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, Haining, Hangzhou and Bozhou.

Designed for Chinese medicine practitioners, students and herbal professionals, the tour offers firsthand access to Chinese medicine hospitals, clinical observations, museums and traditional pharmacies. Planned experiences also include a hospital internship and pharmacy workshop, a tea-farm visit, an herbal granule company, Bozhou’s herbal medicine trade centre, a TCM manufacturing facility and medicinal-plant farms.

Together, these experiences trace Chinese medicinal materials from cultivation and trade through processing, pharmacy practice and clinical application.

This is an educational immersion offering professional insight, meaningful access and connection beyond what can be experienced in a classroom.

Experience

Tour route & stops

Shanghai → Haining → Hangzhou → Bozhou → Shanghai. Planned stops include Chinese medicine hospitals and clinical observation sites, the Shanghai TCM Museum, traditional pharmacies, a hospital internship and pharmacy workshop in Haining, Hu Qing Yu Tang and a tea-farm experience in Hangzhou, an herbal granule company, and Bozhou’s herbal medicine trade centre, TCM manufacturing facility, bai shao farm and medicinal-plant nursery. Specific venues and activities 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

The total tour price is AUD $6,995 / USD $4,995 per person.

A non-refundable deposit of AUD $650 / USD $460 is required to secure your place. The deposit is deducted from the total tour price.

The remaining balance will be paid in three scheduled instalments:

Instalment 1: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.67 — due 30 October 2026
Instalment 2: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.67 — due 18 December 2026
Final instalment: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.66 — due 12 February 2027

Each instalment must be paid within 14 days of the invoice date.

The deposit and each instalment are non-refundable once paid. This is because accommodation, transport, guides and other program arrangements are progressively confirmed and paid for on behalf of each participant.

If you book after one or more instalment dates have passed, the deposit and any instalments already due will be payable when your booking is confirmed.

If a scheduled payment is unsuccessful or overdue, you will have seven 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. Any payments already received will remain non-refundable.

Passports and visas

Participants are responsible for ensuring they hold a valid passport and obtain any visa or other entry documentation required for travel. A visa refusal, delayed application or failure to obtain the required documentation does not change the payment schedule or make any payment refundable.

Travel insurance

We strongly recommend arranging comprehensive travel insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed, including appropriate cancellation cover. Participants should confirm directly with their insurer whether visa refusal, visa delays or other circumstances affecting their ability to travel are covered.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies available under the Australian Consumer Law.

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, education, sourcing and manufacturing. Zoey Gong is a chef and educator whose work explores Chinese food therapy, herbal traditions and regional culture. Together with our brand manager Todd Fraser, they will guide the professional and cultural learning throughout the tour.

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Payment & Cancellation Terms (Shanghai Tour)

The total tour price is AUD $6,995 / USD $4,995 per person.

A non-refundable deposit of AUD $650 / USD $460 is required to secure your place. The deposit is deducted from the total tour price.

The remaining balance will be paid in three scheduled instalments:

Instalment 1: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.67 — due 30 October 2026
Instalment 2: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.67 — due 18 December 2026
Final instalment: AUD $2,115 / USD $1,511.66 — due 12 February 2027

Each instalment must be paid within 14 days of the invoice date.

The deposit and each instalment are non-refundable once paid. This is because accommodation, transport, guides and other program arrangements are progressively confirmed and paid for on behalf of each participant.

If you book after one or more instalment dates have passed, the deposit and any instalments already due will be payable when your booking is confirmed.

If a scheduled payment is unsuccessful or overdue, you will have seven 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. Any payments already received will remain non-refundable.

Passports and visas

Participants are responsible for ensuring they hold a valid passport and obtain any visa or other entry documentation required for travel. A visa refusal, delayed application or failure to obtain the required documentation does not change the payment schedule or make any payment refundable.

Travel insurance

We strongly recommend arranging comprehensive travel insurance as soon as your booking is confirmed, including appropriate cancellation cover. Participants should confirm directly with their insurer whether visa refusal, visa delays or other circumstances affecting their ability to travel are covered.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any rights or remedies available under the Australian Consumer Law.

What happens after I pay the deposit?

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

A participant information form
Payment options and the remaining balance schedule
Questions about rooming preferences and dietary requirements
Recommended international flight arrival and departure times
Travel preparation and packing information
The detailed itinerary as arrangements are confirmed

NOTE: Your deposit is non-refundable and will be deducted from the total cost of your tour.

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.

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 to15 participants. Additional places may only be released if capacity allows.

When is the remaining balance due?

The remaining tour balance must be paid in full no later than six weeks before departure. If you would like to pay by instalments, please arrange this with Empirical Health in advance. All instalments must be completed by this deadline.

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.

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 responsible for arranging their own international flights to and from the tour’s designated start and end locations. Recommended arrival and departure times will be provided so you can plan your flights around 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 in Shanghai 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 vary depending on your passport and may change before departure. Participants are responsible for confirming and obtaining the passport, visa and entry documentation applicable to them. We recommend beginning this process well in advance. If you are unable to travel because a visa is refused, delayed or not obtained in time, the standard tour cancellation terms will apply.

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.

Is GST charged on the tour cost?

No. Our tour costs are GST-free. This applies to both your deposit and the remaining balance.