[edtf]

Hey guys, I'm heading over to China in a few days, and I saw tours advertised that are 49$ for a 7 night / 8 days for Shanghai, Nanking, and Beijing. Yes, 49$ is for the entire fee, which includes stays at 4&5 star hotels, food, and tour guide for transportation. And no, its not a scam, as its supposedly subsidized by the Chinese government in order to show foreigners how awesome China has become and how much progress it has made. I've done some research online, and the consensus is that it comes with the following catch:

1. You have to pay a 10$ tip to the tour guide every day ($10 x 7 days = 70$) which is still not that bad.

2. They take you on "shopping detours", where basically you are coerced/guilt-tripped/sales-tacticed into buying things that are twice their market price, things like jade, teas, herbal medicines, and silks. Although you can just not buy anything, its still a waste of time.

3. Although you stay in a 5 star hotel, it may be very far from the city center, thus not very conducive to game. I guess it would be something like trying to go clubbing in Manhattan but having a hotel in Queens.

If anybody has any experience or insight to share with these cheap tours in China, and how it would compare with staying at a hostel from an angle of price, ability to experience the culture, and gaming, I would be glad to hear it.
Thanks.

[Global Entry]

I would definitely check the ages of the people that positively reviewed the tours. A lot of the tours tend to be older couples who don't have much issue being led around, and are in for the bargain.

Four star hotels vary greatly - perhaps the operator can tell you one of the hotels. A four star hotel means a decent hotel with no pool, typically, in China. It should be a white linen place with a decent restaurant, perhaps on the level of a nicer holiday inn, but with a better bathroom, typically, and better service (labor is cheap). I stayed typically in a four star in Shenzhen away from the city center, and it was around 30 USD per night. Beijing and SH are more expensive cities, but there is accommodation in both those cities, reasonable enough, and not terribly far from the action, for 20 USD and under. Not palaces, to be sure, but livable. The hotels you're booked into could be more like Suffolk County to Manhattan, not Queens.

Do you get a full schedule of the activities? How do you go from central east SH/Nanking, to Beijing, in the Northeast. Highspeed train would be cool. In fact, any train could be a very interesting trip. But do you pay for that separately, or are you expected to fly?

The shopping thing is fine, and quite normal, and in fact, you may want to buy things, as double the price in China sometimes is still a very good deal.

[Suits]

Chinese people take these cheap ass tours too. It costs next to nothing, so you might as well do it, but consider making it part of a longer China visit. Do the tour and then get out on your own for a while.

I've heard horror stories of people staying in a hotel that was actually a hospital and being forced to eat the same steamed buns and rice at every restaurant they went to, but I've also had friends who had a good time.

Either way, it'll be a story, but get in touch with the China based bros from the forum and chose one or two to visit after the tour.

Ideally, spend some time in Beijing or Hong Kong and maybe somewhere off the beaten track.

Considering the cost of flying to China, you might as well stretch out your stay a little.

[TopPanda]

I met a Chinese girl online and went to the middle of China to meet her. We spent a lot of money on a tour of the 3 Gorges Dam. We took in plenty of sites, but the coach stopped at two shops selling overpriced souvenirs - presumably commission was involved.

Really you're best to do what I did - just go on Expedia, find a hotel and some flights, and do your own thing.

Also everyone goes to Shanghai and Beijing. Last year I lived in Guangzhou. I've only ever seen two foreign tourists there, and they were looking for the HK train. The city is awash with interesting sights, from manic wholesale markets to river cruises. And the metro will take you from the airport terminal to all over the city.