- Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park in Beijing
- See giant pandas at Chengdu Breeding & Research Centre
- Marvel at one of the best-preserved parts of the Great Wall of China at Mutianyu
- Admire the Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin
- Discover the Bund waterfront area and French Concession of Shanghai

Essential China
Reviews
Add your own reviewFantastic trip!
Itinerary was jam-packed with great sights and activities that gave us a taste of both ancient and modern China, while still leaving some free time to explore on our own; excellent value. All the hotels were very good (luxurious for Exodus), with the Tianfu Sunshine in Chengdu being stand-out for room facilities and decor, the Bell Tower in Xi’an for location and generous room size, and the Dong Fang in Beijing for the most extensive and best quality breakfast buffet (and period charm in the historic coffee shop, courtyard, and public areas); Golden Tulip in Shanghai was also very glamorous and well-located for the Bund. Transport (bullet trains x 2, internal flight, private minibuses, and public buses) was all excellent – punctual, efficient and clean, and our trip leader, Sunny, got us to all the attractions before the busiest crowds, and marshalled us well on public transport. (There were only seven of us on my departure – five solos and one couple – which was a good number; I can imagine a full cohort of 16 would be much more challenging to manage in the busiest locations.) Food was amazingly cheap and generally good (you can eat well for a fiver, and feast for under £10; large beers cost around £1), although some of us might have liked an option once or twice to have a more upmarket and relaxed dining experience. This trip takes in all the main tourist attractions (Tian’anmen Square, Forbidden City, a section of the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, panda breeding centre), and they were all well worth seeing, but what I enjoyed most was having some time to explore the lesser known cities, Xi’an, and Chengdu. Xi’an was my favourite, for its historic centre, and lively night-time vibe. I would have liked some more time in Shanghai (not least because I was on a quest for family history); a day and a half on the official trip itinerary is not enough for such a vibrant city, specially as we lost half a day (the group trip to Yuyuan Garden) due to heavy rain the day we arrived. Luckily, some of us had late flights on departure day, effectively giving us another post-trip day in which we were able to visit the Yu Garden independently, but it would be good if this extra day could be factored into future trip itineraries. (Personally, I’d trade Beijing for more time in Chengdu and Shanghai. I’m planning to return to Shanghai independently.) As a solo traveller, this was my first long-haul trip, and it was brilliant. Just go!
Most Inspirational Moment
So many! A few highlights: the night-time river cruise in Shanghai, with all the lights of the Bund and Pudong (currently optional, but not to be missed!); Yuyuan Garden, Shanghai; arriving in Xi'an, to feel the very different (more characterful and "Chinese") vibe after Beijing, enjoying the Muslim Quarter food street there, street markets in the Sanxue Historic Conservation Area, and exploring the City Wall; the charming People's Park in Chengdu and visiting the Sichuan opera. And watching the many young women out and about in Manchurian or Han dress in the northern cities, posing for photos at the tourist attractions - a social media phenomenon!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Sunny was very well-organised and made sure everything went according to plan. She was a fount of information about the various sights on the itinerary.
Advice for Potential Travellers
This is a great trip that covers a lot of ground. You do need to be fit to manage the various transport options, while handling your luggage - stations and airports are very spacious and well-designed with escalators and lifts, so you don't have to lift things much, but you do need to be nimble for timings (and to get a good space for your luggage on the bullet trains) and able to wheel your luggage to and from the minibus, which may be parked some distance away. Take note of the restricted items on bullet trains and planes and be careful to keep batteries and power banks in your hand luggage and plug adapters in checked luggage; don't take any kind of aerosols, not even mini bug spray or deodorant, into tourist attractions - security is very tight at attractions and entrances to stations and airports, with everything being thoroughly scanned; you may be asked to fully unpack your bag if anything at all suspicious shows up. Get a good eSim with unlimited data, so you don't have to rely on hotel wifi, which can be very slow and blocks some Western sites; I had a Holafly eSim (installed before departure), which allowed me to use all my normal apps, including WhatsApp and Google Maps, which was a godsend when navigating around Chengdu and Shanghai on my own in free time. The Chinese app, Alipay, is commonly used by locals for all things, to pay by phone in shops and restaurants like Apple Pay, order food, buy transport tickets, order taxis, and to translate, but beware that it doesn't work with all UK bank cards; I had pre-installed it with my Barclays debit card, but it only worked once, and thereafter I had huge trouble with Barclays trying to get me to verify every single transaction, even £2 ice cream, even though I had tried to tell them in advance I would be in China on those dates; nightmare! Visa debit and credit cards did seem to work directly though in major outlets, with chip and PIN, but not contactless, and for cash withdrawal in machines (the machine returns your card after the cash, not before as in the UK, so don't panic!). Cash was generally acceptable in most places and is easier for splitting food bills and paying for excursions and tips, so take plenty of cash and a bank card. Pre-install WeChat for the trip's group chat. The included excursions (and optionals, such as the stage shows and river trip) were all great, but if you have time, it's worth exploring a bit further on your own, e.g. the historic areas of Xi'an and Chengdu (Kuan and Zhai Alley, about 40 mins walk from the Tianfu Sunshine Hotel, is a refurbished area of historic buildings, similar to Covent Garden, pleasant for a wander and buying gifts and souvenirs). Not much English is spoken, even at reception in the hotels, so try and work out how to use translation apps before you go (translation is included in WeChat and Alipay). Squat toilets are common in public places, so don't be surprised; there's usually at least one Western toilet as well, but you may need to queue for it - and have a good supply of tissues, as loo roll is not always provided or available inside the cubicle. Just book this trip - it's amazing!
A great intro to China
I was a solo traveller and had never gone on a group trip before. The trip covered so much ground, I saw loads.
Most Inspirational Moment
So many, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors, our time in X'ian, Shanghai by night.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Kris was wonderful. So cool, so patient, so helpful. Down to earth and cosmopolitan with a lovely sense of humour,5 stars.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Download WeChat and Alipay. Get a Sim at the airport. China felt very safe. I paid single supplement and enjoyed having my own room.
A must!!!!
This was one of the best trips I have been on in years. I was pleasantly surprised at how kind the Chinese people were. Our guide was absolutely fantastic, and probably one of the most knowledgeable I’ve ever had! Nothing was ever too big or too small for him and he’d always recommend additional activities in our spare time. China is like no other Southeast Asia country, and its vast development is fascinating! You get to see the modern day, China, as well as the old historic sites. If you enjoy your food, you will not be disappointed by the options on this trip what makes it even better if you only pay about 6 pounds for a huge dinner!!
Thoughts on Group Leader
The group leader, Dragon, was absolutely fantastic
Advice for Potential Travellers
Download an eSIM and also Alipay as cash is hard to use out there
All Iconic Sights covered.
This was the first trip of its kind travelling around China with Exodus. It covered all the iconic sights and we used every mode of transport. There were some incredible sights and experiences which could only be done with an experienced local leader and a small group. There were just eight of us.
Most Inspirational Moment
The Great Wall of China.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Jerry was superb. He was extremely knowledgeable. He looked after our group very well, helping us to get the most experiences possible on our trip.
Advice for Potential Travellers
There is a great deal of walking involved. We averaged 20 thousand steps per day. A good level of fitness is needed to thoroughly enjoy the full itinerary. It was warmer than expected, so pack lightly and layer up if needed. The optional shows are a must for the full experience of China. The food was outstanding and inexpensive with lots of choice.
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Sunday Saturday
31 Aug 2025 30 Aug 2025
Wednesday Wednesday
10 Sep 2025 10 Sep 2025
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Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2399 £ 2399
Optional Single Supplement Single Rooms sold out
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This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 1 space left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
21 Sep 2025 20 Sep 2025
Wednesday Wednesday
01 Oct 2025 01 Oct 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 2199Now £ 1899Saving £ 300 Usually £ 2199Now £ 1899Saving £ 300
Optional Single Supplement +£ 590
Availability
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View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
11 Oct 2025 10 Oct 2025
Tuesday Tuesday
21 Oct 2025 21 Oct 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Limited)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2399 £ 2399
Optional Single Supplement +£ 590
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead but there are only 3 spaces left. Do not delay your booking!
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
23 Nov 2025 22 Nov 2025
Wednesday Wednesday
03 Dec 2025 03 Dec 2025
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price Usually £ 2199Now £ 1979Saving £ 220 Usually £ 2199Now £ 1979Saving £ 220 Book with £ 494 deposit Book with £ 494 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 590
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
14 Mar 2026 13 Mar 2026
Tuesday Tuesday
24 Mar 2026 24 Mar 2026
Availability
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Land Only Trip Price £ 2149 £ 2149 Book with £ 537 deposit Book with £ 537 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
11 Apr 2026 10 Apr 2026
Tuesday Tuesday
21 Apr 2026 21 Apr 2026
Availability
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Land Only Trip Price £ 2349 £ 2349 Book with £ 587 deposit Book with £ 587 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
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This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
07 Jun 2026 06 Jun 2026
Wednesday Wednesday
17 Jun 2026 17 Jun 2026
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2149 £ 2149 Book with £ 537 deposit Book with £ 537 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
30 Aug 2026 29 Aug 2026
Wednesday Wednesday
09 Sep 2026 09 Sep 2026
Availability
Available
Land Only Trip Price £ 2199 £ 2199 Book with £ 549 deposit Book with £ 549 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
20 Sep 2026 19 Sep 2026
Wednesday Wednesday
30 Sep 2026 30 Sep 2026
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2199 £ 2199 Book with £ 549 deposit Book with £ 549 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
11 Oct 2026 10 Oct 2026
Wednesday Wednesday
21 Oct 2026 21 Oct 2026
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2199 £ 2199 Book with £ 549 deposit Book with £ 549 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSunday Saturday
22 Nov 2026 21 Nov 2026
Wednesday Wednesday
02 Dec 2026 02 Dec 2026
Availability
Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price £ 2349 £ 2349 Book with £ 587 deposit Book with £ 587 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +£ 650
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
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