China Business Tours  /  FAQ

China Business Tours, Answered.

Everything people ask before planning a China business tour: visas, language, group size, hotels and what you actually leave with.

The expedition

Who are China business tours for?

Leadership teams, chambers of commerce and business associations, buyers and procurement teams, investors and business schools. Every expedition is bespoke: it is built around one group and one objective, whether that is a corporate delegation, a trade mission, a sourcing trip, an investor tour or a study tour.

How is this different from a regular business trip?

A self-arranged trip depends on the doors you can open yourself. A China business tour is curated and prepared in advance: target companies chosen with you, hosts briefed on who you are, professional interpreters in every meeting, and preparation before and after the trip so the week ends in contacts and next steps, not impressions.

It’s a turnkey market immersion with logistics, introductions and timing already solved for you.

Is this a tourism trip or a business mission?

A business mission, with cultural experiences built in. Evenings may include hosted dinners, short cultural walks and networking with Chinese entrepreneurs, but the agenda is built around business learning and company access.

How is the itinerary built?

Around your objective. After a first call we propose a route, a target list of companies and institutions and a day-by-day agenda. You cut and add until it’s right, and we confirm each visit before you travel.

Language & access

Do I need to speak Chinese?

No. Every briefing, visit and session includes professional English↔Chinese interpretation, and written materials are bilingual. Our local team also supports you during travel, hotel check-ins and meetings.

Will we meet C-level executives?

We don’t promise meetings with CEOs or other C-level executives, and we would be wary of anyone who does. We arrange sessions with senior management and the teams who run the area you care about. Whether a VP, founder or CEO joins depends on the company’s availability and internal approval.

Can we have private or one-to-one meetings?

Yes. Every expedition is private, and we can add individual meetings to the agenda, such as a supplier visit, a potential partner introduction or a session with a specific team, coordinated in advance.

Visas & travel

Do I need a Chinese visa?

Many nationalities can now enter mainland China visa-free for short stays. If you are not eligible, we advise on the right business visa and support the application with the documents you need.

For a Hong Kong stop, most Western passports enjoy visa-free entry for short stays; where a visa is required, we assist with that application too.

What about travel restrictions or safety?

China is a safe and orderly country for business travel. Transport and hotels are vetted, and our bilingual team is on site in each city. We monitor local conditions and adjust routes if needed.

What level of physical activity or formality should I expect?

Physical demand: light, mostly urban transfers and walking between office campuses or factory floors. Dress code: business casual for meetings; smart casual for dinners. Climate: it depends on the season (Beijing cooler, Shenzhen subtropical).

Can I extend my stay or arrive early?

Yes. Our travel desk can arrange early-arrival hotel nights, weekend sightseeing or onward travel in China. Popular add-ons include Suzhou, Guilin or Xi’an.

The group

How large can the group be?

From a leadership team of two or three people to a large member delegation. Group size shapes the format of each visit and the logistics, so tell us your numbers when you plan your trip.

Can a very small team book an expedition?

Yes. Expeditions start from teams of one to three people. Tell us who is travelling and we will recommend the right format.

What hotels do you book?

You choose the category: 3-star (budget), 4-star (business) or 5-star (high end). We then select hotels close to the meetings in each city.

Will I receive contacts or reports afterward?

Yes. You receive a post-trip pack with company profiles, follow-up contacts and visit notes, plus a debrief to turn the week into next steps.

Booking & invoicing

How do we start?

Fill in the short form on Plan your trip: group size, accommodation category and type of expedition. We reply by email with a first recommendation or a few questions, then agree the details on a short call.

How is an expedition priced?

Every expedition is quoted individually, because the route, the group size, the hotel category and the number of cities all change the cost. We send a written proposal once the objective and the group are clear; payment and cancellation terms are set out in it.

Can you issue official invoices (fapiao)?

Yes. Our China-based organizing partner can issue official Chinese VAT invoices (fapiao) for programme costs and arrangements.

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