Private China tours, planned from Melbourne
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We plan the whole trip, quote it line by line in Australian dollars, and look after you from the first email to the flight home.
A China specialist in your own time zone
Plan in Melbourne hours
Email or call us during Melbourne business hours, seven days. No overnight waits for an office in another country, and a real person reads every enquiry.
Pay in Australian dollars
You book with Mandarin Route Pty Ltd, an Australian company. Itemised AUD quotes, an Australian tax invoice, a 30% deposit to confirm, and the protection of the Australian Consumer Law.
Built around Melbourne flights
Shanghai is ten and a half hours non-stop from Tullamarine, and only two or three hours behind Melbourne, so there is almost no jet lag. We plan arrival days around the flight times you book.
Private, never a coach tour
Your own English-speaking guide and car in each city, first-class seats on the high-speed train, and free afternoons. No commission shops, tea houses or factory outlets.
Where most Melbourne travellers start
Every trip is private and can be changed. These are starting points, quoted again line by line for your dates and hotel standard.
| Trip | Length | From (AUD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai essentials | 4 days | A$1,190 pp | First visit, families, a long weekend added to a work trip |
| Shanghai to Beijing | 7 days | A$2,690 pp | A first trip that wants both cities without a tour bus |
| Shanghai private guide | By the day | A$350 per group | Stopovers, visiting relatives, a free day on a work trip |
| Yiwu sourcing trip | 3 days | A$1,590 pp | Australian importers and online sellers |
Prices are per person, twin share, for a group of four in four-star hotels, excluding international flights. Five-star hotels, family rooms and longer trips are quoted individually.
Matching Victorian school holidays to China's seasons
- April holidays: spring in Shanghai and Beijing, mild and green. Book trains early around Qingming in early April. See spring in China.
- September to October holidays: the best weather of the year. Avoid 1 to 7 October, when all of China travels. See autumn in China.
- December to January: cold and clear in Beijing, mild and grey in Shanghai, quiet sights and lower hotel prices. See winter in Shanghai and Beijing.
- June to July: hot and wet. Possible with early starts and long lunches. See summer in China.
New to China? Start with Shanghai or Beijing first, what to pack and setting up Alipay before you fly.
Private China tours from Melbourne: FAQ
Is Mandarin Route based in Melbourne?
Can I fly direct from Melbourne to China?
Do you book international flights?
How much does a private China tour from Melbourne cost?
When is the best time to go from Melbourne?
Do Australians need a visa?
Planning China from Melbourne?
Send your dates, who is travelling and what you want to see. We reply within one business day with a suggested route and an itemised quote in Australian dollars.