A private China tour from LocalKey includes a route planned around your dates and pace, hotel booking, train and flight arrangements where your plan uses them, main entrance tickets, restaurant planning, daily trip information and support while you travel. With Independent, a guide and car are optional add-ons. With Private Guided, you have a private guide and car throughout. Visas, travel insurance, international flights and personal spending are normally not included. The written proposal is the final list of what is included, so read it before you approve it.
What do you get when you book a private China tour?
This is not a standard group package. We plan the trip around your dates, interests, comfort level and pace. The proposal should show what LocalKey will arrange, what is confirmed and what you still need to do yourself. LocalKey Travel is a licensed China travel agency since 2009.
Our Private China Tours sit between a fully escorted trip and a trip where you arrange every detail yourself. Transport, hotels, guide days, meals and special requests vary by route, so what you get is whatever the written plan confirms.
What is normally included?
These items are included when your written plan or proposal confirms them.
| Item | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Route design | Your route is shaped around your dates, interests, who is travelling, comfort level and realistic travel time between places. |
| Hotels | LocalKey suggests suitable hotels and books them after you approve the options. |
| Rail | Train tickets and related arrangements are included when rail is part of your route. |
| Domestic flights | Arranged when they make the route more practical, and listed in the plan. |
| Entrance tickets | Main entrance tickets are arranged where your itinerary confirms them. |
| Restaurant planning | We note food preferences, limits and allergies, and book important meals when advance planning helps. |
| Daily trip information | You get day-by-day details for transport, meeting points, timing and local arrangements. |
| Payment and app notes | Advice on the payment methods and apps you need for daily travel. |
| Support | Contact details and help for questions or changes during the trip, 7×24 on WeChat or WhatsApp. |
A city day may have a guide while a train transfer is on your own, or a hotel may be picked from a shortlist once you approve the location and standard.
Independent or Private Guided: what changes?
Independent and Private Guided are the two levels within Private China Tours. The rules about what is included are the same for both. What changes is how much of the trip comes with a guide and car, and the pace.
| Independent | Private Guided | |
|---|---|---|
| Guide | Not included unless you add one | Private English-speaking guide throughout |
| Car and driver | Optional add-on, such as airport pickup or a day trip | Private car throughout |
| Getting between cities | Usually by train, which we book | Private car, or train where train is the sensible choice |
| Pace | Your own pace, with the itinerary and support in the app | Slower, with more help between activities |
| Hotels | Chosen with you | Hotel grade set in your proposal, usually higher |
| Support | 7×24 on WeChat or WhatsApp | The same |
Read more about each level: Independent and Private Guided. With a private car and guide, you manage fewer stations and transfers yourself. Higher hotels raise the comfort and the accommodation cost. The exact balance still depends on your route. A Private Guided proposal may include rail where rail is the sensible choice, and an Independent proposal may add a car for a difficult transfer.
For a side-by-side look at the two levels, see Independent vs Private Guided China Tour.
What is not included?
A clear proposal also says what is outside the agreement. These items are normally not included unless the proposal confirms them.
| Item | Why it is not included | Who handles it |
|---|---|---|
| International flights (optional) | Fares depend on your departure city, airline, dates and fare conditions, and are quoted separately from the in-China arrangements. | We can book them with your trip, or you can book your own. |
| Travel insurance | Cover depends on your policy, residence, medical needs and chosen benefits. | You arrange insurance directly. |
| Personal documents | Passports and other documents are your responsibility. | You obtain and check them. |
| Visa, if required | Visa rules depend on your nationality, passport and the current entry rules. | You confirm and arrange any visa you need. |
| Special access from a supplier | Special access cannot be promised until the supplier confirms availability and terms. | LocalKey can request it, and confirmation must be in writing. |
| Special permits | Some sites or activities need approval separate from normal entry. | LocalKey can advise and request where appropriate. The issuing authority decides. |
| Personal spending | Shopping, snacks, tips, laundry, minibar charges and other personal purchases vary by traveller. | You pay these directly. |
| Optional upgrades | Higher room categories, premium transport, extra guide hours and added activities change the agreed plan. | You decide whether to add them once you see the cost. |
| Meals outside the plan | Meals not listed or booked in the proposal are not covered automatically. | You pay directly unless they are added to the plan. |
If an item matters to your trip, ask for it to be listed clearly before you approve the proposal.
How do you read a proposal?
In a private proposal, "included" should answer three questions:
- What service will be arranged?
- On which date, route section or travel day?
- Is it confirmed, or still subject to availability?
For example, "private guide in Beijing for two days" is more useful than "guided sightseeing". A good proposal names the guide days, the cities covered and whether transport between activities is included.
The same goes for hotels. Hotel booking does not mean every hotel is included at any price. You should get a shortlist or recommendation, approve the option and see how the hotel cost appears in the proposal.
For trains and flights, the plan should show the route, travel date, class or cabin where relevant, and whether the ticket has been issued or is still being checked. For transfers, it should show the airport or station and the service you can expect.
A private tour also includes coordination work that is easy to miss: checking the route order, allowing time for station transfers, matching guide time to opening hours, considering food restrictions and giving you the information you need each day. These details are part of what you pay for, even when they are not a separate line.
What about special requests?
Travellers sometimes ask for a private venue, after-hours access, a special meal, a particular guide, a restricted-area visit or another arrangement that depends on a supplier. LocalKey can submit the request, but a request is not an inclusion.
These items stay unconfirmed until the supplier or authority confirms in writing. They may depend on the date, opening hours, availability, local rules, permits or extra fees. If we cannot secure it, the proposal should give an alternative or remove the item.
Do not rely on a verbal "this should be possible" when you decide to book. Ask whether the item is confirmed, pending or optional.
How do you enquire?
When you contact LocalKey, share what affects the shape and cost of the trip:
- Travel dates or a date range
- Number of travellers and ages
- Arrival and departure cities
- Destinations you are considering
- Preferred hotel level
- How comfortable you are with trains and travelling independently
- Whether you prefer Independent or Private Guided
- Mobility, dietary or accessibility needs
- Important activities or supplier requests
- Whether you want extra guide days or a slower pace
Then ask for an inclusions summary in the proposal. It should separate confirmed services from items still being checked, and list exclusions that could affect your budget.
For cost context, see the Private China Tour Cost 2026 guide. There is no single price for every route, because dates, hotels, transport, guide time and traveller needs all change the cost.
You can choose Independent or Private Guided and then enquire with a specialist through our contact page. You can also reach the team on WeChat or WhatsApp, 7×24, while planning or on the ground. Families can see our China family tours, and first-time visitors can start with the 10-day China itinerary.
Practical FAQ
Is a private China tour the same as a group tour?
No. A private China tour is planned for your party, with services arranged around your dates, route, interests and comfort level. You do not join a standard sightseeing group. Some parts, such as train journeys or public-site visits, may still be shared with the public unless a private service is confirmed.
Are hotels included in every private China tour?
Hotels are included when they are listed and approved in the written plan. LocalKey normally gives you a hotel shortlist and books after you approve. The hotel level and location can differ between Independent and Private Guided, so check the room type, nights and hotel standard in your proposal.
Does Independent include a private guide every day?
No. With Independent, a guide is an optional add-on, not included by default. The proposal should show exactly which days include a private guide, driver or transfer.
Does Private Guided include every meal and activity?
No. Private Guided includes a private guide and car throughout, but meals and activities are included only when confirmed in the written plan. Meals outside the plan, optional upgrades and personal spending are your responsibility.
Can LocalKey arrange a special access request?
LocalKey can request supplier-dependent access, private venues, special permits or similar arrangements. These stay unconfirmed until we receive written confirmation. Any extra cost or condition should be shown before you approve the change.
What should I check before approving the proposal?
Check the dates, cities, hotels, transport, guide days, transfers, entrance tickets, meals, support contacts, exclusions and the status of any special request. If an item matters to you, make sure it is written as confirmed, not assumed.
