Chinese Cuisine & Culture

Guide

English speaking tour guides in each destination, except on the trains; All Truly China group trips are accompanied by one of our tour guides. The aim of the tour guide is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Your guide will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. You can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Truly China Travel we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your guide can recommend a scenic spot guide service in most of the main scenic spot of your trip.

Meals

There are 8 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 3 dinners included, breakfasts normally are Chinese and Western buffet, lunches and dinners are local specialty dishes. VEGETARIANS & VEGANS: Vegetarians in China certainly won't go hungry as there are always plenty of meat free options on menus including vegetable, tofu and egg dishes. Your tour guide can advise on some local favourites. Dairy is uncommon in Chinese cooking, although in some regions like Tibet, Xinjiang and Yunnan you will find milk products as part of the local cuisine. Vegans should also have few problems finding tasty meals in most locations. Nearly all cities will have vegetarian restaurants, often near to temples or monasteries that specialise in Buddhist cuisine. DIETARY NEEDS: Wherever possible we will cater for dietary needs for included meals, but there may be times when those with special requirements may wish to supplement inclusions with their own supplies from markets or supermarkets. Please note that some dietary requirements, such as Gluten Free, will be uncommon in China and you may need to explain to your tour guide what you can and can't eat as well as research common dishes before you travel. ALLERGIES: For those suffering from particular food allergies, your tour guide will endeavor to disclose to their fullest knowledge the main ingredients in dishes being consumed. It is, however, your personal responsibility to ensure that you do not ingest any foods to which you are allergic and research suitable local foods before travelling.

Others

Private bus and entrance tickets for the excursions: Yuyuan Garden and Old Shanghai street walking tour in Shanghai; Shanghai - Dumpling cooking class; Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City in Beijing; Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing; Muslim Quarter walking tour in Xian; Terracotta Army in Xian; Chengdu - Market Visit and Sichuan Cooking Class; Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base.

Transport

All transportation during the tour is included; High speed train (Shanghai-Beijing, Xian - Chengdu), 2nd class, and an overnight Train (Beijing - Xi’an), Soft Sleeper. Truly China Travel believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Truly China Travel uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun. Depending on which trip you're on while in China, you may find yourself travelling by: Bicycle Cycling through China is a great way to see the country from ground level. Whether you're pedalling through the hutongs or the countryside, you'll see the sights and get to meet locals along the way. High-speed train Speed across China in a super fast bullet train. It's one of the most effective ways to cover long distances in a short time. You can also book an extra arrival transfer on the first day and extra departure transfer on the last day through us.

Accommodation

All accommodations in double and twin share rooms with private facilities. Hotel (8 nights), Overnight train (1 night) Shanghai Metropolo Jinjiang Hotels, a 4-Star Hotel (2 nights) Beijing Chongwenmen Hotel, a 3-star hotel (2 nights) Xi'an Forest City Hotel, a 3-star hotel (2 nights) Ibis Chengdu Temple of Marquis, a 3-star hotel (2 nights) Overnight Soft Sleeper train from Beijing to Xi’an (1 night) Travelling with Truly China Travel is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible. When travelling with us in China you may find yourself staying in a: Overnight Sleeper Train Your overnight journey will give you plenty of time to finally learn how to play mah-jong, mingle with the locals or simply relax and watch the scenery whiz by. Monastery Enjoy the simpler things in life, waking up to the sound of monks chanting amongst peaceful mountain scenery. Staying in a monastery is truly an unforgettable experience. Special Information Enjoy the comfort and privacy of your own room, a Single Supplement for Adult, Senior and Youth/Student to have your own room is bookable on this trip, with the exception of the overnight train, subject to availability. If you wish to arrive a few days early in Beijing, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).

Others

International flight and departure tax; Arrival transfer on Day 1 and departure transfer on Day 10; Excluded lunches and dinners; Other optional excursions and entrance tickets; Tips to drivers and tour guides; Other personal expenses; Travel insurance; Visa to China.

Insurance

Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.