin options to choose from: Hard Sleeper and Soft Sleeper. You can read about these differences and more on our handy Guide to China’s Trains. It’s good to be aware that on some routings it can be tricky to purchase soft-sleeper tickets.

    relaxing on the train in chinaTrain tickets in China are currently released for sale 2 months ahead of the train’s departure. Local ticketing offices require a digital copy of travellers’ passports to be able to purchase tickets for you and you will need to have this passport with you when getting onto your train.

    As more and more of China opens up to high speed train travel there are so many more options now for getting to those destinations on your bucket list. High speed train travel offers the benefit of comfort and speed but without breaking the bank. Usually these trains have two cabin classes; 1st class and 2nd class. The main difference being the seat size and in the 1st class carriage the seat configuration is 2 – 2 with a wider aisle. In second class the configuration would be 2 – 3.

    Read more about getting around in China

    What to eat

     

    China has a vast array of cuisine to offer. You’ll find everything from scorpions on a stick to gorgeous noodle dishes and of course the Szechuan Hot Pot. Our trips to China are slightly different to our trips in other parts of the world which generally include a breakfast. Based on experience from the Rickshaw team and returning customers, we decided that it is best for you to have the choice of what you want to eat for breakfast. Having said this, some hotels offer a free breakfast with your stay so be sure to ask your Travel Specialist where these are most likely to be included if this is important for you. To get an idea of what to expect you can also read our Foodie Guide to Eating in China.

    For all your other meals it’s up to you as to what you want to eat and how much you want to spend. If you book onto one of our cooking classes, available in Chengdu, Dali or Yangshuo, of course what you cook you also get to eat! In Beijing we also offer the chance to enjoy a delicious Peking Duck dinner which we can plan for you after your Beijing City tour.

    Tipping

    One question we often get asked is about tipping while in China. Our answer is always tip as much as you feel you would like to give depending on how well you feel a guide’s service has been. It’s customary to tip your guides and drivers and they are generally reliant on tips for a large portion of their income. We recommend £5-£8 per person, per day.

    When you’re in restaurants, it’s not customary to add on tip to your bill so you don’t need to worry about that!

    Meaningful Travel in China

     

    We feel it is important to offer trips where you can interact with local communities or stay somewhere which really gives something back to the area you are visiting. For instance, in our Escape into Rural Yunnan trip you have the chance to visit remote areas of China passing by traditional Naxi villages, clear blue lakes and the famous Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. Staying in local guesthouses, eating at small authentic restaurants and learning about cultures and traditions gives something back to the local community as well as giving you a different perspective of life in China.

    When travelling to China with us you also get a chance to make a donation to our local charity project in Lhasa, Braille without Borders. This is an international development organisation which creates training programs and books for blind and visually impaired people in Tibet and across the world.

    More about Meaningful Travel in China

    Visa and passport advice

    To visit China, you’ll need a visa which is usually valid for 90 days from the date of issue, and for a maximum stay of 30. So, it’s important not to get your visa too early. The application process time can vary so make sure you leave enough time and make sure your passport has at least 6 months validity after your intended departure from China, with at least one blank page. You can apply direct to the CVASC in-person, by post, or through a specialist visa service, The Visa Machine.

    More visa and passport advice

    What to pack

     

    • Obvious, but necessary – Passport with appropriate visas, itinerary/ confirmation of booking, any medicines you might need, credit card and any other important documents you consider relevant.
    • A “Point It Book” – These image-based books are perfect when travelling around China, that way you’ll always have a way to order what you really want to eat and drink.
    • A phrase book – Making an effort with the local lingo is a lovely way of showing respect and interacting with locals: Hello! (ni hao), Thank you (xièxiè) and good bye (Zàijiàn).
    • Hand sanitiser & wipes – Many public toilets in China won’t offer toilet papers/soap/towel, so worth bringing some with you
    • Clothing –  The South is hot and humid, but most places will have air con, so a light jacket would come in handy. The North is colder and drier so warmer clothes are essential. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes if you’re planning on doing some trekking and bring some waterproof clothing just in case.
    • Power adaptor: The electricity of mainland China and Hong Kong runs on 220V and 50Hz and so you’ll need a three angled flat style plug adaptor.
    • Earplugs – They dont take up much space and could be really handy on a long train journey

    Entry fees

    We like to support local points of interest as much as possible and so we leave it to you to pay the entry fees to the majority of the points of interest while you’re in China. The only project we support directly is the Panda Breeding Research Centre in Chengdu where your entry ticket is included.

    Pandas eating bamboo in Chengdou

    If you’re looking to budget for these entry fees please bear in mind that we can only offer advice based on personal experience, and that prices are subject to change locally. As a guideline though you can expect to pay from CNY150pp for entry to the Terracotta Army to CNY60pp for sites such as the Forbidden City to CNY9 for entry to Moon Hill in Yangshuo.

    Ready to start planning your China holiday?

    Take a look at our line-up of ready-made itineraries to get you started, or get in touch for us to put something together for you!

    View our top China experiences
    Image of Fiona

    Written by Fiona

    I grew up travelling around South Africa attending international schools which was a great introduction to making friends with people of all nationalities.

    Comments

    Next Article

    Our top 5 gay-friendly destinations

    Previous Article

    24 hours in Hoi An | Vietnam

    Other articles you may like

    Food and drink

    9 TV shows for travel enthusiasts

    20th June 2019 by Scarlet

    TV inspires us to open our minds to new experiences. We've picked our top 9 programmes that will get you ready for your next adventure.

    6 min read

    Read More - 9 TV shows for travel enthusiasts

    Top tips

    Shaken, not stirred | Our Top 5 favourite Bond locations

    2nd November 2015 by Jennifer

    007's latest quest in 'Spectre' sees the famous spy travel through Morocco by train. But what other destinations has he visited? Here's our top 5 Bond locations

    4 min read

    Read More - Shaken, not stirred | Our Top 5 favourite Bond locations

    Top tips

    5 things we love about India (plus a few cautionary tales...)

    6th March 2013 by Friends of Rickshaw

    India is a land of extremes, which is what makes it so fascinating! Here are things we love about India, as well as some things to be aware of while there.

    10 min read

    Read More - 5 things we love about India (plus a few cautionary tales...)
    Back up

    As featured in

    • the guardian logo
    • wanderlust logo red
    • Lonely Planet
    • National Geographic Traveler
    • Psychologies
    • The Daily Telegraph

    Information

    • Contact us
    • Booking conditions
    • Financial protection
    • Health and safety
    • Your Package Holiday
    • FCDO travel advice
    • Blog
    • Coronavirus updates

    Get in touch

    We're a friendly bunch and always ready for a chat so feel free to get in touch.

    Call us: 01273 322 398

    Email us: hello@rickshawtravel.co.uk

    Contact us

    Connect with us

    FacebookInstagramTwitterYouTubePinterest
    ATOL Protected ABTA Travelife

    © 2008 - 2021 | Rickshaw Travel

    Privacy Policy  |  Cookie Policy  |  Sitemap

    Call us Phone us

    Please give us your consent to use cookies

    We use cookies to ensure our website works, to give you an enhanced experience while browsing, and to enable us to use 3rd party tools that are connected to us. Read our Cookie Policy for more information.

    What are your holiday plans?

    • Our travel specialists know everything there is to know about your chosen destination. Please tell us what you're looking for below and we’ll get back to you very soon (usually within 24 hours).

    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • This field is only shown to Rickshaw Admins, and is used for routing the form to the correct destination inbox
    • If you'd prefer us to call you, please enter your phone number here
    • If you can, please share with us how many people are travelling, when you’d like to go, what you’d really like to experience, what you love doing on holidays, your rough budget, and when's best to contact you.
      By signing up to the email newsletter you consent to receive promotional emails from us. You can unsubscribe at any time. We genuinely care about you and treat your data securely and respectfully. We tell you all about it in our Privacy Policy.
    • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.