Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a journey from our collection, or tell us about the private trip you have in mind, and send us an inquiry through the contact page. We'll confirm availability, answer your questions and send a detailed proposal with a price.

Your booking is confirmed once we receive the deposit and send you written confirmation. The specific payment schedule is set out in your booking confirmation.

We recommend getting in touch at least 2–3 months before your intended travel dates. This leaves time for visa applications, and for us to secure the hotels, trains and domestic flights you want, especially around Chinese public holidays.

If your dates are closer than that, contact us anyway and we'll tell you what is possible.

Yes. Any journey in our collection can be used as the starting point for a private trip. Dates, pace, hotel standard, meals and activities can all be adjusted around you. Tell us what you'd like to change when you send your inquiry.

Yes. Private custom travel is one of the three ways we work. You tell us where you'd like to go, when, who you're travelling with and what you'd love to experience; we design the itinerary and arrange everything on the ground. See Private Custom for how the process works.

Our tour prices typically include accommodation, transport within China, guided experiences and the meals specified in the itinerary. Each journey page has an "Included / Not Included" section that lists exactly what applies to that trip.

No. International airfare to and from China is not included unless a journey page explicitly says otherwise. Transport within China that is part of the itinerary, such as high-speed trains and domestic flights, is included.

Yes. Hotels for every night of the itinerary are included, as listed on the journey page. If you would prefer a different hotel category, tell us and we'll quote the difference.

The prices shown are starting prices per person in US dollars. Your final price depends on your travel dates, the number of travellers and any changes you request, and is fixed when your booking is confirmed.

It depends on your nationality. China has expanded visa-free entry and visa-free transit for many nationalities in recent years, and the rules change often. Check the current policy for your passport with the nearest Chinese embassy or consulate, or your government's travel advice, before you travel.

If you do need a visa, we can provide your confirmed itinerary and booking documents to support the application.

Daily life in China runs on mobile payment. Both Alipay and WeChat Pay can be set up by visitors and linked to an international Visa or Mastercard, and we recommend doing this before you arrive. Cash (Chinese yuan, CNY) is still accepted, and ATMs are common in cities. Everything included in your itinerary is already paid for, so you only need money for personal spending.

Hotels, larger restaurants and department stores generally accept international cards. Small shops, markets, taxis and street vendors usually do not, which is why setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay with your card is the most practical option.

Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and most cafés. For mobile data, a travel eSIM or a local SIM card works well. Some international apps and websites, including Google services, WhatsApp and Instagram, are not accessible on Chinese networks without a VPN, so install one before you arrive if you want to use them. We'll send practical guidance before your trip.

China's high-speed rail network is fast, comfortable and punctual, and it connects most of the cities on our journeys. Tickets are tied to your passport, which you use at the station gates. All train and domestic flight tickets that are part of your itinerary are arranged by us; you'll receive the details before departure.

Yes. Our journeys are led by local guides who live in the regions you visit.

You will have a direct contact at Tianyō for the duration of your trip, in addition to your guide.

Our regular tours run as small groups: most journeys list a maximum of 12 travellers, and the exact range is shown on each journey page. Small-group departures are being developed for 6–12 travellers. Private trips are just your own party.