Basix
Explorer
Rail
North China Getaway
12 days • 4.9
5
Excellent
33 reviews
12 days
Start
Beijing, China
Finish
Shanghai, China
Trip Code
CBRF
Min Age
15
Trip Size
1 - 16
Physical Rating
Transport
Overnight Hard Sleeper Train, Public Bus, Private vehicle, Subway
Accommodation
Twin-share Guesthouse/Hostel (7 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Overnight Hard Sleeper Train (2 nights)
From £945(12 days)
Trip Informations
Why you’ll love this trip
China is a land of contrasts. From soaking up the bright city lights of Shanghai’s waterfront to exploring the unearthed Terracotta Warriors outside of Xi’an, you’ll get to see it all for yourself!
Spend two nights at the base of the Great Wall in a locally run guesthouse, and follow in the footsteps of soldiers from hundreds of years ago when you trek the lesser-visited Gubeikou to Jinshanling section.
This adventure offers plenty of opportunity to get active among the wonders of China. Explore city laneways on walking tours, climb the steps of the Yellow Mountain, trek the Great Wall and cycle countryside lanes in Hongcun.
Two overnight trains means you'll maximise your time in each destination, get to know your fellow travellers over a game of mahjong, and have a real sense of the vast size of the country.
We’re all about authentic experiences, so go local every step of the way with an experienced local leader, public transport, and family-run guesthouses and lodgings wherever possible.
Is this trip right for you?
This trip is made for travellers who value their independence but also want the benefit of a local leader and a group of like-minded travellers. The itinerary has a mix of included activities and free time when your leader will offer suggestions. Please budget spending money for optional activities you want to partake in.
This trip packs a lot into a short amount of time, so we highly recommend spending extra time in Beijing and Shanghai before and after your trip.
Family-run guesthouses and hostels are used on this trip, which tend to have more basic facilities than hotels (but offer a lot more character). You’ll encounter some cold-water showers, might need to rug up inside in the colder months and need to use a few squat toilets. The local experience is worth it – trust us!
With treks on the Great Wall and Huangshan, both of which can be tough going with many steps, uneven surfaces and steep terrain, you'll need a good level of fitness to get the most out of this trip. Walking shoes with good support and grip are essential, as is being prepared to sweat it out a bit.
The overnight train travel included is in 'hard sleeper' class – carriages sectioned off into 3 tier (6 berth) compartments. It’s not luxury, but it’s efficient and a great local experience. For more information about the overnight train condition, please check out the Essential Trip Information.
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
Great Wall hikes, Shanghai bites and all the northern sights
Discover the breathtaking countryside and rich cultural history of China's north on this 12-day trip bookended by the bright city lights of the country’s biggest hubs. From the dizzying heights of Huangshan, the Great Wall and waterfront Shanghai to the underground pits that hold thousands of Terracotta Warriors, this trip explores the diversity and significance of China. Go beyond the tourist trail, immersing yourself in the local ways of life, with hand-picked experiences to choose from and curated stays in small village guesthouses along the way. Northern China is a feast for the senses, especially your appetite.
Inclusions
Transport
Overnight Hard Sleeper Train, Public Bus, Private vehicle, Subway
Accommodation
Twin-share Guesthouse/Hostel (7 nights), Hotel (2 nights), Overnight Hard Sleeper Train (2 nights)
Included activities
Beijing - Great Wall
Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Xi'an - Muslim Quarter Walking Tour
Shanghai - Leader-led Orientation Walk
Huangshan - National Park Trek
Hongcun - Leader-led Village Walking Tour
Optional activities
Beijing - Forbidden City - CNY60
Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
Beijing - Summer Palace (entrance fee) - CNY60
Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
Xi'an - Big Goose Pagoda (entrance fee) - CNY80
Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50
Xi'an - City Wall bike hire - CNY45
Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25
Shanghai - Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre (entrance fee) - CNY25
Shanghai - Shanghai Museum (entrance fee) - Free
Shanghai - Yuyuan Garden (entrance fee) - CNY40
Shanghai - Urban Planning Exhibition Centre (entrance fee) - CNY30
Shanghai - Acrobat Show (ticket) - CNY280
Shanghai - Oriental Pearl Tower Viewing Deck (entrance fee) - CNY150
Shanghai - Huangpu River Night Cruise (ticket) - CNY150
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 excludes Day 4 and Day 6 (Overnight train) and Days 2,3,7,8,9,10,11 (Guesthouses) 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 is required no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train tickets.
3. In winter months (Nov-Feb), we may stay in alternative guesthouses near the Great Wall due to the cold weather. This may also alter our trekking route along the Great Wall.
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
3
Ashleigh
May 17, 2025
Amazing introduction to the big cities of China! Experiencing the culture, food and monuments were truly wonderful.
Andrew
May 17, 2025
An efficient, whistle stop tour of this part of China. Opportunities to see the big cities, small towns and beautiful nature of the country. Packing culture, food and history across many locations into a few days.
Loren
Apr 27, 2025
This trip packed a punch, lots of hiking & very busy itinerary. We saw so much !! Our tour guide was knowledgeable & chatted about Chinese culture & history which made the trip even more enjoyable!!
Brian
Apr 22, 2025
This your get exceeded my expectations. Intrepid employs the best guides in the travel business, without exception. My guide, Stone Gu, kept up the quality that I’ve come to expect from Intrepid. I loved China; Intrepid really knocked it our of the park.
Katie
Apr 21, 2025
We had such a great experience on the North China tour with Intrepid. The trip completely exceeded our expectations. We got to see some incredible places, and everything was really well-organized. Our tour guide, Stone, deserves a special mention. He was kind, knowledgeable, and genuinely cared about everyone in the group. Even when some weather events disrupted parts of the itinerary, Stone made sure we were all safe and still having a great time. He really went out of his way to keep everyone happy and made the most of every situation. The highlight for us was definitely walking along the Great Wall—an unforgettable experience. We’d highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in exploring China, and if you get Stone as your guide, you’re in excellent hands.
Natsumi
Jan 03, 2025
This itinerary takes you to the top destinations of China. I would recommend arriving early to see Beijing yourself and pre-book Forbidden City. There is a hike involved at the Great Wall if you don't mind a few thousand stairs!!! Loved Hongcun and more stairs at Huangshan but what a view! Extending in Shanghai is also recommended.
Teressa
Nov 16, 2024
Really enjoyed the guide trip of North China.
Dhillon
Nov 16, 2024
Experienced tour guides makes the most of little time.
Annique Chantal
Nov 16, 2024
Sarah
Oct 28, 2024
This trip was an absolutely fantastic taste of China, visiting many major sites and experiencing lots of different ways to travel. Mark was an excellent guide, he really made the trip effortless.
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