China? There lies a sleeping giant. Let him sleep! For when he wakes he will move the world.
Napolean Bonaparte
China holiday experts at WEXAS will tailor-make all aspects of your itinerary to create a China holiday, personal to you.
China is home to the worlds’ oldest continuous civilisation, dating back more than six thousand years, the largest population of any country and covers an immense region of changing terrain across Asia – meaning there is a vast wealth of things for the China holidaymaker to discover.
Some highlights to see in no particular order, most likely over a number of holidays, include Everest Base Camp on the Tibetan side, for which you’ll need a permit; Beijing’s Forbidden City – once the centre of the Chinese imperial world – and the ultra-modern Olympic buildings; the abandoned cities and changing landscape along the Silk Road, the ancient trading route; Hong Kong’s spectacular skyline, most impressive by night; the Great Wall at Jinshanling, one of the best preserved sections which also has some of the fewest visitors; the giant Buddhist sculptures dating from 500AD at the Yungang Caves; the Terracotta Army of 2,200 life-size warriors near Xi’an; the 71-metre tall Great Buddha at Leshan; the giant ice sculptures at Harbin’s ice festival; and the glorious beach life at Hainan.
Contact a China expert to prepare a personal itinerary and a no-obligation quote.
China facts
Capital: Beijing
Language: Mandarin Chinese.
People: Han, Hui, Zhaung.
Religion: Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism.
Size (sq km): 9,572,900.
Population: 1,321,851,888.
Population density/sq km: 138
Etiquette
Generally reserved in manner, be courteous. If applauded as a welcome, applaud back. Anger should be concealed. Arrive to meetings early. Bring gifts when invited into homes.
Shopping
Jade jewellery, embroidery, calligraphy, paintings and carvings. Prices set by government. Keep receipts, they may be needed at customs.
Food & drink
Diverse regional styles. In the north, Mongolian Hotpots are popular, eaten in a communal style from a pot of simmering soup. Beijing is famous for Peking Duck. Southern cuisine is probably the most exotic - markets in Guangzhou are full of the various (sometimes endangered) animals used. The east is noted for rich, sweet cooking, seafood, hot and sour soup, noodles and vegetables. In the west, spicy, peppery food is a speciality.
International Airports
Beijing-Capital (PEK), 26 km from the city, Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN) 7 km from the city, Shanghai Hong Quio (SHA) 12 km from the city, Shanghai-Pudong (PVG), 30 km from the city Chengdu Shuangliu (CTU) 16 km from the city.
Internal travel
Most long-distance internal travel is by air. Ferries serve major rivers. Railways are the principal means of transport for people and goods. Eighty per cent of settlements can be reached by road. These are not always of good quality, and vehicles should be reliable as mechanical services are few. Car hire is available.
Red tape
Visas
(UK/US) Required.
Vaccinations
BCG, Cholera, Diphtheria, Hep. A, Hep. B, JE, Malaria, Rabies, TBE, Typhoid, Y. Fever2
Driving requirements
Car-hire companies hold on to passports, better to hire car and driver.
Reps in UK/US
UK: 49-51 Portland Place, London W1B 1JL, tel (020) 7299 4049, fax (020) 7636 9756, email visa@chinese-embassy.org.uk. US: 2300 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel (202) 328 2500, fax (202) 588 0032, email chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn.
UK/US reps in China
UK: 11 Guang Hua Lu, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing 100600, tel (10) 5192 4000, fax (10) 6532 1937 email mailto:info@britishcentre.org.cn. US: 3 Xiu Shui Bei Jie, Beijing 100600, tel (10) 6532 3831, fax (10) 6532 2039, email ircacee@state.gov.
Currency
Renminbi yuan (CNY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen.
Finance
Major credit cards and traveller's cheques accepted by designated establishments in major provincial cities .
Business hours
0800-1130, 1300-1700, Monday-Friday.
Safety & life expectancy
Safety information
Safe.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy: M 71.13, F 74.82.
Useful websites for travel
www.chinese-embassy.org.uk, http://manchester.chineseconsulate.org/eng, www.uk.cn, www.china-embassy.org, www.discoverchinaforever.com, www.usembassy-china.org.cn, www.chinadaily.com.cn, www.chinatoday.com, www.flashpaper.com/beijing.
Local media
China Daily and weekly news magazine Beijing Review are published in English.
Tourist boards
UK: 4 Glentworth Street, London, NW1 5PG, tel (020) 7935 9787 0888, fax (020) 7487 5842, email london@cnta.gov.cn. US:370 Lexington Avenue 912, New York, NY, 10017 tel (212) 760 8218, fax (212) 760 8809, email ny@cnto.org.
Below is a selection of some ideas for holidays to China. This is simply a taste of what we can offer. If you're interested in a specific China itinerary then please call one of our consultants on 0845 643 6561.
Deep in the heart of the majestic mountainous region of Zhongdian or Shangri-La in the province of Yunnan lies a secluded luxury resort, the Banyan Tree Ringha....
The Peninsula Beijing is a luxury 5-star hotel right in the centre of the city, a short walk to Tiananmen Square, close to the business, shopping and entertainment districts....
The Langham, Yangtze Boutique is Shanghai’s only 5-star luxury art deco boutique hotel. Winner of the ’China Top Boutique Hotel 2009’ award by the World Traveler magazine, it boasts an iconic art deco building with rooms and suites designed t...
A WEXAS favourite, the Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is back. Located over the glittering Victoria Harbour, this luxury hotel has always been at the centre of Hong Kong’s social and business scene since 1963 and has recently been refurbished to spectacular...
Passing through the Three Gorges region, this journey encompasses thousands of years of history as well as timeless natural beauty, all in the comfort of the finest ship on the Yangtze today. The MS Yangzi Explorer is the only internationally managed 5-star cr...
Located on China’s south-west frontier, the mountainous province of Yúnnán has been designated as the official Shangri-La by the Chinese government. The region combines divergent landscapes, from tropical rainforests to icy Tibetan highland...
The Silk Road is one of the most amazing journeys a traveller can take in Asia. From the imperial metropolis of Xian and its famed Terracotta Warriors to the oasis towns of Kashgar and Turpan....
Xian, imperial capital of 11 China dynasties, is a haven of archaeological wonders. Its historical relics and wonders are among Chinas best....
China is the worlds most populous country, with a continuous culture stretching back nearly 4,000 years. Its such a large country, its almost impossible to see China in one trip. Our China Highlights tour is comprehensive and includes a visit to Guilin, in the...
The most important commercial centre in the East, Hong Kong has always been a significant city. once the last outpost of the british Empire and now a shining beacon of the booming People’s Republic of China, it is a city that’s constantly on the mo... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Shanghai is China’s largest city, with over 13 million inhabitants. It’s a pulsating mix of new glass and steel skyscrapers, elegant colonial buildings and ancient temples, big businesses and small teahouses. The city buzzes with activity day and n... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Enjoy a three-day tour of the fascinating capital of China. Beijing is an intriguing mix of ancient sites such as the Summer Palace, Forbidden City and nearby Great Wall, as well as modern shopping malls and hi-tech Olympic Stadiums. Beijing is the perfect int... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Guangxi is the very soul of rural China. It’s a romantic region that’s been the subject of many paintings of China, which capture a landscape of soaring limestone karsts, rising out of blue-green rivers, while conical-hatted farmers work in the lus... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Spend 14 days touring the lesser known region of China - Guizhou, see the area’s fascinating ethnic minority groups and their beautiful villages. Start the tour in the bustling modern city of Shanghai and then fly down to the Guizhou region, where you wi... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Take in the finest sights from the ’Roof of the World’ in Tibet, one of the most remote places on earth. Visit the spiritual city of Lhasa, meaning ’Ground of the Gods’ and see the magnificent Potala Palace, once home to the Dalai Lama.... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Located in China’s south-western corner, Yunnan means ’South of the Clouds’ and in fact most of the province is located on lofty heights, over 2000 metres above sea level. Visit the famous, Tiger Leaping Gorge and capital Kunming among other ... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Ask most first time visitors to China where they want to go, and they will probably list: Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai. This captivating tour takes in all of these unique places, encompassing all the major highlights and making it the perfect in... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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We are pleased to introduce a range of new semi-flexible and fully flexible fares Business Class with Finnair to some of Asia’s leading cities.... Please call 0845 643 6561 for price details.
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Great diversity of climates. The north-east has hot, dry summers and bitterly cold winters. The north and central region has almost continuous rainfall, hot summers and cold winters. The south-east has substantial rainfall, semi-tropical summers and cool winters.
GMT +8.
Renminbi yuan (CNY) = 10 chiao/jiao or 100 fen.
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