China - More Information
Do you have the desire to conquer the Great Wall of China? Perhaps you want to be astounded at the striking River & Rice Terraces of Guilin? Or set your eyes on the awe-inspiring Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an? How about walking the dramatic Tiger Leaping Gorge? Or visit the mountainous Szechuan with Mount Emei as its prized jewel? We would recommend all of the above – time allowing of course!
China's landscape is vast and diverse, with forest steppes and the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts occupying the arid north and northwest near Mongolia and Central Asia, and subtropical forests prevalent in the wetter south near Southeast Asia. The terrain of western China is rugged and elevated, with the Himalaya, Karakoram, Pamir and Tian Shan mountain ranges separating China from South and Central Asia. The Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, the third- and sixth-longest in the world, have their sources in the Tibetan Plateau and continue to the densely populated eastern seaboard. China's coastline along the Pacific Ocean is 14,500 kilometres (9,000 miles) long and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East and South China Seas.
Walking in China
China is relatively new to the ‘hiking’ market, but now that the Chinese are also becoming interested in this activity, trails are becoming way marked and well maintained by regional authorities. New routes are being developed, but still the hotel infrastructure and other amenities within hiking areas remain limited. To enjoy the real beauty and hospitality of rural China it is necessary to accept that standards may not always be on a par with those found in cities. Language remains a problem for those without knowledge of Mandarin hence a guide is somewhat necessary! Walking in China is as safe as anywhere though we emphasize that walking The Great Wall requires a good level of fitness as some scrambling will be necessary. A head for heights is also required on some sections. South in Guangxi Province around Guilin, walking is easy and relaxed along the Li River and through the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces.
Walking in China with New Experience Holidays is different from most companies which only feature group holidays with fixed itineraries. We provide a hiking guide for individual clients with the support of a private driver. They accompany you throughout your stay and tend to everything in support of your trip. With their extensive knowledge of the regions, you will eat in the most authentic local restaurants, have luggage transferred with you in the car, and have a personal guide around key historical sites. We are able to feature Chinese Homestays and special hotels which generally cater for individual travelers.
Visa - China
All visitors to China require a Visa. Applications need to be given plenty of time (absolute minimum in UK is two weeks).
Your application for a China visa should be made when your booking has been confirmed. We will give you the letters of introduction from China, flight details if we have booked them for you and any other relevant information with regards to getting your visa.
Visa – Hong Kong
It must be emphasized that visa requirements are not the same for Hong Kong as they are for China. UK nationals do not require a visa for Hong Kong.
Health
China does not present the traveler with any great health risks as long as certain ‘rules’ are maintained. At the time of booking we will advise on necessary vaccinations required and all health considerations for the regions you will be visiting.
Food and Drink
The Chinese are extremely health conscious! They live to eat and are very particular about the preparation and quality of the food they eat and it’s amazing in diversity of tastes, textures and content! It is usual to eat three hot meals each day and generally large quantities are consumed. If you stick to freshly cooked Chinese food eating what is recommended by our guides, you should not experience any stomach problems. Going ‘Western’ is often the cause of a stomach upset and should be avoided. Meals are always accompanied by Green or Flower Tea. Beer is popular and is lighter and lower in alcohol than ours. Rice wines need to be treated with caution! Fruit and fizzy drinks are not popular. Everything is available in city hotels, but in rural areas only tea, water or beer. Water should only be bottled or boiled.
Flora and Fauna
China is such a vast country that it just about has something of everything; from the north with a climate similar, although more extreme, to northern Europe to the sub-tropical regions in the south, the high Himalaya in Tibet and the deserts of Inner Mongolia. This diversity provides a very varied natural world with thousands of plant, bird and animal species making travel throughout the country so exciting.
When to Go
The south of China - Guilin area has a sub tropical climate and is warm all year. It is preferable to avoid the rainy season during May and June as some walks may be affected by high water level of the Li River. January and February are coolest, March and April are best with clear, warm weather. Summer months from July to September are hot and humid and the remaining months are good with occasional storms and drizzle.
When considering visiting Xi’an to see the Terracotta Warriors, the weather is not so important as the Warriors are enclosed within a controlled atmosphere.