A Norwegian Solo Traveler's 20-Day Budget-Friendly China Trip

I've communicated with many travelers, but Ms. Eileen, a woman in her early sixties from Oslo, truly impressed me. Her concise and powerful words revealed the uniqueness of this solo traveler from Oslo right away. "I've been to 60% of the world's continents," she wrote, "but China has always been a blank space. This time, I want 20 days to truly understand this country."

However, despite her extensive travel experience, she also faced the practical challenge of a limited budget.

Repeatedly Crafting a Budget-Friendly, In-Depth China Itinerary

Our regular China group tours at Asia Odyssey Travel mostly fell short of Eileen's desired 20-day in-depth exploration, but arranging a private tour solely for her would clearly exceed her budget.

After much deliberation, I decided to try a "group tour + personalized tour" hybrid model for Eileen for the first time. The first half of the itinerary in popular destinations like Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai would be a group tour with other travelers, while the latter half in destinations like Shangri-La and Dali in Yunnan would be a private itinerary.

I remember when planning the Chongqing to Yichang Yangtze River Cruise segment, I found that the regular cruise prices from Chongqing to Yichang would strain her budget. During that time, I repeatedly communicated with various cruise companies and finally secured a special discounted cabin, allowing Eileen to travel comfortably without depleting her funds.

This careful budgeting permeated the entire itinerary planning, from high-speed train tickets to hotel selections. At every point, I tried my best to choose the most suitable price for her.

Successful In-Depth China Tour: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Yangtze River, Shanghai, Yunnan

Eileen arrived in Beijing. On the way to the hotel, she looked at the modern buildings flashing past the window and suddenly said, "This is quite different from the China I imagined."

She had ample time to get close to the real China.

The next morning, she went to Tiananmen Square at sunrise. In the empty square, the morning light gilded the ancient buildings. Eileen stood quietly, watching the National Flag Guard march with synchronized steps. "This is much more impressive than the pictures," she whispered, "I can feel the solemnity of this country."

During the Terracotta Army visit in Xi'an, an elderly lady from Australia in the originally planned group tour became particularly fond of Eileen. Both were solo travelers and quickly struck up a conversation. I noticed this detail in the guide's feedback and specially adjusted the subsequent itinerary to arrange adjacent seats for them. This kind of serendipitous encounter is precisely the charm of hybrid travel.

After visiting the regular tourist spots, I took Eileen to a nearby terracotta warrior workshop rarely known to tourists. There, she tried making a miniature terracotta warrior herself. "This is the kind of experience I wanted," she said with a smile, "hands-on participation."

During the days of the Yangtze River Cruise, Eileen often sat on the deck, enjoying the breeze and writing in her travel journal. One evening, she pointed to the green mountains on both banks and said, "These mountains have witnessed so much historical change."

When the cruise ship passed the Three Gorges Dam, she gazed at the magnificent man-made project, also reflecting on the relationship between humans and nature. This in-depth observation and reflection showed me the unique perspective she had gained from having visited 60% of the world's continents.

After the Three Gorges, she arrived in Shanghai. Amidst the nightscape of the Bund, Eileen looked at the Pudong skyline across the river and suddenly said, "Now I understand what you meant by the diverse China you initially mentioned."

As the trip neared its end, she arrived in Yunnan for her private tour. At the Songzanlin Monastery in Shangri-La, I specifically arranged for a local Tibetan guide. Eileen listened with great attention as the guide recounted the monastery's history in English with a Tibetan accent. At an altitude of 3300 meters, she was a bit breathless but insisted on climbing every step.

"The sky here is very similar to Norway," she said, looking at the distant snow-capped mountains from a high point in the monastery, "but the culture is so different." This cross-cultural resonance was the most precious reward of in-depth travel.

Receiving a Special Norwegian Pin

Before her departure, Eileen sent me a Norwegian pin through the guide. "This is a traditional pattern from my hometown," she said, "thank you for showing me such a real China."

A month later, I received a long thank-you email from Eileen. She said that this trip had changed many of her preconceived notions about China, especially the "group + private" hybrid model, which saved her expenses, allowed her to make new friends, and ensured she didn't miss out on an in-depth Chinese experience.

The world is so big, and travel, besides the scenery along the way, also includes encounters that fall into our lives like dandelion seeds. I look forward to designing trips for as many travelers as they desire.