Selena JonesEmily from our Southampton branch recently came home from touring China with Travelsphere. Read below to see what she got up to!
Visiting China is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience—one filled with awe-inspiring landscapes, rich history, world-class cuisine, and unforgettable cultural encounters. I was recently lucky enough to explore this incredible country on a fully guided tour with Travelsphere, and I have returned with memories to last a lifetime… and a few helpful tips for anyone planning their own adventure!
What you need to know before you go:
Visas: visa is required to enter China (this applies to anyone aged 14 – 70 years old).
I would advise you to start applying for this straight after balance due date. The application must be submitted and include all relevant holiday itinerary including flight details, which takes approx. 3 weeks to be approved. Once you are approved, you are required to attend The Chinese Visa Application Centre in either Manchester, London, Scotland, or Belfast in person where they will take your passport and fingerprints to complete the visa. You then have the option to return to the application centre a few days later to collect your passport or for it to be sent in the post to you, which can take up to 3 weeks. – The total cost of this including postage is approx. £165.
Currency: Chinese Yuan Apple Pay does not work in China, so it is best if anyone travelling downloads ‘Alipay’ which is the digital wallet that is used in China. Due to the current exchange rate being almost 10 yuan to the GB pound, it is very reasonable to eat & drink in China.
Plug adapters: Most hoteliers have USB ports however the plug adapters needed for China are the same as the AUS adapters (three flat pins in a triangular pattern).
Time difference: China is 8 hours ahead of the UK in the winter when the UK is on GMT & then 7 hours ahead of the UK during the summer.
Language: Mandarin is the most common language spoken in China however each place has their own dialect which locals speak.
HIGHTLIGHTS OF MY TIME IN CHINA
From Shanghai to Xi’an and finally Beijing, here is a quick look at our amazing tour experiences, brought to life by our knowledgeable local guides.
48 Hours in Shanghai
Hotel: 5* JinJiang Tower – complete with pool, sauna, gym, and a 360-degree-view restaurant on the 41st floor.
Highlights:
We stayed 2-nights at 5* Shanghai JinJiang Tower Hotel, a fantastic hotel situated near the former French Concession with easy access to some of the city’s best highlights. Features an indoor pool, sauna, gym & 6 restaurants / bars including a restaurant on the 41st floor with 360-degree view of all of Shanghai!
Here is some of the amazing things we got to experience:
• A visit to Shanghai Yuyuan Gardens – created in the ming dynasty for the ‘Pan family’
• Shanghai Old Town – time to explore at leisure, some of the local dishes, shops, and a wonderful way to get a sense of Shanghai.
• A traditional Chinese tea ceremony – the chance to try 5 different and most popular teas of China
• A trip to Shanghai would not be complete without a trip to the Jade Buddha Temple – founded in 1882 to keep two jade Buddha statues
• A relaxing walk along ‘The Bund’ taking in the amazing & famous views of the city skyline!
• Experiencing the views from the 3rd tallest building in the world; The Shanghai Tower with the fastest elevator in the world!
• Afternoon spent at ‘Zhujiajiao’ which is Shanghai’s ancient Watertown – we were taken for a gondola ride along the water taking in the ‘mini-Venice’ followed by lunch and shopping time.
• Ended the trip by experiencing a Huangpu River cruise with the city all lit up with some breath-taking views – what a way to end!
