Guests’ concerns about sanitary and hygiene conditions in China are often confounded by the conditions to which Imperial Tours introduces them, and they inevitably find themselves reassured by the Western standards they encounter. Furthermore, since Imperial Tours’ menus are designed for the Western palate, there are no challenging ‘exotic’ items. On the other hand, Chinese food does incorporate the use of strong flavors provided by garlic, chilli and ginger. Travelers with sensitive stomachs, unused to these flavors, might take precautionary measures by bringing along medicines for common stomach upsets. A note of caution: while in China, please do not drink any unboiled tap water. If you buy bottled water, make sure the seal has not been broken before you drink from it. If you have any allergies or dietary requirements, please inform us ahead of time and we will accommodate accordingly.

While one does from time to time hear scary stories, the general level of safety on China’s streets is surprisingly good. Beijing and Shanghai boast a measure of personal safety exceeding levels in cities such as London, New York, Paris or Los Angeles.

No. International airfare is not included in the price. However, all domestic airfares within China are included.

Almost all foreign nationals visiting China are required to obtain a visa prior to arrival in Mainland China. Generally speaking, a Chinese embassy or consulate is responsible for issuing China visas within its area of operation. If there is no embassy or consulate near you, contact the Chinese embassy in your national capital. The cost of and time taken in obtaining the visa is each traveler’s responsibility. Visitors from many countries do not require a visa for short visits to Macau or Hong Kong. Please check with your travel agent or visa service.

Recently, China has implemented 144-hour Visa-Free transit in two areas: firstly, in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang and secondly in Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei, for travelers from 53 countries. Travelers can spend up to 144 hours in each of these two areas if they arrive in them with onward travel to a third international destination within 144 hours of arrival. However, there can be specific restrictions when traveling with this visa, so please check with your travel agent or visa service for more information.

Travelers’ checks are rarely used these days, but major foreign currencies can be exchanged for Chinese Renminbi (RMB) at hotels, banks and some department stores. These establishments are obliged by law to change at an official rate established by the People’s Bank of China.

Credit cards such as Mastercard, Visa and American Express are often accepted at the larger department stores and gift shops. Using international credit cards or your ATM card to draw cash from ATMs is usually possible, particularly near your hotel, but should not necessarily be taken for granted.

The Chinese peoples’ national currency or Renminbi (RMB) consists of fen, jiao and yuan. There are ten fen in a jiao, and ten jiao in a yuan. The basic currency unit is the yuan, known colloquially as a kuai. The yuan is denominated in notes of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Ten yuan or kuai is worth about US$1.60 or £1.

A China Host can add a level of quality to your trip that you might not have expected. She or he serves as a cultural bridge, adding context and understanding to anything you are curious about or encounter during your trip. This intangible dimension is an unexpected benefit often appreciated by our guests and one that cannot be realized by a Virtual Concierge. Also, because the China Host is with you in person, they have the advantage of daily observation and can anticipate your preferences and make pro-active suggestions, such as food preferences. Many changes take time to implement and require behind-the-scenes logistics. A Virtual Concierge is not as well equipped to seamlessly handle on-the-fly changes as your China Host, who can instantly relay options and communicate subtleties wherever you are.

Our Ultimate China (UC) tours are accompanied by a China Host to provide the best possible service, while our China Escapades tours have greater independence at a lower price. There is no difference in quality between Ultimate China & China Escapade tours, only between their service structure, inclusions and offered destinations. Please see Our Philosophy for more information.