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11 Days China Discovery Tour Departing on Select Dates from Sydney/Melbourne from $899 Per Person Twin Share @ TripADeal

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11 Days China Discovery Tour Departing on Select Dates from Sydney/Melbourne from $899 Per Person Twin Share @ TripADeal

rvsure on 04/04/2025 - 14:03 tripadeal.com.au (4512 clicks)
Last edited 04/04/2025 - 14:23 by 1 other user

The 11 day China Discovery Tour is currently on sale for $899 ($100 discount) at TripADeal for Sydney and Melbourne departures including 2025 dates.

Return international full-service flights & one-way internal flight (or high-speed rail)
9 nights of 4-star hotel accommodation
Daily breakfast plus a traditional Peking Duck lunch
Travel with local English-speaking tour guides
Adults only (18+)

Itinerary

Day 1
Australia (or New Zealand) – Beijing, China
Day 2
Tiananmen Square & Forbidden City (or Tiananmen Square & Temple of Heaven)
Day 3
Great Wall of China
Day 4
Beijing - Shanghai - Suzhou
Day 5
Suzhou - Wuxi
Day 6
Wuxi - Hangzhou
Day 7
Longmen Ancient Town
Day 8
Hangzhou - Shanghai
Day 9
Shanghai History Museum & Free Afternoon
Day 10
Shanghai, China – Australia (or New Zealand)
Day 11
Arrive Australia (or New Zealand)

Tour Inclusions:

Explore Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou and Shanghai
Visit historic Tiananmen Square in Beijing
Step back in time to the UNESCO-listed Forbidden City or The Temple of Heaven (subject to availability)
Tick the Great Wall of China off your bucket list
Indulge in a delicious Peking Duck lunch experience
Enjoy a scenic boat ride on Hangzhou’s picturesque West Lake
Experience Longmen Ancient Town, famous for its unique Qing dynasty buildings
Visit Lihu Park, a serene oasis nestled along the picturesque shores of Lake Lihu in Wuxi
Delve into history of China at the Shanghai History Museum
Explore the Lingering Garden and a silk spinning factory in Suzhou
Learn about Longjing Tea at Meijiawu Tea Village with tastings

Optional Tours:

Beijing: The Golden Mask Dynasty - 380 RMB.
Beijing: Hutong Pedicab Tour & Dinner - 360 RMB.
Suzhou: Grand Canal Cruise - 220 RMB.
Shanghai: ERA and The Intersection of Time - 390 RMB.
Shanghai: Half-Day Shanghai Tour - 240 RMB.
Shanghai: Huangpu River Night Cruise - 280 RMB.
Please note:
Prices are based per person, are subject to change & availability, time permitting and weather conditions, and are payable directly to the tour operator in the currency specified.
Some tours require minimum numbers to operate.

Please note that there is recommended $12 per day pp tipping which seems to be unofficially mandatory as per reviews. Also, there are a few shopping stops with high-pressure sales as per reviews. Also, the optional tours may not be really optional unless you want to spend few hours on a hot bus while other finish their optional tours. Factor those costs into account.

Please refrain from sharing your perceived opinions about China based on what you heard. Appreciate your feedback if you have been on this tour or heard directly from someone who has been.

Travel Asia China Instagrampost Tour

16 Apr

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TripADeal

closed Comments

- - - rvsure on 05/05/2025 - 18:47
      
      Where are you departing from? Seems like there are multiple groups departing from various cities that week. You should get your details soon. Our flights were booked on 24th April as per the date on the tickets but we only got the details emailed on 2nd May. They probably are waiting on hotel confirmation. Also, the later your tickets get booked, the better airlines you might get as they will book the cheapest available flights first. We are booked on Juneyao airlines which I never heard of before. People from Brisbane are booked on Cathay Pacific.
      - sh4hp on 07/05/2025 - 15:33
        
        @rvsure: I'm departing from Melbourne. Heard nothing yet, and today is the 30 days before so hopefully the delay is due to getting a better flight.
        
        As we booked for 4, not sure if they would split the group or try to get 4 seats on the same flight
        
        rvsure on 07/05/2025 - 15:50
        
        @sh4hp: Hope you will get your details soon. If you all 4 booked in the same booking, they should keep you in the same group. Although there is no guarantee you will get to sit together on the plane. We are booked on less know Juneyao airlines which doesn't allow you to manage your booking on their website if the tickets are booked by a travel agent. Also, we are leaving Melbourne on the 4th June itself with a full day layover in Shanghai before our flight to Beijing on the 5th June.
        
        sh4hp on 08/05/2025 - 12:24
        
        @rvsure: Yeah, I think most flights should be same day as the tour starts. Will need to check once I get details.
        
        Dates look tight. Hopefully don't get burned out by it all.
        
        sh4hp on 10/05/2025 - 07:09
        
        +1
        
        @rvsure: Finally got the details. Xiamen airlines return.
        
        Layover in Xiamen.
        
        rvsure on 10/05/2025 - 08:33
        
        @sh4hp: Which group you are in? We are in blue group.
        
        sh4hp on 10/05/2025 - 11:03
        
        @rvsure: We're red. But who knows?
saintza on 04/04/2025 - 16:03

+2

My sister and brother in law recently did this tour and were surprised by how much they enjoyed it, especially given how cheap it is. They definitely recommended it.
danhendo888 on 04/04/2025 - 17:00

How many people in a tour group?
- festivus4all on 04/04/2025 - 17:01
  
  Minimum group size 28, maximum group size 44 per vehicle.
belongsinforums on 04/04/2025 - 17:07

+3

add in mandatory 'tips' to your deal
- wots on 04/04/2025 - 18:30
  
  which is funny because tipping isn't customary in China
  - belongsinforums on 04/04/2025 - 18:35
    
    +2
    
    Unless you're on a tour
PurchaseAnxiety on 04/04/2025 - 17:21

How have peoples experiences been with Trip-a-Deal generally? Currently looking at one of their packages (though not the one in this post) and it is enticing.
- Blokeinhisundies on 04/04/2025 - 21:47
  
  My old man, my step mother and sister went to India with them last year and said it was a good intro to the major sites. They said that the guide would negotiate with sellers before everyone got back on the bus to get the best deal. I was sceptical about the guys motivation but apparently some people tried negotiating themselves and never got close to what the guide would get.
  
  I would personally never go to India but apparently it was a pretty good trip at a really good price. You can pay extra to select your preferred airline which they didn't do but ended up flying Singapore Airlines.
Dack Smith on 04/04/2025 - 17:26

Great deal, and cheap as well.

Lots of stuff to see over there, much better public transport system too
chaseme on 04/04/2025 - 18:10

+24
I did this in November last year, solo and I throughly enjoyed it. I used my Qantas points I passively accumulated over the past decade and when I saw this deal, I though why not considering I never intended to travel to China, visa free visits was just only a new thing and basically thought it was a no brainer. My experiences is as follows:

November was the best time for me to travel, cool high-teens to low 20's temperatures, clear sunny days and no rain. Cold mornings, yes, but you can't have everything
Waking up with buffet breakfasts is great, then jumping on the bus for additional sleep is fantastic, no need to organise transport, just make sure you rock up at the agreed/informed time and plan accordingly. Trips are going to be 1+ hours due to the location of the hotels

WePay or AliPay are easy to use. The areas of China within this tour group are virtually cashless. Scan to pay, or they can your code for payment. And things are cheap, about 4 times cheaper than Hong Kong, so don't worry about food unless you have dietary requirements

My two guides on the tour helped the group, more than expected. Genuinely kind and helpful, able to organise cash (if you wanted it for some reason), local knock-off designer bags/accessory connections, places to eat suggestions, informative and good people

Mandatory shopping experiences are weird, informative and persuasive. They were interesting, but if you already have the mind set of not being interested in anything, they will leave you alone. I didn't buy anything, though I was tempted in getting their full silk bedding package, that included free shipping. Great to gawk at, for a laugh and to make the most of the situation. But really, don't buy into the promise they're trying to sell, especially with their medicines.

The optional tours/additions are optional. They will try to persuade you in going, but in the end, they're not going to force you. I did zero of these and had no regrets as I prefer to explore the city around me, which I explored Beijing solo. I also chose to not do a whole day with the tour group while in Shanghai and go to Disneyland instead with no dramas. If not doing the optionals, they let you wonder around the area, just make sure your back at the agreed place at the nominated time.

Hotels are good, not pokey or uncomfortable, but the hotels are far from anything worth visiting, usually 1+ hours away. All mornings had buffet breakfasts with a wide variety of options. Also, take all the bottled water offered in hotels to save time and money

Breaking away from the group was easy, and using DiDi (their Uber) was fast, cheap and safe. I highly recommend getting an eSIM before leaving. I think I used TravelKon with no issues and able to use google, YouTube etc while in China. Communication can be made with the tour guides easily via WeChat.

Many people on the tour are retirees, but I also had some young people on the tour. Everyone I interacted with were good people, which was almost everyone, generally likeminded in travelling around the world. Some had trips already booked for post China travels

Seats of flights to/from China and between locations are randomly allocated. I had my seat booked between a couple, but they were happy to give me the window seat. Didn't know at the time that they were on the same tour until a couple of days later. But you can generally make out who the people in your group are at the airport, before bunching up with the tour guide at the airport.

China is safe. Walked solo around Beijing, travelled in a DiDi solo for over an hour. Wasn't scammed or close to it. As long as you're sensible and alert, things will be ok. Also, alcohol is cheap, so buy and bring your allocation back home to Australia.

I did give them the mandatory tips, it wasn't really a big deal, just part of their job/industry.

I genuinely had a great time; it was interesting to hear things from the other side and see it too, rather than being feed from the media. I travelled solo with the tour group of about 30, met some great people and spent the least amount of money out of anyone (no additional events or bought anything from their sales pitches).

Happy to answer any questions anyone may have. Thanks
- MR-AM on 04/04/2025 - 20:57
  
  How much is the mandatory tipping?
  - rvsure on 04/04/2025 - 22:42
    
    $12 per person per day. They say it is recommended but some guides seems to insist on $12 per day.
    - MR-AM on 04/04/2025 - 22:44
      
      Thank you!
  - chaseme on 05/04/2025 - 05:23
    
    About AU$100 all up since you’re not there for 11 days due to flying in and out on counted days.
- danhendo888 on 04/04/2025 - 21:43
  
  Did you have to pay a surcharge as a solo traveler?
  - rvsure on 04/04/2025 - 22:42
    
    Yes $555 solo surcharge applies
  - chaseme on 05/04/2025 - 05:24
    
    +1
    
    I didn’t pay a dollar for the tour since I used my Qantas points. The also had a points ‘sale’ reducing the amount of points I needed. But the $555 solo surcharge sounds about right, no room sharing
- khey on 05/04/2025 - 23:38
  
  is the medicine for burnt skin? i remembered when i was there in the 90s, there was a guy who doing a demo of the medicine by placing his hand on burning chains.
Sneeze on 04/04/2025 - 20:25

-6

The Australian government travel warning for the potential for arbitrary detention and/or imprisonment is still current for China.

https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/asia/china
- axcairns on 04/04/2025 - 20:52
  
  +11
  
  I'd feel safer going to China than USA right now
conant on 04/04/2025 - 20:53

+1

a few shopping stops with high-pressure sales

How are they going to push the english only tourist? Buy buy buy? No buy no leave?
- serena-yu on 17/04/2025 - 11:51
  
  "Buy buy buy" is legally ok but you can always ignore them. No buy no leave is against the law. If someone tells you "no buy no leave", just call the police and let the big brother to teach them a lesson.
daft009 on 04/04/2025 - 21:38

+3

Just spent 2wks in China in March on a work trip and it was excellent

Really enjoyed the country, the people, the technology, safety!
Jatacid on 04/04/2025 - 21:59

+1

Are there any tours of China that don't have these hidden costs and dubious tactics? I would pay good money for a tour that was not as rushed, sees some more unique places and avoids the scams
- sal78 on 05/04/2025 - 02:22
  
  +3
  
  Just go on your own. Didi is so cheap seriously. A 30mins taxi ride is like $3 aud
  
  Need alipay or wechat and a translator app. You cannot pay without those apps and you must get A LOT of data.
  
  You absolutely cannot run out of data.
edman on 04/04/2025 - 22:09

Can anyone comment on the typical age range of the participants on these tours?
- sal78 on 05/04/2025 - 02:23
  
  +2
  
  Our tour was 50 to 80. But Trip A Deal is getting really popular now and ages are getting younger. I learnt best to travel younger because travel insurance at 70 is in the thousands from our fellow travellers. It was fun getting to know everyone. Trip a deal china does not allow minors under 17yo.
  
  We went back to china in dec with our teens because we loved it so much. We plan to go again year end, family trip.
  
  I also love that so many Aussies are going to china an perception are all positive.
  - Geoffw on 05/04/2025 - 07:53
    
    Our tour (TripaDeal) was small, about 20 people, mostly middle aged, but one 18 year old and an 84 year old. All great people.
srven3 on 04/04/2025 - 22:39

-2

Is this the tour where you have to pretend you're at ground level rather than multiple stories up? Or where they take you to all the glitzy places they want foreigners to see how much better it is than the west and don't show you the poverty and underlying problems. Refuse to be part of the propaganda. Most Chinese people are lovely, sadly the government is a dictatorship that needs to be carved out
- TightAl on 04/04/2025 - 22:57
  
  +1
  
  The government is the reason why China is the way it is now lmao. Do you avoid America because of Orange man? Or the Old man? How about the Blackman (god he sent alot of folks to endless wars).
  
  Tourist from Overseas don't exactly go touring Darwin so not sure why you'd be concerned for the Chinese equivalent (not that anything in China compares to DARWIN)
- gunso on 04/04/2025 - 22:58
  
  +3
  
  Fed propaganda everyday from Western Media
- May4th on 07/04/2025 - 09:31
  
  -2
  
  you're probably thinking of north korea
  most people in big cities like shanghai and beijing (the locals that have secure housing and jobs) are probably better off than the average aussie
  - srven3 on 07/04/2025 - 15:15
    
    defiantly not mate, NK much worse
    My wife is from HK and her family are there. Also have friends from China, told me they were restricted in what they could read and internet and what they could say.
    People there sadly can't live how they want to.
    To most it's just how it is so they don't complain, others rise up, however just like Tiananmen Square the government soon put those protests down.
    Chinese people are great, government is shit and should not be supported.
    No issue with people taking tours, just keep in mind if it's planned by CCP ie.. they tell you where to go and take you there then it's likely to be a tour like those youtuber shills go on.
    You're all entitled to your option as I am mine.
    I expected the downvotes as CCP shills don't like open discussions.
    - May4th on 16/04/2025 - 22:29
      
      I was referring to socioeconomic status. but if you want to discuss freedom, it's really not as bad western media would have us believe. that was in the Mao's China. I have uni friends who went back to china to work/live. they trash talk CCP all the time they just know not to do so openly. they have access to western media and even interact with us on fb/twitter using vpns. as long as you don't openly challenge CCP people live just fine.
      
      they tell you where to go and take you there then it's likely to be a tour like those youtuber
      
      yeah, nah
oatslovemilk on 04/04/2025 - 23:56

amazingly bargin
Fat Horny Ghost on 05/04/2025 - 00:27

+1

Ozbargain china meetup lets go I bought tix
runamuck on 05/04/2025 - 01:07

+2

Shouldn't this be called a 10 day tour rather than a 11 day tour since we are departing China on Day 10? Why is arriving in Australia considered as the 11th day?
- TightAl on 05/04/2025 - 14:05
  
  +1
  
  Because you need 11 days off work
sal78 on 05/04/2025 - 02:18

+3

The flights are so cheap from mel/syd and free visa, just go and do free n easy.

We did Trip A Deal last yr which I mostly paid for with Qantas points when they had the 50% off points deal. Best deal ever. We did the 2 for 1 Panda and Yangtze river tour.

It was so freakin good value. Chengdu and Chongqing are must cyberpunk cities to visit. The tour was only $3k 2 for 1 deal. The Yangtze 4 night cruise is already $500 USD pp on its own. That was a bucket list ticked.

I suggest to download Weixin pay and use Didi rideshare. We explored on our own after the group tour. Most of the group just stayed in hotel. Hotels are remote. We didn’t do any optional excursions except the Yangtze part.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAUf6sIyKnI/?igsh=MTU0YWZreGg…

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAa1lyYPI5a/?igsh=MTZrZHV6aHk…

Couldn’t even tell we were on tripadeal.

Beijing is not that good. We were there in Dec. we love Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. Very easy to get around on your own. The cities are only 2hrs by train. I don’t suggest a group tour because you get a totally different experience. I can’t imagine going to Suzhou only to spend 1/2 the time at a silk factory. I highly recommend visiting an ancient water town or even stay overnight in Tong like we did. Avoid all the crowds.

But so far my fav is def Szechuan provinces.

We will probably go back this yr. China is seriously amazing and soooo cheap! Bubble tea is like 60cents.

Oh n stock up on Li Ming Way of Wades!
- ryefig on 07/04/2025 - 09:27
  
  Thanks for sharing. Might be a silly question, but i have Didi downloaded already and use it occassionally. Will this work in China or is there a separate version of the app to use there?
  - sal78 on 08/04/2025 - 08:57
    
    +2
    
    No it’s not the same Didi app used.
    
    In China, they use mini apps built into a main App.
    
    The main App is Wechat or Alipay. The Didi app is in there. You inly need these 2 apps.
    
    For example, the KFC mini app is in Wechat/Alipay. In a way it’s great because you don’t need a million apps on your phone. Actually it’s genius.
    
    If you have Alipay or Wechat, you can check out Didi. Just change your destinations to china when playing with Didi.
    
    In Wechat, go to Mini Programs or Pay Services. These 2 apps can book flights, transfer money to ppl, pay, book tours, book great wall tickets, book hotels, pay utilities, book train tickets, book car share, have discount vouchers, watch programs, literally they do everything and chinese ppl cannot live without it
    
    I can’t get by without it in China. The thing I was most afraid of whilst travelling on our own in China was running out of data or phone battery dying. They have pay to use charging banks everywhere but you need wechat, miniapp to get it.
    
    Yes you can use cash on tripadeal because they take you to all tourist places but def no if you go around by yourself. Nike cannot even use cash. My son’s weixin pay was not working because it needed a code from westpac (large purchase) so they found an ancient credit card reader in the store room! Plugged it in and it worked! How crazy is that? Lol
  - May4th on 08/04/2025 - 12:47
    
    there's a different didi app fpr domestic use. or you can use mini app through wechat or Amap
yummypinacolada on 05/04/2025 - 03:08

I'm really torn with flight deals to Japan or this. I'm more inclined to visit Japan but I'd need to spend 3x more at least. This is crazy good prices
- sal78 on 08/04/2025 - 09:03
  
  +2
  
  Go to both! It’s only like $50 one way flight from japan to china and only 2hrs.
  
  In Dec we flew to bris to seoul, seoul to beijing, beijing to bris
  
  $250 jetstar
  $50 Air China? Can’t remember
  China Southern $350
  
  Booked all one ways and separately. Flying around asia is so cheap!
igeekyayush on 05/04/2025 - 14:36

Is it to and fro from Australia? The inclusion says return flight. The deal is is hard to believe and I'm trying to find the catch lol
- sal78 on 08/04/2025 - 09:11
  
  +2
  
  The only catch is the shopping tours to silk, jade and tea but you don’t need to buy anything. Most ppl do buy though. It’s subsidised by these shopping tours and the gov.
  
  My tip is to find an itinerary with less shopping tours.
  
  The one I picked only had 1 shopping tour to the silk factory and the a/c was a great relief from the heat. The museum and history of silk was also very interesting. We didn’t buy anything because it’s very extravagant embroidery. We still have the bright red silk bedding with dragon and phoenix from our wedding night. Whether it does bring good luck is up to you to believe. Years later we were blessed with dragon/phoenix twins! When the sales person told the story, we could vouch for it lol
  
  It was after to the panda tour on the drive to Emeishan City. The only plan was a lunch stop and kungfu show in evening so it was fine because were not missing out/sacrificing time.
  
  But I would be so annoyed at the Suzhou shopping trip and Shanghai. There are literally so many better things to do.
BargainShopaholic on 05/04/2025 - 16:57

+2

Just came back from 10 days in China. Didn’t do this tour but just wanted to say you need lots of data as everything is paid for via WeChat or Alipay.

I did a lot of eSIM research and ended up buying from Trip.com which is flexible and cheap.

I bought the daily packs, either 3GB or 100GB depends on my plans for that day (there’s no in between) and it worked out cheaper than many other eSIM providers.

Connection was fast, not throttled, and I could access everything (Google, Gmail, WhatsApp etc).

Installation and activation were simple, you just need wifi on your first day to activate the first eSIM (if you plan to buy dailies like I did).
- [Deactivated] on 16/04/2025 - 01:30
  
  How much data did you actually need/use?
Ashish31 on 07/04/2025 - 23:15

I was searching for reviews on this deal and came across this YouTube video, which looks to be from the same deal. Maybe someone can confirm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaSn3NLFfPU
PixelPaul on 13/04/2025 - 20:18

Are there any that allow kids? want to do this with family, 2 adults 2 kids (5,11)
emoticon on 14/04/2025 - 14:25

Has the $100 discount finished? The price is showing as $999 for me not $899.
- rvsure on 14/04/2025 - 14:28
  
  It appears so. All the May and June dates which were part of the $899 deal seems to be soldout.
  - emoticon on 14/04/2025 - 14:34
    
    Thank you, no worries if the $100 off were only those months, wasn’t planning on May or June anyways - dates are too close for me. Was looking more at October/November.
0806449 on 16/04/2025 - 10:36

Price checks out: $899
'prosperous long long'
- BuyNow Think Later on 16/04/2025 - 18:37
  
  It is $999 now.
Yarra Warrior on 16/04/2025 - 20:01

+1

Thanks OP for sharing this. I have been asked to join this kind of trips before.
From most of the reviews or comments from those who have been going with this kind of tours, that definitely helps a lot.
And yeah the tour seems improved a lot and that looks fun anyway.

I am just hoping one day I will get my time to book on this tour.
rvsure on 02/05/2025 - 16:46

Anyone booked for 4th/5th June departure from Melbourne?