China Travel Inspiration

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SOLO GUIDED VACATIONS TO CHINA

WHAT ARE THE BEST TOURING VACATIONS FOR SOLOS TO CHINA?

With so many highlights to see you’ll need a good amount of time to explore, and a well organised tour so you don’t miss anything. Our inspirational China tour is comprehensive.

Your exciting journey begins in Beijing and ends in Shanghai, two major cities. On-route you'll discover highlights including the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Walk along a section of the iconic Great Wall whilst taking in spectacular views as you go, then board the bullet – a high-speed train to Xian, where you'll view the awe-inspiring Terracotta Army! Immerse yourself in the Chinese tradition of the Chengdu tea ceremony and grab your camera for a visit the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Centre, if you’re really lucky you might just get to see some panda cubs! Finally take a cruise on the Huangpu River before heading home.

WHAT ARE THE HIGHLIGHTS TO VISIT ON A SINGLES VACATIONS TO CHINA?

China has an endless list of highlights, so much so, that it will keep you wanting to come back time and time again.

Some not to miss out on are:

• The Great Wall of China - incredible 5,500-mile long wall is jaw-dropping. A series of fortifications many thousands of years old, it would take nearly 18 months to walk its entire length!
• The Terracotta Army - Discovered in 1974, this staggering, 2,000-year-old mausoleum in Xian contains more than 8,000 terracotta soldiers, nearly 700 horses and 130 chariots, all made to protect the Emperor Qin Shi Huang in his afterlife. Seeing the sheer scale of this undertaking in situ is absolutely breath-taking.
• Exciting Cities - China’s two main cities, Beijing and Shanghai, are the two biggest in the world – a staggering 20 million people living in each of them. But that doesn’t mean they’re overwhelming to navigate – far from it. Beijing boasts both ancient history, in places such as the Imperial Palace, and contemporary culture, while Shanghai is a modern vision of China’s future.
• Delicious Food - Chinese food is famous across the globe, make sure to try some local dishes
• Beautiful Wildlife - Pandas have been considered important creatures in China since the Western Han Dynasty. Today, The Panda Breeding Research Centre in Chengdu is a wonderful place to get up close to this fascinating creature while supporting their preservation.
• The Forbidden City & the Imperial Palace, Beijing - The Palace Museum is a national museum housed in the Forbidden City at the core of Beijing. It was established in 1925 after the last Emperor of China was evicted from his palace, and opened its doors to the public. Constructed from 1406 to 1420, the museum consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 hectares

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TAKE A SOLOS VACATIONS TO CHINA?

The best time to visit China tends to be April, May, September and October. During these months you’re more likely to experience a warm, dry heat compared to the humid heat in the summer months and the contrasting intensely cold winter months. China is however a large country with regional temperature differences and as such you can travel to different regions at different times of the year and likewise you cannot guarantee perfect weather even in the preferred months. We suggest checking an up-to-date forecast before travelling.

WHAT IS THE FOOD LIKE IN CHINA?

Chinese cuisine is one of the most important components of Chinese culture. It’s long history dates back four thousand year ago, with an archaeologist finding the oldest noodle in the upper reaches of the Chinese Yellow River - It dated back 4,000 years!

Chinese food is exquisite, appealing to the senses with its bright colours, aroma, taste, appearance, feel and meanings. There are of course many regional differences across the country due to climate and soil conditions altering the local ingredients but in all sense and purpose it is high quality version of your local Chinese take-away.

For those yet to try their local Chinese, a Chinese meal consists of two main elements: a staple of rice or noodle and a meat and/or vegetable dish. In Chinese dining every member of the family will have their own rice or noodle dish whereas the meat/vegetable dishes will shared. Very different to British traditions whereby we chose our met or vegetable main and share our rice’s/noodles.

The Chinese do not use a knife and fork to eat their dinner, they dine with chopsticks for rice, noodle, meat and vegetable dishes and use a small ceramic spoon for soups. Although the locals will not be offended if you ask for cutlery, it is fun to try and have a go with chopsticks, especially eating rice….. with is particularly tricky!

For those of you that are dessert lovers, great news! You don’t have to wait till you’ve eaten dinner for dessert. Desserts are not typically eaten with dinner but are considered a snack that can eaten between meals! As an added bonus if you want a dessert after dinner you can still enjoy some locally sourced fresh fruit!

Etiquette - In China, leaving behind an empty plate is a sign to the host that you’re still hungry. If you are full and don’t want to eat more food, consider leaving a little behind to let the host know you have had enough.