Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers from the LynxTravel team — private China tours since 2014 · 14 years of operating experience · 500,000+ travelers served
Travelers ask us everything from "do I need a visa" to "will my guide help my mother at the train station." Here are the honest, specific answers — the same ones we give on WhatsApp every day. Question not listed? Message WhatsApp +86 172 6789 8631, a human replies within 24 hours.
Planning & Booking
Q How far in advance should I book?
For normal dates, 2–4 weeks is comfortable. For Chinese holiday periods — Golden Week (early October), Chinese New Year (late January/February), and summer July–August — book 1–2 months ahead: hotels and train tickets genuinely sell out, and train tickets only open for sale 7 days before departure. We secure tickets the moment sales open for our clients.
Q Can I book with a deposit now and buy my international flights later?
Yes — that's actually the recommended order. A deposit locks your guides, drivers, hotels and tickets at quoted prices; your international flights are independent of that. If your arrival date shifts by a day or two, we adjust the itinerary before anything is paid in full. See our payment & safety page for the deposit schedule.
Q Can I customize the itinerary, hotels, and pace?
All our routes are starting points, not fixed products. Dates, pace, hotel category, and destinations are all adjustable before deposit. Mid-trip changes are also possible — that's the point of a private tour. Tell us what you have in mind and we'll rebuild the route around it.
Q Do you run group tours I can join, or private only?
Private only. Every tour is your own vehicle, your own guide, your own schedule — we don't mix travelers into groups. Solo travelers are welcome; a single-supplement may apply for hotels, quoted transparently up front.
Prices & Payment
Q What exactly is included in the tour price?
Included: private vehicle with driver, private English-speaking guide, all entrance tickets in the itinerary, and hotels as specified. Not included: international flights to/from China, most lunches and dinners (your guide happily recommends and accompanies), tipping, and personal expenses. Each tour page lists exact inclusions.
Q How do I pay you, and is it safe to pay before I arrive?
Credit/debit card, PayPal, international bank transfer, or Alipay/WeChat Pay — you never pay 100% upfront for most itineraries. We operate under Chinese travel agency license L-HUN-303839 and have done so since 2014. Every payment comes with a written confirmation. Full breakdown on our payment & safety page.
Q What is your cancellation policy?
Refund amounts depend on how close to departure you cancel, and every stage is written out — no hidden clauses. Read the exact schedule in our cancellation policy before paying your deposit.
Q Should I exchange Chinese cash before arriving? How much do I need per day?
Don't bother exchanging at home — airport and hotel counters in China offer fine rates, and daily spending mostly runs through Alipay or WeChat Pay, which accept foreign cards in minutes. Physically, ¥100–200 cash per person per day covers the rare cash-only noodle shop or market stall. Full setup walkthrough: How to pay in China (2026).
Q Do foreign cards work in China — Revolut, Wise, Monzo?
Yes. Revolut and Wise cards link to Alipay/WeChat Pay and work at hotel checkouts and ATMs. International credit cards (Visa/Mastercard/Amex) work in hotels, malls and upscale restaurants. Street food, taxis and small shops are the territory of mobile payment — the guide above covers setup in about 10 minutes.
Q Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes — we strongly recommend it, and we ask you to arrange it in your home country before departure. It should cover medical treatment and trip cancellation. Chinese hospitals treat foreigners efficiently, but without insurance the bills are entirely self-pay.
Visa, Entry & Safety
Q Do I need a visa to visit China?
Citizens of 50+ countries can now enter visa-free for 30 days or more, and transit rules cover many more nationalities. Check your passport on our updated guide: China visa-free entry guide 2026 — 50 countries.
Q Do I pay taxes or customs when I land in China?
No customs duty for personal belongings within normal limits, and no tourist taxes on arrival. If your tour includes airport pickup, your guide meets you in the arrival hall holding a name sign with your name — you walk out of the airport, not through a maze of counters.
Q Is China safe for foreign travelers?
For most visitors, yes — violent crime against tourists is rare, cities are safe to walk at night, and infrastructure is modern and reliable. The honest breakdown, including the annoyances nobody mentions, is in Is China safe? What travelers actually need to know (2026).
Life On Tour
Q Will I have the same guide and driver for the whole trip?
Within one city, yes — the same guide and driver stay with you throughout. When you travel to the next city, a local guide there takes over: you get a Zhangjiajie expert in Zhangjiajie and a Xi'an expert in Xi'an, not one generalist on a 3,000 km commute. Your travel advisor connects them all and stays reachable 24/7 in between.
Q What are the guide's daily working hours? Can they help in the evening?
Standard touring days run roughly 9:00–18:00, but your guide doesn't vanish at 6 pm — dinner recommendations, night market walks, and evening tickets are all normal parts of the service, arranged when you plan the day together. Your itinerary confirmation also includes a 24/7 emergency contact number.
Q Do you have guides in languages other than English?
English is standard on all tours. We can also arrange German, French, Spanish, Japanese and Korean guides on request — availability varies by city and a supplement may apply. Tell us at the planning stage, not after the deposit.
Q Should I tip the guide and driver? How much?
Tipping is not mandatory in China, but for private tours it is customary when you're happy with the service. A common benchmark: about ¥100 per day for the guide, about ¥50 per day for the driver, given separately at the end. Hotel porters: ¥10 per bag. Entirely your call — nobody will ask.
Q Can you arrange vegetarian, halal, or allergy-friendly meals?
Yes — tell us when planning, and your guide handles the rest on the ground. China's vegetarian and halal restaurant networks are extensive (Xi'an's Muslim Quarter alone could feed you for a week), and guides routinely manage nut, seafood and gluten allergies. Severe allergies should be flagged in writing when booking.
Q Is Wi-Fi easy to find? Do I need a VPN?
Hotels and trains have Wi-Fi, but Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook don't work in mainland China without a VPN installed before you arrive. Alternatives: your guide keeps you connected via WeChat (which works for foreign numbers), or an international roaming plan. Set this up at home — it cannot be fixed after landing.
Trains & Getting Around
Q How do train tickets work with a foreign passport?
Your passport is both your booking ID and your ticket gate pass — full name and number are all we need to secure tickets, which go on sale 7 days before departure. Your guide assists at the station and walks you to the platform. The complete system, including the 12306 app and waitlists, is in China train guide 2026 for foreign tourists.
Q Are there luggage limits on Chinese trains?
No checked-baggage system: you carry bags on and stash them in overhead racks or shelf space at the carriage ends. The practical limit is what you can lift — one large plus one small suitcase per person is normal. High-speed rail seating (second/first/business class) differs in legroom, not luggage allowance; very tall travelers should consider business class.
Q We're a family of three — can we get one triple hotel room?
Triple rooms exist in China but are limited in number and vary by hotel (usually a double bed plus a rollaway). Tell us your family setup when planning and we'll confirm availability hotel by hotel — or price a twin room plus an extra bed, which is often more comfortable for families with a teenager.
Families, Seniors & Special Needs
Q We're traveling with elderly parents — can the pace and logistics be adapted?
Yes, and this is one of the most common requests we handle. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles, hotel rooms near elevators, shorter walking days, cable cars instead of stairs, and a guide who walks at your parents' pace are all arrangeable — just say so at the planning stage. For Tibet specifically, seniors should be assessed for altitude fitness first.
Q What about altitude sickness on Tibet or high-altitude routes?
Parts of Tibet and western Sichuan sit above 3,000 m. We build gradual-acclimatization itineraries (lower altitude first), advise against alcohol and intense activity on day one, and keep oxygen available where relevant. Travelers with heart or lung conditions should consult their doctor before booking — we'll honestly tell you if a route doesn't suit you.
Q Are tours suitable for young children?
Very much so — private tours are the easiest way to do China with kids: no bus schedules, flexible meal times, and guides who genuinely engage children (many parents tell us their kids practiced Chinese with our guides all week). Children's hotel rates and ticket discounts apply by age; tell us their ages and we price it in.
Q What if I need medical help during the trip?
Your guide accompanies you to a hospital, handles registration and translation, and contacts your insurance; your 24/7 support line stays open until it's resolved. Major cities have international-standard hospitals. This is one of the strongest arguments for a guided private tour over independent travel.
Question not answered here?
WhatsApp: +86 172 6789 8631 | Email: rosewuqjzh@gmail.com
Every message gets a personal reply within 24 hours — before, during, and after your tour. Or send your dates through our trip planner and we'll answer everything specific to your trip.
Keep reading: Travel guide library · Private China tours · Payment & safety
