Hong Kong Accommodation Check-In

Your China backpacking tour starts today! After arriving in bustling Hong Kong, you’ll meet your group and Adventure Leader in the mid-afternoon for a trip briefing, where you’ll find out everything the next few weeks have to offer you.

We’ll then take you for your first amazing glimpse of Hong Kong, with a trip up Victoria Peak to see the sunset over the skyline. After that, we’re heading to Tsim Sha Tsui, where you’ll watch the ‘Symphony of Light’ show from the Avenue of Stars.

Finally, if your busy day has you ready to eat, you’re in luck. You’ll head to the Temple Street Night Market, where your Adventure Leader will be on hand to show you the best places to grab a late dinner.

We’re up bright and early this morning, ready to head to the train station. We’ll be taking the bullet train to Guilin. From there, it’s a bus to your hostel where you’ll arrive in the early evening. If you’d like, why not head out into Yangshuo to get your first taste of local food!

Today is a free day in Yangshuo, for you to make the most out of your time here. Why not try some of these exciting optional activities?

• Try your hand at cooking up some traditional Chinese foods, at a friendly culinary institute.
• Enjoy kayaking among the mountains along the Li River! 
• Experience some relaxing Chinese traditional therapies – like Hot Cupping!

Today starts with an unmissable bike ride around the local area, along with a cruise down the Yulong River on bamboo rafts. If you’re bringing your camera (which you’ll want to) – make sure it’s waterproof!

Later, you have the option of heading to the Moon Hill complex to get mucky! In this cave complex, you’ll find mud baths and hot springs galore. In the evening, you have the option of joining your fellow travellers for a spot of fun out in the local area.

This morning, you’ve got the option of heading rock climbing. The region is a feast for the eyes thanks to its beautiful limestone peaks, so why not seize the chance to scale them?

Later, you can join your Adventure Leader and get a real glimpse into rural life in China. Head to a local village, where you’ll learn what life is like on a farm in the Yangshuo region.

Bid adieu to your Adventure Leader in Yangshuo, because you’re off to your next destination – Chengdu! You’ll travel by train across the country, where you’ll be greeted by your new Adventure Leader and taken to your hostel to check in.

This morning, you’ll be treated to a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience. You’re off to visit pandas! Head to the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center, where you can learn all about the Center’s mission to breed and reintroduce pandas. While you can’t hold the pandas, you’ll get a chance to both get up close and learn about this amazing species.

After this, it’s time to brush up your Chinese skills! Your Adventure Leader will give you a Mandarin lesson, where you’ll learn all the key phrases you’ll need to make the most of your time in China.

If you’d like to learn more about China’s historical culture, this evening you can opt to attend a traditional Sichuan opera show.

You can spend your day independently today, but if you’d like – why not join us on some optional activities? You can opt to join us on a trip to Leshan, where you’ll see the world’s largest stone Buddha. Carved into the side of Mt. Lingyun, the colossal statue is over 1,300-years-old and is considered to the tallest pre-modern statue. The site attracts millions of people every year, including Buddhist pilgrims, making it something of a sacred destination and an ancient wonder of the world.

In the evening you can sample the famous Sichuan Hot Pot (if you dare!). After that – Chengdu is yours to explore!

If you’re keen to have a lie in, you can start your morning lazily under your own steam. However, if you want to get out and about in the local community, pay a visit to a local rehabilitation center, which works specifically with children with autism.

In the early afternoon, get a final look at Chengdu with a visit to Jinli & Chengdu People’s Park. There are many scenic spots in this park, including the Gold Water Stream, the Goldfish Island, and the Potted Landscape Garden. Besides appreciating the charming landscape, tourists can sail on the artificial lake, drink tea in the teahouse by the lake, and watch all kinds of exhibitions and performances on the Rockery Square.

This evening, it’s time to transfer to Xi’an! You’ll arrive in Xi’an tonight – the next stop on your Hong Kong to Beijing tour! Meet your new Adventure Leader upon arrival, and head to your hostel for some well-earned rest.

Spend your morning as you see fit today. If you’d like some suggestions, ask your Adventure Leader! You might want to explore nearby museums, temples, or indulge in a spot of retail therapy. This afternoon, you have the option to bike ride on the city walls, which date back to the Ming Dynasty.

Later, you can explore the Bell-Drum Towers and the Muslim Quarter to learn about the history of the Silk Road. Make sure to enjoy some local street food while you’re there!

This morning, you’re paying a visit to one of the most unmissable sights in China – the Terracotta Warriors! The Terracotta Army in Xian is a large collection of life-size terracotta sculptures in battle formations, reproducing the mega imperial guard troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210BC), the first emperor of the first unified dynasty of Imperial China. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army is a must-see for every visitor to Xian.

In the evening, you can enjoy the music and light fountain show that takes place on the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, in the Qujiang District.

Meals: Lunch

Today, you’ll transfer to your next destination – Dengfeng, just outside Shaolin! Once there, you’ve got the option of joining your group for a kung-fu lesson and demonstration in the very region it began!

After dinner, it’s time for Mandarin lesson number 2 – how much have you learned so far?

If you’re a keen riser, you might want to join us on a trip to the world-famous Shaolin Temple – the birthplace of kung-fu. From there, you can take a hike up to the Dharma Cave, a spiritual spot for Buddhist pilgrims. Your climb will be rewarded with beautiful views of the local shrines and temples, and incredible vistas across the region.

Alternatively, if you’re not a fan of martial arts, you might opt to head out to the Longmen Grottoes. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features 100,000 carved Buddhas!

You’ll then have the option of returning for a late lunch at the guesthouse before your evening is yours to explore. But use it wisely – there’s an early start ahead!

Meals: Lunch

This morning, we’re up before the birds to grab a bullet train to our final destination – Beijing! We’ll arrive in the late morning, ready to transfer straight to one of the tour’s most incredible experiences – the Great Wall! Before we lace up, we’ll stop for lunch at a local farm to fuel up for our hike. Then, in the mid-afternoon, we’ll take to the Wall to hike on totally secluded, unrestored parts of the Wall. It’s here that we’ll set up camp to watch the sunset from atop one of the Wonders of the World.

[Please note: Due to cold weather before the end of April and after the end of September, we stay in a guesthouse near the Wall, instead of camping.]

Wake up early to watch the magnificent sunrise across the Great Wall of China. Once you’ve picked your jaw off the floor, we’ll pack up and head back into Beijing, ready to explore this mammoth city. If you’d like, you can join us with a walk through Tiananmen Square, a visit to the Forbidden City, and a look around Jingshan Park.

This evening, why not get an entertainment fill with an acrobatics show? These amazing circus-like performances feature young talents recruited from all over China.

If you’ve worked up an appetite, now is your chance to make like ancient royalty and try Beijing’s signature dish – Peking duck!

Today is a free day! You’ll have the option to visit the fake good markets for a spot of shopping, as well as the nearby Temple of Heaven.

In the afternoon, you can visit the Nanluo district. Nanluo is one of the best-preserved historical areas in Beijing that’s famous for its hutongs and siheyuan courtyards, as well as the bars, cafes, and handicraft shops.

Enjoy another free morning to pack in the last few of Beijing’s sights before your Hong Kong to Beijing tour comes to an end. In the afternoon, you’ll bid farewell to your fellow Dragons and get ready to head home!