The questions we hear
most often.
Visa & entry
Visa & entry
Most travellers from the US, Canada, EU, UK, AUS, and NZ qualify for 144 or 240-hour visa-free transit through Chengdu Tianfu or Chongqing Jiangbei. We structure your itinerary to fit. See /policies/visa for the full eligibility list.
We help you apply for a standard tourist L-visa through the nearest Chinese consulate. Plan an extra 2 – 4 weeks for processing.
Payment
Payment
All trips are paid in USD via WeTravel, our bonded escrow partner. Deposit at booking ($480 for 5+ day trips), balance 60 days before departure.
Not directly to us — WeTravel is Visa/Mastercard only. But we'll walk you through setting up WeChat Pay or Alipay for on-the-ground spending before you fly.
Language
Language
Every host on our roster is verified bilingual, with at least four years of conversational English experience. Some also speak Mandarin, regional dialects, and one speaks fluent Japanese.
No. But we'll send you a short list of ten phrases that make hosts and shopkeepers smile. The list takes ten minutes to memorise.
Booking
Booking
For peak seasons (Apr–May tea harvest, Sep–Oct mountain) we recommend 3–4 months. For other windows, 6 weeks is comfortable.
Yes — every itinerary on our site is a starting point. The /plan form is designed to capture how you'd customise it. We rewrite, you respond, we rewrite. No charge for revisions.
Free cancellation up to 30 days before departure. See /policies/booking-terms for the full schedule.
Safety & health
Safety & health
Yes. China ranks in the lowest decile globally for violent crime against tourists. The most common issue we see is mild reaction to peppercorns, which we pace. See /policies/safety for hospitals, embassies, and our 24h line.
Emei's golden summit is 3,099m — most guests feel it but recover within an hour. Our western Sichuan itineraries are paced for acclimatisation and we have a low-altitude alternate route for guests who prefer.