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Hi All,
We recently hit our Amex spending target (prior to the increase from 1st November) and have triggered the BAPP 2-4-1 :).
We had hoped to visit Australia but appreciate the difficulties and the demand to get these seats. After some consideration, we are looking to visit Shanghai (PVG) travelling from Newcastle during October 2025. When doing a dummy booking, we realised that BA (predominately) use the 787-9 – the old Clubworld layout. Does anyone know if BA will refit the 787-9 by then? Appreciate BA, like any other airline can make last minute plane changes.
If anyone has visited Shanghai, I would be really interested for you to share your thoughts and experiences. We have started to do some research and appreciate that we need to apply for Visa’s, sharing documents, itinerary etc.
Thanks
Simon.
@WA81741 – I wouldn’t count on the 787-9s all being refitted by next October. There is some talk that Beijing will be reinstated relatively soon but obviously you can’t count on that, so Shanghai is your only gateway if you wish to use a 241. The first week of October is golden week which has pluses and minuses for tourists.
We have just returned from our twelfth visit to China and are planning for next year; it’s a great holiday destination in terms of things to see and do, wonderful people, great food (totally unlike so called Chinese food in the UK) and the best value destination. You do need to get a visa if you have a UK passport if staying more than five days which is a bit of a pain, including an in person visit to the visa centre for all applicants but well worth it. You need to have booked your itinerary to apply for the visa, but you can change it afterwards. When booking hotels, make you put both of your names into the bookings.
Shanghai is a spectacular city to look at and visit, but as China’s showcase modern city, much of the old has been demolished and there is far less in the way of culture/cultural sights than in Beijing which, from the headline, you plan to visit as well. Shanghai is also the gateway for day trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou and seeing visiting the old town of Xinchang. If you are going to Beijing you can fly or take the fast train which is our preferred option. It’s worth considering stopping for a few days in Nanjing, the imperial capital before Beijing. Some of the original city wall is intact and one can walk along it, the area by Xanwu lake is lovely and the temples high above the Yangtze are beautiful as is the old town and waterway area around the Confucius temple. The Ming tombs are close to the city and possibly more impressive than the ones near Beijing.
In Beijing, you not only have the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Drum & Bell towers, hutongs and the recently re-opened Working People’s Cultural Palace but it’s also the gateway to the Great Wall. The city is much lower key, more conservative and less glitzy than Shanghai but amazing and less expensive all round.
That’s a small taster – feel free to ask any questions!
@JDB Thank you so much for your response and suggestions, it’s greatly received and appreciated. The points you mention such as visiting the visa centre in person, golden week, names on bookings, confirming the itinerary and the fast train to Beijing . . . reaffirms what we have researched so far, which is very reassuring – that we are on the right track – thank you 🙂
We were a tad concerned as there is loads of flights availability, but guess this is down to people’s choice, the visa application process and possibly perceptions from mainstream media.
We do want to experience rural China, I’m sure there is a place where there are spectacular views of small mountains covered in greenery, so perhaps we will visit. We are considering visiting Tokyo (with a multiple entry visa) but appreciate we are on holiday for 2 and a half weeks, 3 at a push, so it might not be possible.
As English speakers, do you see this as an issue if we don’t know much Mandarin?
Already downloaded WeChat and Alipay Apps but think I need a newer mobile phone so I can get a e-Sim or do you think, this isn’t needed?
Best wishes
Simon.
I wouldn’t count on any of the 789’s being refitted by next October. They’ve only completed two 788’s so far.
In theory once the last three 777’s are done (one in progress) they could work on two 788’s at once, but at present reduced availability due to RR engine issues might limit that.
The 789 is then a new engineering challenge as the frame is substantially different, so the first one of them will be a long job as the first 788 was.
@WA81741 – not being able to speak Mandarin isn’t an issue. In hotels some English is spoken but outside them quite little (better in Shanghai than anywhere else) and much less since Covid. You do need a phone with data for translation and maps as well as app payments which are the norm vs credit cards. Most restaurants from the smartest to humblest have picture menu that are an accurate representation of what you will get. The people are lovely and foreigners in many restaurants are quite a novelty, so they really want to help. It feels a bit ambitious to combine China and Japan in one trip, even in three weeks.
In terms of rural we went to Yangshuo for a week last month and stayed at the Yangshuo Mountain Retreat which is on the Yulong river that doesn’t allow motorised boats, just bamboo rafts. It’s not fancy, but very comfortable and staff excellent. Temperature hit 32 one day, but mainly 25, not too humid and few insects. Lots to see and do in the area – we ran out of time in a full week, good local cuisine.
A couple of other more rural options might be Yunnan which is incredibly beautiful and has a very distinctive culture and cuisine. It’s big and mountainous so if you went, you would need to decide what you wanted to do and focus your time. The area around Chengdu is another option – you can see the pandas, visit the two very different sides of QingCheng Mountain and see the amazing smaller city of Dujiangyan plus lots of small mountain villages. We are planning to visit the fairly rural Gansu province next year for the first time.
Hi @AndrewT, thanks for this. I guess it’s just a case of using the 2-4-1 to get to the destination rather than experiencing the plane experience itself. All things considered, we will be very happy experiencing ‘business class’ to experience the delights of China and all she has to offer.
+1 for Chengdu and surrounding area. Fast trains take you to nice sites like the giant sitting budda (45mins) and Ermei mountain (1.5 hours). Food is epic.
I would recommend using the alipay app for payments backed by a credit card. It just makes life so much easier. Just pay with the blue boxed qr code. Also makes using the underground a little easier.
@JDB Thank you, we will look and do some research into those areas/regions.
What areas hotels / areas would you recommend staying in Shanghai, (the Bund possibly) and Beijing?
Thanks again, your advice and information is gratefully received and appreciated,
@idontfly Thank you. I’m sure we have seen some YT video’s of Chengdu. We have WeChat and Alipay downloaded on our phones. Just need to create a checklist of the things we need to do in preparation of our epic adventure to China. 😉 🙂
@WA81741 – in Shanghai it’s difficult to know where best to stay and it depends a bit what you want to see/do. If you stay on the Bund, you won’t see the Bund that well so that may be a consideration as well as the fact that the Bund is very busy. After trying many hotels, our last four stays and our next one will be at the Grand Kempinski in Pudong. It’s right on a bend in the river and by the Pearl Tower with great views towards the Bund and Pudong. It’s right on the riverside walkway which is great and next to a ferry that takes you across the river. There are no pedestrian bridges and this is one of only two ferry crossings in the centre. Cost is 25p. It’s also an easy walk to lots of restaurants and the Luijiazui metro. So many hotels in Pudong that have good views are in poor/inconvenient locations – that doesn’t apply on the Bund as long as you stay on the main section (eg not too far south like the Indigo).
In Beijing, particularly for a first visit, I would aim to stay in the Dongcheng/Wanfujing area which is in walking distance of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, fairly close to Temple of Heaven (and the Hongqiao market!) and the Working People’s Palace. Metro at Dengshikou or Jinyu Hutong Loads of places to eat at all price points. The Regent is in this area, as well as the Peninsula which is usually cheaper than the Waldorf Astoria across the street, there’s also a big Hilton and ? Hyatt. Lots of options.
Beijing and Shanghai are both fantastic destinations. If you also plan to visit Tokyo in your two-to-three week trip, it would be possible to use the 144-hour Transit Without Visa (TWOV) facility twice so you wouldn’t need a visa for China. Your route would have to be (Any country except China or Japan)-China-Japan-China-(Any country except China or Japan). For example, LHR-PEK-TYO-SHA-LHR with 6 nights in both Beijing and Shanghai would be fine without a visa. But you wouldn’t be able to travel to Chengdu because it isn’t in the Beijing or Shanghai “zones”, a pity because Chengdu is one of my favourite cities in China. But I hope that after you’ve visited China once you will immediately want to plan your next visit.
Thanks @JDB and @TJones. We will look into those areas/hotels.
What would be the best option to book the fast speed trains in advance from the UK. I think there are some restrictions around how far in advance you can book? We have looked at Trip.com but they can’t guarantee getting the tickets and can only look to book the tickets 15-days in advance
Thanks @JDB and @TJones. We will look into those areas/hotels.
What would be the best option to book the fast speed trains in advance from the UK. I think there are some restrictions around how far in advance you can book? We have looked at Trip.com but they can’t guarantee getting the tickets and can only look to book the tickets 15-days in advance
The 15 day booking window applies to everyone. It’s fastest finger first! Getting business class (the highest class) is much harder than first or second on popular trains. Trip.com or China Trains/China Travel Guide are the best options. Business class does get you a dedicated station entrance with its own security lane (n.b. no issue with liquids, but no long scissors etc.) and an escort to the train and your seat, plus a very spacious cabin with lie flat bed seat, food, drinks, dedicated loos etc. Not essential, but a very civilised experience. First class is similar to UK trains.
Just a quick aside; having read an earlier post from @JDB about how nice Nanjing was, I was pleased to discover that you can in fact travel there from Shanghai on a TWOV – so looking forward to that next month.
Thanks JDB. Yeah, thought that would be the case (15-days in advance to book). Trip.com are quoting £250 each to travel from Shanghai to Beijing, I’m guessing they are adding on a fee of a large amount?
Thanks JDB. Yeah, thought that would be the case (15-days in advance to book). Trip.com are quoting £250 each to travel from Shanghai to Beijing, I’m guessing they are adding on a fee of a large amount?
The fare varies slightly with the fastest and/or peak ones being slightly more expensive. As an example, G6 departing Shanghai at 08.00 is RMB2,318 in business, RMB1,457 in Premium First and RMB1,060 in First. Note the trains from Shanghai to Beijing can depart from two different stations.
China Trains (another agent, not the train company) charge RMB43/U$6 service fee per ticket.
Thanks @JDB and @TJones. We will look into those areas/hotels.
What would be the best option to book the fast speed trains in advance from the UK. I think there are some restrictions around how far in advance you can book? We have looked at Trip.com but they can’t guarantee getting the tickets and can only look to book the tickets 15-days in advance
The 15 day booking window applies to everyone. It’s fastest finger first! Getting business class (the highest class) is much harder than first or second on popular trains. Trip.com or China Trains/China Travel Guide are the best options. Business class does get you a dedicated station entrance with its own security lane (n.b. no issue with liquids, but no long scissors etc.) and an escort to the train and your seat, plus a very spacious cabin with lie flat bed seat, food, drinks, dedicated loos etc. Not essential, but a very civilised experience. First class is similar to UK trains.
PS there are no paper or e-tickets for the trains. Your passport is your ticket.
Thanks @JDB. We have booked our business class flights using the 2-4-1. We paid 100,000 avios for the outbound plus £575 (off peak), we had to book the inbound separately costing 220,000 avios and £330 (peak). After claiming 50% of the avios back it’s cost us 210,000 avios and around £905.
To book the outbound we tried calling first but they were wanting to charge £575, prior to ringing, we seen the price of £330 online, so opted to do it online. Not sure it if was an online error.
As this looks to be the nearest thing to a China master thread, I’ll ask my question here (Maybe Rob can change the subject line?)
Criteria:
Want to visit for 14 nights at the start of April 2026
Do not intend to return ever again (Hong Kong not counting)
Need to use a Companion Voucher
Don’t like moving around frequently, so 3 destinations is ideal
I guess I’m committed to at least a night in Shanghai (almost certainly at the end) given Shanghai appears to be the only mainland gateway for BA.Which cities would you pick, and for how long?
I imagine something like this:
1 night Shanghai (would like to avoid staying overnight if possible – I think the BA flight lands around 9am)
5 nights Beijing
4 nights Xi’an
x nights somewhere else?
1 night Shanghai (would like to avoid staying overnight if possible but I think the BA flight departs around 11am)As you can tell, not fussed about Shanghai, though if it is unavoidable it makes sense to do at least one night at the end due to the departure time of BA168. Would hope I could go straight from Shanghai PVG airport to Beijing if possible.
So I need advice on what the 3rd city should be and for how long.
Also if I’ve got the allocation for Beijing and Xi’an right. We don’t like to rush.Thanks.
We had a similar lenghth of trip to China in Oct 2018.
We started in
Beijing (6 nights I think)
train to Xi’an (3 nights),
train to Chengdu (2 nights)
train to Chongqing (1 night)
Yangste River cruise (3 nights) and
Shanghai (5 nights).It was about the right length of time and like you we weren’t sure we would be going again so tried to see as much as possible. We had been to Shanghai for week previously but still enjoyed it this time. We had stayed at The People’s Park and the Bund the first time so this time stayed in the French Concession.
Btw – that daytime flight out is a killer for jet lag so stock up on Melatonin.
Crikey, yes it will feel like 2am when we land.
Did you think the river cruise was worthwhile?
More so then visiting Chengdu? I wouldn’t be able to fit both (I’ve got 14 nights – you did 20).@Aston100 – that sounds like a good plan. Although it depends slightly what interests you and what you want see/do, I would make the extra city Nanjing which is about 1h30 from Shanghai or 4h30 from Beijing on the fast trains. It’s the former imperial capital which has a fairly well preserved city wall by the Xanwu lake, better Ming tombs than Beijing (and you won’t have time for those) a very interesting attractive downtown older city area, a very impressive temple complex high above the Yangtze, the Jiming temple and the Nanjing Massacre museum (which is very good, but a bit gruesome) amongst other things. I would consider staying by Xanwu lake, which although it isn’t in the centre is a great spot – eg Shangri-La which you will find is very reasonably priced, plus huge lounge with great views on the top floor.
Five nights/four days in Beijing is good for a fast paced taster and seeing the key sights! The Great Wall is a full day trip, the Summer Palace is a longish half day (as it’s c. 45 minutes drive) and the Forbidden City is a full afternoon. That just about leaves leaves time for the Temple of Heaven, Drum & Bell Towers, hutongs and Lama (+ Confucius temple if time allows) + some shopping in the pearl market or Silk Street if that appeals plus Tiananmen Square. For this sort of trip, Wangfujing is a good area to stay in as you can easily walk to the Forbidden City & Tiananmen Square, it is well served by the metro and there are loads of very good inexpensive places to eat.
Beijing Postcards is a firm we have used for years and, in our view, offers probably the best tours we have ever been on anywhere. The owner is a Danish academic who is incredibly knowledgeable and does all his own research in the Chinese archives and just brings places alive. We do his regular Forbidden City tour every time we go. I always changes and he avoids all the crowded areas. The other walking tours they offer are all great as well!
We also use Travel China Guide to organise tours as well as train tickets and have always found them to be very good and responsive to emails.
If you really don’t want to stay overnight in Shanghai, on arrival from London you could easily fly straight on to any of Beijing, Xian or Nanjing from Pudong airport which is all very efficient. Xian is the more complicated transit bit of the schedule, so if you flew there first you could then fly to Beijing and go to Shanghai via Nanjing on the train. Train tickets are not so easy to get as they are very in demand, particularly for business class (which is above first and offers private station entrance, escort to the train and lie flat bed) and it’s fastest finger first 14 days in advance.
Feel free to ask questions.
Crikey, yes it will feel like 2am when we land.
Did you think the river cruise was worthwhile?
More so then visiting Chengdu? I wouldn’t be able to fit both (I’ve got 14 nights – you did 20).I’m not sure which was the more worthwhile – the Yangste was certainly interesting and had been on my wishlist before the 3 Gorges were flooded. In my case I might leave Chengdu out but it depends on what interests you.
The only reason we had a night in Chongqing was to start the river cruise from there.
We did it all on our own including the train travel – most people we met along the way had tour companies organising their travel and then meeting them at the stations and putting them on the right train. Seat 61 and TripAdvisor were useful planning advice sources.
Which cities would you pick, and for how long?
Curious why you restrict yourself to cities?
Some outstanding natural scenery near Guilin / yangshuo or kunming / lijiang. They may not have the high speed trains, but plenty of flights. Obviously, ignore if you have been to them.
Which cities would you pick, and for how long?
Curious why you restrict yourself to cities?
Some outstanding natural scenery near Guilin / yangshuo or kunming / lijiang. They may not have the high speed trains, but plenty of flights. Obviously, ignore if you have been to them.
Time constraints.
By focussing on 3 important cities, I can organise day trips out if necessary.
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