Don’t have time for our full circuit route round China? Just do the first half of the China backpacking loop up the Western half of this amazing country.
Highlights (TL/DR):
Taste Beijing’s signature dish Peking Roast Duck, hike on totally unrestored sections of the Wall, camp and witness sunrise from the Wall, eat with locals, learn Mandarin, Bike Ride on Ming Dynasty City Walls in Xi'an, see the Pandas at the world’s main, and biggest, Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center and travel up to Victoria Peak and enjoy a view of Hong Kong from above.
Travel through Western half of this amazing country. You’ll hike and camp out under the stars on the Great Wall, see the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, marvel at the pandas in Chengdu and much more! Finish your tour all the way up in Beijing.
China is a vast behemoth of a country and it can be tricky to travel in due to its size, the language barrier and the amount of organization required. This Trip does the hard part for you by organizing all the accommodation, transport and activities. Our China tours go much further than pure logistics though, with our awesome guides giving you a taste of off the beaten track places and genuine cultural experiences. Plus there are lots of chances to socialize too. With most travelers here aged between 18 and 35, with an average age of about 24, slightly more of whom are female. We do have older travelers though, with 40, 50 and even 60-somethings on board – often the most popular members of the group!
Hong Kong to Beijing 15-day Trip - Tour itinerary - 15 Days
Discover one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the world on your first day; observe how Eastern and Western cultures have fused together.
On the first day of your China group tour, you will meet your Adventure Leader at 7am at the hostel to drop off your bags, have a pre-departure meeting and meet your travel companions.
If you’re an early bird, you will travel up to Victoria Peak and enjoy an exceptional view over Hong Kong. With an elevation of 552m, Victoria Peak is the highest hill on the Hong Kong island. If you’re a little jetlagged, you can join at 10am, when the group will leave the hostel, say goodbye to Hong Kong and head to Yangshuo.
After a 3-hour bullet train to Guilin and a 2-hour bus to Yangshuo, you will check-in to your new hostel and relax.
Today is a free day! So, you can decide how you’d like to spend it. You have the option to join a traditional Chinese cooking class, kayak along the picturesque Li River or experience traditional Chinese therapy such as hot cupping.
Get ready for adventure! You’ll start the day at 9.30am with a morning bike ride along with a cruise down the Yulong River on bamboo rafts. If you have a waterproof camera, definitely bring it along for this activity!
Later on in the day, you have the option to continue the fun and visit local mud baths, cave complex and hot springs. In the evening, why not participate in some entertaining karaoke with the rest of the group?
Today is another free day! There is a tonne to see and do in Yangshuo and its beautiful surroundings are a feast on the eyes. To gain a new perspective, this morning, we recommend rock climbing to the top of one of the regions limestone peaks. In the afternoon, you can experience life on a farm by visiting your local Adventure Leader’s home village.
On to the next destination! You will board a bus back to Guilin and take a bullet train to Chengdu, arriving in the evening. Then, you’ll take the metro to the hostel and meet your new Adventure Leader!
The day starts early as you will be off to the Giant Panda Breeding & Research Centre. You can’t hold or touch the pandas but you will see them up close and learn about the centres efforts to breed them and release them into the wild.
Later in the day, you will also be taught some mandarin thanks to your Adventure Leader and after lunch will visit an Autism Children Rehabilitation Centre.
In the evening, you have the option to enjoy a traditional Sichuan show.
Today is a free day! In the morning, you have the option to go to Leshan to see the world’s largest stone Buddha. Carved into the side of Mt. Lingyun, the colossal statue is over 1,300-years-old and is considered to the tallest pre-modern statue. The site attracts millions of people every year, including Buddhist pilgrims, making it something of a sacred destination and an ancient wonder of the world.
In the evening you can sample to famous Sichuan Hot Pot (if you dare!) You can also have a night out in Chengdu and enjoy your freedom!
This morning you can enjoy a lazy lie in to recover from the night before or get up early and explore the sights of Chengdu – perhaps enjoy a spot of shopping.
After lunch, you have the option to visit the Chengdu People’s Park. There are many scenic spots in this park, including the Gold Water Stream, the Goldfish Island and the Potted Landscape Garden. Besides appreciating the charming landscape, tourists can sail on the artificial lake, drink tea in the teahouse by the lake and watch all kinds of exhibitions and performances on the Rockery Square.
Around 5pm you will say goodbye to the Adventure Leader and board your train to Xian, where you will meet your new leader and go to your hostel.
You have the morning free to visit temples, museums or go shopping in your own time.
In the afternoon, you have the option to bike ride on Ming Dynasty City Walls and later, to explore the Bell-Drum Towers and Muslim quarter to learn about the history of the Silk Road. Make sure to enjoy some local street food!
Today’s unmissable attraction is the tour of the world-famous Terracotta Warriors!
The Terracotta Army in Xian, is a large collection of life-size terra cotta sculptures in battle formations, reproducing the mega imperial guard troops of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (259 – 210BC), the first emperor of the first unified dynasty of Imperial China. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Terracotta Army is no doubt a must-see for every visitor to Xian.
In the evening, you can enjoy the music and light fountain show that takes place on the North Square of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the Qujiang District.
The next morning, you will be off on a long journey to Shaolin.
This afternoon, you can visit a local Kung Fu Children’s Home and join in on a lesson and show run by a master from the Shaolin Temple.. After dinner, you can have another Mandarin lesson to top up what you have learned so far!
You have two options today:
– You can visit the home of Kung Fu, The Shaolin Temple, and hike to Dharma Cave, a spiritual spot for Buddhist pilgrims. Here, you will be rewarded by beautiful views of both the shrines and temples in the area.
– Or if you’ve had enough of temples and Kung Fu isn’t your combat style, you can visit the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO world heritage site with over 100,000 carved Buddha’s.
Later, you can have a late lunch at the guesthouse then check out and depart to Zhengzhou to board your night train to Beijing.
When you arrive in Beijing, you will meet your next Adventure Leader and go to a hostel for a rest. You won’t be staying the night here, so you won’t be able to get into rooms, but can use the shower rooms, and common areas to relax before heading to the Great Wall of China in the afternoon.
After a couple of hours, you can take another mandarin lesson and you can use your freshly learned language skills to complete challenges around Beijing’s ancient streets and alleyways on a scavenger hunt. The winning team earns a prize!
After a late lunch at a local farm we will gain access to a section of the Great Wall that only the locals get to see and then we will hike on the unrestored sections of the Wall before setting up camp on a deserted section
The sunrise on the Great Wall of China will be the most unforgettable part of your trip. Today you will wake up early, enjoy the silence and watch the sun rise over the Great Wall.
Around 9am, you’ll return to Beijing and have the option to visit fake good markets and the nearby Temple of Heaven.
You can also watch a stunning Chinese Acrobatics Performance performed by young talents recruited from around China.
Additionally, enjoyed exclusively by royalty in ancient times, you can taste Beijing’s signature dish Peking Roast Duck.
Today is a free day and the last day of your trip around China! You’ll have the option to take a walk through the infamous, Tiananmen Square, or visit the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is the largest palatial complex in the world, with 980 buildings and a history of housing 2 different Chinese emperors.
You can also go to Jingshan Park for a bird’s eye view of the three palaces: Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Tiananmen Square. Also, why not test your bargaining skills in the Fake Goods Market?
In the afternoon, you can visit the Nanluo district, one of the best-preserved historical areas in Beijing, famous for its hutongs and siheyuan courtyards as well as the bars, cafes and handicraft shops.
You can also visit the Temple of Heaven, the largest complex dedicated to heaven worship in the world and where ancient sacrifices were made to bring bountiful harvests.
On your last day, the optional activities finish at around 11pm. Say goodbye to your group!
We wish you safe travels!
