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Basic

18 to 35s

18 to 35s Real China

12 Days | From an ancient Wonder of the World to pandas and karst mountains

4.8

Excellent

140 reviews

12 days

Start

Beijing, China

Finish

Hong Kong, Hong Kong

Trip Code

CBYC

Min Age

Trip Size

1 - 16

Physical Rating

Meals

1 lunch

Transport

Overnight Hard Sleeper Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Overnight Hard Sleeper Train (1 night), Hostel (2 nights)

From £908(12 days)

Trip Informations

You could travel for a lifetime in China, and there would still be more to explore – but this 12-day trip through the country’s highlights does a pretty good job of narrowing it down. Tick an ancient Wonder of the World off your bucket list at the Great Wall, witness the Terracotta Warriors in Xi-an and watch baby pandas play in Chengdu. Sip tea in People’s Park, taste delicious street food with a local leader who knows all the best spots and cycle through the misty countryside of Yangshuo – home to stunning vistas, Moon Hill and karst mountains. Start in Beijing and end in Hong Kong for some thriving nightlife and you’ve got a pretty cool adventure.

Why you’ll love this trip

Walk the walk on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China (one of the Seven Wonders of the World), watching the stones snake as far as the eye can see. If you’d like, you can even toboggan back down!

Take a scenic cycling tour through farms and villages in Yangshuo’s karst-dotted countryside. Every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot before riding to Moon Hill and taking a short hike that leads to panoramic views of the area.

Watch rolly polly baby pandas playing, munching bamboo and generally doing their thing at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu – if they’re not already, pandas might just be your favourite animal after this.

Join a local guide to see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an – the most famous site in the city – only discovered in 1976 by farmers digging a well.

Eat your way through China, from Beijing’s Peking duck to the delicious Sichuan pepper – then, maybe challenge yourself with authentic local delicacies like silkworms, spicy rabbit head and beer fish.

Is this trip right for you?

This trip packs a lot into a short amount of time, with very little time spent in Beijing and Hong Kong – it’s recommended that you extend your stay in these locations before and after your trip if you want to explore them in depth.

The primary means of transportation on this trip is public transport. You'll have to carry your own luggage on and off trains and buses, as well as some short distances to your accommodation. Make sure your bag doesn’t exceed our weight and size recommendations. You can find details in the 'Packing' section of the Essential Trip Information.The overnight train included on this trip is in ‘hard sleeper’ class, meaning carriages are sectioned off with six sleepers per compartment in tiers of three. It’s not luxury but efficient and a way to spend time with local travellers.

You will easily surpass your 10,000 steps a day on this trip, in fact most travellers are surprised at how much distance they end up covering! Make sure your shoes are comfy enough to spend most days on your feet.

China’s world-class sites and experiences draw large numbers of local and international travellers. We recommend a little patience and comfortable shoes as you may need to wait before entering the more popular locations on your itinerary. Please review the Itinerary for tickets you may need to purchase in advance.

Itinerary

From an ancient Wonder of the World to pandas and karst mountains

DAY 1
Day 1 • Beijing
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, get acquainted with Beijing on your own and maybe walk around Silk Market and pick up some souvenirs or explore the Forbidden City. After your meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner and order your first Peking duck.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Special information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
DAY 2
Day 2 • Great Wall / Beijing
This morning, it’s time to visit the Great Wall – one of the Seven Wonders of the World – at Mutianyu, which is one of the best-preserved and easily accessed sections from Beijing. Hop on a public bus and take in the surrounding views (hopefully it’s a clear day!) – this is one to remember. A truly epic piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km westwards from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders in the north, and even though it failed in this purpose, it's still without a doubt one of the country's most amazing achievements. There’s an opportunity to take a thrilling toboggan ride to the base of the Great Wall, which is a unique way to rest your legs after all the ups and downs.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
Optional activities
Beijing –Great Wall Toboggan Ride - (round trip) - CNY140
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
DAY 3
Day 3 • Beijing / Overnight Train
Spend the morning exploring Tiananmen Square and follow your leader through the zigzag lanes known as the Hutong area. This is one of the most notable areas in Beijing because these lanes and courtyard houses are the root of old Beijing city and now, offering a peek into local life. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace, maybe visiting the Forbidden City if you haven’t already. Perhaps jump on a bike and ride through the hutongs, hang out in the Temple of Heaven Park or visit the Lama Temple. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an in a six-berth, air-conditioned cabin.
Accommodation
(1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Beijing - Tiananmen Square
Beijing - Leader-led Hutong Walking Tour
Optional activities
Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
Beijing - Forbidden City (Entrance fee & Pre booking required) - CNY60
Special information
The Forbidden City only allows 30,000 visitors per day. Tickets are in demand year-round, but particularly during July and August. Tickets go on sale one week in advance, via the government website: https://bookingticket.dpm.org.cn/
Tiananmen Square can occasionally close without notice due to local events and ceremonies, especially in March when the National Congress Conference is held.
We recommend you bring your own sleeping sheet as the quality of sheets on the overnight train may not be what you’re used to. Most trains have a dining carriage where meals and snacks are available. Hot drinking water is also available - it’s a good idea to bring a mug and travel cutlery if you’re preparing your own hot drinks or food. Basic toilet facilities are at the end of each carriage. As toilet paper isn't always available, it's advised to carry some of your own.
DAY 4
Day 4 • Xi'an
This morning, you’ll arrive in Xi'an – the imperial centre of China for 2000 years and now a vibrant, modern city dotted with interesting historical sites. Head out on a leader-led walking tour of the Muslim Quarter – famous for its food, this neighbourhood’s almost 1300 years old! Along the way, your leader will buy some dishes for you to sample. Some local specialties include persimmon cake, lamb skewers and sticky rice cakes, though it’ll depend on the season. Enjoy a free afternoon, where you can maybe hire a bike and ride to the top of Xi'an City Wall – the only intact ancient city wall in China. Tonight, 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.
Accommodation
(1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Xi'an - Muslim Quarter Walking Tour and Snack Sampling
Xi'an - Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square Walking Tour
Optional activities
Xi'an - Little Wild Goose Pagoda - CNY50
Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25
Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50
Xi'an - Cycling on City Wall - CNY99
Xi'an - Karaoke - CNY100
Special information
See our guide to Xi'an here: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/xian-china-guide/
DAY 5
Day 5 • Xi'an
This morning, you’ll visit Xi'an's most famous site – the Terracotta Warriors. Take the metro and a public bus and spend a few hours exploring the fascinating location. Hear all about this incredible archaeological find (it was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after being buried for thousands of years). These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in battle formation were commissioned by the emperor of the Qin dynasty as part of his mausoleum, and now, several pits are on view to the public. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free – you might want to grab some local specialities for dinner, such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand-pulled noodles or barbecued meat skewers. Later, maybe head out to karaoke with your group and sing the night away.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
DAY 6
Day 6 • Chengdu
Hop on a high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu this morning. 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 life here. 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 ear cleaning and massages). Make the most of your time here and immerse yourself in local life by joining a group dance or martial arts practice or maybe just find a table and brush up on your mahjong skills.
Accommodation
Hostel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Chengdu - Walking Tour (Tianfu Square, People's Park and Kuanzhai Lane)
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
See our Chengdu guide here: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/chengdu-china-travel-guide/.
DAY 7
Day 7 • Chengdu
This morning, you’ll get the heartwarming opportunity to 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 watch them being fed, playing and sleeping (or just being plain cute in their playgrounds). Enjoy some more downtime in the afternoon to research pandas or check out the hip Kuanzhai Lane. You could also go searching for some spicy Chengdu snacks on Jinli Street.
Accommodation
Hostel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
DAY 8
Day 8 • Yangshuo
Embrace a full day of travelling on the bullet train this morning, headed for Yangshuo – surrounded by limestone karsts, this city is super popular with both international and domestic tourists (which isn't a bad thing if you're into cafes and bars). It's one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions while having plenty of fun at the same time. Take a walk through the town with your leader when you arrive and then head down to the Li River to get a feel for a landscape immortalised in Chinese paintings.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Yangshuo - Walking Tour
Optional activities
Yangshuo - Li River Cruise - CNY230
Yangshuo - Tai Chi/Kung Fu class - CNY120
Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour - CNY230
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
DAY 9
Day 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 many travellers (so don’t forget your camera over these next two days), and every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot. Stop for lunch in a local family’s house and be treated to some homecooked local delicacies, like chicken and vegetables. Then, ride to Moon Hill and take a short hike to the famous archway for panoramic views of the area. Tonight and tomorrow are free in Yangshuo – maybe head out on a river cruise on the Li River and ask your leader for the best local eats.
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights)
Meals
Lunch
Included activities
Yangshuo - Home-Cooked Lunch
Yangshuo - Bike Tour & Moon Hill Visit
Optional activities
Yangshuo - Tea Harvesting - CNY358
Special information
Due to renovation works, we will not be able to visit Moon Hill until further notice. Instead, we will include a visit to Gold Water Cave, the largest and most distinctive underground river crystal cave in the area. The rest of the cycling tour remains unchanged.
DAY 10
Day 11 • Hong Kong
Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to Hong Kong. You'll be transferred to Guilin, then you’ll hop on the high-speed train. Tonight, you’ll go on a walking tour with your leader, checking out the Temple Street night market or the light show at Victoria Harbour. Take the chance to celebrate your final night with the group in this incredible city and hit the nightlife – as always, your leader will know some great spots.
Accommodation
Hotel (1 night)
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.
Included activities
Hong Kong - Leader-led Walking Tour
Hong Kong – Temple Street Night Market Walking Tour
Special information
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
See our guide to Hong Kong here: https://www.tuuur.com/adventures/what-to-do-in-hong-kong/
DAY 11
Day 12 • Hong Kong
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Hong Kong, just speak to your booking agent.
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.

Inclusions

Meals

1 lunch

Transport

Overnight Hard Sleeper Train, Public bus, Private vehicle, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi

Accommodation

Hotel (8 nights), Overnight Hard Sleeper Train (1 night), Hostel (2 nights)

Included activities

Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall

Beijing - Tiananmen Square

Beijing - Leader-led Hutong Walking Tour

Xi'an - Muslim Quarter Walking Tour and Snack Sampling

Xi'an - Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square Walking Tour

Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led

Chengdu - Walking Tour (Tianfu Square, People's Park and Kuanzhai Lane)

Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base

Yangshuo - Walking Tour

Yangshuo - Home-Cooked Lunch

Yangshuo - Bike Tour & Moon Hill Visit

Hong Kong - Leader-led Walking Tour

Hong Kong – Temple Street Night Market Walking Tour

Optional activities

Beijing –Great Wall Toboggan Ride - (round trip) - CNY140

Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25

Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40

Beijing - Forbidden City (Entrance fee & Pre booking required) - CNY60

Xi'an - Little Wild Goose Pagoda - CNY50

Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25

Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50

Xi'an - Cycling on City Wall - CNY99

Xi'an - Karaoke - CNY100

Yangshuo - Li River Cruise - CNY230

Yangshuo - Tai Chi/Kung Fu class - CNY120

Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour - CNY230

Yangshuo - Tea Harvesting - CNY358

Dates and availability

Starting

Ending

Remaining

Prices From

Wednesday Oct 28, 2026

Sunday Nov 08, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out

Wednesday Nov 04, 2026

Sunday Nov 15, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out

Wednesday Nov 11, 2026

Sunday Nov 22, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - Sold Out

Wednesday Nov 18, 2026

Sunday Nov 29, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left

£908

Wednesday Nov 25, 2026

Sunday Dec 06, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - 1 space left

£974

Wednesday Dec 16, 2026

Sunday Dec 27, 2026

Trip size max: 16 - 10 spaces left

£963

Wednesday Jan 06, 2027

Sunday Jan 17, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 8 spaces left

£985

Wednesday Feb 24, 2027

Sunday Mar 07, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 15 spaces left

£985

Wednesday Mar 10, 2027

Sunday Mar 21, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left

£1,045

Wednesday Mar 17, 2027

Sunday Mar 28, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 16 spaces left

£952

Wednesday Mar 24, 2027

Sunday Apr 04, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 7 spaces left

£1,144

Sunday Mar 28, 2027

Thursday Apr 08, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 15 spaces left

£1,095

Wednesday Mar 31, 2027

Sunday Apr 11, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 13 spaces left

£1,095

Sunday Apr 04, 2027

Thursday Apr 15, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 15 spaces left

£1,062

Wednesday Apr 07, 2027

Sunday Apr 18, 2027

Trip size max: 16 - 15 spaces left

£1,062

Important notes

1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 3 (Sleeper train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train tickets.

3. The overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an on this tour is in 6-berth 'hard-sleeper' class. Bedding is provided and wash basins and toilets (squat/western) are available in each carriage, but there are no shower facilities.

4. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps – Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. Please read ‘money matters’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.

5. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps. Please check the Essential Trip Information for more details.

6. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China. Please refer to Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

Reviews (136)

5 stars

122

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

Bhavish

Sep 29, 2026

This was an incredible experience, seeing so many different parts of China. We saw all of the key highlights and had the chance to eat many of the local foods in each region. Our guide Doris ensured the trip ran smoothly and we all had fun.

Elaine

Sep 29, 2026

The Real China tour was an amazing experience. In a short amount of time, you get to see many different places, each unique and beautiful in it's own way, and get to do many incredible and fun experiences. Our guide, Tanya, truly made the experience unforgettable. She was always full of energy, joked around with us, and could tell us so much of the history and culture. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she created an atmosphere where everyone felt comfortable and engaged. She was always available and ready to help when needed.

Louise

Sep 28, 2026

This is a face paced trip but amazing. You get to see so much of China in a short time. I highly recommend this trip.

Kaley

Sep 26, 2026

This trip was amazing. Doris, our tour leader made the trip for us and anyone would be lucky to have her as their guide.

Jasmine

Sep 26, 2026

This trip was a great way to see a lot of China in a short period of time. Doris was an amazing, intelligent, & knowledgeable tour leader who gave us great travel tips and an authentic experience. It was cool to see how different each city is. Make sure to set up WeChat & Alipay before you arrive. Also, the weather varied greatly in each city so pack accordingly. After this trip, I feel confident that I could return to China as a solo traveler and travel with ease.

Felipe

Sep 25, 2026

A great trip to experience the authenticity of China and its multiple regions. Be ready to be overwhelmed with the magnificence of this country by its rich culture and beautiful people.

ryN

Sep 21, 2026

This trip was amazing could not fault anything, Tanya our leader was great, hopefully you will be lucky enough to have her as your leader. Lots of activities and kept busy! Over all a very good trip

Hendrik

Sep 19, 2026

A very good trip for the money spent. All included activities went exactly as described. Our tour leader Lili was a perfect fit. Would recommend!

Samantha

Sep 03, 2026

Exploring China with 18-35 year old Intrepid tour was amazing! There is no better way than traveling and exploring a country than Intrepid tours. Meeting amazing people, bonding over our adventures and previous experiences made this trip one in a lifetime! The selected activities, planning, and organization made this trip unforgettable! Leon, the tour guide, was very familiar with all the activities enough to give recommendations and provided above and beyond service during the optional activities as well. The Intrepid company provided a group chat in their app, and also gave us everything we needed to know in advance about the country, culture, etc to have an amazing trip! Leon was the best tour guide, provided unmatchable quality guide and expertise to all of us! Leon made sure everyone was included and felt included in every activity. Even though this group was 18-35 years old, he did a great job managing this crow while making sure everyone was still having fun!!

Kelsey

Aug 30, 2026

A very intensive trip but a great way to see a lot of China. I wouldn’t recommend going in summer as the heat is hard to deal with but we had a fantastic tour leader in Leon and a great trip overall!

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DAY 11
Day 12 • Hong Kong
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Hong Kong, just speak to your booking agent.
Meals
There are no meals included on this day.