This page explains how booking works with us: what you pay and when, what is included in a package, how your payment is protected, and what happens if plans change. It is written so you can check each claim yourself rather than take our word for it. Where a figure matters — a deposit percentage, a cancellation tier, an insurance limit — treat it as a starting point for a conversation, not a published rate, and ask us for the current terms in writing before any money moves. Anything that depends on a third party, such as card network rules or a hotel’s registration status, can change without notice, so verify it at the source.
Our booking model
There are two routes. For ready-made group and small-group departures, you can book online for the full package amount, paying by card through a Stripe-secured checkout or by PayPal. For custom private tours, we work on a deposit model: a partial deposit confirms the booking, with the balance due before arrival. The exact deposit percentage and balance deadline are stated on your own quote and invoice, not on this page — ask for them in writing and check they match what you were told verbally.
Every booking is itemised before payment: hotels by name and room category, transport by mode and class, meals by which ones are included, and tickets by attraction. If an item is not on that list, assume it is not included. This matters most for attraction entries, because many major sites in China now require timed reservations made in advance, often tied to a passport number. Our guide to booking attractions in China as a foreigner explains which ones genuinely need a slot booked ahead and which do not.
What is included in our packages
Across our tours, the standard inclusions are: a licensed guide and a driver, four-star hotels with breakfast, entrance tickets for the listed sights, inter-city transport, the meals named in the itinerary, airport transfers on arrival and departure days, and insurance documentation. “Insurance documentation” means paperwork you can show a hospital or an insurer — it is not the same as a comprehensive travel medical policy, and you should still carry your own. If you want to understand what Chinese clinics and pharmacies actually expect from a foreign patient, read our guide to healthcare in China for travellers before you fly.
Two things are deliberately absent. There are no mandatory shopping stops, and there is no “optional” add-on sold to you mid-tour by a guide or driver. If someone on a trip pressures you to buy at a jade, silk or tea outlet, that is not part of our programme and you should tell us the same day.
Payment security and paperwork
Card payments run through Stripe’s checkout and PayPal handles the rest. Both provide buyer protection on eligible transactions, but the scope of that protection depends on the network, the card issuer and the transaction type, so read the terms shown at checkout rather than assuming blanket cover. We can supply company registration and travel liability insurance documents on request — ask before you pay and check that the legal entity name on the invoice matches the one on the registration.
During your trip you have English-language support by phone and message. Confirm the current contact channel and hours when you book, since we do not publish a fixed response window here.
Cancellation terms
Our standard tiers are a full refund well ahead of departure, a partial refund in the middle window, and a smaller partial refund closer in. The precise day boundaries and percentages are set out in your booking confirmation, and they can differ for custom itineraries, peak dates and third-party components such as train tickets or domestic flights, which are often non-refundable once issued. Read that clause before paying the deposit.
For force majeure — a visa rejection with documentary evidence, or a medical emergency — we handle cases individually rather than applying the standard table mechanically. What we can promise is that we will ask for the evidence we need and respond in writing; what we cannot promise in advance is a specific outcome, because it depends on what suppliers will release. Keep every receipt and rejection letter.
Before you pay: a short checklist
Get the itinerary, hotel names, inclusions and exclusions in one document. Check the deposit amount, the balance deadline and the cancellation table in the same document. Confirm the invoicing entity. Confirm which payment methods are live for your booking at the time you pay, since payment options vary by country and card. If you are travelling on a visa-free transit arrangement, make sure your dates and entry point actually fit the scheme — our 240-hour visa-free transit guide covers the routing rules, and the rules themselves should always be checked against the official immigration source.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay the whole amount online instead of a deposit?
Yes for ready-made departures, where the full package can be paid at checkout by card or PayPal. Custom private tours normally start with a deposit, with the balance due before arrival. The exact figures for your trip appear on your quote.
Are flights included?
International flights are not part of our packages unless your itinerary says so explicitly. Domestic transport listed in the itinerary is included. Check the itemised list rather than assuming.
What if my visa is refused?
Send us the refusal letter and any supporting documents. We treat this as a force majeure case and assess it individually, including what suppliers will refund. We cannot guarantee an outcome in advance.
Do you sell optional extras during the tour?
No. There are no mandatory shopping stops and no commissioned upsells sold by guides or drivers. Anything you choose to buy privately is your own arrangement.
How do I verify your insurance and registration?
Request the documents before paying and check the entity name against your invoice. For your own medical cover, confirm the policy limits and whether the insurer pays hospitals directly or reimburses you afterwards.
If anything on this page conflicts with your written quote, the quote governs — so read it, ask questions about anything unclear, and keep a copy. Booking terms, payment options and third-party protections all change over time, and the only version that counts is the one you agreed to in writing.