China: Cafés & Karst Mountains
24 days
From
$ 2549
Duration24 days
Ancient villages or bustling metropolises, what will you see while touring China? We made sure this 24-day tour includes both (and then some), so you won’t have to choose. Monumental sights like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and an army of Terracotta Warriors can make China seem intimidating — but with an expert CEO (Chief Experience Officer) leading the way, we’ll wipe away those worries and leave you free to enjoy the ride. And between the panda breeding centre, bamboo rafting, beaches, historic sites, tai chi, and lively nightlife, it’s not a ride you’ll want to miss.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 24 daysService level: Basic
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Physical Grading: Average
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Ages: 18+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: Hong Kong
There are no activities planned until an evening welcome meeting.
Arrive at any time.
Peak season notice: Golden Week falls between October 1st and 7th, 2019/2020/2021. Please note that Golden Week is a semi-annual 7-day or 8-day national holiday for the people of China. This is a very busy time of the year for domestic tourists, so expect some crowding at major attractions. We recommend booking these dates well in advance as accommodations and transportation availability is extremely limited.
Day 2: Hong Kong/Yangshuo
Arrive in Guilin by train and transfer to the nearby village of Yangshuo, nestled among the limestone karsts jutting out of the Li River. One of the most scenic regions of China, this beautiful backpacker town is a haven for activities, cultural immersion, and relaxing at cafés.
The Li River and the limestone karst mountains interspersed with picturesque riverside villages and markets make this area perhaps the best known scenic attraction in the region.
The Li River and the limestone karst mountains interspersed with picturesque riverside villages and markets make this area perhaps the best known scenic attraction in the region.
Cross the border to Shenzhen and board a train to Guilin before transferring to scenic Yangshuo.
End place: Yangshuo
Day 3: Yangshuo
Start place: Yangshuo
Enjoy free time in Yangshuo. Opt for a tai chi lesson, visit a women-run Community Restaurant, take a cooking class, or cycling tour of the area.
End place: Yangshuo
Day 4: Yangshuo
Start place: Yangshuo
Continue to explore beautiful Yangshuo with a free day.
End place: Yangshuo
Day 5: Yangshuo/Chengdu
Start place: Yangshuo
Transfer from Yangshuo to Guilin and then catch the bullet train to Chengdu where you'll stay the night.
End place: Chengdu
Day 6: Chengdu
Start place: Chengdu
Feeling hungry? Pre-book the Evening Foodie tour by Tuk-Tuk on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Enjoy a free day to explore Chengdu, known for its spicy local food and the Giant Panda Breeding Centre. Opt to take a day trip to Leshan, a foodie tour, or visit the Wenshu Monastery.
End place: Chengdu
Day 7: Chengdu/Xi'an
Start place: Chengdu
Opt to see the Giant Pandas or continue exploring the vibrant city of Chengdu before taking the high-speed train to Xi'an in the late afternoon.
End place: Xi'an
Day 8: Xi'an
Start place: Xi'an
Enjoy an orientation walk through the Muslim Quarter, then opt to visit the Terracotta Warriors, cycle the ancient city walls, or practice tai chi with the locals.
End place: Xi'an
Day 9: Xi'an/Luoyang
Start place: Xi'an
Take a morning train from Xi'an to Luoyang and opt to visit the Longmen Grottoes in the afternoon.
End place: Luoyang
Day 10: Luoyang/Song Shan
Start place: Luoyang
Leave our large bags in storage and catch the public bus with an overnight pack to the Song Shan area. This beautiful Mountain area is best known as the home of the Shaolin Temple and birthplace of kung-fu.
Known as one of the five sacred Daoist Mountains of China, Dengfeng Shan, or Mount Song is a unique rock mountain containing many valleys, caves, pools, waterfalls, and steep cliffs. Recognized as an International Geological Park due to its unique landscape, its peaks can reach up to 1512 meters above sea level. Hike the surrounding areas and get a glimpse into this scared natural area.
Known as one of the five sacred Daoist Mountains of China, Dengfeng Shan, or Mount Song is a unique rock mountain containing many valleys, caves, pools, waterfalls, and steep cliffs. Recognized as an International Geological Park due to its unique landscape, its peaks can reach up to 1512 meters above sea level. Hike the surrounding areas and get a glimpse into this scared natural area.
Travel to the holy mountain of Song Shan and enjoy a hike in the surrounding countryside.
End place: Song Shan
Day 11: Song Shan/Beijing
Start place: Song Shan
Explore the Shaolin Temple, birth place of China Zen Buddhism and UNESCO World Heritage site. Established in 495 AD, martial arts have been practiced here for 1500 years as a way to practice Zen Buddhism.
We'll have some time upon return to Luoyang to pick our bags up from storage.
We'll have some time upon return to Luoyang to pick our bags up from storage.
Visit the Shaolin Temple, the home of Kung Fu. Transfer by private vehicle to Luoyang then board the bullet train to Beijing.
End place: Beijing
Day 12: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
Enjoy free time in China's booming capital city. Opt to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
End place: Beijing
Day 13: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
Opt to visit the famous Great Wall with free time today.
End place: Beijing
Day 14: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
Continue to explore Beijing and all it has to offer.
End place: Beijing
Day 15: Beijing/Shanghai
Start place: Beijing
Hop on a morning bullet train to Shanghai. After you get settled, head out to explore this bustling hub with some free time.
End place: Shanghai
Day 16: Shanghai
Start place: Shanghai
Enjoy free time to explore this vibrant city on your own. Opt to visit Yuyuan Gardens, the Shanghai Museum, or catch the famed Shanghai acrobats in performance this evening.
End place: Shanghai
Day 17: Shanghai/Wuyishan
Start place: Shanghai
Enjoy free time to explore, opt to join the CEO for a walk through the Bund. Board a bullet train to Wuyishan in the Fujian province.
End place: Wuyishan
Day 18: Wuyishan
Start place: Wuyishan
Explore the area with an included entrance ticket to the reserve. Go hiking and opt to go bamboo rafting.
End place: Wuyishan
Day 19: Wuyishan/Xiamen
Start place: Wuyishan
Xiamen is a modern city with a little something for everyone from night markets to beautiful sculptures lit-up at night to peaceful parks.
Board a fast train to Xiamen. Enjoy an orientation walk around colonial Xiamen on the coast, then opt to visit the cafés and beaches of Gulangyu Island and check out the night markets. Be sure to indulge in the lively nightlife of this university town.
End place: Xiamen
Day 20: Xiamen/Hongkeng Village
Start place: Xiamen
Transfer to Yongding County. Overnight in a Hakka tulou, a large, multi-storey fortified roundhouse built for communal living.
Day 21: Hongkeng Village
Enjoy an orientation tour around the village, then experience day-to-day life in this unique province full of history and traditional Chinese culture.
Day 22: Hongkeng Village/Xiamen
Leave the beautiful Hongkeng Village behind and head back to Xiamen.
End place: Xiamen
Day 23: Xiamen/Hong Kong
Start place: Xiamen
Hop on the bullet train and get ready to cross the border into Hong Kong.
Day 24: Hong Kong
Depart at any time.
Inclusions
Included
- Your Welcome Moment: Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Yangshuo Your Discover Moment: Beijing Your Discover Moment: Shanghai
- Song Shan Hike
- Shaolin Temple Visit
- Wuyishan entrance ticket, including hiking
- Orientation walks in Xi'an, Shanghai, Hongkeng Village and Xiamen
- Tour of a traditional tulou
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Train, Bus, Sleeper train (beds), Private vehicle -
Accommodation
Hotel (15 nts), Hostel (standard twin/single) (4 nts), Guesthouse (3 nts), Sleeper trains (1 nts)