New Year's Eve in China, in Beijing and Shanghai
Tour with flight, hotels and transfers, with the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Bund.
New Year's Eve on a tour of China: Beijing and Shanghai, with the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and the Pudong skyline, in 7 nights.
New Year's Eve in China is a real winter one, but with clear skies and the country's best-known sights free of the high-season crowds. The tour links Beijing, with the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall, to Shanghai, with the Bund and the skyscrapers of Pudong. China is 6 hours ahead of Romania, so you welcome the new year when it is only 6 pm at home.
The package includes the flight from Romania, accommodation with breakfast, transfers and the tour programme, 7 nights, departing from Timișoara on 27 December or from Cluj-Napoca on 30 December. You see exactly what is included, day by day, in the offer, before you pay.
What you will see on the tour
The Great Wall
The restored sections near Beijing climb up and down the mountain ridges, with watchtowers every so often. In winter they are almost empty, and sometimes the wall is covered in snow. You get there by coach in under two hours; the climb is steep, so wear good shoes.
The Forbidden City
The palace of China's emperors for almost five centuries has hundreds of buildings with yellow roofs, vast courtyards and throne halls. You enter from Tiananmen Square and leave towards Jingshan Park, where you see the whole palace from above. Tickets are bought in advance, in your name.
The Temple of Heaven
This is where the emperors prayed for good harvests. The round hall with three blue roofs, built without a single nail, is one of Beijing's symbols. In the mornings, in the park around it, locals practise tai chi, dance and play Chinese chess, even in the cold.
Shanghai: the Bund and Yu Garden
On the Bund, 1920s bank buildings look across the river to the towers of Pudong, lit up in the evening. In the old town, the 16th-century Yu Garden has pavilions, zigzag bridges and ponds, surrounded by a bazaar full of tea houses and dumpling kitchens.
Everything you need to know before you go
New Year's Eve weather
Beijing is cold and dry: around 0°C by day and down to -10°C at night, usually with clear skies. Shanghai is 4–9°C and damper. Bring a warm coat, a hat, gloves and good walking shoes.
New Year in China
1 January is a public holiday, and in the big cities the turn of the year is greeted with lights and countdowns. The great Chinese celebration, though, is Chinese New Year in February, so in January the sights are quieter.
Documents and phone
You need a passport valid for at least six months. Romania is among the countries temporarily exempt from visas for short holidays, but the rules change often: check before you travel. Google, WhatsApp and Facebook do not work in China without a VPN; install the apps you need before you leave.
Money and food
Almost everything is paid by phone, through Alipay or WeChat Pay, where you can add a Visa or Mastercard; keep a little cash in yuan as well. Try Peking duck in Beijing and xiaolongbao, soup-filled dumplings, in Shanghai.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the China New Year's Eve tour include?
- The return flight from Romania, accommodation with breakfast along the route, transfers, the activities in the programme and TravelTheme assistance. You see the exact day-by-day programme, meals and included visits in the offer, before you pay.
- When do I leave and from which city?
- The tour leaves Timișoara on 27 December, returning on 3 January, or Cluj-Napoca on 30 December, returning on 6 January, 7 nights. You can see the dates with seats at the top, under “Nearest departure dates”, or choose them in the search by departure city.
- Where do I spend New Year's Eve?
- In one of the tour's two cities, Beijing or Shanghai, depending on the programme of the departure you choose. You see the day-by-day programme in the offer; if you want to know in advance, write to us and we will tell you.
- Can I pay only a deposit?
- For bookings made well in advance you can pay a 25% deposit and the rest by the date shown in your confirmation. At checkout you will see whether your booking can be paid with a deposit; closer to departure, payment is made in full.
- Do I need a visa for China?
- You need a passport valid for at least six months. China has introduced a temporary visa exemption for short tourist stays that includes Romanian citizens, but the rules and deadlines change often. Check the current requirements before you travel.