Questions, Answered Honestly

Yes. We operate under 成都光大国际旅行社 (Chengdu Everbright International Travel Service Co., Ltd), a government-licensed Chinese travel agency founded in 1985. Travel license L-SC-CJ00008, registration 915101002019807384 — both publicly verifiable in China's national enterprise registry. Every booking is bonded and insured under Chinese tourism law, and comes with a signed service contract and official receipts (发票). See our license photos on the About page.

Panda Journeys is the international brand of Chengdu Everbright International Travel Service. The selected comments on our homepage come from journeys operated by that licensed Chengdu agency. The international brand is still building its own public review profiles, so we do not publish an unverifiable platform score. You can ask for license records, trip references or a video call before booking.

Three layers of protection: 1) You pay only a 30% deposit after approving your full itinerary and quote — the balance isn't due until 10 days before departure. 2) Every booking includes a signed service contract with a licensed agency. 3) Chinese tourism law requires us to maintain a government-held quality deposit (质量保证金) that protects travelers. You can also pay by credit card or PayPal, which carry their own buyer protections.

Most likely yes. As of 2026: 40+ countries — including the UK, most of the EU, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Canada — get 30 days visa-free, no paperwork at all. US travelers can use the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit with an onward ticket to a third country or region (Hong Kong counts). Full details in our Visa-Free Guide.

We provide full visa assistance for travelers from all countries: invitation letters, itinerary confirmations, hotel booking proofs, and step-by-step application guidance. We've helped travelers from India, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and many other countries get visas smoothly.

Honestly: it depends, and anyone who quotes you a fixed price before knowing your dates is guessing. Season, route, hotel level and group size all move the number significantly. As a rough orientation, most private trips land in the $150–320 per person per day range all-inclusive (hotels, private transport, guide, tickets), with group tours costing less and luxury or remote routes more. The only number that matters is your exact quote — free, within 48 hours, before you pay anything.

• 1. Send your request via WhatsApp, email or the inquiry form
• 2. Free custom itinerary + exact quote within 48h
• 3. Revise until it's right — then quote is locked
• 4. 30% deposit + signed service contract secures your booking
• 5. Balance due 10 days before departure
• 6. Travel with 24/7 support throughout

We accept credit card (Visa/Mastercard), PayPal, bank transfer, Alipay and WeChat Pay. All payments come with official receipts.

Zero-penalty itinerary changes — dates, hotels, activities — we adjust everything in real time at no extra cost. (Third-party costs like non-refundable flight tickets follow the airline's rules, which we'll flag clearly before booking them for you.)

Spring (Mar–May): blossoms and mild weather. Autumn (Sep–Nov): clearest mountain views and golden foliage — Jiuzhaigou's peak beauty. Summer: ideal for the cool Tibetan highlands. Winter: fewer crowds, lower prices, and pandas are extra active in cold weather.

Respect it, don't fear it. Our West Sichuan route reaches 4,000m+, so we pace the ascent over days, carry oxygen in the vehicle, and build flexibility to descend if anyone feels unwell. Most healthy travelers adjust fine. If you have heart or lung conditions, consult your doctor first — and tell us, so we design a lower-altitude alternative (Jiuzhaigou tops out around 3,100m at the lakes).

• Alipay + WeChat — download and link an international card before arrival; it's how everything is paid for
• VPN — install before departure if you want Google, WhatsApp or Instagram in China
• eSIM or local SIM — order online before flying or buy at the airport
• Power bank — your phone is your wallet, map and translator
• Comfortable shoes + layers — mountain weather changes fast

We send every guest a detailed pre-trip checklist after booking.

We're a full-service agency: English-speaking guides & interpreters by the day, private car with driver, airport transfers, self-driving route planning (navigating China's roads and permits), hotel and train ticket booking, and visa support. If it makes your China trip easier, we probably do it — just ask.