• expired

China 8-Night Tour - from $888pp Twin Share (3 Sep 2024 - 12 Mar 2025, Departs Sydney or Melbourne) @ TripADeal

1580

The previous $999/p 9-nights china trip is no longer available, replaced with this $888/p 8-nights (March 2025)
This offer is strictly valid for those 18 and over.

Some experience for the similar 9 nights trip:
Credits to @branners in sharing the experience
Credits to @Nerdlighter in sharing the experience

Combine with Additional 10000 qantas points when spend $999 - $4,999

This deals include:
  • Travel cities: Beijing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Shanghai & more
  • Return international flights & one-way internal flight
  • 8 nights of 4-star hotel accommodation
  • Enjoy daily breakfast plus a traditional Peking Duck lunch
  • Discover China with English-speaking tour guides
Warning

Australia has issue a high degree of caution in China overall

Visas

A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on an Australian Passport. Please note as of today you are required to attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to apply for a visa. China Visa Application Service Centres can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. You must attend the China Visa Application Service Centre relevant to the state you reside in. Please visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ for more information. You will be able to start your visa application process once you receive your final travel documentation approximately 6 weeks prior to departure.

Important:

Please start arranging your visa as soon as you've received your Travel Documentation to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.
Visa rules may have changed since Covid-19. Some countries and airlines may require you to obtain an additional visa before arrival. Please check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

Please note:

Passengers who are not Australian citizens must also check with the respective consulate or visa agency to determine what their visa requirements are and what personal identification is required.
It is also important to note that some areas of employment, such as journalism, government authorities and charity organisations, may have additional restrictions in applying for Visas. This may, in turn, affect the type of application required.

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closed Comments

  • -6

    China 8-Night Trip - from $888pp

    That's lucky…

    I might go with 8 friends…

    • +14

      4-star hotel accommodation

      😲

    • +8

      Good luck finding 8 friends.

      • +3

        I use a subscription service.

        It's cheaper than permanent ones.

    • -1

      With my Go card pensioner free travel I went to China Town and saved $888.00. Food was excellent but had language difficulties: they all spoke Australian.

  • +27

    Warning
    Australia has issue a high degree of caution in China overall

    "Australians may be at risk of arbitrary detention or harsh enforcement of local laws, including broadly defined National Security Laws."

    😱

    • +6

      don't go if you have ever used tik tok or temu

      • -5
        • +2

          LOL. 'Albo' couldn't fight his way out of a light fog, let alone 'rescue' anyone else from anything.

          • -2

            @GnarlyKnuckles: What if he puts on his super cape and turns alpha ?

      • Wouldn’t that INCREASE your social credit score?

        • Probably depends what videos you were watching.

    • -1

      Fast way to fame ! You will be all over our press and media if you are detained :)

    • +28

      We (family of 4 including young kids) were in China last two weeks travelling all across the country (Beijing, Shanghai and Tibet too). Loved every minute of it. Lovely people (despite language barrier they'd try their best to help you), fantastic food, highly developed public transport and infrastructure (always on time bullet trains, domestic airlines, well facilitated transport hubs etc we in Australia are at least 10 years behind them). After the trip, I am now doubting everything that we're fed by western media. I understand media plays a massive part of relevant propaganda but I didn't realise it would have been this bad. I'm definitely visiting china again. Amazing country (this is from someone who visited Japan, NZ and USA all within the last year so I can well compare how they tally with each other. We loved NZ the most since it's so laid back and we felt right at home. Our second choice is definitely china. Third Japan and last is USA. Don't believe me, do visit and realise yourself.)

      • +3

        I understand media plays a massive part of relevant propaganda

        The media are not the ones issuing the travel warnings though…

        • +26

          Let me tell you something. When we were in USA (note smart traveller doesn't have such a warning for US), we never felt safe. Wherever when we had to park our car in LA or San Francisco, we were always worried that it would be broken in by the morning. We came across many homeless people every corner of the street, under bridges etc. we heard news of shootings, people carrying guns etc in shopping malls etc. We were told by our friends who are living there that it's not safe so be mindful. None of that were mentioned in smart traveller. In China, things were completely opposite. We never felt unsafe. We never felt that we would be robbed or scammed in anyway. We never felt that we should look after our belongings so that they won't be stolen. Believe what you want mate, nobody is stopping you. I am speaking from my own experience and I draw my own conclusions because I'm not a fan of any government (western or eastern, capitalist or communist for that matter).

          • -1

            @npnp:

            Wherever when we had to park our car in LA or San Francisco, we were always worried that it would be broken in by the morning

            I've heard Americans say the same things about Australia.

          • +8

            @npnp:

            In China, things were completely opposite.

            Unless you are a political prisoner in a Chinese jail.

            • +11

              @jv: Yes, this. The Australian Government warnings do not pertain to petty theft etc. They pertain to China's demonstrated capacity for locking people up and essentially torturing them for years, on the flimsiest of premises. Ever posted anything vaguely 'anti-China' on Tik-Tok? If so, I would definitely never actually go there. Ever written anything vaguely anti-China under your own name that has been published on any website, or in print? If so, again, I would definitely never actually go there.

              The complete lack of a comprehensible/modern/accountable legal system is what turns most peeps off going there. It may be that:

              '… we in Australia are at least 10 years behind them'

              with respect to conveniences such as 'bullet trains' (such infrastructure can be 'fast-tracked' when there is no such thing as work-safety standards, environmental impact audits, etc.). More importantly though, they are still somewhere back in the mid-1900s with respect to basic human rights and legal entitlements. Most Australians would consider the latter more important than the reliability of bullet trains.

              By the way nupnup, were you or any member of your family ever actually the victim of any crime while you were holidaying in the USA? I'd bet the farm that the answer is no.

              • +2

                @GnarlyKnuckles: Are you just assuming that they no work safety standards or environmental impact audits? Or you dont know? As for human rights, a once very poor country which has taken out a record numbers of its citizen's out of poverty in record time (infact never seen before ever) so much so that they are already a middle income country, I would still consider it a huge net positive.
                Human rights dont mean a thing when your kids dont have anything to eat and everyone is fighting for survival. I am pretty sure China will mend its way as it grows more prosperous. They are a young, ambitious and a hard working nation and I have nothing but respect for what they have achieved and continue to do so.

                P.S. Meanwhile the west cant even answer what is a woman.

              • +1

                @GnarlyKnuckles: You won't be in danger if you avoid making a public speech about China's political situation. Only journalists in the pay packet of the CIA and establishment continue to make themselves a target for writing about things in China with a patently false political spin.
                No danger exists for ordinary folks who just want to have a good time exploring history and culture, good food and good hospitality.
                The same thing exists for the USA. No one in their right mind goes to the USA just to protest in front of the White House against the current President and make themselves a target for law enforcement. Not sure why this same rules get thrown out for China or for Asia on that matter?

                • -1

                  @fisherfriendman: Hey fishman, re:

                  'No one in their right mind goes to the USA just to protest in front of the White House …'

                  You are wrong. What about Hicks' father, and Assange's father, among others? They went to the USA and did just that. They didn't get arrested.

              • +12

                @GnarlyKnuckles: My feedback is solely as a tourist. I did not visit US to protest against capitalism or Biden or their campaigns in middle east; I couldn’t give a flying f… about those. Similarly, I did not visit China to protest against their government or criticise communism or raise concerns about human rights etc. I am a tourist and will remain as one wherever I go. And I thoroughly enjoy those countries as a tourist.

                Below are my personal experiences (very relevant to any tourist).

                In USA, my credit card was scammed (4K gone, bank eventually refunded me back but to this day I do not know which hotel this as all the hotels in US needed your credit card details), shopping mall we visited the day before had a shooting incident, the car next us in a hotel parking lot was broken in (apparently for a jacket…!), We had dodgy people stalking all the way to hotel premises (it’s rather scary in some areas in LA & Bay area after dusk), everywhere in LA and San Francisco public parking lots had signs ‘beware of theft, do not leave valuables in car’ etc.

                On the other hand in China, we had our luggage left in train station (it was right there after a couple of hours when we collected it, we were never scammed (even those street vendors didn’t try to put higher price tags on us despite us being foreigners). I walked in streets, enjoying scenery and food (including back streets & alleyways) closer to midnight and never felt unsafe (I wouldn’t even think of doing that in LA or San Francisco).

                Once in a Didi in China (similar to Uber here), the driver in my car had a big verbal altercation with a police officer who was controlling traffic just because he had to wait 10 minutes. I told him if that happened in Australia, you might even end up being detained with a big fine. Funnily enough I saw in some areas there were notice boards asking general public to ‘don’t be abusive towards police officers’ LOL. This is a very different picture about law enforcement in China compared to general consensus here.

                Another example; I couldn’t use my drone in 90% of the time in US (due to very strict drone laws) but in China it’s so relaxed that one could fly drone even in big cities (Shanghai for an example) as long as it’s away from Airports (I regretted bringing my drone to US because I couldn’t use it, and I regretted not bringing it to China once I realised how relaxed drone laws over there).

                I could list many more examples like above, but I think best thing to do is that you experience things yourself rather than listening to someone who’s brain washed by propaganda (whichever propaganda that is). Visit China as a tourist, I can guarantee that you’ll have a fabulous time. If you have other agendas (especially politically motivated ones) then you shouldn’t visit any country let alone China.

                • +9

                  @npnp: Absolutely this. You can enjoy a country, its culture and people without agreeing with its politics. Otherwise you will live a very sheltered existence in your hometown all your life.

                  People seem to think freedom to say 'f—k you Biden/Trump/insert head of state' is the epitome of civil liberty. Try being a whistleblower in the US, whether state or corporation, and see how you fare.

          • +1

            @npnp: We need TRUMP NOW to stop Biden's ban on blocks of cheese. Let's make America grate again.

      • +13

        China is very underrated. We went about 6yrs ago and loved it. I want to explore more of China. I also NZ but they are 2 very different type of holidays. NZ for nature and landscape and China for landscape, rich history, crazy shopping and foodie heaven. The shopping is better than Sth Korea and Japan. Actually, China has nothing lacking and the country is so advance.

        It’s very big brother and truly amazes me that if you jay walk, you could get a fine after a few hrs. It’s truly a cashless society. Using drones to deliver everything. Self drive taxis.

        We booked trip a deal using Qantas points to Chengdu later this yr. There are many places I want to visit in China.

        • +1

          Yes, we enjoyed the cashless vendors, all you need are eSim with VPN, Alipay and WeChat setup BEFORE you leave Australia (that's important) and then all will be pretty smooth. Even those small street venders all had cashless payment options (if you offer cash they'd look at you funny as if you are from another planet.. lol)

          • -1

            @npnp: Did you see the beggars with QR codes ?

        • -1

          'Self drive taxis'

          Six years ago? Even now? LOL … you lost all credibility there salsenate.

          'It’s very big brother and truly amazes me that if you jay walk, you could get a fine after a few hrs.'

          You would not classify that as 'something lacking' then? You reckon that complete lack of basic tolerance or a 'warning system' is a good thing?

          • @GnarlyKnuckles: Roads in china are like 4+ lanes wide and full of cars and scooters. if you're jaywalking you're putting others at risk. It's not like walking across a street in Australia.

      • +1

        This.. Travelling with kids, the safest I've felt was in China and Japan. Pickpockets used to be a problem in China but nowadays people seem to just leave their bags and phones on the table in restaurants and food courts when they go to order/restrooms, very Japanesque

        • +1

          This is so true. Another interesting thing is that foreigners (especially those have dark skin or blond hair or blue eyes or non-asian eyes/noses etc) will be treated as celebrities (especially in rural areas where people rarely see a foreigner). We had kids looking at as with their jaws dropped lol. Many will look and stare at you with utmost curiosity and admiration. And those who're not that shy will come over and ask for a selfie (respectfully of course). I had random people coming over to me and say that I'm very handsome (lol, even my wife didn't think so when I was young). We had to stand for photos many times, Chinese ladies went crazy with my two kids taking photos and even hugging them etc.. We didn't mind all that (in fact enjoyed that celebrity like feeling for that short time) though some of you may find it annoying..

      • +1

        Tibet is not china

      • +4

        Having spent several years living in China, I think you are missing out on a lot of the issues that you seem to think are being overblown. You're also likely oblivious to many of the issues and likely even scammed but you were blissfully unaware. The tourist routes are great, but very much heavily funnelled and maintained far better than local areas.

        China is one of my favourite countries. I thoroughly loved living there. I have many close friends there. However it's also got serious issues.
        I've been pickpocketed, assaulted, had my partners car broken in to, threatened with knives and so on during my time there. I've personally witnessed them destroying property that had associations with Japan/Korea/USA and the Government were actively supporting and promoting this. The media is controlled to the point that the populace are unaware of it. You'd likely be shocked at the opinions many hold if you got to speak to them properly.

        I would love to go back and see my friends again and reconnect with the place I lived in, but it's got too many issues below the surface that have put me off for the foreseeable future.

        • -2

          My brother lived in China for 10 years. As he was living in a flat, he had to park his motorcycle outside. He lost nine motorcycles to theft, even though he chained the motorcycles to posts.

          Last week i spoke to an Englishman who was jailed for six weeks in China for straying into a prohibited area. The UK Embassy was not told of his arrest. After six weeks in jail, he was given two alternatives:

          1. Confess and pay $US100 for the PLA's petrol and be released.
          2. Spend 15 to 20 years in jail.

          He chose Alternative 1.

          • +3

            @klrrider1: OK Noted, I'll definitely watch out for the military guards when sneaking into prohibited areas.

      • Wow that's great to hear, how did you organise visiting Tibet out of interest?

        • +1

          Tibet trip was a little challenging to be honest. First, it's an extremely popular tourist destination for inland Chinese people as well, therefore securing a train ticket or even plane ticket is not easy (I highly recommend this train ride by the way, worlds highest train ride, an engineering marvel that goes above 5,000 my at some points). You also need Tibet permit as well (which you can only get through a tibeten local guide). I did thorough research and knew pretty much everything that is required beforehand so all went smoothly. Despite of many think of Lhasa from Brad Pitt's movie (a mysterious land) it's a massive city with all modern facilities. I recommend Tibet Highlander tours (I didn't have to pay a cent before I reach Lhasa check their review in TripAdvisor). Most importantly organise everything months before otherwise you will not get a chance (for an example, in peak season, train tickets get sold out within 1 to 2 minutes from releasing, imagine there are 3 high speed trains pack full of people going there everyday still they get booked out instantly). So a careful planning is a must.

          • @npnp: Thank you so much! Will check out some of the tour company you went with. Train ride sounds right up my alley! I have booked some trips before which need heaps of planning in advance, so will take your advice seriously!

  • +21

    Good deal for some but I wouldn't go if it was $8 we had massive trouble when we went with visa issues then when we got there we had to reapply omg awful never again.

    • +6

      we had massive trouble when we went with visa issues

      You should've used AMEX, they have an office in Hong Kong…

    • +1

      gosh sounds awful. any tips to avoid such a dilemma?

      • +5

        any tips to avoid such a dilemma?

        go elsewhere

      • +7

        Just came back from China and I had a great experience from the visa office in Sydney (crowded but efficient queue system). Immigration was super quick and pleasant with no visa issue whatsoever. So much quicker than getting out of Syd airport.
        Payment is easy with Alipay, Didi is cheap… Impressed how most cars, buses are all EVs..

        • The EV revolution in china has made the roads so much quieter and cleaner. All the rideshares I have been in were EVs too. Ditto with conveniences, did not spend a cent of cash. Scan and go

    • +6

      Can you elaborate so others don’t have VISA issues ?

      • I didn't have any visa issue, like any other countries, I followed all the instructions when applying and it was smooth entering and leaving. Not as efficient as Singapore but pretty good.

        • China Visa Bureau is no longer at the Consulate/Embassy?

          • @hardya: Not for Sydney, there's a visa processing office near the CBD

    • +1

      Couldn’t be as bad as us? We went via the visa free transit when it was newly introduced and there was some confusion at airport and we got detained!! My chinese is very poor so luckily a tour guide on our flight assisted us. They only let us in after they made us purchase a one way flight to HK.

      I already checked with Embassy that I was eligible for Visa free and the airlines.

  • -2

    Yeah, avoid if you've used Tiktok or Temu, CCP has your data

    • +4

      not only those, but also china made EVs like HAVAL, MG, BYD, XiaoMi etc LOL

    • +29

      Is it safe to travel to the US if i use facebook, whatsapp, instagram etc? Surely FBI and CIA have all my dik pics???

      • +20

        I think they already know if you were even thinking of planning a trip to the US. Google/Facebook/Amazon have already heard it.

      • -2

        Is it safe to travel to the US if i use facebook, whatsapp, instagram etc?

        Yes because like every other Western nation, the US has an independent judiciary. If the CCP want to detain you for whatever arbitrary reason, you have no rights. And crying about it after the fact won't help.

        • +15

          Ha, nice one. Tell that to julian assange and the guantanamo bay residents, and those are the lucky ones that didn't die of an accident

          • -8

            @May4th: I put $100 on someone making this exact Whataboutism and you just won me some money. Thanks for being so predictable!

          • -2

            @May4th: Terrorist's and state secret whistleblowers are treated much worse in China. Labor camps and organ harvesting is not good for health.

            • +6

              @dealhunter52: It's not a competition, you'd be naieve to think it doesn't happen everywhere else in the world. Travel and have your wits with you..or you know, stay home your whole life because of something you read on the internet, it's your life

              • -2

                @May4th: I just pointed out the bias for comparing a free democracy to an autocractic surveillance state.

                Next someone will say Iran, North Korea and Russia have more civil liberties than US and Europe.

                • -3

                  @dealhunter52: The largest military empire that ever existed and the most war like nation on earth aren't Free and Democratic as they promote them selves to be. In the eyes of the world they are a Military Dictator.

                  • +2

                    @Creamsoda: You forgot to mention strongest and only military empire in history that hasn't annexed or claimed land of another country in more than 80 years.

                    God forbid if China is the next superpower, rest of the world should be worried. China annexed Tibet in late 1950s, annexed part of Vietnam in 1979 and Aksai Chin from India in 1964. Have land dispute with multiple neighbour, including claims on all of the South China sea.

                    Looks like mainland 50cent army is in full force.

                    • -4

                      @dealhunter52: Nah you don't need to like the CCP to see America is a bigger POS just like home lander.

                      Why would they need to annex anything when they can invade under false pretences and take what ever they want and stay there for 20+ years? or topple governments by spreading freedom and democracy to install a puppet that does your bidding? When you make up your own "rules based international order" and totally disregard "international law" you make up your own rules just like a dictator because you've got the biggest stick. To support a unipolar world with a single super power is supporting a dictatorship. You obviously love a dictator.

                      • @Creamsoda:

                        When you make up your own "rules based international order" and totally disregard "international law"

                        And who do you think makes and enforces this 'international law'?

                        you make up your own rules just like a dictator because you've got the biggest stick

                        That is precisely how all laws work. How do you think laws are enforced?

                        Now once you get your head around that, ask yourself, who do you prefer to have the biggest stick? A nation will at least some semblance of freedom, democracy and justice, or an actual totalitarian single party dictatorship?

                        To support a unipolar world with a single super power is supporting a dictatorship. You obviously love a dictator.

                        You obviously have no idea what words mean.

                    • +4

                      @dealhunter52: Lest we forget Hong Kong, Taiwan, etc. …

                    • @dealhunter52:

                      You forgot to mention strongest and only military empire in history that hasn't annexed or claimed land of another country

                      Yeah this is the part the self-hating, anti-West lunatics can't seem to grasp.
                      Given the choice of which superpower you want to live under, the US is objectively the least worst choice in all of human history. Anyone who is triggered by this can feel free (because we are free) to list any other nominations that they feel did a better job here:

                  • +4

                    @Creamsoda: Yo Creaming, re:

                    'In the eyes of the world …'

                    Are you really so preposterously pompous that you claim to be able to speak on behalf of 'the world'?

                    Jesus Christ hombre, have some humility. You are not a god.

                  • +1

                    @Creamsoda:

                    In the eyes of the world…

                    You mean in your basement…

            • +2

              @dealhunter52: FLG sends their regards

          • +2

            @May4th: LOL … so you reckon the 'guantanamo bay residents' are just there due to some sort of inconvenient misunderstanding then?

        • +2

          user name checks out.

          • @Soled Out: Yo Soly, re:

            'user name checks out.'

            Which one?

            Due to this out-dated/clunky system, it's often unclear which comments are intended to be responses to which other comments. It seems that after the first person replies to any initial comment, every comment in that sub-thread thereafter is listed in an indented thread as though it is a reply to that very first comment; despite the fact that that is often clearly not the case.

            This should be fixed.

      • +6

        Not sure if you're naïve or just ignorant. You have freedom of speech and expression in US that goes over and above what should be allowed. Like this video of anti-Israel protesters burning American flag in middle of Manhattan.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnF4Z90zt-w

        Try burning Chinese flag in Shanghai or Beijing and report back.

        • -3

          Yea of course nothing will happen to you if you attack the puppet. But going after the puppeteer. you'll be cancelled and lose your job exactly like -10000 social credit.

          Just like this guy tried to burn a Israeli flag in New York but failed, yet his a wanted criminal on the run.
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36h-XA0isNo

          • +3

            @Creamsoda: This is the dumbest argument I have ever seen. Did you pay attention to the video you linked? That's not his flag and not his property. That's trespassing, vandalism and destruction of property.

            • -3

              @dealhunter52: Ditto which part of "Hate Crime" mentioned in the video don't you understand?

              • +3

                @Creamsoda: Isn't that obvious that he's motivated by hate? Is it so hard to understand? Seriously, it's like arguing with 10 year old.

                What would you call it if someone tries to burn your Palestinian flag outside your home or business?

        • Try burning Chinese flag in Shanghai or Beijing and report back.

          Don't even have to burn anything;
          just stand with a blank white piece of paper,
          and those people still get arrested.

          I think the American-owned companies
          did also block the American (soldier?) self-immolating ?

          NYT newspaper mandated all reporters to stop using certain words,
          when reporting the current Middle-Eastern "operations".

    • +10

      Your data worths 2 bucks on the black market ;)

      • +6

        More like 2c

        • No it's from $2 with your photo

    • What about AliExpress?

    • Why would they care? Aren't they their own apps?

      • No, CCP have been sucking data for at least 10 years

  • +13

    missing out on some of the best parts. Beijing is great, Shanghai not so much. Yangshou, Kunming, Xi'an and Shangri-La are much more interesting.

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