Places
Explore key regions, cities, sites, and routes in China.
Why China
China balances iconic heritage with contemporary energy, giving alumni, donors, and student groups a living laboratory for history, economics, and community stories. Beijing anchors with Forbidden City depth, hutong encounters, and Great Wall sunrises. Xi’an showcases Silk Road influences and the Terracotta Army, while Shanghai offers skyline innovation, faith history sites, and partner NGOs. Yangtze cruises or Guilin karst landscapes add rest and reflection days, and our bilingual guides keep translation, permissions, and pacing dialed in for culturally sensitive programming.
Top Highlights by Theme
- Beijing Heritage: Temple of Heaven morning exercises, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and Mutianyu Great Wall climbs.
- Xi’an & Silk Road: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter food walk, and Ancient City Wall cycling.
- Shanghai & the Coast: Bund promenade, Yu Garden, French Concession, and contextual engagement with registered churches.
- Scenic Extensions: Yangtze River cruise through Three Gorges or Guilin–Yangshuo karst boat rides with rural cycling.
- Modern Engagements: Innovation parks, university visits, and cultural exchanges with NGOs focused on education or social enterprise.
Sub-Regions & Routes
Beijing & Great Wall
- Base near Wangfujing or Chaoyang for hotel meeting space and easy subway access.
- Visit Temple of Heaven at dawn, Forbidden City with licensed historian guides, and hutong homes for tea ceremonies.
- Travel to Mutianyu or Jinshanling sections of the Great Wall for less-crowded views and cable car access.
Xi’an & the Heartland
- High-speed rail or short flight from Beijing connects to Xi’an in 4.5 hrs.
- Terracotta Army with museum curators, Shaanxi History Museum, and dumpling banquet evenings.
- Bike or walk the Ancient City Wall for group reflection; explore Muslim Quarter for Silk Road cuisine and cultural diversity.
Shanghai & the Coast
- Fly or high-speed rail to Shanghai (4.5–6 hrs) for skyline contrast and partner visits.
- The Bund, Pudong observation decks, and French Concession walking tours highlight colonial and modern history.
- Options to visit historic churches, community centers, or international schools with approved programming.
Southern Scenery Extensions
- Yangtze River cruise (3–4 nights) between Chongqing and Yichang includes Three Gorges, Shibaozhai pagoda, and onboard lectures.
- Guilin and Yangshuo offer Li River cruises, karst peaks, and cycling through rural villages.
- Hangzhou adds West Lake boat rides, tea plantations, and opportunities for cultural exchange.
Trip Length & Pacing
9 Days
- Arrive Beijing; Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City tour, and welcome dinner.
- Great Wall at Mutianyu with cable car; hutong lunch and tea ceremony.
- Temple of Heaven tai chi, Summer Palace boat ride, evening donor reception.
- High-speed rail to Xi’an; Terracotta Army and museum visit.
- Xi’an city wall cycling, Muslim Quarter dinner, and heritage discussion.
- Fly to Shanghai; Bund evening cruise and skyline reflection.
- Shanghai city touring (Yu Garden, French Concession) and partner meeting; depart home.
11 Days
- Adds day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou for garden and water town contrasts.
- Includes additional Beijing service project or university exchange.
- Provides buffer evening for donor dinner or alumni storytelling event in Shanghai.
14 Days
- Adds Yangtze River cruise or Guilin/Yangshuo scenic extension for slower-paced reflection.
- Incorporates Shanghai innovation or faith history tour, plus optional Hong Kong add-on.
- Allows rest days and leadership training sessions with translation support.
Best Time to Go
- March–May (spring) offers mild temps, blooming parks, and manageable air quality; ideal for Great Wall hikes.
- September–November (autumn) delivers crisp skies and comfortable touring weather before winter chill.
- Summer (June–August) is hot/humid with larger crowds; we schedule early mornings and indoor venues to stay cool.
- Winter (December–February) is cold in the north but quieter, with festive lights and potential snow at the Great Wall.
- Major holidays (Golden Week in early October, Chinese New Year) bring heavy domestic travel—plan alternate timing or secure private venues.
Group Logistics
- Airports: Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) for arrivals; Xi’an (XIY) and Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) for connections.
- Rail & flights: High-speed rail links Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai efficiently; domestic flights cover longer hops or southern extensions.
- Typical drives: Beijing ↔ Mutianyu ~1.5 hrs; Xi’an airport ↔ city center ~1 hr; Shanghai ↔ Suzhou ~1.5 hrs.
- Lodging: 4–5★ business hotels with meeting rooms and Western/Chinese breakfast options; cruise cabins for Yangtze segments.
- Meals: mix of hotel buffets, curated banquets, family-style dining, and hands-on dumpling classes; dietary needs managed with advance planning.
- Mobility: moderate—expect palace steps, uneven Great Wall stones, and busy city walks; we secure cable cars, rest stops, and accessible alternatives.
- Fundraising moments: private Great Wall sunrise, Bund evening cruise, and museum lecture nights with donors or alumni.
Extensions & Combos
- Hong Kong or Macau: Add a finance and partnerships perspective in Hong Kong or Macau before/after mainland touring.
- South Korea or Japan: Pair with South Korea or Japan for East Asia comparative studies.
- Southeast Asia: Continue to Thailand or Vietnam for service and cultural immersion.
- Middle East stopover: Break the journey in Dubai for donor events or rest.
- Europe heritage: Connect with Turkey or Israel to trace Silk Road and biblical history themes.
Safety & Stewardship Notes
We navigate visa requirements, group registrations, and local regulations with trusted partners. Bilingual tour directors manage translation, schedule buffers, and crowd navigation, while we monitor health advisories, air quality, and political updates so leaders can focus on relationship building.
FAQs
- Q: Do we need visas for China? A: Yes—most travelers require a tourist visa; we coordinate invitation letters, application timelines, and consulate guidance.
- Q: How do we handle language barriers? A: We provide bilingual tour directors, local guides, and translation headsets for teaching moments and small-group discussions.
- Q: Are there faith-based gathering restrictions? A: We align on approved venues and content in advance, keeping gatherings private within hotel meeting rooms or cruise spaces to respect local regulations.
- Q: What about internet access? A: We arrange Wi-Fi hotspots and provide tips for communicating under China’s internet policies; messaging apps and VPN usage require advance planning.
- Q: Is water safe to drink? A: Bottled water is provided throughout; hotels offer filtered supply, and we brief travelers on food safety and hygiene best practices.
Review fundraising ideas in our travel commissions guide, or add China to your request via the lead form when you’re ready to plan.
Highlights
- Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall, and hutong culture walks
- Xi’an: Terracotta Army and Silk Road heritage
- Shanghai: Bund skyline, faith history, and innovation hubs
- Yangtze or Guilin extensions for scenery and reflection
Fundraising for Churches
How Churches Use China
- Beijing heritage and Great Wall reflections that connect Scripture timelines with living history
- Xi’an Terracotta Army and Silk Road heritage as context for missions storytelling and global discipleship
- Shanghai innovation and church history visits that inspire donors and leaders with modern faith resilience
- Yangtze or Guilin extensions for slower-paced retreat, testimony sharing, and creation meditation
What Works Well
- 9–12 day itineraries linking Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai with optional river cruise or Guilin add-on
- One protected worship or teaching block per day in private hotel meeting rooms or cruise venues
- Cultural exchanges (tea ceremonies, calligraphy, dumpling classes) that foster relationship building within guidelines
- Strategic pacing: domestic flights or high-speed rail with luggage transfers handled by our on-the-ground team
We manage visas, registrations, and permitted venues so pastors can shepherd teams while honoring local regulations and relationships.
Sample Ministry Focus
- Great Wall sunrise devotion with private bus and cable car access
- Beijing hutong home visit and guided prayer walk for the city
- Xi’an Terracotta Army tour followed by Silk Road missions story night in hotel meeting space
- Shanghai Bund evening cruise with donor appreciation and testimony panel
- Optional Yangtze cruise small groups with curated prayer and reflection guides between shore excursions
What ETS Tours Provides Here
- End-to-end itinerary design across Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai, and scenic extensions with licensed guides
- Visa assistance: invitation letters, application coaching, appointment scheduling, and tracking
- Registered bilingual tour directors managing translation, worship logistics, and cultural sensitivity briefings
- Private meeting rooms, hotel ballroom setups, and onboard spaces reserved for daily worship/teaching
- High-speed rail tickets, domestic flights, charter coaches, and porterage to keep transitions smooth
- Compliance monitoring: alignment with local regulations, emergency protocols, and air quality updates
- Fundraising and storytelling support: pre-trip webinars, on-trip donor touchpoints, and post-trip follow-up templates
Talk with us to align your ministry goals with in-country realities, or add China to your request at the lead form.
Ready to explore China with your group?
We’ll map a simple plan, budget fit, and timeline.