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China Holidays

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Today China is a bewildering blend of modern mega-cities, high-speed bullet trains, ancient monuments and traditional life. Beijing's epic Forbidden City is a stone's throw from the Great Wall, the ancient town of Pingyao and the Terracotta Warriors of Xi’an. Travel the Three Gorges on a Yangtze cruise, visit the pandas in Chengdu, explore the stunning national parks of central China or spend time experiencing the lush paddies and limestone peaks of the south. Beautiful Yunnan Province is home to charming small towns and spectacular mountain scenery or, for the more adventurous, the Silk Road can be followed as it snakes through the deserts of the west. For something completely different, Tibet has retained its sacred Buddhist traditions and remains unlike anywhere else in the country. With our knowledge and experience we can help to create a unique holiday to China that is tailored exactly to your requirements.

Places to visit in China

China is a mammoth land of unlimited options and opportunities. Northern China is home to the country’s most popular attractions including Beijing’s Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace, the Great Wall and Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. Further south, the mighty Yangtze River glides through central China. Cruise this majestic waterway navigating the Three Gorges Dam then explore Shanghai and the water towns that surround the metropolis. Futuristic Hong Kong is the gateway to southern China with its karst scenery, terraced landscapes and striking tulou roundhouses. South West China is framed by snow-capped mountains and has a proud regional identity. Lijiang and Shangri-La have much traditional charm whilst the city of Chengdu in Sichuan is the best place to spend time with Giant Panda. Spiritual Tibet is a mesmerising and remote land whilst the more adventurous could follow the famed Silk Road eventually crossing the Torugart Pass to Central Asia.

MAP OF CHINA

When to Visit china

Due to its sheer size the weather in China varies considerably from place to place. In the north, including Beijing, winters are cold with temperatures hovering close to freezing until March. Spring and autumn are the best time to travel as it is warmer and the risk of rain low. Summers can be hot with July and August experiencing some rain. Central China, including the Yangtze River and Shanghai, have long humid summers with high temperatures. Winters are shorter than in the north but still cold. Although there is occasional rainfall, spring and autumn remain good times to travel. The south is hot and humid from April to September and winters are cooler although not as severe as the north. Yunnan and south west China can be visited year round with most rainfall between June and August. Conversely, late spring, summer and early autumn are the ideal times to visit Lhasa and Tibet.

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Best Times
Good Times
This is a general overview suggesting when to travel in the country. Please note that this may not directly apply to any specific itinerary or region.

Essential Information

flag of China Capital: Beijing

Main Language: Mandarin / Cantonese

Time Zone: GMT + 8

Currency: Yuan Renminbi (CNY)

China, Mongolia, South Korea, Central Asia, Nepal and Bhutan Holiday Review

I was lucky enough to be given a three month career break and wanted to do some extensive travelling in Asia. I emailed a number of travel companies with a request to prepare a tailor made tour across certain specific dates. Pettitts were the first to reply and from that moment on provided a superb service. Initially there were a number of changes requested to the itinerary, but they were able to accommodate all changes and flex the programme according to our needs. The countries visited were China, Mongolia, South Korea, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Nepal and Bhutan. Pettitts have clearly identified high quality international partners given that we were impressed with all travel guides in each country.

Pettitts assisted with all questions we had during the planning of the trip and were very quick to get in touch with us on the one occasion they needed to during the trip. Pettitts were excellent and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Their service was first class and I would be more than happy to use their services again.

SG - China, Mongolia, South Korea, Central Asia, Nepal and Bhutan - July 2018

Accommodation in China

In general, when it comes to hotel options, visitors to China will be spoilt for choice. Virtually all major cities in the country have a selection of modern internationally owned hotels which offer every expected facility and amenity. In Beijing and Shanghai, principally along the Bund and in the French Concession, there are also a few good hotels with character. Elsewhere in China, though, heritage properties are limited. Accommodation in Yunnan Province, and especially the historic centre of Lijiang, tends to be smaller, atmospheric and traditional. In the mountains north of Lijiang there are also some very comfortable lodges. With the exception of Lhasa which has good quality hotels, accommodation in remote Tibetan towns is locally owned and basic. The same is true for the majority of the Silk Road where most hotels are clean, comfortable and simple.

Common China Travel Questions

A1 - As a general rule, the best time to visit China tends to be during either spring or autumn when the weather is settled and without the extremes of the summer and winter months. That said, China’s climate is incredibly diverse, after all the country is vast, so the best time to travel will ultimately depend on the region you are to visit. Winters can be very cold in Beijing and the north but hot in the summer, the south warmer year-round but with wetter and humid summers whilst Tibet is cool throughout the year and known for its changeable weather.
A2 - British citizens require a visa to enter mainland China but not if they are solely visiting Hong Kong or Macao. If transiting China in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu it is possible to spend up to 72 hours in these cities without needing to obtain a visa, however, you should note that this remains subject to change by the Chinese authorities.
A3 - Direct flights between the UK and China have a duration of approximately 10 hours. Indirect flights with one stop take between 13 and 17 hours depending on the route taken.
A4 - In mainland China the official currency of use is the Chinese Yuan whilst Hong Kong uses the Hong Kong Dollar and Macau the Macanese Pataca. ATM machines are ubiquitous but not all accept foreign cards however this only tends to be an issue in towns and cities that receive fewer tourists. Credit cards can be used in larger hotels, upmarket shopping centres and some restaurants, however, China is still predominately a cash society.
A5 - What languages are spoken in China? The official language of China is Mandarin, however, there are multiple other dialects and languages spoken throughout the country from Cantonese and Tibetan to Hunanese and Shanghainese. English is widely taught and increasingly spoken especially in cities and among the younger generation.
A6 - We would advise speaking to your doctor who will be able to best advise you on health requirements for travel to China. Currently no vaccinations are required for China, however, a yellow fever vaccination certificate is required if you are entering China from a country with a risk of yellow fever transmission. You should also take medical advice if planning to visit Tibet and certain parts of Sichuan and Yunnan where there may be health consideration due to the effects of high altitude.
A7 - With the exception of local journeys, short transfers and sightseeing, air travel has traditionally been the most effective way to travel between the regions of this enormous country. However, China also has an extensive rail network and boasts an excellent and comprehensive high-speed rail service that links nearly all major towns and cities quickly and efficiently.

TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS WITH PETTITTS TRAVEL

With over 30 years’ experience, Pettitts Travel specialises in creating memorable holidays around the globe. As an independent tour operator and travel agency, we can help to both craft or source your perfect holiday and pride ourselves in providing the very highest level of service and advice.

Whether you are looking to travel closer to home or further afield, on a short break or a longer adventure, looking to simply relax beside the beach or undertake a once in a lifetime cultural tour, our experienced team will be delighted to assist you.
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