China Odyssey Tours: Private, Custom & Group Itineraries Across China

China Odyssey Tours

China Odyssey Tours is a specialist China travel operator that designs private, small-group, and custom-designed itineraries for English-speaking travelers. The company has operated continuously since 2005 under parent firm Tang Dynasty Tours Co. Ltd. It focuses on multi-city tours covering Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Guilin, and the Yangtze River, with English-speaking guides as a standard service feature. Travelers book through Trip.com, Klook, or direct with the company. The Guilin headquarters gives the operator particular depth in Guangxi-region routes and Yangtze cruise logistics.

Quick Facts

Company Background & Credentials

China Odyssey Tours

Tang Dynasty Tours Co. Ltd has operated China Odyssey Tours since 2005, making it one of the longer-running specialist China travel operators serving the English-speaking market. The company holds Chinese tourism license L-GX-GJ00080 and has passed ISO 9001:2008 international quality management certification. Active memberships in IATA, PATA, and ASTA provide industry-standard accreditation for international booking and financial protections.

The Guilin headquarters sets China Odyssey Tours apart from most major China DMCs, which typically operate from Beijing or Shanghai. This regional base supports stronger operational depth in Guangxi, the Li River corridor, and downstream Yangtze logistics. The 51–200 staff includes local guides, logistics coordinators, and travel consultants who specialize in multi-city itinerary planning for foreign visitors.

China Tour Packages & Signature Destinations

China Odyssey Tours

China Odyssey Tours organizes its products across four main families: complete China tour packages, Yangtze River cruises, city-based day tours, and custom-designed private itineraries. Service modes span fully private travel, small-group fixed departures, and student or family package bundles. Most travelers stitch together two to four cities within typical 8–12 day windows.

• Beijing: Great Wall and Forbidden City anchor the classic Northern circuit.
• Xian: Terracotta Warriors and city wall access form the central cultural highlight.
• Shanghai: The Bund, Yu Garden, and Pudong skyline frame the coastal East.
• Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River karst landscapes and riverside cycling define the Guangxi experience.
• Yunnan minority regions: Kunming, Dali, and Lijiang offer plateau scenery and cultural diversity.
• Huangshan: Yellow Mountain provides a UNESCO-listed mountain escape in Anhui.

Yangtze River cruises run Chongqing-to-Yichang through the Three Gorges and represent a flagship product line. English-speaking guides are standard on private bookings; small-group tours include local guides at each destination. Customization allows travelers to blend destinations across regions, such as pairing Beijing with a Yangtze segment or adding a Guilin extension to a Shanghai visit.

Shanghai in September: Weather, Indoor Alternatives & Clothing Layers

China Odyssey Tours

September sits at the tail end of Shanghai's rainy season. The last remnants of the plum rain typically clear during the first week, but typhoon season runs through the end of September. Travelers should monitor a live typhoon tracker within seven days of arrival. Average daytime temperatures hover around 25–28°C (77–82°F) with evening cool-downs to 20–22°C (68–72°F); September brings roughly six to nine rainy days per month.

• Shanghai Museum: People's Square location houses bronze, ceramics, and calligraphy collections in an air-conditioned facility.
• Shanghai History Museum: Adjacent to People's Square; covers the city's treaty-port era to the present.
• Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center: Details the city's future infrastructure and development blueprints.
• Shanghai Tower observation deck: Often clearest on overcast or rainy days when haze lifts above the 561-meter summit.
• Long Museum West Bund: Contemporary Chinese art in a riverside converted warehouse space.
• Power Station of Art: Shanghai's state-run contemporary art museum in a former industrial plant.
• Shanghai Natural History Museum: Geological and biological exhibits with a dedicated dinosaur hall.
• M50 art district: Covered indoor galleries showcase independent Chinese artists along the Suzhou Creek.

September packing favors layers. A light long-sleeve base combined with a thin zip jacket handles both air-conditioned museums and cooler evenings. A compact folding umbrella outperforms a bulky raincoat during Shanghai's short, intense tropical-style showers. Walking shoes with grip work better than sandals on Yu Garden's cobblestones and along Suzhou Creek paths, which become slippery after rain. Travelers planning a Guilin or Huangshan extension after Shanghai should add quick-dry socks to their kit.

Booking, Pricing & Sample Costs

The table below compares four common package tiers across length, price, and inclusions. Prices reflect twin-share private bookings unless noted; single supplements and cabin upgrades run additional.

Packages typically exclude international flights, the China visa fee, and guide tips. Foreign visitors book through Trip.com, Klook, or the company's direct website; all three channels list current pricing and departure dates.

Reviews, Reputation & How It Compares

Published reviews frequently praise the quality of English-speaking guides and the flexibility of custom itinerary planning. Common positive themes include smooth multi-city logistics and responsive travel consultants. Concerns raised in less favorable reviews typically center on last-minute hotel substitutions in tier-2 cities and the higher cost of fully private versus group options.

China Odyssey Tours operates independently from Asia Odyssey Travel. The two brands differ in three measurable ways:

• Regional base: China Odyssey Tours runs operations from Guilin, giving it stronger local infrastructure in Guangxi, Yangshuo, and downstream Yangtze logistics. Asia Odyssey Travel leans from a Beijing hub with a broader northern China focus.
• Product focus: China Odyssey Tours prioritizes private and family/student segments. Asia Odyssey Travel concentrates on small-group fixed-departure coach tours.
• Distribution channels: China Odyssey Tours packages appear more prominently on Trip.com and direct-request bookings. Asia Odyssey Travel inventories surface more on Klook and Western OTA platforms.

Three practical steps sharpen due diligence before committing a deposit. First, read the most recent 30 days of reviews rather than relying on an all-time aggregate score. Second, confirm the named guide's English proficiency and any specific language requirements in writing. Third, request the hotel list by property name before submitting payment, especially for tier-2 city overnights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is China Odyssey Tours and who runs it?

A China-focused tour operator founded in 2005, owned and operated by Tang Dynasty Tours Co. Ltd under Chinese tourism license L-GX-GJ00080. It specializes in private tours, custom itineraries, and Yangtze River cruises for English-speaking families, couples, and business travelers.

Q: Where is China Odyssey Tours headquartered, and what is the address?

The company is based in Guilin, Guangxi — specifically Room 218 & 214, No. 11, Huixian Road, Qixing District, Guilin 541004. The Guilin base is uncommon among major China DMCs and supports stronger operational depth in Guilin, Yangshuo, and downstream Yangtze routes.

Q: How much do China Odyssey Tours cost on average?

An 8-day private Beijing–Xian–Shanghai tour runs roughly $1,400–2,200 (¥10,000–15,800) per person twin-share. A 12-day Grand Tour with Yangtze cruise costs about $2,000–3,200 (¥14,200–22,800). The shorter 5-day Guilin/Yangshuo private option averages $700–1,100 (¥5,000–7,900). Small-group fixed departures typically fall 25–35% below private pricing.

Q: Are China Odyssey Tours reviews generally positive on TripAdvisor?

Published feedback skews positive on guide quality and custom-itinerary flexibility. Typical concerns center on last-minute hotel changes in smaller cities and the higher cost of fully private tours. Reading the most recent 30 days of reviews before depositing remains the standard due-diligence step.

Q: What is the difference between China Odyssey Tours and Asia Odyssey Travel?

The two brands operate independently. China Odyssey Tours is Guilin-headquartered with deeper Guilin, Yangtze, and Yunnan operational capacity, and it leans toward private, family, and student segments. Asia Odyssey Travel runs from a Beijing base and focuses on small-group fixed-departure coach tours with broader Klook and OTA distribution.

Q: Does China Odyssey Tours operate Tibet, Hong Kong, and Japan extensions?

Tibet and Hong Kong can typically be added to a mainland China itinerary with additional permit logistics for Tibet. Japan does not fall within the core China product line; travelers seeking Japan typically combine through a separate Asia regional operator.

Q: Can travelers from Australia or English-speaking countries book China Odyssey Tours easily?

Yes. Packages surface on Trip.com, Klook, and TripAdvisor booking partners; direct booking through the brand website also works for English-speaking customers. Payment typically accepts major credit cards and PayPal; verify currency options and any cross-border card fees at booking.

Q: What payment methods and deposit terms does China Odyssey Tours accept?

Major credit cards, PayPal, and bank wire transfer are available for direct bookings. OTA channels like Trip.com and Klook use their own payment terms. Deposits typically run 30–50% at confirmation with the balance due 30 days before departure; cancellation penalties increase within the final 30-day window.

Q: Do China Odyssey Tours guides speak English?

English-speaking guides are standard across private and small-group products. For niche languages such as Spanish, German, French, or Italian, travelers should request availability at the time of booking. Guide language pairing should be confirmed in writing before submitting a deposit.