Discover Mighty China

Itinerary

Itinerary:
Shanghai - Beijing - Xian - Chengdu - Yangshuo - Ping'an - Hong Kong
Duration:
17 days / 16 nights (flexible)
Price:
From £ 2,735.- per person (excluding flights)

Meet giant pandas, sail between Karst mountains, wander the Great Wall and try traditional dishes. Over 17 days, you’ll explore China’s classic highlights and a whole lot more, giving you a real taste of China’s scenery, culture and city life. You’ll amble through the world’s largest rice terraces, visit the Terracotta Army and go back to the future in Shanghai. Next up is the hutongs of Beijing and the giant pandas in Chengdu before disappearing into the countryside. You’ll end the trip in Hong Kong, which will boggle both your taste-buds and your mind!

Yangshuo woman standing in mountainous landscape

Days 1-3 – Shanghai: Back to the future

Explore Shanghai, crammed with skyscrapers and exploding with variety. From 19th century alleyways to swanky bars and art-deco buildings, there’s nowhere like it. With twice as many skyscrapers as Manhattan, Shanghai is a sleek modern sprawl that seems to go on forever. You will stay in a colonial style hotel close to the Bund and your time is free to explore the city at your own pace.

Days 3-6 – Temples and hutongs of Beijing

Today you’ll be transferred to the train station in Shanghai where you’ll catch the high speed ‘bullet train’ north to Beijing, a mere 5 hour journey. China is one of the few countries to have such a modern railway and it’s a fantastic way to travel. You’ll spend three nights soaking up the sights, sounds and smells of Beijing, an intoxicating clutter of history and modern-day ambition. Wander through the atmospheric hutongs, visit the Forbidden City and take a breather from the madness of the city at the Temple of Heavenly Peace. Top off your time in Beijing with a trip along the twisting Great Wall, one of the world’s most staggering sights.

Days 6-8 – Terracotta Army and Drum Towers

Next, you’ll be picked up from your Beijing hotel in the afternoon and taken to the train station. We’ll make reservations for you aboard the bullet train to Xi’an, a journey that takes roughly 6 hours. Marvel at the soldiers of the ancient Terracotta Army and wander around the Bell Tower in Xi’an. A modern city with an imperial past, it’s an eye-opening window into Chinese culture. Drenched in history and jam-packed with fascinating places to explore. You’ll spend two nights in China’s past Imperial Capital, soaking up the atmosphere and visiting the impressive Terracotta army.

Days 8-10 – Teddy bears and tea houses

Today you’ll be collected from your hotel in Xi’an and taken to the train station where you’ll board another bullet train to Chengdu, home of the pandas! Today’s journey will take around 4 hours. With mouth-watering food and teahouse culture, Chengdu is a winner. You’ll spend 2 nights here, ambling amongst old shops, sampling Sichuan dishes and slowing to the relaxed pace of life. On the second day, you’ll visit the giant pandas that have roamed these parts for 2 million years. Now residents of the ethically run Breeding Research Centre, you’ll be bowled over by their quiet beauty and sheer size.

Days 10-13 – Bamboo sailing through Karst Mountains

Today you’ll be transferred to Chengdu airport where you’ll check in for your flight south to one of our favourite highlights of China; the karst mountains near Guilin. Today’s flight is roughly 2 hours. Cycle between Karst Mountains and drift lazily downstream aboard a bamboo raft through the gorgeous scenery of Yangshuo near Guilin. Cycling between forested hills and a patchwork of rice paddies is a sure-fire way to feel the spirit of rural China. You’ll spend three nights in the a countryside hotel and take a trip along the river by bike and bamboo raft.

Days 13-15 – Rice terraces and Zhuang villages

The following day you’ll travel from Yangshuo to Ping’an. This takes about 3.5 hours and you’ll pass green rice paddies and traditional villages along the way. Next you’ll visit the village of Ping’an, home to some of the most picturesque rice terraces in Asia. You’ll spend the night in a modest guest house surrounded by mountains and rice terraces. As there are no roads in Ping’an there is a short walk up the rice paddies to reach your guest house.

Over the last few years, Ping’an has increased in popularity and has attracted more tourists. However, there are still plenty of quieter places that your guide will take you to. With your guide you will hike through rice paddies that stretch as far as the eye can see you’ll notice just how very special this part of China is.

Days 15-17 – Skyscrapers of Hong Kong

Next, you’ll take your luggage back down to the car park where a transfer will be waiting to take you on the 2.5 hour drive back to Guilin. From here you’ll catch the bullet train to the city of Guangzhou, roughly a 3 hour journey east of Guilin. Travelling by train is much less expensive than flying directly into Hong Kong. A driver will be waiting to transfer you between train stations in Guangzhou. Your train ride to Hong Kong will take another 2 hours and on arrival you’ll make your own way to your comfortable hotel in the popular Kowloon area of the city.

Gaze out over the harbour in Hong Kong, a place packed with endless possibility. With tongue-tingling cuisine and thriving traditional culture, it’s bewitching. Stare down upon silver skyscrapers from Victoria Peak, wander around bird markets and share steaming dim sum. You’ll spend two nights in a Kowloon hotel and during your stay you’ll get to visit all the big highlights of the city, from Victoria Peak to the up and coming suburbs where designers and artists are flourishing.

Day 17 – Departure

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and today your China holiday must draw to a close. You’ll arrange your own transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to the UK.