South China

Four worlds, captured under a single name. A stone forest, the Tibetan plateau, pandas, and neon.

South China

Four worlds, captured under a single name. A stone forest, the Tibetan plateau, pandas, and neon.

The Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Glacier above Lijiang

A panda eating bamboo at the Chengdu base

Tibetan Buddhist Temple Ornaments in Shangri-La

A sunset viewpoint over the Zhangjiajie mountains

Why South China?

Four different Chinas in a single journey.

This journey isn't a single destination, but four. Over fifteen days, we cross between worlds that share nothing in common except the border that holds them together.

We begin in Shanghai, where the horizon is made of glass and neon, yet on the street below, someone is still simmering soup just as they did a hundred years ago. Then we venture into Zhangjiajie—a forest of 200-metre-high quartzite pillars towering through the mist, looking as if they were painted. Cameron was here before he dreamed up Pandora.

After that comes the plateau. Shangri-La sits at 3,200 metres; the air is thin, the monastery smells of yak butter, and the silence inside is anything but empty. The Naxi people still write in pictographs and speak of the mountain as if it were a relative.

We finish in the south, in Guangzhou, where a 2,000-year-old mausoleum stands just a block away from a Zaha Hadid opera house. In between, there are pandas, hotpot, the longest glass bridge on the planet, and a train that runs right through an apartment block.

Is this journey meant for you?

Challenge

Comfort

Nature

Culture

Southern China is for you, if...

If you're drawn to the southwest, towards Yunnan and the Tibetan Plateau, this route cuts straight through them.

If mountains are your reason to move, the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain at 4,680 metres and Tiger Leaping Gorge are the two extreme poles of this journey.

If you're here for the perfect shot, the peak of Jade Dragon reflected in Black Dragon Pool and the mist-shrouded pillars of Yuanjiajie don't wait for the light — it's already there.

If the altitude makes you nervous, we take a cable car up to 4,680 metres for a brief visit and sleep down at 3,200 metres in a heated hotel.

If you live to eat, Sichuan hotpot and Cantonese cuisine sit at opposite ends of the Chinese culinary world, and you'll experience both.

Upcoming Journeys

23 May 2027

23/05/2027

6 Jun 2027

06/06/2027

Another Planet

A forest of stone, 200 metres high

Over 3,000 quartzite pillars tower through the mist in Yuanjiajie. We ride the Bailong Elevator, soaring 326 metres straight up a sheer cliff face on the tallest outdoor lift on Earth. Up top, the trails cling to the vertiginous edge. Below us, there is no bottom, only a sea of cloud. And a silence you'd never expect from a place this crowded.

Quartzite Pillars of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

A Tibetan village in the plateau’s twilight, near Shangri-La

Thin Air

Shangri-La and the Little Potala

At 3,200 metres, Songzan Monastery stands with white walls and golden roofs above the plateau. Inside, it smells of yak butter and is quiet in a way that is far from empty. Afterwards, we drink salty tea with a Tibetan family, at whose table there is nothing to spare.

Bamboo and Chili

Pandas in the morning, hotpot for lunch

Pandas only actually do anything early in the morning, and that is exactly when we hit the Chengdu base: chewing on bamboo, tumbling out of trees, and rolling around. Slow, clumsy, and completely unfazed by our presence.

Three hours later, we are hunched over a Sichuan hotpot. The broth is fiery red with chilli, mouths go numb, foreheads break into a sweat. This morning was in slow motion. Lunch is a wild, sensory kick.

Giant panda at the Chengdu Breeding Base

The Valley of the Blue Moon near Lijiang

River and Legend

The Gorge and the Shaman

3900 metres from the rushing water to the towering peaks. The Jinsha rips through the gorge with a roar that drowns out the world, while the trail clings to the cliffs high above.

A day later, you find yourself sitting opposite a Dongba, a shaman of the Naxi people. He writes in pictures—the last living hieroglyphic script on earth—and speaks of the mountain as if it were an old ancestor.

A group of people walking down a street next to tall buildings

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A vast expanse of water cradled by a lush, green forest

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A tranquil waterfall flows into a clear pool.

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A lush green meadow atop a rugged cliff, dropping into the sea beneath a bright sky of scattered clouds.

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Itinerary

Day 1

The Night Between Two Worlds

We take off from Sofia after the sun has already set. A connection in Istanbul just after midnight, followed by a long night at thirty thousand feet, where the time difference slowly devours us. We sleep in fits and starts. Somewhere far below, half of Asia slips by.

Day 2

The Neon Flickers on

We touch down in Shanghai in the afternoon. The city greets us with humid air and an endless skyline. We drop our bags and head out immediately.

The first evening isn't about following an itinerary; it's about soaking in the sheer scale of it all. Twenty-six million people, yet just outside our hotel, someone is slowly simmering soup in a pot older than the skyscraper towering behind them.

Day 3

A Garden, Silk, and the River

The morning begins in silence. Yu Yuan Garden has stood here for 400 years: stone bridges, carp-filled ponds, and quiet pavilions positioned so that every step reveals a new view. Then we step onto Nanjing Road, and the city’s roar returns all at once.

We stop at a silk factory to see how cocoons are spun into fabric. By afternoon, we are standing on the Bund, looking across the river at the other Shanghai—a skyline made entirely of glass.

Night belongs to the Huangpu River cruise. The skyscrapers glow bright orange and blue, reflections scattering across the water. We finish the day in Xintiandi, wandering between 1920s brick houses and bars that stay open until late. Lunch is included.

Day 4

The Emperor's Code

We head up the Oriental Pearl Tower for one last look at the city from above before we move on. Then we stumble into something unexpected: an XR reconstruction of the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor. Augmented reality, 5K, and suddenly you are standing inside a mausoleum that hasn't even been excavated yet.

Lunch is baozi, steamed buns that burn your fingers. In the evening we catch a flight to Zhangjiajie. Stepping off the plane, the air is instantly different—thicker, carrying the scent of damp forest.

Day 5

The Mountains of Pandora

It doesn't look real. That is the only way to describe it.

Over 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars, some towering more than 200 metres high, pierce through the mist of the National Forest Park.

We ascend via the Bailong Elevator, shooting 326 metres straight up a sheer cliff face on the tallest outdoor lift on the planet. Up here, we are in Yuanjiajie. Next, a shuttle to Tianzi Mountain, and a cable car ride back down.

James Cameron came here before painting Pandora. You get it within three seconds. Lunch is scheduled.

Day 6

Three Hundred Metres of Glass Beneath Your Feet

The bridge holds ten world records, but none of them help the moment you step onto it. Under your boots is glass, and under that glass lies nothingness.

Then we descend into the Grand Canyon by your choice of lift, slide, or zip-line. Down below, it is cool and lush; transparent creeks flow between towering cliffs that close over our heads. We make our exit by boat.

In the evening, we journey to Furong, an ancient town perched directly over a waterfall. At night, the town lights up as the torrents rush beneath the houses. Scheduled lunch included.

Day 7

The Gateway to the Sky

Tianmen is visible from afar: a mountain with a hole in the middle, a natural 130-metre-high cave with the sky running right through it. We reach it by one of the longest cable cars in the world. For the brave, there is a glass cliffwalk clinging to the sheer rock face.

After lunch, we board a high-speed train to Chongqing, the most vertical city on Earth. Thirty-two million people stacked on top of each other along the hills rising above the Yangtze.

In the evening, we wander through Hongyadong: eleven storeys of traditional wooden facades glowing in warm yellow, with towering skyscrapers peaking from behind them.

Day 8

The train passes right through the 19th floor

Morning finds us in Ciciqiu, an ancient enclave that has stood its ground while thirty-storey concrete giants shot up all around it. Narrow lanes, steaming teahouses, the rich aroma of roasting food.

Next, we head out to see a place that sounds like pure fiction: Liziba metro station, where the train plunges right through the middle of a 19-storey residential block and pops out the other side. People live upstairs and don't give it a second thought.

Lunch. In the afternoon, we board the high-speed rail to Chengdu.

Day 9

Pandas in the morning, hotpot for lunch

Pandas wake up early, and this is the only hour of the day they actually do anything active. At the Chengdu breeding base, we catch them right on time: munching on bamboo, tumbling out of trees, and rolling around.

Lunch is hotpot, the real deal from Sichuan. The broth is fiery red with chilli and Sichuan peppercorns – it numbs your mouth, yet leaves you craving more.

In the afternoon, we head to the People's Park, where locals play cards, sing, and sip tea as if time has stood still. After a stroll down Jinli, we catch an evening flight to Shangri-La.

Day 10

The Little Potala

We wake up at 3,200 metres, where the air runs thin. This is Pudacuo National Park: a wilderness of untamed lakes, wetlands and pristine forests.

Next, the Songzanlin Monastery. White stone, golden roofs, the scent of yak butter, and a silence that feels alive. They call it the Little Potala, and it is no exaggeration.

We wander along the shores of Lake Napa, step inside a Tibetan home, and share tea brewed with salt and butter. By nightfall, we are in Dukezong, the ancient wooden town. Lunch is included.

Day 11

Where the Tiger Leapy

Legend has it that a tiger leaped across the river here to escape a hunter. Looking down at the gorge, you can almost believe it: 3,900 metres of vertical drop from the peaks to the water, where the Jinsha River crashes through with a roar that drowns out everything else.

We will take a light hike along the trail high above the rushing water. We'll also stop at the First Bend of the Yangtze, where the river sweeps through a dramatic 180-degree turn and heads right back where it came from.

Lunch on the road. In the afternoon, we arrive in Lijiang.

Day 12

4,680 Metres and a Shaman

At 4,680 metres, the air is cut in half and you feel every single step deep in your chest. The cable car drops us off at Glacier Park; the ice has been resting here long before us, on a mountain that the Naxi people have held sacred for centuries.

We descend into the Blue Moon Valley. The water is a shade of turquoise that looks utterly photoshopped, but isn't.

In the afternoon, we sit down with a Dongba, a genuine Naxi shaman. He shows us writing made of drawings—the world's only pictographic script still in use today—and speaks of the mountain as if it were a close relative. Lunch included.

Day 13

Reflection of the Black Dragon

Lijiang's Old Town is a maze of cobblestone, winding canals, and tiled roofs layered one behind the other. In the morning, it's peaceful, before the crowds sweep in.

At the Black Dragon Pool park, the water is perfectly still, reflecting the entire Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. This is the shot you came for.

Lunch. Tonight we fly to Guangzhou, heading south, where it's fifteen degrees warmer and the sea is within reach.

Day 14

Five Rams and an Opera

Five stone rams have watched over Yuexiu Park for centuries, giving the entire city its legendary nickname. This is where our final full day begins.

Next, we delve into the Museum of the Nanyue King: a 2,000-year-old mausoleum stumbled upon in 1983 during hotel excavations. From there, we head to the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall from 1894, a masterpiece of intricate woodcarving and ceramics covering every single inch.

As night falls, we explore Guangzhou's futuristic side: Zaha Hadid’s Opera House, the Guangdong Museum, and the towering Canton Tower. Lunch is included today. Then, we head to the airport for our overnight flight home.

Day 15

Back

A dawn layover in Istanbul, and we touch down in Sofia by morning. Fifteen days ago, we set off for a single country; we return from four: the megacity, the stone forest, the high plateau, and the deep south. Not one of them resembled the other.

* Panic Frame & Travel reserves the right to adapt and change the program according to changes in accommodation conditions, climate, and other factors that require it.

Dive into adventure!

15 days

15 travellers

Price per person

€4,142

Includes return flights, all accommodation, local transport, adventure host, water, and meals as detailed in the itinerary

Become a part of our community

Мъж с червено яке пред висок водопад в гората

Портрет на мъж в Исландия, пътешественик на открито

Портрет на мъж, пътешественик в пустинна среда

Мъж с брада, страничен профил на тъмен фон

Мъж с шапка прави селфи с бирюзово море и скали зад него

Мъж с жълта тениска се усмихва на нощна градска улица

Портрет на мъж, пътешественик и авантюрист

Портрет на жена с червена коса на открито в слънчев ден

Жена с дете в раница по дъждовен планински преход

Портрет на жена, пътешественичка в тропическа среда

Пътешественик с качулка и маска пред скали на Фарьорски острови

Мъж свири на конги на сцена под цветни светлини

Мъж с кафява тениска и кръстосани ръце, студиен портрет

Млад мъж на плаж с табела Kuradu, тропическа среда

Жена с кратка коса, черно-бял меланхоличен портрет

Жена с руса коса държи бяла котка пред коледна украса

Млад мъж с очила гледа назад на градска улица

Мъж с черна тениска, студиен портрет на неутрален фон

Мъж без риза галено дива сърна в тропически навес

Мъж с брада и слънчеви очила, цветен портрет на оранжев фон

Жена с черна шапка и кожено яке пред графити стена

Мъж в бяло гащеризон с малко дете, хумористичен портрет

Млад мъж с татуировки на врата, градски портрет

Портрет на мъж с брада на открито, приключенски пътешественик

Жена с бяла коса в черно яке, артистичен портрет

Мъж в лекарска престилка и стетоскоп, студиен портрет

Жена с азиатска шапка в тропическо заведение

Млада жена с тъмна коса, мек близък портрет

Жена с шал пие кафе на открито сред зелена природа

Жена с къса коса и слънчеви очила, нощен портрет

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Itinerary

Day 1

The Night Between Two Worlds

Day 2

The Neon Flickers on

We touch down in Shanghai in the afternoon. The city greets us with humid air and an endless skyline. We drop our bags and head out immediately.

Day 3

A Garden, Silk, and the River

We stop at a silk factory to see how cocoons are spun into fabric. By afternoon, we are standing on the Bund, looking across the river at the other Shanghai—a skyline made entirely of glass.

Day 4

The Emperor's Code

Day 5

The Mountains of Pandora

It doesn't look real. That is the only way to describe it.

Over 3,000 quartzite sandstone pillars, some towering more than 200 metres high, pierce through the mist of the National Forest Park.

James Cameron came here before painting Pandora. You get it within three seconds. Lunch is scheduled.

Day 6

Three Hundred Metres of Glass Beneath Your Feet

The bridge holds ten world records, but none of them help the moment you step onto it. Under your boots is glass, and under that glass lies nothingness.

In the evening, we journey to Furong, an ancient town perched directly over a waterfall. At night, the town lights up as the torrents rush beneath the houses. Scheduled lunch included.

Day 7

The Gateway to the Sky

After lunch, we board a high-speed train to Chongqing, the most vertical city on Earth. Thirty-two million people stacked on top of each other along the hills rising above the Yangtze.

In the evening, we wander through Hongyadong: eleven storeys of traditional wooden facades glowing in warm yellow, with towering skyscrapers peaking from behind them.

Day 8

The train passes right through the 19th floor

Morning finds us in Ciciqiu, an ancient enclave that has stood its ground while thirty-storey concrete giants shot up all around it. Narrow lanes, steaming teahouses, the rich aroma of roasting food.

Lunch. In the afternoon, we board the high-speed rail to Chengdu.

Day 9

Pandas in the morning, hotpot for lunch

Lunch is hotpot, the real deal from Sichuan. The broth is fiery red with chilli and Sichuan peppercorns – it numbs your mouth, yet leaves you craving more.

In the afternoon, we head to the People's Park, where locals play cards, sing, and sip tea as if time has stood still. After a stroll down Jinli, we catch an evening flight to Shangri-La.

Day 10

The Little Potala

We wake up at 3,200 metres, where the air runs thin. This is Pudacuo National Park: a wilderness of untamed lakes, wetlands and pristine forests.

Next, the Songzanlin Monastery. White stone, golden roofs, the scent of yak butter, and a silence that feels alive. They call it the Little Potala, and it is no exaggeration.

We wander along the shores of Lake Napa, step inside a Tibetan home, and share tea brewed with salt and butter. By nightfall, we are in Dukezong, the ancient wooden town. Lunch is included.

Day 11

Where the Tiger Leapy

Lunch on the road. In the afternoon, we arrive in Lijiang.

Day 12

4,680 Metres and a Shaman

We descend into the Blue Moon Valley. The water is a shade of turquoise that looks utterly photoshopped, but isn't.

Day 13

Reflection of the Black Dragon

Lijiang's Old Town is a maze of cobblestone, winding canals, and tiled roofs layered one behind the other. In the morning, it's peaceful, before the crowds sweep in.

At the Black Dragon Pool park, the water is perfectly still, reflecting the entire Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. This is the shot you came for.

Lunch. Tonight we fly to Guangzhou, heading south, where it's fifteen degrees warmer and the sea is within reach.

Day 14

Five Rams and an Opera

Five stone rams have watched over Yuexiu Park for centuries, giving the entire city its legendary nickname. This is where our final full day begins.

Day 15

Back

* Panic Frame & Travel reserves the right to adapt and change the program according to changes in accommodation conditions, climate, and other factors that require it.

Dive into adventure!

15 days

15 travellers

Price per person

€4,142

Includes return flights, all accommodation, local transport, adventure host, water, and meals as detailed in the itinerary

Become a part of our community

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Itinerary

Day 1

The Night Between Two Worlds

Day 2

The Neon Flickers on

Day 3

A Garden, Silk, and the River

Day 4

The Emperor's Code

Day 5

The Mountains of Pandora

Day 6

Three Hundred Metres of Glass Beneath Your Feet

Day 7

The Gateway to the Sky

Day 8

The train passes right through the 19th floor

Day 9

Pandas in the morning, hotpot for lunch

Day 10

The Little Potala

Day 11

Where the Tiger Leapy

Day 12

4,680 Metres and a Shaman

Day 13

Reflection of the Black Dragon

Day 14

Five Rams and an Opera

Day 15

Back

* Panic Frame & Travel reserves the right to adapt and change the program according to changes in accommodation conditions, climate, and other factors that require it.

Dive into adventure!

15 days

15 travellers

Price per person

€4,142

Includes return flights, all accommodation, local transport, adventure host, water, and meals as detailed in the itinerary

Become a part of our community

Portrait of a man, traveller and adventurer

Мъж с широка усмивка на тропически ресторант край морето

Портрет на мъж с брада, авантюрист и пътешественик

Жена в черна рокля с пъстри точки седи пред розова врата

Мъж с огърлица и сенки, стилен портрет на открито

Пътешественик в зимно оборудване сред снежна виелица

Жена с тъмна коса и сини обеци, топъл нощен портрет

Let's head to South China!

Upcoming journeys

23 May 2027

6 Jun 2027

By clicking the "Sign Up" button, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

WHAT'S THE JOURNEY LIKE?

Fill out the registration form. The exact dates for this destination haven't been confirmed yet, but registration is open. We'll give you a call to get acquainted and let you know as soon as the dates are finalized.

Once we confirm the dates, we'll send you the contract, insurance, and invoice. You'll pay a 50% deposit, and the remaining balance is due 45 days before departure.

A month before the expedition, we'll remind you about the journey with a detailed email filled with insights about the destination, flights, and more.

Included in the price:

Flights from Sofia to Shanghai and Guangzhou to Sofia, including cabin bag and up to 40 kg checked luggage

Domestic flights (Shanghai - Zhangjiajie, Chengdu - Shangri-La, Lijiang - Guangzhou)

High-Speed Trains (Zhangjiajie - Chongqing, Chongqing - Chengdu)

12 nights in handpicked 4-star hotels along the route, based on double occupancy

12 breakfasts and 12 lunches included in the itinerary

Your Bulgarian-speaking host and storyteller throughout the journey

Local English-speaking guide

All entry fees for the sights on the itinerary

All transfers and local travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach

Medical insurance with coverage of €10,000

See Terms and Conditions

What's not included:

Services not mentioned in the programme

Tips for local guides and drivers ($6 USD per person, per day, payable on the spot)

Dinners and other meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Personal Expenses

Single room supplement

Optional Wilderness Excursions

Alcohol and Drinks

Additional Insurance "Trip Cancellation"

Discover more about insurance

Let's head to South China!

Upcoming journeys

23 May 2027

6 Jun 2027

By clicking the "Sign Up" button, you agree to our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

WHAT'S THE JOURNEY LIKE?

Once we confirm the dates, we'll send you the contract, insurance, and invoice. You'll pay a 50% deposit, and the remaining balance is due 45 days before departure.

A month before the expedition, we'll remind you about the journey with a detailed email filled with insights about the destination, flights, and more.

Included in the price:

Flights from Sofia to Shanghai and Guangzhou to Sofia, including cabin bag and up to 40 kg checked luggage

Domestic flights (Shanghai - Zhangjiajie, Chengdu - Shangri-La, Lijiang - Guangzhou)

High-Speed Trains (Zhangjiajie - Chongqing, Chongqing - Chengdu)

12 nights in handpicked 4-star hotels along the route, based on double occupancy

12 breakfasts and 12 lunches included in the itinerary

Your Bulgarian-speaking host and storyteller throughout the journey

Local English-speaking guide

All entry fees for the sights on the itinerary

All transfers and local travel in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach

Medical insurance with coverage of €10,000

See Terms and Conditions

What's not included:

Services not mentioned in the programme

Tips for local guides and drivers ($6 USD per person, per day, payable on the spot)

Dinners and other meals not mentioned in the itinerary

Personal Expenses

Single room supplement

Optional Wilderness Excursions

Alcohol and Drinks

Additional Insurance "Trip Cancellation"

Discover more about insurance

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is something unclear?

office@panicframe.com

+359 887 293 757

What documents do I need for China?

You will need a valid passport with at least 6 months of validity beyond your return date and at least two blank pages. From late 2024, Bulgarian citizens can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, which fully covers this journey. This visa-free entry policy is renewed annually, so we will reconfirm the details closer to our departure. We also strongly recommend travel insurance that covers altitudes up to 5,000 metres.

Do you need a visa for China?

Not at the moment. Bulgarian citizens can enter China visa-free for stays of up to 30 days for tourism, business, and transit. This policy took effect in late 2024 and has been confirmed until the end of 2026. Since our journey spans 15 days, we fit comfortably within this window. As the visa-free policy is renewed annually, should there be any changes, we'll hands-on assist you in securing a tourist visa from the embassy in Sofia.

Is there internet in China? And do you really need a VPN?

Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and most Western services are blocked in mainland China. You must install and pay for a VPN app BEFORE you set off, as VPN providers' websites are also blocked over there. WeChat works everywhere and is the go-to app for absolutely everything in China.

What is the altitude, and is there a risk of altitude sickness?

Shangri-La sits at around 3,200 metres, and we'll spend two nights here to adjust. At Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, a cable car whisks us up to 4,680 metres for a brief, breathtaking visit. When you first arrive in Shangri-La, you might feel a mild headache or a bit short of breath—completely normal as your body adapts. Keep hydrated, take things slow, and skip the alcohol on your first night. If you have any pre-existing heart or lung conditions, please chat with your doctor before booking this adventure.

What level of fitness do I need?

Expect 3 to 6 hours of walking daily, mostly navigating city streets, park trails, and steps. The most demanding moments are the 999 steps up to Tianmen and a light trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge. No mountaineering experience is needed here, as cable cars or lifts do the heavy lifting on most climbs. Just regular walks in the months leading up to your trip will get you perfectly primed for the adventure.

What currency is used in China and how do I pay?

The local currency is the Chinese Yuan (CNY). China is almost entirely a cashless society, with most places preferring Alipay or WeChat Pay, which now support foreign cards. We highly recommend linking your card to one of these apps before you set off. Keep some cash handy for street markets and tips. Tipping for local guides and drivers is 6 USD per person per day, collected together on the spot.

What's included in the price of the trip?

Included are 12 nights in 4-star hotels based on twin-share with breakfast, all transfers by air-conditioned coach, scheduled lunches, all entrance fees, high-speed trains, domestic flights and a tour leader. Not included are international flights, dinners, tips and personal expenses.

What's the weather like in May and June?

This journey crosses two distinct climates. Shanghai and Guangzhou are hot and humid, hovering between 28 and 32 degrees. Zhangjiajie is mild and often shrouded in mist. In Shangri-La, at 3,200 metres, days are sunny and around 18 degrees, but the temperature drops to 5 at night. At 4,680 metres by the glacier, it is close to freezing. Dressing in layers isn't just a recommendation—it's a survival rule.

Is the food safe, and how spicy does it get?

The food in the hotels and restaurants on our itinerary is safe. Sichuan cuisine in Chengdu and Chongqing is genuinely spicy, with hotpot that leaves your mouth tingling, but there are always non-spicy options available. Cantonese food in Guangzhou is at the other end of the scale—delicate and barely spiced. Vegetarian and other dietary requirements are easily accommodated, just let us know in advance so we can brief the kitchens.

Are vaccinations required for China?

No mandatory vaccinations are required to enter China from Bulgaria. It is recommended to have your standard vaccines up to date, alongside Hepatitis A. Stick to bottled water throughout your journey. Keep your personal medications in your hand luggage, in their original packaging.

What's the deal with mobile networks and SIM cards?

Roaming in China is outside the EU and costs a fortune. The slickest workaround is an eSIM bought online before you fly; many providers route their traffic outside of China, letting you bypass the Great Firewall. Alternatively, grab a local SIM card, but you will need your passport and some patience for the registration. Wi-Fi is available in all hotels.

Is there a language barrier in China?

Outside of the hotels, English is rarely spoken. You will be travelling with a local English-speaking guide and our own tour leader, so navigating within the group is seamless. For your independent wanderings, we highly recommend downloading Google Translate with the offline Chinese pack and the camera translation feature to read menus and signs. It works surprisingly well.

Ready for an adventure?

Visiting Southern China in May and June means packing for two distinct climates in one trip. Shanghai and Guangzhou are hot and humid, hovering around 30°C. Up at 4,680 metres on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, temperatures hover near freezing, while nights in Shangri-La drop to 5°C. Dressing in layers isn't just a tip—it's essential. Make sure your boots are ready for both the 999 steps and the wet, rocky trails of the gorge.

Clothing

Cap with Visor

GEAR

Undergarments and Socks

External Battery (power bank)

Raincoat

Long and short trousers

One or two light outer garments

Winter gloves, hat, scarf

Light Windbreaker

Light and comfy walking shoes

Personal Medications

Small Carry-On Suitcase

Trekking Shoes

Sunscreen

Sunglasses

T-shirts

Thermos and/or Water Bottle

Thermal Underwear

Beach or Shower Slippers

VPN app (install before departure)

Plug Adapter (Type A/C/I)

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ABOUT US

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DESTINATIONS

CALENDAR

STORIES

GALLERY

BLOG

ABOUT US

CONTACTS

Select Language

Destinations

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Stories

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Blog

About Us

Contact

May

15 travellers

15 days

€4,142

May

15 travellers

15 days

€4,142

Other Asian Adventures

Kитай

October 2027

Kитай

October 2027

ONLY

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

ONLY

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

ONLY

SPOT

Japan

November

ONLY

SPOT

Japan

November

Kитай

October 2027

Kитай

October 2027

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

SPOT

Japan

November

SPOT

Japan

November

a woman in a red dress gracefully arcs through the air, swinging from a rope

Bali

November

Bali

November

Kитай

October 2027

Kитай

October 2027

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

SPOTS

Southern Japan

October

WHY TRAVEL WITH US?

Who are we?

Panic Frame & Travel is not a commercial travel agency. We don't offer you tranquility, tickets, or accommodation in an all-inclusive hotel with white tablecloths. We see ourselves as Tarzan tourists, organizing journeys to hard-to-reach places, encountering wild nature, and traveling by campers, catamarans, off-road jeeps, and even helicopters.

Discover more about us