Hong Kong to Beijing

Once you have arrived in Hong Kong, find your way to the accommodation, where you can leave your luggage before meeting your Tour Leader and the rest of the group.

After introductions, we set off into the city, starting at the Avenue of Stars. Celebrating Hong Kong’s movie industry, it’s also where there’s time for a photo with the Bruce Lee statue. A ride on the Star Ferry follows, then the tram carries us up Victoria Peak in time to see the sun go down over the skyline.

Neon signs and crowded stalls give Temple Street Night Market its character, and after dark, our Tour Leader takes the group on a walk around it. Once the introduction is over, you’re free to keep exploring the market and return to the accommodation whenever you choose.

Hong Kong - Guilin - Yangshuo. Today, we leave Hong Kong for mainland China, heading to West Kowloon Station to catch a high-speed train as far as Guilin West. From Guilin, we travel on to Yangshuo, where we check in to our accommodation.

Yangshuo sits among rivers, rice paddies and soaring, verdant peaks, a very different setting to the high-rises of Hong Kong.

This evening, you can have dinner with the group or go for a stroll around Yangshuo. Those wanting to see the Liu Sanjie light show can do so at an additional cost of GBP 25 - a large-scale, open-air production performed on the water against a mountain backdrop.

You will have the option to join optional activities in Yangshuo.

Chinese Cooking Class
You have the option to join a cooking class at an additional cost of GBP 24-48 per person, where you learn to prepare a handful of regional favourites from scratch and finish by eating everything you’ve made.

Sally’s Village
In the afternoon, you can opt to leave the centre of Yangshuo behind and head into the countryside on a trip to Sally’s Village, at an additional cost of GBP 20 per person. You visit a farm and see village life up close for a more intimate look at rural life in this corner of China. Sally, one of the first Tour Leaders, continues to lead some tours today.

We spend the morning in the Yangshuo countryside, cycling past rice fields and rivers beneath the area’s distinctive peaks. Afterwards, we switch to bamboo rafts and drift slowly down the Yulong River, enjoying the scenery from the water.

This afternoon, you can opt to head out again to Moon Hill and a cave complex close by, at an additional cost of GBP 15 per person, climbing the hill and exploring the caves for even more scenery.

In the evening, you can choose between a KTV karaoke session and joining the rest of the group for a night out, spending the evening however you like.

Yangshuo - Zhangjiajie. Today, you will have the option of joining a rock-climbing session before leaving Yangshuo, at an additional cost of GBP 21-28 per person. Once harnessed in, you see the countryside from a new vantage point on the cliff.

Afterwards, we head north by a combination of bus and high-speed train, arriving in Zhangjiajie in the evening and checking in to our accommodation for the night.

We ride the cable car to the top of Tianzi Mountain, where wide panoramas open up across Zhangjiajie National Park and its well-known formations, including Warrior Taming Horse Rock and the Western Sea.

From here, we leave the main crowds behind and venture further into the park on woodland trails, walking between soaring sandstone pillars and stopping at less-visited lookouts.

We finish at Yuanjiajie, home to scenery that partly inspired the film Avatar, before descending by elevator.

Our day begins at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, where we step out onto the glass bridge, far above the valley floor. Those wanting to zip line down can do so at an additional cost of GBP 26, taking a more scenic way to the bottom.

On the canyon floor, we follow a trail beneath sheer cliffs and past striking rock formations.

Later, we head underground at Yellow Dragon Cave, travelling by boat through enormous caverns before exploring further into one of the area’s most remarkable cave networks.

Zhangjiajie - Chongqing. We travel from Zhangjiajie to Chongqing today, arriving in China’s largest city and checking in and settling before heading out onto the river.

This evening, we take a Yangtze River cruise as the city lights up, with bridges, skyscrapers and waterfront districts glowing along both banks.

We end the night at Hongya Cave, one of Chongqing’s best-loved after-dark spots, where we wander the lit-up streets, take in the atmosphere and find dinner close by before heading back for the night.

Today, you have the option to join the following activities around Chongqing.

Liziba Station, Air-Raid Shelters & People’s Great Hall
You can opt to join a morning outing to Liziba Station, where Chongqing’s well-known monorail passes directly through an apartment block, before exploring some of the city’s air-raid shelters beneath the streets and stopping at the People’s Great Hall.

Chaotianmen Dock, River Confluence & Eling Park
In the afternoon, you have the option to join a visit to Chaotianmen Dock at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing Rivers, then head uphill to Eling Park for a walk and wide views across Chongqing.

If you’re keen to keep going after dark, you can head to Guanyinqiao, where bars, crowded streets and late-night energy show another side of Chongqing.

Chongqing - Chengdu. We board a train from Chongqing to Chengdu, home to giant pandas, fiery Sichuan cuisine and an easy-going way of life.

We check in on arrival. Afterwards, you can join your Tour Leader on an optional stroll through People’s Park and Kuanzhai Alley, an area of teahouses, courtyards and places to eat. Later, you have the evening free to discover Chengdu, perhaps starting with some Sichuan street snacks.

This morning, we visit the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Centre, wandering the grounds as these instantly recognisable bears climb, feed or settle down for a serious snooze.

Back in Chengdu, our Tour Leader gives us an introductory Mandarin lesson, with a few handy words and phrases to use throughout the tour.

This evening, you can opt for the Sichuan Opera and Culture Show at an additional cost of GBP 17-21 per person, featuring time-honoured music, elaborate costumes and long-established regional performances.

You have a free day in Chengdu today, with the option to join the following activities.

Leshan Buddha Day Trip
You can opt to join a trip to Leshan at an additional cost of GBP 20-33 per person to visit the Giant Buddha, hewn from the cliffs overlooking the river. If you’d rather stay in the city, you can explore Chengdu on your own instead.

Sichuan Hot Pot Dinner
You can also opt to join a Sichuan hot pot dinner, paying for whatever you order. You choose your ingredients and cook them at the table in simmering broth - just pick your spice level carefully.

As it’s your last night in Chengdu, you can head out after dark and enjoy it.

Chengdu - Xi’an. We travel by train to Xi’an today and check in on arrival. Later, you can opt to join the following activities.

Ming Dynasty City Walls Bike Ride
In the afternoon, you can opt to join a bike ride along the city’s Ming Dynasty walls at an additional cost of GBP 11 per person, gaining a different perspective on the historic streets below.

Bell & Drum Towers, Muslim Quarter & Street Food Dinner
This evening, you have the option to join a walking tour of the Bell Tower, Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter, wandering crowded lanes, discovering the area’s Silk Road past and trying street food as you go, before browsing the Silk Road Market close by. You can also join an optional group dinner at an additional cost of GBP 10.

Today, we visit the Terracotta Warriors, among China’s most recognisable sights. Created for Qin Shi Huang, the country’s first emperor, this huge army of full-size soldiers, horses and chariots has stood beneath the ground for over 2,000 years, and we explore its rows of figures up close.

We then return to Xi’an. You have the remainder of the day free, and in the evening, you could head to the Big Goose Pagoda area for its music and light show, an eye-catching end to the day.

Xi’an - Dengfeng. We leave Xi’an today, travelling by train and bus to Dengfeng on a journey of roughly four to five hours.

On arrival, we visit a kung fu school run by a Shaolin Temple master, where we try a few techniques before watching the experts perform Shaolin kung fu.

This evening, we have another Mandarin lesson to add a few more handy phrases, followed by a pub quiz if there are enough players.

Today, you have the option to choose between the following ways to explore Dengfeng.

Shaolin Temple & Dharma Cave Hike
You can opt to join a visit to the renowned Shaolin Temple and a hike to Dharma Cave, a tranquil pilgrimage site looking out over the temples and mountains around it, at an additional cost of GBP 15 per person.

Sanhuangzhai Geopark
If you’d prefer not to hike, you can opt to join a cable car ride to Sanhuangzhai Geopark instead, at an additional cost of GBP 11 per person.

Longmen Grottoes
Alternatively, you can opt to join a trip to the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes at an additional cost of GBP 14 per person, where thousands of Buddhist carvings are etched into the cliffs. This option still includes Shaolin Temple but leaves out Dharma Cave and Sanhuangzhai to allow time for Longmen.

The evening is yours to unwind and find something to eat ahead of tomorrow’s journey.

Dengfeng - Great Wall. We’re on the move first thing, taking a bullet train to Beijing and then a private bus towards the Great Wall. On arrival, we leave our main luggage behind and set off on foot with just what we need overnight.

Our hike follows a partly unrestored stretch of the Great Wall, well away from the more visited sections, before we choose a spot to watch the sunset. Weather permitting, we camp on the Wall itself under the stars, fitting in a Mandarin lesson along the way.

Should conditions rule out camping, we stay at accommodation close to the Wall instead.

Please note: Camping on the Great Wall runs between 1 May and 30 September and depends on the weather. At other times of year, or when it isn’t safe, we stay at the accommodation close by

Great Wall - Beijing. If the group has camped on the Great Wall, we watch the sunrise over the mountains before packing up for the return to Beijing. If we stayed at the accommodation near the Wall instead, we have a slower start before the journey back.

Once back in Beijing, you have the remainder of the day free. You could visit the 798 Art District or the Summer Palace or ask your Tour Leader for their go-to places. In the evening, you can head back out or take it easy after the Great Wall.

Please note: The sunrise only happens when camping on the Wall goes ahead.

Today, you have the option to join the following activities in Beijing.

Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Jingshan Park
You can opt to join a visit to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, finishing at Jingshan Park for wide views over Beijing, at an additional cost of GBP 19 for the Forbidden City and booking fee and GBP 2 for Jingshan Park.

Chinese Acrobatics & Circus Show
This evening, you can opt to join an outing to a Chinese acrobatics show at an additional cost of GBP 33 per person, full of energetic routines and astonishing stunts.

Peking Roast Duck Dinner
You can also opt to join a group Peking roast duck dinner, paying for what you order, and taste one of the capital’s signature dishes before the night ends.

You have one last day in Beijing, with the option to join the following activities.

Fake Goods Markets & Temple of Heaven
You can opt to join a visit to the city’s well-known fake-goods markets and the Temple of Heaven close by for a final taste of imperial history, at an additional cost of GBP 4 for the Temple of Heaven.

Nanluo Hutong District
You can also opt to join a stroll around Nanluo, one of Beijing’s most intact old quarters, where hutongs and streets of courtyard houses are lined with cafes, bars and small craft shops.

Later, your tour will come to an end; you will greet your fellow travellers and tour leader before making your way to the airport for your onward flight. Safe travels