Could you possibly tell me how many people have booked on this trip, what are the minimum and maximum numbers of people required to go on the trip. I'm also wondering what the gender balance is and finally the age range are there many under 40's going?

Thank you

So far 32 people have booked - 19 women and 13 men, with ages ranging from mid 30s to mid 80s. There are two people in their 30s and a couple more in their 40s.

Kind regards

Olly, your editor

Can you tell me what the best way to keep in touch with folks back home would be, I heard that i could get a sim card for my mobile out there but im not sure that that would work as i know i would have to sort out unlocking my phone.

Is it easy to make calls home from public phones or hotels and would this be expensive,

Would there be somewhere to send an email from the hotel. How have others stayed in contact with people back home?

Many thanks

Personally I have always used email when I have needed to keep in touch from abroad. Calling from public phones, hotels and even your mobile can be very expensive so I would avoid doing so if possible.

If you are someone who likes to talk to people at home, getting a Chinese sim for your phone might be the best option but I have never tried this. Perhaps other Community users can advise you and make any recommendations.

Kind regards

Olly, your editor

I am also interested in buying a prepaid sim card for my phone when I arrive in China as I have checked with my mobile provider and as I am pay as you go I can't use it in China. Is there anyway that you could check with our tour manager or a contact in China if this is easy to purchase on arrival. Thank you

Carol

Incidently there are free PCs and internet available at Beijing airport and as we had a couple of hours to wait for our internal flight I used a PC there to send the latest update .

Pete ..............

You can buy sim cards at the airport but not all phones will support them so this might not be the best idea unless you know for sure that your phone will work in China.

However, I spoke to a colleague who used to be a tour manager and he suggests that the cheapest and easiest option would be to buy a pre-paid phone card and use it at public phones. He says that this would costs a fraction of the usual tariff and would save you the bother of checking whether your phone will work abroad.

Kind regards,

Olly, your editor