Original
Explorer
Rail
Beijing to Hong Kong Adventure
12 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
50 reviews
12 days
Start
Beijing, China
Finish
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Trip Code
CBSJ
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Overnight Train, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
From £1,980(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
See the heart of China, using the vast train network – you'll take one overnight train and three high-speed trains, covering almost 4000 km across the country from the north to the south – a fantastic way of low impact travelling!
Be welcomed into a local guesthouse near the Great Wall – after hiking along this magnificent Wonder of the World – and join a dumpling demonstration for lunch.
Explore the local countryside in the Yangshuo region, cycling through the riverbanks and karsts and stopping by a local home for a freshly prepared lunch.
Embrace the epicurean delights of China with a leader-led tour of Xi’an’s Muslim quarter (where you can try lots of authentic snacks), a day in Chengdu, the City of Gastronomy, and a steaming bowl of hotpot.
Veer off the busy tourist trail with a visit to the time-forgotten Taian Ancient Town, a hike down Mt Qingcheng – a sacred mountain in Taoism – and a meet and greet with giant pandas at the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Center.
Is this trip right for you?
As this trip spends very little time in Beijing and Hong Kong, we recommend you spend arrive a few extra days before or after your trip if you want to experience all these cities have to offer.
Be prepared for some long travel days as we need to cover plenty of ground in order to see China's main highlights and include a good variety of experiences. On the other hand, the scenery is absolutely amazing, so sit back, relax and soak it up.
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.
Itinerary
Embark on a highlights adventure from Beijing to Hong Kong.
Hit the major sights and sounds of China on a 12-day adventure from Beijing to Hong Kong. See the magnificent Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, the giant pandas of Sichuan and the striking limestone karsts in Yangshuo. Soak up the exciting neon lights in Hong Kong, meet locals over homemade dumplings and explore the countryside in Yangshuo. Travel with ease on China’s modern rail network for almost 4000 km and get up close and transcend time with a visit to an ancient town. With a knowledgeable small-group leader at the helm, your China adventure will be full of insightful history, delicious cuisine and unforgettable experiences.
Inclusions
Meals
2 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
Private vehicle, Overnight Train, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi
Accommodation
Hotel (10 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
Included activities
Great Wall - Dumpling making demonstration
Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
Beijing - Forbidden City
Beijing - Tiananmen Square
Xi'an - Leader-led Muslim Quarter snack crawl
Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Dujiangyan - Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base
Mt. Qingcheng - Tai'an Ancient Town visit
Chengdu - Leader-led walking tour
Chengdu - People's Park & Tianfu Square
Mt. Qingcheng - Cable Car (one way)
Mt. Qingcheng - hike
Yangshuo - Walking Tour
Yangshuo - Bike Tour with Lunch & Moon Hill Visit
Hong Kong - Leader-led orientation Walk
Optional activities
Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
Beijing - Acrobat show (ticket) - CNY290
Xi'an - Tang Dynasty Show - CNY290
Xi'an - City Wall bike hire - CNY45
Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25
Xi'an - Big Goose Pagoda (entrance fee) - CNY80
Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50
Chengdu - Sichuan Opera (ticket) - CNY260
Yangshuo - Moon Hill (entrance fee) - CNY15
Yangshuo - Massage/Hot cupping - CNY100
Yangshuo - Impressions Liu Sanjie light show (minimum 4 people) - CNY328
Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour - CNY230
Yangshuo - Li River Cruise - CNY230
Yangshuo - Xianggongshan & Tea Farm Visit (Minimum 6, transport and entrance fee) - CNY358
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Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, excluding Day 3 (overnight train), 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. 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.
4. 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.
Reviews (52)
5 stars
48
4 stars
3
3 stars
1
Sabina
May 31, 2025
Our tour leader Hongbin Liu was extremely passionate about giving us the best experience possible. He had a wealth of knowledge about China and Chinese history we really felt immersed in the trip because of his guidance. He gave us ample amount of free time to enjoy each location and it didn’t feel like we had to forcefully stick with the group. He did a great job balancing everyone’s dietary restrictions, activity levels, and moods. This was our first intrepid trip and he set the bar exceptionally high for our next ones. Thank you Alan for everything!!
Karen
May 26, 2025
This trip proved an excellent introduction to modern-day China, by encompassing several major cities (Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Hong Kong) within a fairly tight, two-week timeframe. Also included was the unusual karst landscape of Yangshuo, with the added excitement of a bike ride. We covered much history and geography while also experiencing present day China. There was a good mix of must-see, top tourist spots with less-crowded moments in iconic places such as the Great Wall. I appreciated the efforts of our guide to ensure we experienced the Wall early in the day when we had it largely to ourselves. He ensured this was achieved, but seamlessly, always well aware of the needs of all trip members. He ensured that not only was the China trip totally successful and safe, but that we made firm friends in the process. Where possible, there was time for self exploration too.
James
May 26, 2025
China and an amazing holiday destination, safe, clean and one on the best transport systems I have ever encountered. This tour goes to top sights from big cities to incredible countryside. Can’t wait to return to China. Highly recommend this tour.
Helen
May 26, 2025
This trip has completely changed my perception of China. The sights and experiences were as fabulous as expected, but it was the insight into such well organised infrastructure and friendly hospitality that blew me away. Thanks for such an amazing 12 days.
Adam
May 25, 2025
China is an incredible country. Warm and friendly people. Our tour leader Gary made the trip exceptional. Just book it and go!
Stephanie
May 19, 2025
I had a wonderful time on this introduction to China and Hong Kong. The food was spectacular and the sights were unbeatable. Our tour guide was an amazing ambassador for Intrepid and China. Heartily recommend.
Craig
May 16, 2025
Emily
Apr 28, 2025
This was an amazing trip! Our leader was great and the itinerary took us to all the highlights. We very much enjoyed our trip!
Alisa-Elena
Apr 28, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip. We covered a lot during the tour, both in terms of distance and attractions, and everything was well organised. It's a great introduction to China for first time travellers. Our tour leader Peter made sure everyone's needs were met and made the experience a smooth and enjoyable one. I would recommend the tour to people who are visiting China for the first time.
Gabriel
Apr 28, 2025
Excellent intro to China that encourages further, more in detail visits. Peter was very knowledgable, organised and attentive to everyone's needs. As a pescetarian, thanks to Peter, I got to try many fantastic dishes, that I would have struggled to discover otherwise.
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