Comfort
Explorer
Rail
Explore China
12 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
33 reviews
12 days
Start
Shanghai, China
Finish
Beijing, China
Trip Code
CBKS
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 12
Physical Rating
Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Metro, Bullet Train, Private Bus
Accommodation
Hotel (11Nights)
From £1,972(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
Explore the Longmen Grottoes and wonder at the thousands of Buddha statues carved directly from the limestone cliffs, including the 17m high Vairocana.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
To see as much as possible, this trip includes some long journeys. Please read the itinerary carefully for travel time estimates.
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.
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.
Inclusions
Meals
11 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Metro, Bullet Train, Private Bus
Accommodation
Hotel (11Nights)
Included activities
Complimentary Arrival Transfer
Shanghai - Yuyuan Gardens
Shanghai - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Hangzhou - Leader-led Orientation walk
Shanghai - Bullet train to Hangzhou
Hangzhou - Tea Experience in a local farm
Hangzhou - Lingyin Temple
Hangzhou - West lake visit
Hangzhou - lunch at local restaurant
Luoyang - Leader-led orientation walk
Luoyang - Longmen Grottoes
Shaolin - Buddhist vegetarian lunch
Shaolin - Temple, Pagoda Forest & Kung Fu show
Xi'an - Leader-led orientation walk
Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Xi'an - Home-cooked lunch
Beijing - leader-led Orientation walk
Beijing - Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
Mutianyu - Lunch at Local Restaurant
Beijing - Forbidden City entrance
Beijing - Leader-led Hutong walking tour
Beijing - Tian'ammen Square
Beijing - Peking duck dinner
Optional activities
Shanghai - Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (entrance fee) - CNY25
Shanghai - Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Halll (entrance fee) - CNY30
Shanghai - Shanghai Tower Observation Deck (entrance fee) - CNY180
Shanghai - Huangpu River Night Cruise (ticket) - CNY150
Shanghai - Acrobat show - CNY280
Shanghai - Jing'an Temple (entrance fee) - CNY50
Hangzhou - Jade Buddha Temple visit - Free
Luoyang - Luoyang Museum (entrance fee) - CNY40
Luoyang - Ancient Tombs Museum (entrace fee) - CNY20
Luoyang - White Horse Temple (entrance fee) - CNY35
Beijing - Summer Palace (entrance fee) - CNY60
Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
Dates and availability
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Important notes
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reviews (32)
5 stars
29
4 stars
2
3 stars
1
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.
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
Astar aka Eileen
Apr 26, 2025
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.
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!
Sarah
Apr 06, 2025
see my previous comments you can use any of those
Hyung A
Mar 25, 2025
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.
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.
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.
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