Best China guided toursChina Group Tours, Escorted by Expert Guides
When do you want to go?
2024
I'm flexible
Passengers
Adults (18+)
Children (0 - 17)
Our best offers for guided tours to China
The best tours to China, perfectly curated trips at unbeatable prices
Take a trip through China
Exploring China offers an unparalleled adventure, as China tours provide a unique glimpse into the country's rich cultural tapestry and stunning landscapes. Whether you're embarking on tours in China for the first time or returning to discover new wonders, the variety of experiences available is astounding. Tours in China can range from the bustling streets of Beijing, where you can visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, to the serene beauty of the Li River in Guilin, renowned for its picturesque karst mountains. Opting for guided tours in China ensures that you don't miss out on the historical and cultural significance of landmarks such as the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors, while also offering insights that only local guides can provide. Additionally, these tours often include visits to vibrant markets, traditional tea ceremonies, and culinary adventures, allowing you to savor authentic Chinese cuisine. With the convenience and expertise of guided tours, your journey through China will be both enriching and unforgettable.
About our tours
Tours of China are an incredible way to explore the country. By travelling with one of our carefully designed guided tours and travel packages, you'll be able to take in China's rich history and culture, from the majestic Great Wall to the energetic cities of Shanghai and Beijing. With our personalized trips, discover modern marvels, historical wonders, and picturesque landscapes. Our tours will begin in either Beijing or Shanghai and will take you on an adventure that you'll never forget. If this sounds like the type of adventure that has been calling your name, you can experience a range of different tours of China with us. Click below to see your options.
China group tours
Our group tours of China include the most of this enormous country, including the terracotta army in Xi'an, the historic Beijing, the glittering skyscrapers of Shanghai, and the pandas of Chengdu. It sounds like something you're interested in. Well, we provide each of our tours with a local, knowledgeable guide who will show you all that each location has to offer. They can answer any of your burning questions about each tour location and advise you on where to see the best hidden gems. While visiting mainland China, our guide tours include stays in 3 to 4-star hotels with meals, cultural performances, tickets to local attractions, and much more. Depending on which tour you select, you'll be able to experience a bike ride on the medieval City Wall in Xi'an or a visit to the Shaolin Monastery.
China Harbin Ice Festival tours
Come and join us for the Harbin Ice Festival! Every winter, the city of Harbin is turned into a magical winter wonderland, with ice sculptures and other snow creations. Our dedicated tours combine exploration of the Ice Festival with Beijing, the Great Wall, and Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Army. It's the best time to visit China! Browse our Harbin Ice Festival tours below.
Budget tours to China
Our China Essentials group trips are made to be as affordable as possible while still enabling visitors to get the most of this magnificent nation. You will have the services of local adventure leaders for included activities while staying in a mix of hostels and guesthouses. You will also have included sightseeing, optional activities, and free time to make the most of your trip. These excursions have a 55-year-old maximum age limit.
Frequently asked questions
I want to visit the Great Wall - do you include this on your China tours?
You'll get to see the world's most famous wall on most of our China trips that begin or end in Beijing. And that's the vast majority of them. An afternoon is spent at the popular Badaling section of the wall, and unlike many other operators, we also spend a night at a hotel right beside the wall. This means you get to revisit the Great Wall the following morning before the crowds arrive and enjoy views of the Juyongguan Pass from your hotel. If you're interested in knowing more about the different sections of the wall, check out our page on visiting the Great Wall.
Where can I see pandas in China?
The best place to see a giant panda in China is the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding. This non-profit facility is home to over 80 pandas and enables visitors to observe the monochrome bears at play. We have several different escorted itineraries that include time in Chengdu and a morning visit to the panda center, so you have a few options available if pandas are on your wishlist. For more information, see our guide to visiting pandas in China.
What is the difference between your Signature and Essentials tours
Our Signature Range is what makes On The Go Tours unique! On these trips, you will be fully escorted by one of our expert local guides and will stay in well-located 3 to 4 star hotels. Arrival transfers and private transportation are included, as are all of your sightseeing and plenty of meals. Our Essentials tours are a good option if you're travelling on a budget. Staying in hostels and making use of public transport, including trains, you'll still get to see plenty of China, but lots of the sightseeing is optional. This keeps costs down and gives you flexibility to do as much or as little as you want. You will also have plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. We recommend Essentials tours for younger travellers to China, though anyone up to the age of 55 is welcome to join!
How big are your tour groups and what is the age of your travellers?
On our Signature China tours, the maximum group size is 24, but the average is around 18 travellers. You can expect an interesting dynamic with people from all walks of life on your China tour. This includes a wide range of ages from the mid-20s to the early 70s. The average age is somewhere between 35 and 55 years of age.
What standard of hotels are included in my China package?
You'll be staying in comfortable, Western-style 3-4 star hotels with good-sized rooms and modern amenities on your Signature China tour. Our hotel beside the Great Wall is a little more simple, but what the hotel lacks in facilities it more than makes up for with its location and views of China's most impressive man-made structure. With our Essentials tours, you will stay in a mixture of hostels, guesthouses, and budget hotels.
What sort of transport do you use on your China trips?
You'll get to sample a range of transport modes on your China package, from bicycle rides along ancient city walls to rickshaw rides through Beijing's most historic districts. There's also the chance to cruise along the Huangpu River in Shanghai and the pretty canals of Suzhou. For road transfers on our Signature tours, we use private A/C vehicles, and for longer journeys, we use comfortable overnight soft sleeper trains in private four-berth carriages. See our Top Travel Tips page for more details on sleeper trains in China. On some Signature tours, we also make use of internal flights. Our Essentials tours make use of China's efficient train network.
When is the best time to visit China for general sightseeing?
The spring months (March–May) and autumn months (September–November) are considered the best time to visit China. During these seasons, the weather is generally dry, and temperatures are neither too hot nor too cold. The skies are also clearer with less smog in the cities and lower rainfall. You can find more detailed information, including climate averages, on our best time to visit China page.
Can I drink the tap water?
The tap water in China is not safe to drink and could cause you to become unwell. We strongly recommend sticking to bottled water throughout your China tour; this is readily available in shops, restaurants, and hotels. The water from the tap is fine for activities such as brushing your teeth, but don't swallow it!
Is China a safe destination for travellers from the LGBTQ+ community?
According to the 2022 LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index, China scores a D- rating for LGBTQ+ traveller safety, ranking 107th out of 203 countries. Same-sex marriage is not legal, and there are no constitutional or worker protections based on sexual orientation. 26–50% of consulted citizens consider China a good place to live for gay and lesbian people. There are laws preventing the discussion of pro-LGBTQ+ issues, but pro-LGBTQ+ organizations are not illegal (though they are subject to penalty and are not supported by the government). No legal punishments for same-sex relations exist, and most trips for LGBTQ+ travellers to China are trouble-free. The LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index is designed to provide a good overall picture of attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community in each country and may not reflect the experience of foreign travellers to the country.
What is the current travel advice for China?
As a UK-based company, we follow the latest up-to-date advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCDO). You can see the latest travel advice for China here.
