Real China

Day 1  Beijing      
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1. If arriving early there is loads to do in this amazing city. Get acquainted with Beijing on your own before joining your group and leader for the welcome meeting, then head out for an optional first night dinner.      

Day 2  Beijing      
Head out to the Great Wall at Mutianyu on public transport (approximately 2 hours) – one of the best-preserved and easily accessed sections from Beijing. Take in the surrounding amazing views (provided that it is a clear day!). A truly epic piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km westwards from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. There’s an opportunity to take a thrilling toboggan ride to the base of the Great Wall (at your own expense), which is a unique way to rest your legs after all the ups and downs on the Wall.      

Day 3  Beijing to Xian    
Spend the morning exploring Tiananmen Square and follow your leader through the zigzag lanes that's called hutong locally. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore as you wish, maybe visiting the Forbidden City, the 798 Art District, hanging out in the Temple of Heaven park or visiting the Lama Temple. This evening we board the first overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an in a six-berth, air-conditioned cabins (hard sleeper class).    

Day 4  Xian      
In the morning arrive in Xi'an. Begin with a walking tour of the Muslim Quarter, a neighbourhood that is almost 1300 years old. The Muslim Quarter is famous for its food, and along the walk your leader will buy some dishes for you to sample. Enjoy a free afternoon, perhaps paying for bike hire and riding to the top of Xi'an City Wall, the only intact ancient city wall in China. In the evening, your leader will take you to the lively square near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Seeing the 600-year-old temple ablaze with lights is pretty amazing and it’s a great place to mingle with locals in the square.      

Day 5  Xian    
Visit Xi'an's most famous site, the Terracotta Warriors, with a local guide. Travel by public bus (approximately 2 hours) to reach the site, and spend a few hours exploring. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free time. Dont miss out on some of the many tantalising local specialities such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand-pulled noodles, hot pot or barbecued meat skewers.

Day 6  Xian to Chengdu      
Hop on the efficient high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu (approximately 3 hours). Chengdu has a very casual vibe, and the locals tend to value pleasure more than work, so mahjong and tea are two of the most crucial parts of living. Go on a walking tour with your leader to downtown Tianfu Square, where a giant statue of Chairman Mao stands. Continue to the lively People's Park and sit down in a tea house to sip a brew and take advantage of the other services on offer, like massages.        

Day 7  Chengdu      
Prepare for the fuzzies this morning as you get up close with the adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu. Learn about the conservation efforts being made to repopulate this ancient species. And of course you'll see them being fed, playing, sleeping or just being plain cute in their playgrounds.

Day 8  Chengdu to Yangshuo    
Embrace a full day of travelling from Chengdu to Yangshuo today. You'll hop on the bullet train from Chengdu to Guilin (approx. 7hrs), then transfer to the hotel in Yangshuo. Take a walk through the town with your leader on arrival and head down to the Li River to get a feel for a landscape immortalised in plenty of Chinese paintings.  

Days 9-10  Yangshuo      
Hop on a bike and follow your leader on a cycling tour through the picturesque countryside of Yangshuo. Cycle past karst hills that rise from rice paddies and tiny villages, watching locals working the fields with water buffalo for company. Visiting this stunning region is a trip highlight for lots of travellers, and every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot. Ride to Moon Hill and take a short hike on the famous archway for panoramic views of the area. Return to Yangshuo for a free afternoon and evening.

Day 11  Yangshuo to Hong Kong
Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to the final stop, Hong Kong. You'll be transferred to Guilin and then hop on the high-speed train to Shenzhen. From there, cross the border into Hong Kong and head to your centrally located hotel. Go on a walking tour with your leader, then maybe check out the Temple Street night market or the light show at Victoria Harbour.      

Day 12 Hong Kong      
Your adventure comes to an end today. Depart at any time.