Eastern China Herbal Medicine Study Tour 2027 - Shanghai

At a glance

Date14 April 2027

MeetThe tour begins and ends in Shanghai. The meeting hotel, recommended arrival time and group transfer details will be provided to registered participants.

Duration10 days

About this tour

Experience Chinese herbal medicine from source to clinic

Join Dr Simon Feeney, Zoey Gong and the Empirical Health team for a professionally curated 10-day journey through Shanghai, Hangzhou, Nanjing and Bozhou.

Designed for Chinese medicine practitioners, students and herbal professionals, the tour provides firsthand access to hospitals, universities, pharmacies, herbal markets, farms and processing facilities. Participants will experience how Chinese medicinal materials move from cultivation and trade through processing, pharmacy practice and clinical application.

This is an educational immersion designed to provide depth, access and professional connection beyond what can be experienced in a classroom.

Experience

Tour route & stops

Shanghai → Hangzhou → Nanjing → Bozhou → Shanghai. Planned stops include Chinese medicine universities and museums, affiliated hospitals, traditional pharmacies, herbal processing and granule manufacturing facilities, Longjing tea farms, medicinal herb farms and major herbal medicine markets. Specific venues are subject to final confirmation.

Included

What’s included

Accommodation throughout the tour; organised internal ground transport and transfers; daily breakfast and selected group meals; educational visits and guided experiences; visits to hospitals, clinics, herbal markets and processing facilities; and tour leadership by Dr Simon Feeney and Zoey Gong. International flights, travel insurance, visas, personal expenses and optional activities are not included.

Preparation

What to bring

Comfortable walking shoes, weather-appropriate clothing, passport and required travel documents, comprehensive travel insurance, personal medications, a reusable water bottle and a notebook.

Getting there

Transport information

Participants arrange their own return international flights to Shanghai. Organised ground transport within China is included. Group airport transfer details will be provided before departure.

Meeting point

The tour begins and ends in Shanghai. The meeting hotel, recommended arrival time and group transfer details will be provided to registered participants.

Please arrive a little early so the group can depart together.

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Payment & Cancellation Terms

Payment & Cancellation Terms

A $650 AUD / $450 USD non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on the tour.

You may choose to pay the remaining balance in full or by an agreed instalment plan. All tour fees must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure.

If you are paying by instalments, payments must be made by the nominated due dates. If a scheduled payment is unsuccessful or overdue, you will have 7 days to bring your account up to date. If payment remains outstanding after this period, Empirical Health reserves the right to cancel your booking and offer the place to another participant.

Because accommodation, transport, guides and other program costs are committed in advance, cancellation fees increase as the departure date approaches.

Cancellation schedule

More than 90 days before departure: deposit retained; remaining payments refunded.
60–90 days before departure: deposit retained plus 25% of the remaining tour fee.
42–59 days before departure: 50% of the total tour fee is non-refundable.
Within 42 days of departure: the full tour fee is non-refundable.

Where we are able to successfully fill your place from a waiting list, we may provide a greater refund at our discretion, less any non-recoverable costs and administration expenses already incurred.

We strongly recommend arranging comprehensive travel insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed, including appropriate cancellation cover.

Your guide

Dr Simon Feeney and Zoey Gong

Dr Simon Feeney is a Chinese medicine practitioner and the founder of Empirical Health, with extensive experience in Chinese herbal medicine, sourcing and clinical practice. Zoey Gong is a Shanghai-based Chinese medicine practitioner and educator. Together, they will lead participants through an immersive exploration of Chinese herbal medicine from source to clinic.

Payment & Cancellation Terms

A $650 non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place. You may pay the remaining balance in full or by the agreed instalment schedule. All tour fees must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure. If a scheduled payment is overdue, you will have 7 days to bring the account up to date. If payment remains outstanding, Empirical Health may cancel the booking and offer the place to another participant. Cancellation fees increase as departure approaches due to committed travel and program costs. Please refer to the full cancellation terms provided at booking.

What happens after I pay the deposit?

Once your deposit has been received, your place on the tour will be reserved.We will then contact you with:

A participant information form
Payment options and the remaining balance schedule
Rooming and dietary requirement questions
Recommended international flight timings
Travel preparation and packing information
The detailed itinerary as arrangements are confirmed

Note: the $650 AUD / $460 USD deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from your total tour balance.

What payment and instalment options are available?

A $650 AUD / $460 USD non-refundable deposit per person is required to secure your place and is applied towards the total tour price.The following payment options are available:

Pay in full and save $150
Pay the remaining balance according to an agreed payment schedule
Instalment plans are available on request

**All tour fees must be paid in full by 31 January 2027.

When is the remaining balance due?

The remaining tour balance must be paid in full by 31 January 2027, unless an alternative instalment schedule has been agreed with Empirical Health in advance.

Does this include GST?

Yes, the price includes GST.

How many places are available?

To maintain the educational quality of the experience and allow meaningful access at each location, the tour will initially be limited to 15 participants. Additional places may only be released if capacity allows.

Is accommodation twin-share?

No. The tour package includes a private room for each participant throughout the tour, so you will not be required to share with another attendee.

If you are travelling with someone and would prefer a twin-share room, please let us know after booking. While we cannot guarantee this arrangement, as it depends on each hotel’s room availability and configuration, we will do our best to accommodate your request wherever possible.

What standard of accommodation is included?

The tour includes comfortable, quality hotel accommodation selected for its location, facilities and suitability for the group itinerary. Specific hotels will be confirmed in the final itinerary provided to registered participants.

Are meals included?

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included throughout the tour, except for personal snacks or optional purchases outside the organised meals.

How are dietary requirements handled?

Participants will be asked to provide dietary requirements after booking. We will work with hotels and restaurants to accommodate allergies and dietary needs wherever reasonably possible. Because the tour travels through several regions and includes group dining experiences, we cannot guarantee that every dietary requirement can be accommodated at every location.Participants with serious allergies should contact Empirical Health before booking.

What level of walking and physical activity is involved?

This is an active professional study tour involving regular walking, standing and travel between locations. Some visits may involve stairs, uneven surfaces and extended periods on foot. Participants should be comfortable with a moderately active daily schedule.If you have mobility or accessibility requirements, please contact Empirical Health before booking so we can discuss whether the itinerary will be suitable.

Are all admissions and educational visits included?

Yes. Admission to all scheduled hospitals, universities, museums, pharmacies, herbal markets, farms, processing facilities and other educational visits included in the official itinerary is covered by the tour price. Optional activities or visits undertaken outside the organised program are not included.

Is internal travel within China included?

Organised travel between cities and ground transportation outlined in the itinerary are included in the tour price.

Do I need to arrange my own international flights?

Yes. Participants are required to arrange their own return international flights to Shanghai. Recommended arrival times will be provided so you can align with the group schedule.

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins and ends in Shanghai.

Is airport transfer included?

Airport transfer is included on arrival at the designated time and again on the final day.

What time should I arrive on the first day?

Please arrive in Shanghai by 1:30 PM on Day 1. A group airport transfer is planned for 2:00 PM. If you arrive outside this window, you may need to make your own way to the hotel.

When can I depart from Shanghai?

The tour concludes after the farewell lunch on the final day. You may depart that evening or extend your stay.

Do I need a visa to travel to China?

Entry requirements can change and depend on your passport. Participants should check current requirements before booking and again before departure.

What if I am not travelling on an Australian passport?

Entry and visa requirements vary by passport and personal circumstances. Please confirm the requirements that apply to you.

Where should I check the latest entry requirements?

Check the latest official travel and entry guidance before departure.