This was posted 1 year 3 months 2 days ago, and might be an out-dated deal.

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75% off China 9-Night Trip - $999pp Twin Share (Departs Sydney or Melbourne) @ TripADeal via Qantas Tour

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75% off China 9-Night Trip - $999pp Twin Share (Departs Sydney or Melbourne) @ TripADeal via Qantas Tour
Go to Deal
Averell on 25/08/2023 - 10:40 tours.qantas.com (14633 clicks)
Last edited 25/08/2023 - 12:18 by 2 other users

Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou & Shanghai
Operated by TripADeal

Flight, accommodation, transportation, dinners (not sure about breakfasts, lunches, and suppers)

Seems to be a great price.

Not sure why kids/teenagers are excluded

Mod: "Includes return international flights, eight nights of 4-star hotel accommodation, daily breakfast, and much more"

Visas

A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on an Australian Passport. Please note as of today you are required to attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to apply for a visa. China Visa Application Service Centres can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. You must attend the China Visa Application Service Centre relevant to the state you reside in. Please visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ for more information. You will be able to start your visa application process once you receive your final travel documentation approximately 6 weeks prior to departure.

Important:

  • Please start arranging your visa as soon as you've received your Travel Documentation to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.
  • Visa rules may have changed since Covid-19. Some countries and airlines may require you to obtain an additional visa before arrival. Please check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

Please note:

  • Passengers who are not Australian citizens must also check with the respective consulate or visa agency to determine what their visa requirements are and what personal identification is required.
  • It is also important to note that some areas of employment, such as journalism, government authorities and charity organisations, may have additional restrictions in applying for Visas. This may, in turn, affect the type of application required.
Travel Accommodation Airfare Asia Beijing China Hangzhou Instagrampost Shanghai Suzhou Tour Zhejiang

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closed Comments

    • caustic birch on 25/08/2023 - 11:08
      +10

      Removing crazy visa requirements would be a start

      • aec on 25/08/2023 - 12:36

        how carzy?

        • Ozpit on 26/08/2023 - 09:41
          +1

          this czary.

    • Frozensage on 25/08/2023 - 11:46
      +1

      So is everyone's economy but at least they don't have the massive interest rate and inflation to go with it. Happy to get a recession long as I'm not paying for higher petrol and interest goes back to 2%.

      • Cheapskate Paul on 25/08/2023 - 12:16
        +1

        4.1% interest rate is not really massive, in fact it's below the long term average of about 5%. The real problem was 0.1% interest rates, effectively free money, which some people thought was the new normal.

        • Frozensage on 25/08/2023 - 12:23

          the cats out of the bag now, all that debt ain't paying itself.

          • Igaf on 25/08/2023 - 12:44

            @Frozensage: Anyone who didn't factor in higher interest rates didn't do basic due diligence. Many probably figured that taking the risk was worth it due to ludicrously high house prices being unlikely to ease.

        • MakkhiChoos on 25/08/2023 - 14:43
          -1

          The 20-40% inflation to go with that interest rate is the killer. We had 4.1% 10 years ago and it was fine.

    • Tdsr on 30/09/2023 - 22:53

      NPR’s planet money podcast said international tourism is down 99% in China.

  • pearl2013 on 25/08/2023 - 10:47
    +11

    Have they cleaned up the aftermath of the recent flood?

    The other thing to note is the country is pretty much cash less so have to pay everything electrically. i.e. register your personal data on their online payment system.

    • pork chop on 25/08/2023 - 11:19

      You can still pay with Cash if you dont have wechat pay.

      • pearl2013 on 25/08/2023 - 11:27

        Yes of course they take cash.

        Personal experience they charged me triple the price when I wanted to pay cash for a bottle of water when I was at the ShenZhen train station before COVID.

        • aec on 25/08/2023 - 12:38

          lost in translation.

          but at least you are free to visit Maui lol

    • mafim on 25/08/2023 - 11:50

      It's common to request to provide your personal details for online payment system, like PayPal, right?

      • pearl2013 on 25/08/2023 - 11:51
        +1

        In order to comply with relevant laws and regulations, WeChat Pay now requires real-name authentication for all users.
        For WeChat Pay users who don't have a China's Mainland ID card, you must provide your identity information.

        https://help.wechat.com/cgi-bin/micromsg-bin/oshelpcenter?op….

        • eagle86 on 25/08/2023 - 12:21
          +5

          You can now link your foreign bankcard (mastercard/visa) to wechat for payment to vendors, taxi, metro etc.
          I was there in July/August and used AUD from ING orange everyday account visa.
          Only a quite recent change though.

          • susage dog on 25/08/2023 - 20:05

            @eagle86: Same here although I just signed up with Up banking to get an online card and linked it to Alipay. Can basically pay with it at most places except small vendors so we also carried around some cash.

  • Jettblack on 25/08/2023 - 10:49
    +7

    Is it one way 😉

  • bansharkfin on 25/08/2023 - 10:49
    +12

    Yeh Nah

  • Jonzay on 25/08/2023 - 10:51
    +3

    Ah, it's a tour.

    Lose the tour part and let it be freeform exploration and you've got a deal.

    • Jettblack on 25/08/2023 - 10:51
      +7

      Never gunna happen

      • cmyk on 25/08/2023 - 11:09

        Why not? Genuinely curious because you can just use the flights and hotels and not turn up for the tour bit?

        • t25 on 25/08/2023 - 11:33
          +2

          Just say you not feeling well. What they going to do? Drag your arse onto the bus?

        • Soupe Opera on 25/08/2023 - 11:37
          +9

          Nope you'll get charged extra, the reason it's so cheap is because they make you go to sponsored sites like the jade museum and tea village

          • jedimaster on 25/08/2023 - 22:06

            @Soupe Opera: Are you telling from experience that we will be charged extra or written somewhere?

    • Averell on 25/08/2023 - 11:31

      I could see some "free" days in the description

  • Taro Milk Tea on 25/08/2023 - 10:51
    +9

    Supposed to be $888

  • tyvod on 25/08/2023 - 10:51
    +10

    Do you need visa? If so, that will be another $150 extra you need to factor in

    • Carrian on 25/08/2023 - 10:53

      yes.

    • Assburg on 25/08/2023 - 10:54
      +3

      Generally yes and it's a bit of a slow process

      • Carrian on 25/08/2023 - 10:58
        +1

        need at least 3 weeks

        • dj69 on 25/08/2023 - 13:52

          I did it in a week recently. Went in on a Monday, picked it up on the Friday. 10 pages of information is a bit much though :(

      • noisymime on 25/08/2023 - 11:28
        +3

        And you have to physically go in to get it, which is a pain if you're not in a capital city.

  • kogi on 25/08/2023 - 10:52
    +20

    • As of today, you are required to attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to apply for a visa. Chinese Visa Application Service Centres can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.

    • You must attend the China Visa Application Service Centre relevant to the state you reside in. Please visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ for more information.

    Getting a visa is a pain, I spent half a day queuing both dropping off and picking up

    • nightelves on 25/08/2023 - 10:57
      +3

      Geez that sounds rough.

    • lomie on 25/08/2023 - 10:58

      Do you need to obtain a visa before purchasing a ticket?

      • ChickenTalon on 25/08/2023 - 11:04
        +1

        No.

        But I think you need the ticket, and travel details, to apply for the visa.

        • lomie on 25/08/2023 - 11:19
          +1

          Are there grounds to reject a visa application? Just wondering what would happen if the visa app was rejected but you've already bought the ticket. I'm guessing this would be quite rare.

          • wackedupwacko on 25/08/2023 - 19:23

            @lomie: Relatively rare unless you're on their blacklist. Afterall china wants tourists right now.

          • cookie2 on 26/08/2023 - 08:35

            @lomie: This is the part I don't like. It puts you in a position where you may feel pressured to provide more information than otherwise.

            • lomie on 26/08/2023 - 08:44

              @cookie2: Would have been better for tourism if they didn't charge for the visa and automatically grant the visa when you arrive like other countries.

      • dj69 on 25/08/2023 - 13:54

        You'll need your flight details, and evidence of the ticket, to get the VISA

    • ChickenTalon on 25/08/2023 - 11:03
      +4

      Haven't had to do it for a number of years (APEC Card now). But it was an absolute PITA to do in Sydney back in 2017.

      Unclear instructions. Queues for everything. (profanity) attitude from very unhelpful staff.

      I guess it's good preparation for going to China.

      • RD ADL on 25/08/2023 - 11:13

        APEC Card - best thing you'll ever do hey? :-)

      • nightelves on 25/08/2023 - 11:18
        +1

        Wow how you get an Apec card?!

        • amaslam on 25/08/2023 - 11:24

          https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/entering-and-leaving-austral…

          There are some significant requirements so it's not really for occasional travel but to streamline travel for those who travel in Asia Pac frequently for business. I would say at a min 6 times per year in the region to make it worthwhile. It's essentially:
          1. Give reasons why you need this card
          2. Show proof your travel for business frequently in the region
          3. Have all the countries complete their visa checks on you.
          4. Operate a business that trades between APEC countries. <—— This is actually the hardest part to prove.

          • ChickenTalon on 25/08/2023 - 12:01

            @amaslam: It’s not cheap either. Esp as Australia has visa free travel to most APEC countries.

            But it has saved me hours in immigration queues as you can use diplomatic/APEC lines.

          • nightelves on 26/08/2023 - 23:19

            @amaslam: Yeah last points seems too hard.

      • kogi on 25/08/2023 - 12:25

        Pre covid, you could pay the travel agent a $50 extra "Handling fee" and it's done for you. None of this queuing bull.

      • abetastic on 25/08/2023 - 14:54

        ChickenTalon,

        Does China ever check whether you are there for business? I have an APEC card but I have never used it to enter China. My worry is if they stop you at the border and ask you for a business meeting itinerary.

        • ChickenTalon on 25/08/2023 - 19:59

          No country checks, at least that I know of. Technically you should only use it for business travel tho.

          Only exception is the USA, where the card can’t (or couldn’t in 2019) be used for entry. You still need to follow regular process and pay, but you can use the priority lines when you arrive. They properly grilled me on why I was there and I needed to show them the details of the trade show.

          For China I entered with the family (they needed visas, I didn’t) but we could use the diplomatic lines. Clearly a holiday, immigration didn’t care. Have done similar entry for holidays into Fiji, Samoa, Japan etc. No one cares.

    • Frozensage on 25/08/2023 - 11:47
      +1

      and have to deal with all those grandmas handing out fu lun gong bs out the front…. there's only so much propaganda I can take for a day.

  • Ezuku on 25/08/2023 - 10:52
    +1

    It's a pretty great deal. Recently booked flights to Shanghai and the flights alone were about 800 each. Next cheapest flights were about 1.2k.

  • BennyHe2018 on 25/08/2023 - 10:53
    +9

    It is probably partially compensated by Chinese Gov. Better to prepare your weChat Pay or Alipay account since sometime there is no POS machine in the stores.

    • Gdsamp on 25/08/2023 - 10:55

      CASH IS KING !

      • NoApostrophePlurals on 25/08/2023 - 10:59
        +18

        Cash is not king in China. You'll struggle to use it in many places there.

        • c9 on 25/08/2023 - 11:15
          +1

          Cash is still king if paying under the table, just not above it

          • NoApostrophePlurals on 25/08/2023 - 11:28
            +1

            @c9: This is still not true. Bribes can be paid via a QR code.
            Even beggars asking for money have their QR code on a board when they frequently came into restaurants asking people to give them money.

        • El cheepo on 25/08/2023 - 11:15

          Cash is not king there but you definitely won’t struggle to use it.
          Just watch out for counterfeit notes if you get money exchanged in Australia.

          They seem to slip through the cracks here sometimes.
          I’ve had a few fake notes mixed in both times I’ve exchanged in Australia.

          • nightelves on 25/08/2023 - 11:19

            @El cheepo: How can you tell if it’s fake?

            • El cheepo on 25/08/2023 - 12:52

              @nightelves: Size, colour, feel, numbers and more.
              but honestly its hard to do without a machine to be sure.
              Given every store/restaurant has a money counter/checker there, you find out pretty quickly if it’s fake.

              @NoApostrophePlurals
              That is the perils of a language barrier. That is not common or a regular practice. Like here, cashless is the popular choice (actually a lot more so there) but there’s rarely anywhere that will reject cash unless its a large amount.
              But i do agree that its a preferred payment method. They love using 支付宝 and 微信 for everything as it is incredibly convenient and easy.

              Edit: FWIW i haven’t been post covid and judging by the comments it seems times may have changed 🤷🏽‍♂️

          • NoApostrophePlurals on 25/08/2023 - 11:30

            @El cheepo: There are many places that I have been to that do not take cash on my multiple trips to China. There have also been many instances where they will take cash but not offer you change.

        • Meconium on 25/08/2023 - 13:36

          Cash is not king in China.

          Cash is General Secretary of the Party then.

        • bcYield on 25/08/2023 - 14:07

          As I know by law you have to accept RMB cash in China tho some places might not have enough changes

      • Franck P on 25/08/2023 - 11:17
        +1

        Even beggars on the street accept electronic payments. Many places you can only use these Chinese only electronic payment apps and no visa or Mastercard. It is a major turn off for tourists.

      • KaTst3R on 25/08/2023 - 11:23

        Many places dont take cash now. Either credit card or Ali/Wechatpay.

  • pyramid on 25/08/2023 - 10:53
    +1

    Why excludes under 18 ?

    • Benoffie on 25/08/2023 - 10:56
      +16

      Kids dont spend or provide data.

  • BigMac on 25/08/2023 - 10:54
    +31

    An important heads-up for those considering this experience: It's essentially a shopping tour. The majority of your time is spent being chauffeured to various stores. This is how they aim to cover their costs, as they receive commissions from these shops.

    Please note that when I last checked, it was restricted to adults only; children were not allowed.

    • pearl2013 on 25/08/2023 - 10:55
      +2

      Yes all the cheap tour operates this way in China and Hong Kong.

      • George Washington on 25/08/2023 - 11:30
        +3

        What adult stores are they taking us to?

        • pearl2013 on 25/08/2023 - 11:32

          Go and join the tour and let us know! :)

        • hothed on 25/08/2023 - 12:21

          SexyLand

    • eagle86 on 25/08/2023 - 12:23
      +5

      Is there anything stopping you from missing the tour bus in the morning and doing your own exploring? It's not North Korea.

      • [Deactivated] on 25/08/2023 - 12:49
        +1

        Interested to know as well.

  • cnboy83 on 25/08/2023 - 10:54
    +5

    Chinese and their gov think every foreigner is spy now. due to different law system, if you get caught, no one can save you.

    • BigMac on 25/08/2023 - 10:58
      +7

      Time to remove all your Winnie the Pooh Memes

      • t25 on 25/08/2023 - 11:37

        Better still buy a burner and throw it out when you get home

    • eagle86 on 25/08/2023 - 12:24

      caught doing what?

    • T18 on 25/08/2023 - 13:41

      Should I be surprised to see such arrogance and ignorance

  • RichardF89 on 25/08/2023 - 10:54
    +1

    It is Sydney and Melbourne only price

    • U30004 on 25/08/2023 - 11:21
      +1

      Ofcourse, rest dont matter.

    • Munki on 25/08/2023 - 12:26

      Australia doesn't have any other cities.

  • tako on 25/08/2023 - 10:55
    +19

    Are Chinese prisons low on foreigners used for political leverage?

    • valuer on 25/08/2023 - 11:03
      +2

      It's probably cheaper than the daily cost to keep someone in prison here.

      A win-win opportunity?

  • BigMac on 25/08/2023 - 10:55
    +2

    Another aspect to keep in mind is that the Chinese visa process can be quite challenging.

    • Munki on 25/08/2023 - 12:27

      How is it challenging?

      It's never been for me, so I'm curious what you mean by that.

    • [Deactivated] on 25/08/2023 - 12:51

      That is interesting. Qantas says that A tourist visa for China is a strict requirement if travelling on an Australian Passport. Please note as of today you are required to attend a Chinese Visa Application Service Centre in person to apply for a visa. China Visa Application Service Centres can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane. You must attend the China Visa Application Service Centre relevant to the state you reside in. Please visit https://www.visaforchina.cn/ for more information. You will be able to start your visa application process once you receive your final travel documentation approximately 6 weeks prior to departure.

      Important:

      • Please start arranging your visa as soon as you've received your Travel Documentation to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours.

      • Visa rules may have changed since Covid-19. Some countries and airlines may require you to obtain an additional visa before arrival. Please check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.

      Please note:

      • Passengers who are not Australian citizens must also check with the respective consulate or visa agency to determine what their visa requirements are and what personal identification is required.

      • It is also important to note that some areas of employment, such as journalism, government authorities and charity organisations, may have additional restrictions in applying for Visas. This may, in turn, affect the type of application required.

  • tajid on 25/08/2023 - 10:56
    +1

    Can we add extra days ourselves?

    • odysseus on 25/08/2023 - 11:13
      +1

      No. The shopping tours don't give commission for extra days, so it's not an option.

    • MakkhiChoos on 25/08/2023 - 12:11
      +6

      Yes, just protest once about Tiananmen Square while over there. CCP will add a few months to years, no problem.

  • dein_gesicht on 25/08/2023 - 10:58
    +7

    Probably get detained from the CCP given the change into he espionage laws

  • sydney_kings on 25/08/2023 - 10:59
    +3

    Qantas deal checks out - they're not even using themselves as an airline!

    International Full-Service Airline(s) Used
    • Cabin Class: Economy Class
    • Airlines: Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China plus any codeshare partners (subject to availability).

    I guess they haven't re-instated QF flights to China

    • nightelves on 25/08/2023 - 11:06
      -2

      Nothing wrong with the Airline they have listed.

      • 1morphine1 on 25/08/2023 - 11:14

        apart from the SQ and CX, others are crap…

        • nightelves on 25/08/2023 - 11:20
          +1

          Air China is not bad. I’ve used them before and their service was great.

          • George Washington on 25/08/2023 - 11:31
            +1

            @nightelves: Been on these China Southern, Hainan Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Air China not a fan

            • Averell on 25/08/2023 - 11:35
              +1

              @George Washington: I've been with China Southern and China Eastern - both were good. Not as good as Qantas/Qatar/SingAir, but not worse than the other full-fair, 4-star airlines that I have been with

  • ass3ts on 25/08/2023 - 11:00
    +14

    Was never interested in packaged tours, but with this one just be prepared to be wasting your time being taken to BS shops for their kickbacks for hours every day and you can't really say no if you want to stay in the so called 'tour'.

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