How a private China trip enquiry works (and what happens next)
China Private Journeys is an online enquiry and routing platform for private China travel ideas. You submit a free form with your dates, regions, travel style, group size, and any special interests. We review the brief, ask follow-up questions by email or WeChat when something needs clarifying, and introduce you to independent local planners or suppliers who match the brief. We are not a licensed travel agency. We do not sell fixed package tours. We do not hold trip deposits or trip balances on this site. Any trip contract, payment schedule, and on-ground fulfilment sits between you and the independent provider you select. Submitting an enquiry creates no booking and costs nothing. You can withdraw at any time by emailing contact@chinaprivatejourneys.com, and we stop follow-up. Registered contact details for the platform are listed on the about and contact pages, including the Guangzhou Tianhe address placeholder used for correspondence.
Step-by-step flow
- Submit the enquiry form. You fill out the form on the website with dates, regions, travel style, group size, and any special interests. The form is free and carries no obligation.
- Preference clarification. We review your submission and may reply by email or WeChat to ask follow-up questions. This step narrows the options so any introduction we make fits your actual needs.
- Introduction options. Based on your clarified brief, we share contact details or a direct introduction to one or more independent local planners or suppliers. You decide whether to engage with any of them.
- You contract with the provider. If you move forward, you sign an agreement and pay deposits directly to the independent planner or supplier. Their terms govern payment schedules, changes, and cancellations. China Private Journeys is not a party to that contract.
- Pre-trip Q&A (optional). We remain available for general questions by email or WeChat while you finalize details with your chosen provider. We do not manage the trip operation.
How this differs from OTAs and licensed package operators
Online travel agencies (OTAs) sell inventory they control or allocate: hotels, flights, pre-packaged tours. They process payment themselves. A licensed package operator in China holds a travel agency business license, issues a single contract covering the whole trip, and assumes legal responsibility for the tour's delivery.
China Private Journeys does neither. We do not hold inventory. We do not issue a master contract for your trip. We do not collect money on behalf of suppliers. We provide an enquiry intake service and a routing introduction. The independent planner or supplier you choose becomes your contractual counterparty. Their license, insurance, and cancellation policy apply. We publish informational guides and destination pages on this site, but those are for research, not a sales offer.
Honest boundaries
- We cannot guarantee a specific planner's availability, pricing, or performance.
- We do not issue visa invitation letters ourselves; a connected provider may offer that service as part of their quote.
- Travel insurance is your responsibility once you book with a third party.
- Content on this site is provided as-is for research purposes. We are not liable for supplier cancellations, schedule changes, or force-majeure events affecting a trip you booked elsewhere.
- If you withdraw your enquiry before an introduction, we simply stop follow-up. No fees apply.
Next steps
If you have a trip idea in mind, start with the enquiry form. It takes a few minutes and costs nothing. You can also read more about how we work on the about page, or email us from the contact page.
FAQ
Is submitting an enquiry free?
Yes. Submitting an enquiry costs nothing and creates no booking. You can use the form as many times as you like while refining your ideas. Nothing is reserved until you later agree terms with an independent provider.
Does China Private Journeys hold my deposit or trip balance?
No. We do not hold trip deposits or trip balances. Any payments go directly to the independent planner or supplier you choose, and their quoted terms apply.
Am I contracting with China Private Journeys when I book a trip?
No. Your contract is with the independent planner or supplier introduced through the platform. China Private Journeys is not a party to that contract and does not issue a master agreement.
Can I withdraw my enquiry after submitting it?
Yes. You can withdraw at any time by emailing contact@chinaprivatejourneys.com. We will stop follow-up immediately and remove your details from our active queue.
What happens if the planner I'm introduced to cancels or changes the itinerary?
That provider's own terms apply. China Private Journeys is not liable for supplier cancellations, schedule changes, or force-majeure events. You would address any disruption directly with the planner under their agreement.
Do you issue visa invitation letters?
We do not issue visa invitation letters ourselves. A connected provider may offer that service as part of their quote, and they would handle the documentation on their own letterhead.
Is travel insurance included?
No. Travel insurance remains your responsibility when you book a trip with a third party. We recommend arranging coverage that matches your itinerary and personal needs.
Are you a licensed travel agency in China?
No. China Private Journeys is an online enquiry and routing platform. We do not operate as a licensed travel agency. Contracts and on-ground fulfilment, if you proceed, sit with the independent planner or supplier you choose.
Do you sell fixed package tours?
No. We do not sell fixed package tours. We help clarify your preferences and introduce you to independent planners who create tailor-made itineraries based on your brief.
Can you book hotels, guides, tickets, or transport for me?
We do not ourselves book hotels, guides, tickets, or transport unless separately agreed in writing. The independent provider you select handles those arrangements. Your written quote from that provider should name what is included before anything is paid.
How do you choose which planners to introduce?
We match your clarified brief - dates, regions, style, group size, interests - with planners in our network who operate in those areas and have relevant experience. You receive the introduction and decide whether to proceed.
What if I have a complaint about a planner I booked through an introduction?
You would address the complaint directly with that planner under their contract. We are not a party to that agreement, but we welcome feedback about your experience so we can improve future introductions.
Do you charge the planners a commission for introductions?
Our commercial arrangements with planners are separate from your enquiry. You pay the planner's quoted price directly; there is no added platform fee on your side.
Can I request a specific planner by name?
Yes. If you have a planner in mind, mention them in the enquiry form. We will check their availability and facilitate the introduction if they are in our network.
How long does it take to get an introduction after I submit the form?
We typically respond within one to two business days with follow-up questions or an introduction, depending on how complete your initial brief is. More detail upfront usually speeds up the match.
Next steps
Submitting an enquiry is free and creates no booking. Contracts and trip payments, if you proceed, sit with the independent provider you choose — not on this site.