• Select "Yes, I want to share a room" and WTT will assign you a roommate when Final Travel Instructions are sent.
• You can specify a roommate by entering her name where indicated. If your named roommate is not on the tour, for any reason, WTT will assign you a roommate unless you pay to have your own room, if available.
• Select "No, I do not wish to share a room" if you want to have your own room. Additional costs apply.

• All shared rooms have 2 beds
• All shared rooms are non-smoking
• No special requests about your roommate can be accommodated
• See "Frequently Asked Questions" TAB for more details

The activities on this tour are rated as follows:

• 30% Easy
• 50% Moderate (multiple walking tours, uneven surfaces, crowding, long travel days)
• 20% Strenuous (time change, long flights to/from tour, tour pacing is very busy)

Each day of the itinerary lists the included meals for that day (B,L,D,O=Other). When a meal is not included, the WTT Tour Leader will have suggestions for where to eat.

You do not have to dine alone unless it is your personal choice. You'll most likely be dining with new acquaintances you've made, or you can join the Tour Leader.

WTT has limited to no control over food selections or variety from meal-to-meal, especially at hotels. While we do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions and ensure variety of options, we cannot guarantee either.

In general the temperature, rainfall and humidity levels vary based on the time of the year. We suggest you monitor weather apps leading up to the time you depart for the most current information.q

For This Trip You May Want—

• Shoes that are comfortable for walking
• Wear layers to adjust to the temperature
• Refillable water bottle
• Smart-casual wear if you'd like to dress up a bit for dinners
• Lightweight but warm jacket/sweater for the cool mornings and evenings or the unusually brisk day
• Inexpensive rain poncho or travel umbrella, just in case
• Many public restrooms in China lack paper towels or hand dryers. You are expected to carry your own small towel to dry your hands.

Good Packing Habits—

• Bring what you need to get a good night's sleep, such as ear plugs, white noise generator, sleeping aids, etc. Unfamiliar noises of all types can disrupt your rest.
• Pack a limited amount of comfortable, casual clothing that layer and coordinate. Your fellow travelers will not mind or even notice – seeing you in the same clothing.
• Bring only two pairs of everyday shoes: one pair of well-broken-in walking shoes, and a second pair that could do double-duty as a walking shoe or a slightly dressy shoe.
• Pare down your beauty regimen to the bare minimum and always pack travel-sized toiletries.
• Pack medication in your carry-on and pack only as much as needed for the duration of your tour plus a few extra days as a precaution.

On every WTT tour, our policies regarding luggage restrictions are driven by the physical space limitations of the vehicles we use, the requirement that all travelers be able to manage their own belongings without assistance and the restrictions imposed by other forms of transportation such as [trains and small planes].

• It is best to travel as lightly as possible.  Most travelers regret when they have packed too much.
• You may bring one suitcase plus a carry-on bag.
• We recommend your suitcase be no larger than 26 inches high as measured from the FLOOR to the top of the retracted handle to make it easy for you to handle yourself.
• You are responsible for managing your own belongings.  We expect you to take your belongings from the coach to your room and to bring it back to the coach on days we change hotels. We do not provide luggage pulls; they are not safe and are inconvenient.
• Steps exist at most hotel entrances. On occasion, the coach must unload passengers and luggage some distance from the hotel entrance.
• Keep in mind that you will be traversing airports and train stations as part of this itinerary and will need to handle your own luggage.

You should NOT drink the tap water in China. Bottled water should be used.

• You should understand what your current cell phone plan includes in terms of data and minutes. Some, like certain T-Mobile plans, include an international package.
• Contact your cell phone service provider before departing about adding an international calling plan. Most carriers have flat daily rates which will allow your US-based phone to be functional upon arrival in a foreign country.
• Managing data while traveling internationally is important. Using WiFi when available and communicating through apps like WeChat help you manage data usage while traveling. WhatsApp is not accessible in China.
• Learn how to make an international call BEFORE you leave. Consult your cell provider and check out the website www.HowtoCallAbroad.com.

Only you can determine the optimum amount of cash to take on tour. When budgeting for out-of-pocket expenses, there are several aspects to consider: whether the country you are visiting is a cash-based society, the number of meals you are responsible for, your individual shopping interests and habits, and tipping expectations.

• The official currency of China is the Yuan (CNY).
• ATMs are typically the best way of obtaining local currency; they are found in most airports and tourist destinations. ATMs of major banks often give much better exchange rates than currency-exchange kiosks.
• If using a debit card, it is good practice to limit the amount of cash available in the account and simply transfer money from another account if you need more at any point on tour. Always use caution when withdrawing money.
• Many travelers feel more comfortable having local currency before they depart for the tour. You may be able to order currency from your bank.
• It is highly recommended to carry a small amount of cash. Many smaller vendors in China do not carry physical change because they process everything digitally, but physical cash remains legally valid.
• Notify your credit card issuer that you will be traveling and provide dates of travel.
• Chinese merchants rely heavily on the UnionPay network. Standard foreign-issued Visa or Mastercard will not work at terminals that only accept UnionPay. 
• Visa and Mastercard are accepted in hotels, airports and high end retail stores. Many cards charge a foreign transaction fee. Be sure to investigate your card of choice as there are many that do not impose these fees and are better suited for international travel.
• If a merchant gives you the choice between making your transaction in USD or the local currency, always choose the local currency to avoid dynamic currency conversion, which includes a conversion fee.
• To pay like a local, you can link your foreign Visa, Mastercard, or American Express to China's main mobile payment apps. The most popular are Alipay and WeChat Pay. This allows you to scan vendor QR codes almost anywhere. You will need to download the app, follow the verification steps, and add your international credit card.

• In mainland China, tipping is not customary, expected, or encouraged. Service workers are paid standard wages, and extra money can cause confusion, embarrassment, or even offense, as it may be viewed as charity or a display of superiority. Simply paying the exact bill and saying thank you is the standard norm. That applies to service at restaurants, taxis, and hotels. 
• You may want to tip your WTT Tour Director for an outstanding job. The amount is entirely a personal preference. If you'd like a guideline, consider $8-$10 per day.