China surprises people, and the visa is nothing like as difficult as its reputation suggests. Shanghai and Beijing in one trip: the food, the Great Wall, the markets, and a country that most South Africans have never seriously considered visiting.

We do not have a China departure running at the moment — our previous tours have all been and gone — but we intend to bring it back. This guide covers what the trip involves and what to expect, so you can decide whether to join the list for the next one.

The visa is easier than you think

Let us deal with this first, because it stops people before they start.

China requires a full visa application, submitted here in South Africa. That sounds heavier than it is. The process is quick, straightforward and has a fast turnaround.

We have never had a China visa application refused. Not one. We guide every traveller through exactly what to prepare and when to submit it.

Requirements do change from time to time, so we confirm the current position with each group well ahead of departure rather than relying on what was true last year.

Set this up before you leave South Africa

China works differently from anywhere else we travel, and the things that catch people out are all fixable — if you sort them out before you fly. Leave them until you land and you will have a frustrating first day.

Payment apps

China runs on WeChat Pay and Alipay, not cash and not card. Street food, taxis, markets, shops — almost everything is paid by scanning a QR code on your phone.

Download both apps before you leave South Africa and link them to your cards. Setting them up from inside China is considerably harder. We walk every traveller through this ahead of departure.

A VPN

Google services do not work in China. That means no Gmail, no Google Maps, and no Google search. WhatsApp and several other apps you use daily are also inaccessible.

Set up a VPN before you depart. Install it, test it and make sure you can log in — downloading one once you are already in the country is difficult for the obvious reason.

Getting around on your own

Uber is not available in China. Use DiDi instead — it is the local equivalent and works much the same way. Download it before you go, alongside the payment apps it relies on.

Group transport is provided throughout the tour, so this is for your free time and anything off-itinerary.

Shanghai

A very large city, and two days gives you plenty without feeling rushed.

The food is the reason to go

We tell every group the same thing: try the hot pot.

Chinese cuisine in China is far richer and more varied than what you find in South Africa. There are flavours here that simply do not travel — depth well beyond the soy-and-ginger register most people know. Even committed vegetarians barely notice the absence of meat, because the vegetable dishes are that good.

If you are an adventurous eater, this may be the best-eating tour we run.

The underground markets

Shanghai's train stations have underground markets where you can shop for knock-off clothing at prices that make the trip pay for itself. Genuinely worth setting an afternoon aside for, and a favourite with our travellers.

Beijing

The Great Wall is the obvious draw and it deserves the reputation. There is a fair amount of walking involved — it is a wall along a mountain ridge, after all — but it is manageable and the experience is memorable in a way photographs do not convey.

The markets near the Wall are worth the extra walking too.

The theatre show is our strongest Beijing recommendation. Acrobats, motorbikes riding inside cages, fire performances — it is unlike anything most people have seen, and travellers talk about it afterwards more than they expect to.

Beijing food differs from Shanghai's, which is part of why doing both cities in one trip works so well.

Optional extras

We are adding two experiences for travellers who want them:

• An authentic Chinese cooking class — for anyone who wants to take some of the food home with them
• An overnight spa experience

Both optional and arranged locally.

The language question

This is the second thing that puts people off, and it should not.

Not speaking Mandarin is not a problem. Google Translate handles most day-to-day communication, including the camera function for reading menus and street signs — though you will need your VPN running for it. People are generally patient and willing to work it out with you.

In Beijing we also have a local guide who bridges any gaps. Between the two, you will manage perfectly well.

When to go

April to May and September to October are the two comfortable windows — mild temperatures and clear skies, which matters more than you would think for the Great Wall.

Beijing winters are genuinely cold, dropping below freezing. Summers are hot and humid, and Shanghai in August is heavy going.

Chinese New Year, in late January or February, closes a great deal of the country and makes internal travel difficult. Worth avoiding.

Practical things

• Six hours ahead of South Africa — expect a day or two of adjustment
• Plugs are Type A, C and I — bring a universal adapter
• Comfortable walking shoes — both cities involve a great deal of it, and the Wall more so
• Bottled water
• An eSIM is the easiest way to stay connected — see our guide to staying online while travelling

Who this trip suits

Adventurous eaters above all. Travellers who want somewhere genuinely different rather than somewhere familiar. Anyone who has done the usual destinations and wants a trip that will surprise them.

It suits people who are comfortable being somewhere the language and the systems are unfamiliar — not because it is difficult, but because that is part of what makes it interesting.

Register your interest

There is no China departure open at the moment. When we schedule the next one, the people on our list hear first — and groups usually form from that list before the tour goes public.

Send us an enquiry and we will let you know when dates are set.