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Hong Kong to Beijing

17 days

SEMI INDEPENDENT: Travel from Hong Kong to Beijing on this 17-day China group tour. Relax amongst the karst mountains of Yangshuo and see the famous giant pandas of Chengdu. Visit the famous Terracotta army in Xi'an and opt to cycle along the historic city walls. Learn the basics of Mandarin, join an optional Kung Fu lesson at Shaolin Temple, visit the Forbidden City independently and spend a memorable night camping by the Great Wall, rising early to watch the sunrise. A great mix of included sightseeing and optional activities to give you the flexibility to explore China your way!

For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes

Tour Overview

Duration

17 days

Starts

Hong Kong

Ends

Beijing

Range

Essentials

Tour Guide

Local guides, unescorted between cities

Group Size

Min 4 / Max 20

Minimum age

18 (maximum age 55)

Departs

Sundays

Hotel Rating

Simple accommodation and Camping

Countries

China, Hong Kong

Arrival Transfer

No

Departure Transfer

No

Meals included

None Provided
Per Person From
AUD$3,405.00
Deposit From
Final payment
AUD$1,000.00
$5,810.00

Tour Highlights

Hong Kong - Begin your adventure in this vibrant city, head to Victoria Peak to admire the panoramic views and enjoy the Symphony of Light show
Yangshuo - Spend three days enjoying the lush scenery and karst mountain peaks, with an included bike ride and bamboo rafting on the Yulong River
Chengdu - Enjoy an included visit to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding and come face to face with China's national icon
Xi'an - See the sprawling Terracotta Army and join an optional cycle ride along the top of the city walls
Shaolin - Choose to visit Shaolin Temple, home of Kung Fu or join an excursion to the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes
The Great Wall - Walk along a deserted section of the legendary Great Wall and camp nearby, rising early to watch the sunrise
Beijing - End your adventure in China's capital, with free time to visit Tiananmen Square and the imperial Forbidden City

Included

15 nights hostel dorm and 1-night camping
Local guides for scheduled sightseeing in Yangshuo, Chengdu, Xi’an, Shaolin and Beijing. Unescorted travel between cities
Local guide in Hong Kong for tour briefing
All relevant transfer and transportation within China using public transport
Daytime trains: Hong Kong – Guilin, Guilin – Chengdu, Chengdu - Xi'an, Shaolin - Beijing
Cycle and cruise excursion down Yulong River
Entrance to Giant Panda Research and Breeding Centre
Free basic Mandarin lessons
Entrance to Terracotta Warriors museum
Hiking along unrestored parts of The Great Wall of China

Not Included

Airport transfers
International flights and visa
Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
Optional activities - paid locally

Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to China!

Upon your arrival in vibrant Hong Kong, make your own way to the hostel. At 16:30pm you'll meet your tour leader and group for a trip briefing.

Your tour leader will then take the group to Victoria Peak for incredible panoramic views of the city below, and a chance to watch the sunset over the skyline. Afterwards, head to Tsim Sha Tsui, where you’ll watch the ‘Symphony of Light’ show from the Avenue of Stars.

Conclude your first day with a visit to Temple Street Night Market. This bustling market has plenty of options to choose from, and your tour leader can help with the best recommendations for a late dinner!

Overnight: Hong Kong

Day 2 - Hong Kong to Yangshuo

Hong Kong - Yangshuo. Early this morning, we make our way to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station where we board a bullet train to Guilin in mainland China. Arriving in Guilin we board a private bus to Yangshuo where we check-in to our hostel. The rest of the evening is at leisure to explore the town and try some of the local delicacies including beer fish, a must try.

Overnight: Yangshuo

Days 3-5 - Exploring Yangshuo

Yangshuo is a picturesque town, surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and known for its outdoor adventure opportunities. Day 3 is at leisure, with three available optional activities including a Chinese cooking class, kayaking along the Li River or a Chinese therapy experience, where you can enjoy traditional hot cupping.

Day 4 sees us heading out to enjoy some included activities. We start the day with a bike ride before transferring to bamboo rafts to cruise down the Yulong River. You can either enjoy the rest of the day at leisure exploring the city or take part in a couple of optional activities which are a trip to Moon hill and cave complex featuring mud baths and hot springs and an evening Karaoke trip or night out.

Day 5 is free to continue exploring independently. However, there are a couple of optional activities that you could join. These include a highly recommended rock climbing trip and a visit to a local village to experience what life is like there.

Overnight: Yangshuo

Day 6 - Yangshuo to Chengdu

Yangshuo - Chengdu. This morning we leave beautiful Yangshuo and our tour leader behind and board the train to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province and home to the largest and best-known Panda breeding and research centre. After approximately 7 hours we arrive in Chengdu and are met by our local tour guide and make our way to our hostel for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Chengdu

Days 7-8 - Discovering Chengdu

On day 7 we take a short drive out of town to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, to visit China's animal emblem. We spend time exploring the grounds and watching the pandas munch on bamboo. We can also see other endangered animals including red pandas, golden monkeys and more. We visit the panda nursery and get close to the new born or infant pandas. In the afternoon we learn some useful Mandarin phrases in a brief lesson with our tour leader. The rest of the evening is free to relax. For those looking for an authentic experience, there is the optional trip to a traditional Sichuan Opera & Culture show.

Day 8 is at leisure to explore Chengdu, and perhaps wander down Jinli street or explore the Tibetan districts. There is also the option activity which takes us to Leshan to see the worlds largest stone Buddha. Returning to Chengdu the rest of the day is either at leisure or you can take part in an optional trip for a hot pot dinner, a must try in Chengdu.

Overnight: Chengdu

Day 9 - Chengdu to Xi'an

Chengdu - Xi’an. Today there are two optional activities before we leave Chengdu. In the morning you can join a visit to a rehabilitation centre for children with autism and in the early afternoon, we wrap up our time in Chengdu with an optional visit to Jinli & Chengdu People’s Park. We enjoy scenic spots like the Gold Water Stream, Goldfish Island, and the Potted Landscape Garden. We can take part in activities such as sailing on the artificial lake, sipping tea in the lakeside teahouse, and witnessing various exhibitions and performances on Rockery Square.

This afternoon we take the train from Chengdu East Train Station to Xian North Train Station which should take approximately 3.5 hours. When we arrive we meet our next adventure leader and transfer via metro to the hostel.

Overnight: Xi'an

Days 10-11 - Ancient Xi'an & Terracotta Warriors

The morning of day 10 is at leisure and the adventure leader is happy to suggest some activities for you do to. In the afternoon there is an optional bike ride along the Ming Dynasty Xi'an City Walls, an unforgettable experience which we strongly recommend you partake in! You can also join an excursion to visit the Bell Drum Towers and the Muslim Quarter to learn more about the history of the Silk Road and taste some delicious street food.

On the morning of day 11, we visit the jewel of Xi’an - The Terracotta Warriors. The army was made to guard Emperor Qin Shihuang in the afterlife after he unified China for the first time in history. Take time to walk through this impressive army and museum, which has been built on top of the emperor’s underground palace and burial site. In the evening, you can join an optional activity to watch the music and light show which takes place at the fountain near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, one of Xi'an's most famous landmarks.

Overnight: Xi'an

Day 12 - Xi'an to Shaolin

Xi’an - Shaolin. Today we leave Xi’an behind and board the bus to Shaolin (approx. 7 hours). On arrival we make our way to our family run guest house, located a stone’s throw away from the Shaolin Temple. This afternoon there is an optional Kung Fu lesson and show at a local children’s home run by a master from the Shaolin Temple. We finish our day with another Mandarin lesson from our trip leader.

Overnight: Shaolin

Day 13 - Discovering Shoalin

Today is either a free day to explore or this morning we can take an optional trip to the iconic Shaolin Temple, birthplace of kung-fu. From there we hike up to the Dharma Cave for spiritual serenity and breathtaking views of local shrines. Not into martial arts? You can choose to explore the Longmen Grottoes with 100,000 carved Buddhas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After this we enjoy a late lunch at the guesthouse, leaving our evening free for exploration.

Overnight: Shaolin

Day 14 - Shaolin to Beijing

Shaolin - Beijing. Up before dawn, we catch a bullet train to Beijing! Arriving in late morning, our first stop is the awe-inspiring Great Wall. After a lunch break at a local farm, we hike the secluded, unrestored sections of the Wall in the mid-afternoon. Camping on this Wonder of the World, we'll witness a stunning sunset.

Please Note: Due to seasonal weather conditions, the camping experience only takes place between May and September. For all tours departing in this time, wherever possible we aim to include this experience. However, in the event of adverse weather conditions, travellers will stay in a nearby hostel.

Overnight: Great Wall

Day 15 - The Great Wall

We wake early in order to watch the sunrise over the Great Wall. There is a strong possibility this will be the highlight of your trip! Take in your surroundings and appreciate the early morning silence. Following this we transfer back to Beijing. Here, you can take part in the optional activities which include a walk through Tiananmen Square and a visit to the Forbidden City.

There's also an optional Chinese acrobatics show and a group dinner for those who would like to sample traditional Peking duck, a meal fit for an emperor!

Overnight: Beijing

Day 16 - A Free Day in Beijing

Enjoy a leisurely day! You can explore the fake goods markets for shopping as well as visit the nearby Temple of Heaven. In the afternoon, venture to the Nanluo district—renowned for well-preserved historical hutongs, siheyuan courtyards, and a vibrant scene of bars, cafes, and handicraft shops.

Overnight: Beijing

Day 17 - The Final Day

Bid farewell to your fellow travellers as your tour ends today.

Extras and add-ons

If you'd like to add extras or add-ons to your booking, you can do this easily during checkout. Just review the available options and select any additional services or upgrades you'd like before completing your purchase.

Pre and Post Tour Accommodation

Extend your tour with us by booking pre and post-accommodation, available at a per-person, per-night rate.

Hong Kong Pre-Tour Accommodation (From price)

Double

$95per passenger

Twin

$95per passenger

Dorm

$125per passenger

Single

$165per passenger

Beijing Post-Tour Accommodation (From price)

Dorm

$115per passenger

Double

$125per passenger

Twin

$125per passenger

Single

$235per passenger

Prices & Dates

All departure dates are guaranteed with a minimum of 4 persons. 'Dorm' prices shown are based on mixed dormitory rooms. There is also a 'Twin/Double' room upgrade and a 'Single' room upgrade for solo travellers. 'Twin/Double' room upgrades are based on two people travelling together and are subject to availability.

2025
Twin/Double
Single
23 Mar - 8 Apr
$3,535
$4,185
6 Apr - 22 Apr
$3,535
$4,185
13 Apr - 29 Apr
$3,535
$4,185
1 Jun - 17 Jun
$3,405
$4,055
8 Jun - 24 Jun
$3,405
$4,055
15 Jun - 1 Jul
$3,405
$4,055
22 Jun - 8 Jul
$3,405
$4,055
6 Jul - 22 Jul
$3,405
$4,055
2026
Twin/Double
Single
29 Mar - 14 Apr
$3,835
$4,485
5 Apr - 21 Apr
$3,835
$4,485
12 Apr - 28 Apr
$3,835
$4,485
24 May - 9 Jun
$3,705
$4,365
31 May - 16 Jun
$3,705
$4,365
7 Jun - 23 Jun
$3,705
$4,365
21 Jun - 7 Jul
$3,705
$4,365
5 Jul - 21 Jul
$3,705
$4,365

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