HOW TO... sell China
Complex and diverse China stretches to Russia and Mongolia in the north to a tropical island, Hainan, in the south. Throw in frenetic Shangahi, timeless villages, mountains and river cruises, and it's clearly a touring destination like no other
BY PETER ELLEGARD
Lijiang, in Yunnan
CHINA VISAS: A visa is necessary to visit China. Tour operators will generally organise group visas for clients. TIME ZONE: GMT +8 FLIGHTS: Flights from the UK take about 11 hours CURRENCY: Renminbi (£1 = 9.45 RMB) GETTING THERE: Air China, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and China Eastern SAMPLE DEALS: Cosmos Tours & Cruises’ 16-day Captivating China tour includes Beijing and its key sights, Xian and the Terracotta Warriors, Shanghai, Chengdu and its Panda Breeding Research Base, and a three-night Yangtze River cruise, from £2,664pp including fl ights and full-board accommodation. A three-night Hong Kong extension costs from £390pp.
cosmostoursandcruises.co.uk
Great Wall of China
THE PEOPLE'S Republic of China is the third largest country in the world in terms of area – its coastline alone extends for over 11,000 miles and its vast sea surface is studded with more than 5,000 islands. Closed to the world for so long, China remains something of a mystery for many, who are fascinated by a country now embracing the rest of the world after centuries of isolation. Similarly, the country's appeal also lies in its geographic diversity: its land formations include mountains, hills, highlands, plains and basins, while its two major rivers, the mighty Yellow and the Yangtze, fl ow eastwards. From ancient cities to modern metropolises, from delicate water towns to imposing imperial palaces, China has more than enough to tempt visitors to make several return visits, but tour operators package most of the main draw cards on tours that usually stretch between 16-20 days. However, China's 'big three' –
42 May 2013
Beijing, Shanghai and Xian – can be combined on a nine-day trip, while a 12-day trip is long enough to incorporate a Yangtze river cruise Luxury cruises are available on the river, which winds through 11 provinces and cities, with Sanctuary Cruises. The company offers the largest cabins and suites on the river, along with private balconies, on its Sanctuary Explorer. Guests cruise past ancient monuments and quiet villages that seem timeless.
why sell?
Few other destinations
can compete with China’s sheer
wealth of history, which encompasses more than two millennia of cultural heritage and magnifi cent edifi ces – then there's those amazingly diverse landscapes. Language diffi culties (few Chinese speak English) and the need to take multiple internal fl ights or train journeys make independent exploration of China diffi cult, so it is best visited via an organised tour. Because of its vast size, and those
who to?
itineraries that often last more than two or three weeks, China is particularly suited to older clients who have both the time and money.
“China’s ‘honeypot’ sights include Beijing’s Forbidden City and Summer Palace and Shanghai’s Colonial-era district, The Bund”
www.sellinglonghaul.com
ALL IMAGES: PETER ELLEGARD
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