China Family Holiday
Trip Code: CBFA
Why we love it
Though not quite visible from space, the Great Wall of China is still massive! Wander this iconic monument and learn about its history, Travel back in time to the era of China’s powerful Emperors while you and your family explore the halls and courtyards of the Forbidden City in Beijing and view the impressive Terracotta Army in Xian. , Experience whizzing through the Chinese landscape on futuristic bullet trains., The kids will enjoy meeting the pandas in Chengdu on a once-in-a-lifetime encounter. Watch these adorable creatures at play, get to know the super-cute red ones, and learn about important conservation work, Uncover the secrets of Chinese food in a cooking class in Yangshuo
Is this trip right for me?
This trip uses a mix of transport for a local experience – bullet trains, the metro, private vehicles and public buses – some of which give a great chance to interact with locals.
The trip covers a fair amount of ground to maximise experiences and enable you to see much of this vast country, so be prepared for some long journeys and a lot of walking!
China’s world-class sites and experiences draw large numbers of local and international travellers. We recommend a little patience and comfortable shoes as you may need to wait before entering the more popular locations on your itinerary.
Important information
1.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 2 (Guesthouse) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information
2.FAMILY TRIP: Please note that these trips are for adults and children travelling together and there must be at least one child under 18 with you.
3.AGE: Minimum age for children on this trip is 5 years old.
4.DISCOUNT: A discount of 10% applies on this trip to children 17 years and under at time of travel.
5.PASSPORT DETAILS: Please provide Intrepid or your booking agent with a colour scanned copy of the personal details page from your passport at time of booking.
6.BEING CONNECTED IN CHINA. Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites such as Google, Instagram and Facebook as well as some email platforms.
7.CHINESE HOLIDAYS - China has many major holidays throughout the year. Two that effect our Family trips are:
2020/21 April 4th- 6th - Qing Ming Jie (Tomb Sweeping Day)
2020/21 - September - Mid-Autumn Festival.
During these periods, many local tourist travel to the countries major sightseeing destinations so expect large crowds at the Great Wall, Forbidden City and TerraCotta Warriors.
What to bring/pack
DRINKING WATER IN CHINA:
Tap water is not generally palatable, however in China, clean and safe drinking water is widely available for free in hotels, restaurants, bus and train stations. This is often provided as hot water as Chinese are great tea drinkers. Consider bringing a bottle that you can fill with hot water and allow to cool down. Alternatively, ask your leader for their favourite kind of tea and stay hydrated the local way!, TECHNOLOGY
With the modern world you may want to bring along tablets of smartphones for the children to document their adventure - there are a wide variety of apps out there which we suggest downloading before you depart. There will be opportunities to charge ( just make sure you bring the correct adapter) and there will be wi-fi available on your trip, although it will probably not be at the speeds you are used to at home and it won't be available everywhere.
Physical rating
Joining your group
Beijing Dongfang Hotel 北京东方饭店, 11 Wanming Road 地址:北京市西城区万明路11号, Xuanwu District, Beijing, 100050, CHINA, Phone: +86 1063014466
Located in the south to the center of Beijing, Dong fang hotel has a history of almost 100 years with a themed decoration of China in the 1920s. It’s close to the southern city hutong area and is not far from Tian’anmen square and Forbidden City. All rooms are equipped with en-suite bathrooms, TV, A/C, fridge, safety box, and internet cable.
For more information, please go to http://www.bjdongfanghotel.com.cn/en/Default.shtml
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
There are two international airports in Beijing – Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) and Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Please check on below instructions for them respectively.
An arrival transfer from the airport is available if arranged at the time of booking. Transfers cannot be arranged on arrival. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure. If you plan to arrive earlier, this arrival transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through your booking agent.
Beijing Capital International Airport
Beijing Capital International airport is located north-east of Beijing, 25 km from the city centre. One of the biggest airports in the world, it is relatively easy to navigate and many signs are written in English. Most international flights arrive at Terminal 3. For more information about Beijing Capital Airport, please go to http://en.bcia.com.cn/
If you have pre-arranged an arrival transfer with us, our local operator, Ms Qi (Ms Chee), will have sent a driver to the airport who will be holding a sign with our company logo on it and your name.
If you arrive at Terminal 2, please meet your driver at the entrance/exit #7 after you go through the baggage claim area.
If you arrive at Terminal 3, please meet your driver in front of the white jade screen wall with the dragon pattern, after you walk through Exit B. Exit B is the only international arrival gate in Terminal 3. Please note that Beijing Airport is very crowded so please be patient. If you have any problems finding the driver go to the information desk near your exit and ask them to call Ms Qi at (+86) 13671299816.
In any case, please take a printed copy of your hotel name and address in Chinese as shown in the joining point hotel section with you.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Metered taxis are available outside the airport terminal building. You can follow the airport signs to reach to the official taxi stand. The taxi ride from the airport to our starting point hotels takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour and should cost around CNY120 (include CNY10 for the airport expressway toll). Show the taxi driver the address of the hotel in Chinese characters as shown below. **PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER**
By airport express and taxi:
You can follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY25, service time: 06:20 to 22:50) to Dongzhimen station. It is suggested to hail a passing by taxi to go to your hotel. It will cost around CNY30 from Dongzhimen Station to your hotel. Show the taxi driver the address of the hotel in Chinese characters as shown in the Joining Point Section. **THERE IS NO TAXI LINE AT THIS STATION. AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE. **
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX)
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) is in the south of Beijing, 46 km from the city centre. One of the biggest airports in the world, it is relatively easy to navigate and many signs are written in English. For more information about Beijing Daxing International Airport, please go to https://www.bdia.com.cn/#/traffic
If you have pre-arranged an arrival transfer with us, our local operator, Ms. Qi (Ms. Chee), will have sent a driver to the airport who will be holding a sign with our company logo on it and your name. Please note that Beijing Daxing International Airport is very crowded so please be patient. If you have any problems finding the driver, go to the information desk and ask them to call Ms. Qi at (+86) 13671299816.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Metered taxis are available outside the airport terminal building. You can follow the airport signs to reach the official taxi stand. The taxi ride from Beijing Daxing International Airport to our starting point hotels takes about 75 minutes to 90 minutes and should cost around CNY200 (including CNY10 for the airport expressway toll). Show the taxi driver the address of the hotel in Chinese characters as shown in the joining point hotel section. **PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER**
By airport express and taxi:
You can follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY35, service time: 06:00 to 23:00) to Caoqiao station. The taxi station is close to E1 exit of Caoqiao station. It is suggested to hail a passing by taxi to go to your hotel. It will cost around CNY45 from Caoqiao Station to your hotel. Show the taxi driver the address of the hotel in Chinese characters as shown in the Joining Point Section. ** AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE. **
Finishing your trip
Metropark Hotel Kowloon 九龍維景酒店, No.75 Waterloo Road 地址 :香港九龍窩打老道七十五號, Kowloon, Hong Kong, HONG KONG, SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION OF CHINA, Phone: +852 27611711, Fax: +852 27611711
Metropark Hotel Kowloon (Hong Kong) is situated at the heart of Kowloon in Hong Kong. This HK hotel provides easy access to Hong Kong's major shopping areas and commercial area, such as the Langham Place and the Grand Century Place, and is ideal for business trips or leisurely breaks. Airport shuttle and free hotel shuttle bus service to and from Mong Kok and Tsimshatsui are provided by this Hong Kong hotel. The hotel is near subway and railway stations within walking distance of around 10 minutes’ walk from Yaumatei/Mongkok MTR stations and 8 minutes’ walk from Mong Kok East station. Metropark Hotel Kowloon, Hong Kong is facilitated with hotel (Chinese & Western) restaurants, a bar, a rooftop swimming pool and Fitness Room for hotel visitors' enjoyment. Free broadband Internet access with unlimited usage is available in all hotel rooms.
http://hongkonghotel.metroparkhotelkowloon.com/index.php
Alternate Finish Point
Hong Kong International Airport (or Chek Lap Kok Airport) is situated on Lantau Island, 36km from the centre of Kowloon Peninsula. Even though it is one of the world's busiest airports, it is very easy to navigate and there are several different and convenient ways to get in to the city. All signs and directions are written in English.
http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/index.html
A departure transfer from the airport is available if arranged at the time of booking. Please advise your departure flight details at least 14 days prior to your departure. If you plan to stay longer, this departure transfer can only be offered in conjunction with post-tour accommodation booked through your booking agent.
Your tour leader can advise you when is the best time to leave for your flight depending on local traffic condition. It is suggested to leave from your hotel at least 3 hours before your flight time. By taxi, it’ll take about 45minutes to go to the airport at a cost around HKD300.
By hotel-airport shuttle bus, please book with hotel concierge directly 1 day before leaving. Service time is from 5:10 am to 9:10 pm.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 11
Lunches included: 2
Dinners included: 5
While travelling with us you and your family experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. Please ensure you tell them of any dietary requirements you and your family may have. We know children can be fussy eaters at times so we do recommend you bring any snacks from home to have throughout the trip.
To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you and your family to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
Climate & seasonal information
CHINESE NATIONAL HOLIDAYS:
China's national holidays are the peak travel season for Chinese nationals. During this time, the whole country is on the move - that's over a billion people. Although these are fascinating and exciting times to travel in China, please be aware that your group will likely experience transport delays and massive crowds at tourist attractions and train stations. It's common for there to be difficulties in securing train or flight tickets at our preferred times, hotels become overbooked, traffic chaotic and changes to the itinerary are often necessary as a result. If clockwork organisation is important to you we advise you book outside of Chinese New Year, the first week of May and the first week of October. If you decide to travel during this period please come with an open mind and be prepared for changes on the ground.
Here are the major holiday periods in China:
Chinese New Year: 10 February 2024, 29 January 2025.
Qingming Festival: 4 April 2024, 4 April 2025.
Labour Day Holiday: 1 May annually.
Dragon Boat Festival: 10 June 2024, 31 May 2025.
Mid-Autumn Day: 17 September 2024, 6 October 2025.
National Day: 1 October annually.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
+86 17200311621
Accommodations
GENERAL ROOMING CONFIGURATIONS:
Family of two - All family groupings of two will be put into a twin room.
Family of three - Wherever possible we will put you in a triple room. Please be aware that in a handful of places triple rooms are in short supply. This means that, in practice, a triple room will often simply be a twin room with a mattress on the floor or a further bed squashed in. Where it is impossible to provide a triple room, you will have to decide which of your party takes the single room.
Family of four or more - You will most likely stay in two twin rooms. If and wherever possible we will aim put you in a quadruple room. Whilst we will do our very best to ensure that families are roomed close together (in some cases, we can arrange adjoining rooms), we can’t guarantee this. Most family holidays occur during peak season and we sometimes have little to no control over where you will be put. You need to come prepared for this.