Effective date: October 2026 · This English version is the governing text.
1. Who we are
These terms govern the website sichuanlocal.com and all travel services provided by Panda & Peppercorn, a travel operator based in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. By submitting an inquiry or booking you accept these terms and our Privacy Policy.
2. How booking works
- Inquiry. You tell us your dates, group and interests through our form or chat.
- Proposal. We send a day-by-day itinerary with a single itemized price, usually within 48 hours. The itinerary and price in the proposal are the binding scope of your trip.
- Confirmation. When you approve the proposal and pay the deposit, a booking is created. Until then, nothing is reserved and no payment is due.
- Balance. The remaining balance is due no later than 30 days before departure. For bookings made less than 30 days before departure, the full amount is due at confirmation.
Prices are per person in the currency stated in your proposal and include exactly what is itemized there — hotels, entries, guides, transport and meals as listed. Anything not listed (international flights, visa fees, travel insurance, personal expenses) is not included.
3. Deposits
A deposit of 20% of the trip price confirms your booking. After payment we hold your spot for the trip as planned.
4. Changes and cancellations
By you: You can change or cancel your booking at any time. Refunds follow our cancellation & refund policy. In short — the earlier you tell us, the more comes back to you, and anything we cancel is refunded in full.
By us: We plan carefully and confirm departures before asking for deposits. If we ever have to cancel (weather closure of a park, safety warnings, guide illness with no replacement), you choose between a full refund, a credit toward a future trip, or a rebooked alternative of equal value.
Minor changes during the trip: Travel in Sichuan sometimes needs on-the-spot adjustments (a road closed, a site at capacity). Your guide will rearrange the day to keep the experience — same standard, no extra cost to you.
5. Travel documents, visas and insurance
- You are responsible for holding a valid passport (6+ months validity recommended) and any required visa or entry permit. We provide invitation letters and documentation support at no charge.
- China's 240-hour visa-free transit policy covers many nationalities — but eligibility depends on your route and nationality. Confirm entry rules with your airline or the nearest Chinese embassy/consulate, or ask us and we'll point you to official sources.
- Travel insurance covering medical care, trip interruption and evacuation is strongly recommended. We ask for your policy details before departure so we can help quickly if anything happens.
6. Health, safety and your responsibility
Some itineraries involve high altitude (up to ~4,000 m), long walks and uneven terrain. You must tell us about relevant medical conditions, mobility limits, allergies and dietary needs when booking so we can plan appropriately. You agree to follow your guide's safety instructions; we may decline or modify activities when conditions are unsafe.
7. Our liability
- We are responsible for delivering the services in your confirmed itinerary and for harm caused by our own negligence, within the limits of Chinese law.
- We are not liable for events outside our reasonable control: flight delays, natural disasters, government actions, epidemics, or the acts of independent suppliers (airlines, hotels) where we arranged the service in good faith.
- Our total liability is limited to the price you paid for your trip, except where a higher amount is required by mandatory law.
- Our refund policy is your primary remedy for cancelled services.
8. Website content
Text, itineraries and design on this site belong to us or our licensors and may not be copied for commercial use. Some photos and videos are used under Creative Commons licenses from Wikimedia Commons with attribution — see the credits section of our homepage footer.
9. Governing law and disputes
These terms are governed by the laws of the People's Republic of China. We will always try to resolve any issue directly with you first — email us and a manager (not a script) will answer. If we cannot resolve a dispute amicably, it will be handled by the competent court in Chengdu, Sichuan.
10. Contact
Questions about these terms? Email us via the contact form on our website — we reply in English, Chinese or Japanese.