Ultimate China on a Shoestring - Hong Kong to Hong Kong
27 days
From
$ 2749
Duration27 days
Ancient villages or bustling metropolises – what will you see while in China? We made sure this 28-day tour included both (and then some), so you won’t have to choose. Sights like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and army of Terracotta Warriors can make China can seem intimidating. With an expert CEO 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: 27 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.
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
Try your hand at cooking local fare at a boutique cooking school and pre-book the Central Chinese Cooking Class by adding it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
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
Today, take the bullet train from Yangshuo to Chengdu. Transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of your day free to explore Chengdu.
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.
End place: Chengdu
Day 7: Chengdu
Start place: Chengdu
Want to immerse yourself fully into the culture of Chengdu? Pre-book both the Chengdu City Culture tour on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Opt to see the Giant Pandas or continue exploring the vibrant city of Chengdu.
End place: Chengdu
Day 8: Chengdu/Luoyang
Start place: Chengdu
Say goodbye to Chengdu and its Giant Pandas and travel to Luoyang.
End place: Luoyang
Day 9: Luoyang
Start place: Luoyang
Enjoy time in Luoyang located in central China’s Henan province, widely recognized as the region where Chinese civilization originated. The city was China's ancient capital and is home to many Temples, and close by the Longmen Grottoes which contain thousands of Buddhist rock carvings dating back to the 5th century.
Arrive in Luoyang and opt to visit the Longmen Grottoes.
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
Today, new travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.
Enjoy free time in China's booming capital city.
End place: Beijing
Day 13: Beijing
Start place: Beijing
The Chinese capital, Beijing, is one of the world's most impressive and vibrant cities. Spend a day at the Great Wall, a monumental feat of engineering intended to protect China from the northern barbarians.
Opt to pre-book the Beijing Kung Fu Show on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Opt to pre-book the Beijing Kung Fu Show on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Step back in time with a visit to the Great Wall. Opt to check out the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.
End place: Beijing
Day 14: Beijing/Xi'an
Start place: Beijing
Enjoy free time in Beijing before an overnight train to Xi'an.
Train is our main mode of transport in China and it's a great way to travel.
End place: Xi'an
Day 15: Xi'an
Start place: Xi'an
Opt to tour the lovely and unusual Great Mosque (a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city), great souvenir stalls, and enjoy some of the best street food in China. The remaining city walls are a great place to watch the sunset or join the locals for ballroom dancing or tai chi in the early morning.
Interested in a half-day guided tour to see the Terracotta Warriors? Pre-book the Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour.
Interested in a half-day guided tour to see the Terracotta Warriors? Pre-book the Terracotta Warriors Guided Tour on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour.
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 16: Xi'an/Suzhou
Start place: Xi'an
Enjoy free time to explore Xi'an, then take an overnight train to Suzhou.
End place: Suzhou
Day 17: Suzhou
Start place: Suzhou
Visit Suzhou, the "Venice of the East." Opt to explore the Master of the Nets Garden, one of China's most exquisite gardens. In the evening, let loose like the locals with a karaoke session in a private room for the group; this is sure to be a memorable night!
End place: Suzhou
Day 18: Suzhou/Shanghai
Start place: Suzhou
Shanghai is the most modern of Chinese cities. Go shopping on the famous Nanjing Road or stroll along the Bund district with its many riverside historical buildings.
Opt to see a show, pre-book the Shanghai Acrobatic Performance on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Opt to see a show, pre-book the Shanghai Acrobatic Performance on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
See the city on an orientation walk, then enjoy free time to explore this metropolis on your own.
End place: Shanghai
Day 19: Shanghai
Start place: Shanghai
Today, new travellers may join you for the rest of your adventure. You are welcome to join them at a group meeting this evening, followed by an optional dinner.
Enjoy free time in this bustling city.
End place: Shanghai
Day 20: Shanghai/Wuyishan
Start place: Shanghai
Enjoy free time to explore before boarding a bullet train to Wuyishan in the Fujian province.
End place: Wuyishan
Day 21: 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 22: 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 23: 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 24: 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 25: Hongkeng Village/Xiamen
Leave the beautiful Hongkeng Village behind and head back to Xiamen.
End place: Xiamen
Day 26: Xiamen/Hong Kong
Start place: Xiamen
Hop on the bullet train and get ready to cross the border into Hong Kong.
Day 27: 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 Big Night Out Moment: Private Karaoke Session, Suzhou Your Discover Moment: Shanghai
- Great Wall Mutianyu Visit
- Song Shan hike
- Shaolin Temple Visit
- Wuyishan entrance ticket
- Tour of a traditional tulou
- Shanghai, Xi'an, and Xiamen orientation walks
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
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Transport
Train, Bus, Sleeper train (beds), Private vehicle -
Accommodation
Hotels (14 nts), Hostels (standard twin/single) (3 nts), Guesthouse (standard twin/single) (4 nts) sleeper trains (5 nts)