Payment Policy

AxisTrace offers private cultural walks and Beijing briefings. Starting prices may be listed on the relevant service pages. Final pricing depends on group size, route details, duration, customization needs, and any special arrangements, and will be confirmed in writing after your inquiry.

A booking is confirmed only after the required payment has been received.

Private Walks

For in-person private walks, including Cosmic Axis, Ceremonial Axis, and Human Axis:

  • A 50% deposit is required to reserve the date and begin preparation.

  • The remaining balance is due no later than 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

  • For bookings made within 24 hours of the scheduled start time, full payment is required at the time of confirmation.

Once a deposit is received and the date is confirmed, AxisTrace begins preparation work specific to your group, which may include route customization, ticket guidance or coordination, timing arrangements, and other planning work. The deposit reflects this preparation commitment.

If the remaining balance has not been received by the payment deadline, AxisTrace reserves the right to release the date or treat the booking as cancelled.

Overtime

Each walk has a confirmed duration agreed in the booking quote.

A complimentary grace period of 30 minutes is included once per walk.

Beyond the grace period, overtime is billed in 30-minute increments at:

  • USD 30 / RMB 200 per 30 minutes

Any extension will be confirmed verbally or in writing before continuing whenever possible. AxisTrace reserves the right to conclude the walk at the originally scheduled end time if overtime cannot be agreed.

Beijing Briefings

For online briefings, including the Beijing Orientation Call and Custom Beijing Briefing, full payment is required at the time of booking.

A briefing time is confirmed only after payment has been received.

Briefing Credit Toward a Private Walk

If you book a Beijing briefing and later book an in-person private walk within 30 days of the briefing, part of the briefing fee may be credited toward the walk:

  • USD 50 / RMB 350 credit for a Beijing Orientation Call

  • USD 100 / RMB 700 credit for a Custom Beijing Briefing

This credit applies to one private walk booked by the same guest or group. It is not transferable, not exchangeable for cash, and cannot be combined with other discounts or special arrangements unless agreed in writing.

What Is Included

The guide fee covers the cultural walk, route preparation, and interpretation provided by AxisTrace.

Unless otherwise stated in writing, the guide fee does not include:

  • Museum or site entrance tickets

  • Transportation

  • Meals, drinks, or café stops

  • Guest‘s personal expenses

  • Third-party services

  • Special access, private venue fees, or event charges

If AxisTrace helps arrange tickets, transport, or other third-party services, these costs will be charged separately.

Guests are expected to pay directly for their own tickets, transport, meals, and other personal expenses.

AxisTrace does not advance or cover third-party costs on behalf of guests as a standard practice.

If an advance payment is requested by the guest and agreed in writing in advance, full reimbursement is required within 24 hours of the walk. Unreimbursed advances may delay the start of subsequent services.

Cancellation by Guests

Because each private walk requires preparation and the date is reserved exclusively for your group, the following cancellation terms apply once a booking is confirmed.

For in-person private walks:

  • Cancellation more than 7 days before the scheduled walk: the deposit will be refunded, less any bank, transfer, payment processing, or non-recoverable third-party fees.

  • Cancellation 3–7 days before the scheduled walk: 25% of the deposit will be retained.

  • Cancellation 24–72 hours before the scheduled walk: 50% of the deposit will be retained.

  • Cancellation within 24 hours, same-day cancellation, or no-show: the deposit is non-refundable. If the full guide fee has already been paid, any amount paid beyond the deposit may be refunded, less any non-recoverable third-party costs already incurred.

For online briefings:

  • Cancellation more than 24 hours before the scheduled session: the briefing fee will be refunded, less any bank, transfer, payment processing, or non-recoverable third-party fees.

  • Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled session are non-refundable.

Cancellation by AxisTrace · Force Majeure

In the most unlikely event that AxisTrace must cancel due to illness, emergency, severe weather, site closure, government action, public health measures, transportation disruptions, or other circumstances beyond reasonable control, guests will be offered either:

  • a rescheduled date, subject to availability; or

  • a refund of the guide fee paid to AxisTrace, less any non-recoverable third-party costs already incurred.

AxisTrace is not responsible for guests’ separate travel costs, accommodation, flights, visa fees, or other third-party expenses.

Rescheduling

AxisTrace understands that travel plans can change and will try to accommodate one rescheduling request, subject to availability.

For in-person private walks:

  • Rescheduling requests made more than 72 hours before the scheduled walk can usually be accommodated once, subject to availability.

  • Requests made 24–72 hours before the scheduled walk will be considered case by case and may be subject to non-recoverable ticket, transport, or preparation costs.

  • Requests made within 24 hours of the scheduled walk may be treated as a cancellation unless otherwise agreed in writing.

For online briefings:

  • Rescheduling requests made more than 24 hours before the scheduled session can usually be accommodated once, subject to availability.

  • Requests made within 24 hours of the scheduled session may be treated as a cancellation unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Payment Methods

Prices may be quoted in USD or RMB, depending on the guest’s location and booking arrangement. For most in-person walks in Beijing, payment in RMB is preferred.

AxisTrace recommends setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay before your trip. These apps are widely used in daily life and local services, and can often be set up with international cards by short-term visitors. AxisTrace can include a short setup guide as part of your pre-arrival information.

Where available, guests may pay through:

  • AxisTrace’s Alipay merchant payment channel

  • AxisTrace’s WeChat Pay merchant payment channel

  • Bank transfer

  • Other payment methods agreed in writing

For guests who are unable to use China-based payment methods, AxisTrace may offer a PayPal invoice as an alternative.

Guests are responsible for any bank charges, transfer fees, currency conversion fees, or payment processing fees charged by their own bank, card issuer, or payment provider.

A booking is considered paid only when the full required amount has been received by AxisTrace.

Written Confirmation

All bookings, payments, route details, timing, meeting points, and special arrangements should be confirmed in writing by email or other written communication.

Verbal discussions, social media messages, or informal suggestions do not replace the written booking confirmation.

Last updated: May 2026