Comfort
Explorer
Rail
Explore China
12 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
circle33 reviews
location_on 12 days
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Start
Shanghai, China
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Finish
Beijing, China
tour
Trip Code
CBKS
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Min Age
15
diversity_3
Trip Size
1 - 12
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Physical Rating
restaurant_menu
Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
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Transport
Metro, Bullet Train, Private Bus
bed
Accommodation
Hotel (11Nights)
From £1,972(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
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Explore the Longmen Grottoes and wonder at the thousands of Buddha statues carved directly from the limestone cliffs, including the 17m high Vairocana.
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Take a walk along the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and see towers that date back to the Ming dynasty about 600 years ago – and perhaps opt for a toboggan ride back down.
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Fall in love with Chinese food during a vegetarian feast at a Buddhist temple, a home-cooked lunch with a family in rural Xi’an and a Peking duck dinner in Beijing.
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Check out the mind-blowing Terracotta Army, then head to a local’s house for lunch and some insight into how life has changed since farmers discovered the vast mausoleum.
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Experience the art of tea in Hangzhou by visiting a local tea farmer’s home, where you can learn about the tea growing process and enjoy a hands-on demonstration during harvest season.
Is this trip right for you?
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The best way to experience a place is by doing as the locals do – and in this case, that means using public transport such as trams, buses or metro at some locations. It’s better for the environment and you’ll get an authentic look at daily life - just be aware you may find yourself sharing a busy bus ride with local commuters. Train travel in China may not be entirely luxurious, but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face-to-face with the country and its people.
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To see as much as possible, this trip includes some long journeys. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
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You'll need a reasonable level of fitness for the Great Wall walk. Shoes with good support and grip are essential. There are many steps and slopes on the way, so be prepared for a tough climb in sections. You are free to walk as far as you want, and it is possible to reach the section we visit via cable car.
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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
Explore ancient temples and dazzling cities in the diverse northeast
Capture the spirit of China on this 12-day trip from Shanghai to Beijing. From fast-paced modern cities to the well-preserved remnants of a long and storied history, this adventure reveals the many sides of one of the world’s great cradles of civilisation. It’s important to contrast the big and the bold with quiet moments and real connections. That’s why the tour of the Terracotta Warriors finishes with lunch at a local family home and why time at Shaolin temple, the birthplace of kung fu, is contrasted with boisterous Beijing. Whether you’re scaling the Great Wall or sharing crispy Peking duck with your fellow travellers, this trip is packed with unforgettable moments.
- DAY 1Day 1 • Shanghai
- DAY 2Day 2 • Shanghai
- DAY 3Day 3 • Shanghai to Hangzhou
- DAY 4Day 4 • Hangzhou
- DAY 5Day 5 • Hangzhou to Luoyang
- DAY 6Day 6 • Luoyang
- DAY 7Day 7 • Luoyang to Xi'an
- DAY 8Day 8 • Xi'an
- DAY 9Day 9 • Xi'an to Beijing
- DAY 10Day 10 • Beijing
- DAY 11Day 11 • Beijing
- DAY 12Day 12 • Beijing
Inclusions
restaurant_menu Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
airport_shuttle Transport
Metro, Bullet Train, Private Bus
bed Accommodation
Hotel (11Nights)
festival Included activities
circleComplimentary Arrival Transfer
circleShanghai - Yuyuan Gardens
circleShanghai - Leader-led Orientation Walk
circleHangzhou - Leader-led Orientation walk
circleShanghai - Bullet train to Hangzhou
circleHangzhou - Tea Experience in a local farm
circleHangzhou - Lingyin Temple
circleHangzhou - West lake visit
circleHangzhou - lunch at local restaurant
circleLuoyang - Leader-led orientation walk
circleLuoyang - Longmen Grottoes
circleShaolin - Buddhist vegetarian lunch
circleShaolin - Temple, Pagoda Forest & Kung Fu show
circleXi'an - Leader-led orientation walk
circleXi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
circleXi'an - Home-cooked lunch
circleBeijing - leader-led Orientation walk
circleBeijing - Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
circleMutianyu - Lunch at Local Restaurant
circleBeijing - Forbidden City entrance
circleBeijing - Leader-led Hutong walking tour
circleBeijing - Tian'ammen Square
circleBeijing - Peking duck dinner
museum Optional activities
circleShanghai - Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (entrance fee) - CNY25
circleShanghai - Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Halll (entrance fee) - CNY30
circleShanghai - Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (entrance fee) - CNY180
circleShanghai - Huangpu River Night Cruise (ticket) - CNY150
circleShanghai - Acrobat show - CNY280
circleShanghai - Jing'an Temple (entrance fee) - CNY50
circleHangzhou - Jade Buddha Temple visit - Free
circleLuoyang - Luoyang Museum (entrance fee) - CNY40
circleLuoyang - Ancient Tombs Museum (entrace fee) - CNY20
circleLuoyang - White Horse Temple (entrance fee) - CNY35
circleBeijing - Summer Palace (entrance fee) - CNY60
circleBeijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
circleBeijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
Dates and availability
Starting
Ending
Remaining
Prices From
Saturday Jun 14, 2025
Wednesday Jun 25, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - Sold Out
Saturday Jun 28, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£2,695£2,426
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Saturday Jul 12, 2025
Wednesday Jul 23, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 8 spaces left
£2,629£1,972
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Saturday Aug 30, 2025
Wednesday Sep 10, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 5 spaces left
£2,657£2,524
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Saturday Sep 06, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 3 spaces left
£2,921£2,774
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Saturday Sep 13, 2025
Wednesday Sep 24, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,893£2,748
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Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Sunday Sep 28, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 9 spaces left
£2,838£2,696
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Saturday Oct 11, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 4 spaces left
£2,893£2,748
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Saturday Oct 18, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,838£2,696
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Saturday Oct 25, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Trip size max: 12 - 6 spaces left
£2,734£2,597
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Saturday Mar 07, 2026
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£2,761
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Saturday Mar 21, 2026
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 11 spaces left
£2,871
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Saturday Apr 04, 2026
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£2,629
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Saturday Apr 11, 2026
Wednesday Apr 22, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£2,981
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Saturday Apr 18, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Trip size max: 12 - 12 spaces left
£2,629
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Important notes
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1.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
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2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport is required no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train and flight tickets.
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3. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
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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.
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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.
Reviews (32)
5 stars
29
4 stars
2
3 stars
1
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Jim
May 05, 2025
The China trip was exceptional. To be able to see the Chinese side of geopolitics was a real eye and mind opener. The cities and infrastructure was so efficient and well run. Our tour guide, Alan knew so much about the history, dates and politics of the country and shared the information with the group. We saw all of the sights and and experiences that we wanted and the people are so interesting. A great trip.
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Bruce
Apr 27, 2025
Highly recommend Intrepids Exporing China. It was informative mode of transport and accommodation were excellent The guide Sunny was organised and very helpful. The trip gave me some insights into China - a fascinating country
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Astar aka Eileen
Apr 26, 2025
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Robert
Apr 10, 2025
This trip, as always with Intrepid, reflected exactly the written itinerary. It was all of a very high standard and gave us a great ‘feel’ for china and its people. Loved every aspect of it.
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Ulf Robert
Apr 07, 2025
Just returned from the Explore China trip… and I have to say you really do some exploring. It’s a good mix of travelling, nature, culture, food and experiencing the place from different perspectives. The tour leader Kris deserves a medal. She made the trip seem effortless and very enjoyable. I recommend it!
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Sarah
Apr 06, 2025
see my previous comments you can use any of those
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Hyung A
Mar 25, 2025
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Susan
Mar 23, 2025
I had a great time on the China 12 day tour. The trip was well organized and fairly fast paced, a lot to fit in a short time. The Tour Leader was brilliant. I highly recommend travelling to China with Intrepid.
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Sabrina
Oct 22, 2024
Had an absolute blast on this trip! It was a great mix of historical sites, good food, site seeing and if you wished, shopping. The trip out to Xiahe was a bit far for what it was but I enjoyed it never the less.
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Susanne
Oct 01, 2024
This trip was amazing. Seeing the terracotta warriors and the great wall of China was spectacular. We also experienced food with locals and learnt so much about China. Ate well and the group was so much fun and friendly. I would highly recommend.