Episode 48: Our China Trip Recap + How To Plan Your Epic Adventure
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In this episode, Kyle and I share tips for planning a trip to China and our favorite highlights. We booked our ten-day China tour with UTO Vacation for $299 per person. Yes, that’s right, only $299 per person! This included round-trip airfare from New York City, 4-star hotels, an English speaking tour guide, complimentary breakfast daily, and admission to some iconic attractions like the Great Wall of China.
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Things to Know about the China UTO Vacation Tour
Table of Contents
Although this was an insanely cheap trip, it’s important to note that this is primarily a sight-seeing and shopping tour. There are designated local shopping stops in each city (Beijing, Shanghai, Wuxi, Suzhou and Hangzhou), and you will likely spend hours at each site. There is no obligation to buy anything.
How to Plan a Trip to China
Thing to Pack
- Bring a couple rolls of toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Pepto Bismol caplets or antacid medication used to treat diarrhea, indigestion, heartburn and nausea.
- Pollution face mask
- Portable power bank for electronics
- Chinese phrase book
- Express VPN will help you bypass China’s firewall which prevents you from using Google, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Challenges in China
- Language barrier – most people do not speak English in China.
- Because of “the Great Firewall of China”, access to Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Reddit and more are blocked.
- Be careful if you have any dietary restrictions. Always confirm what you’re eating. It’s common to find meat and eggs in your food.
Our Favorite Foods in China
- Dumplings
- Noodles
- Stinky tofu
- Peking duck
- Mongolian hot pot
Our Top Experiences in China
- The Great Wall of China
- The Forbidden City
- Night cruise on the Huangpu River to see the Shanghai lights show
- Chinatown in Shanghai (great for foodies)
- West Lake in Hangzhou
- Dragon Well Tea tasting at the Longjing Green Tea village
- Shanghai maglev train
Want to hear more episodes from our adventures around the world?
- Listen to Walt Disney vs. Universal Studios
- Listen to Avatar Flight of Passage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Danielle Desir Corbett paid off $63,000 of student loan debt in 4 years, bought a house at 27, and has traveled to 27 countries, including her favorites, Iceland, China, and Bermuda. Go here to learn Danielle’s incredible story, from struggling financially and in debt to finding creative ways to earn more and live on her terms. Listen to The Thought Card Podcast, where Danielle shares how you can creatively travel more and build wealth regardless of your current financial situation. Reach out to Danielle by contacting: thethoughtcard (at) gmail (dot) com.
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