Welcome to China
Emily recently returned from what she described as the trip of a lifetime to China with Travelsphere and JustYou. She said that she had a wonderful time and got up to lots of sightseeing, food tasting and much more. She started her trip off in Shanghai and went to many more amazing places such as Xi’an, Beijing and even included a Yangtze Cruise.
Top Tips
Emily gave us a list of her top tips that made her travel experience much smoother, they include;
- Emily’s most important tip was that you need to ensure you have your visa as one is required for entering China. The application process for this can take time so Emily suggests applying for the visa straight after the balance due date. There are additional costs for a visa including postage fees that are approximately £165.
- Have a planned out itinerary. This will add structure to your trip and make sure that you have time to see all the sights/excursions that you want to see/do on your trip.
- In China the majority of people speak Mandarin, however in each town there is a local dialect that is specific for the locals living there.
- Make sure you have the correct adapter plugs, this is the one with 3 flat pins in a triangle. Most hotels will also have USB outlets.
- The currency in China is the Chinese Yuan and the exchange rate is 10 yuan to 1 GB pound. Apple Pay doesn’t work in China, you should use an app called Alipay.
Emily’s Itinerary
Emily had a jam packed 17 day trip to China so having an itinerary really helped her and it might help you too.
Day 1 – 4
These first few days included travelling from the UK (London Gatwick) to Shanghai. Once landed the trip starts off with a 3-night stay in 5*Shanghai Jin Jiang Tower Hotel. Perks of the hotel include an indoor pool, sauna, gym & 6 restaurants / bars including a restaurant on the 41st floor with 360-degree view of all of Shanghai! When it comes to exploring the city, to help you see all the best bits you could join a tour so that you don’t miss a thing. The tour guides that took Emily on her tour taught her lots about the area and taught her some of the local language used in Shanghai. She also visited the Shanghai Old Town and attended a traditional Chinese tea ceremony where she got to try 5 different teas.
Day 5 – 8
Next on Emily’s trip she went on the High Speed China Railway to Yichang to embark on a 4-night Yangtze Cruise that will sail through the breathtaking Three Gorges region and you can step ashore to visit the Snow Jade Cave.
Day 9 – 11
After disembarking the Yangtze Cruise, Emily’s trip continued to Chengdu. This is where you can visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre.
Day 12 – 13
Next on Emily’s trip was a quick trip to Xian, where she visited the famous Terracotta Army where there are over 8,000 soldiers spread out between three different pits all full of terracotta warriors. Emily took a stop off on the way back to her hotel so that she could look at the lights illuminating the city.
Day 14 – 16
Lastly Emily spent a few days in Beijing at the 5* Swissotel that was recently renovated in 2023 making it a very clean and modern place right in the heart of Downtown Beijing. During her visit here she visited the Great Wall of China and described it as “a real pinch me moment” and “absolutely breathtaking”.
Breakdown of Emily’s Trip
- Overall, Emily completed 12 excursions over a 17-day trip.
- She flew from London Gatwick airport and then travelled to 5 different places in China.
- Emily spent 10 nights in 4* hotels, 4 nights full-board cruise sailing on one of the Victoria Fleet and finally one night in flight.
Travelsphere Deal for You
Emily has personally picked out an amazing deal with Travelsphere, this includes:
- 17 days in China with a Yangtze cruise included
- Dates: November 2025 or 2026
- Prices from £3,224 this would save up to £175pp
- There are also monthly payment options available
How to Book your Trip
If you are interested in experiencing a trip just like Emily see below to enquire or book:
Pictures from Emily
