Full China tour description Day one Hong Kong Start your adventure in vibrant Hong Kong, the city where shops are open all night and skyscrapers dominate the skyline. Meet your group and guide at the reception of Yes Inn @ Causeway Bay hostel. Kick off the tour by travelling by tram up Victoria Peak and view Hong Kong from the top for panoramic views. On your return, pick up your bags from Yes Inn and the take an efficient bullet train to Guillin, which is a 3-hour journey. The group will then choose to either eat on arrival or head to Yanshuo for dinner, which is 2 hours away. After dinner, the group will check in to the hostel. Day two to five Yangshao There is a lot to do in Yangshao and many choices of activities. Surrounded by endless rice paddies and dramatic limestone peaks, the landscape is dramatically different from Hong Kong. The group will take part in bamboo rafting down Li River.
For the rest of your time in this region, you can choose what to do. You will be staying at Monkey Jane s Hostel, which boasts a rooftop bar perfect for a drink at sunset! On day 5, the group will travel by minibus to the North Bus Station to board another bus to Guilin. Here, you will say goodbye to your first leader and board a night train to Chengdu. Optional activists: Watching cormorant fishing a traditional fishing technique where cormorant sea birds are trained to catch fish (45 RMB) Cycle to Moon Hill and a take enjoy the mud baths and hot springs in the caves (85 RMB) For a more action packed day, try deep water soloing (climbing above a river without ropes!) (150 RMB) or rock-climbing (170 RMB) Kayak down the River Li (150 RMB) Experience hot cupping a Chinese traditional therapy used to improve circulation (35 RMB) A highly recommended experience visiting the Leader s home village (85 RMB) Day six to eight Chengdu Arriving in relaxed Chengdu, you will meet your second leader at the station, who will take you via metro to the hostel. The leader is local to the Sichuan Region and will be a great source of knowledge. You are free in the morning to explore or to get a massage, a great way to relax. In the afternoon, you will take part in your first Mandarin lesson so that you can learn some useful phrases to use on your travels. On day seven, you will get to meet China s national animal the Giant Panda - at a Breeding and Research Centre. These cute animals are loved worldwide, but are only native to certain areas of China. You then have a free afternoon where you can explore the Tibetan quarter and try the different cuisine. Alternatively, you can head to Leshan to see the world s largest stone Buddha, which is 70m tall! For dinner, you may want to try the Sichuan hot pot delicious spicy broth into which you can dip meat and vegetables. On your last morning in Chengu, the group will go to Wenshu Monastery, the Sichuan Museum and, before boarding the night train, a traditional Chinese teahouse. Receive a massage from a blind therapist (40 RMB) Watch a Sichuan opera performance (140 RMB) Behold the huge stone Buddha (transport and entrance 90 RMB)
Try a Sichuan hotpot (80 RMB) Day nine to ten Xi an When you arrive in Xi an, an ancient city, your new leader will take you to the hostel to check in. You will then hit the streets to explore the Muslim Quarter, visiting the local Chinese Mosques and the Bell Drum Tower. Xi an is famous for Silk Road legends and there is plenty of history to unearth. For dinner, you can opt for sampling the delicious and varied street food. After dinner, stroll round the local Silk Road market great for souvenir shopping. Alternatively, you can choose to volunteer at the Star Sun Home. In the morning, you will get to see the iconic Terracotta Warriors. The afternoon is your own, but you can choose to take part in a cycling tour, which circles the ancient city walls. In the evening, you can head for a Chinese night out karaoke is always a firm favourite. Bike tour (100 RMB) Day eleven to twelve Shaolin Travelling by private minivan and bus, you will arrive in DengFeng, a village very close to the Shaolin Temple. You can choose to take part in a fun Kung Fu lesson, to test your own strength and flexibility, and watch a performance by a local children s home run by the Shaolin temple. All proceeds go to the home. In the afternoon, you will have your second Mandarin lesson to develop your language skills. If you want to go to the Shaolin Temple, prepare for an early start. The temple has many courtyards you can walk though and this will give you the opportunity to watch masters of Kung Fu to see how it should look! In the afternoon, the group hikes to Dharma Cave to see spiritual shrines it is also a great viewpoint. In the evening, you will hop on board the night train to travel to the capital.
Taking part in a Kung-fu lesson and watching a local performance (150 RMB) Visiting the Shaolin Temple (120 RMB) Day thirteen to sixteen Beijing Arrive in Beijing, the exciting capital of this enormous country. You will meet you new leader, who will take you to a hostel. You will be staying in a different hostel in the evening, but you will have the opportunity to shower and relax in the communal areas. You will also take part in your third Mandarin lesson. You can then take part in the Mandarin team challenge. In small groups, head into the capital and try to use the phrases you have learnt. Everyone will eat at a local farm. This is compulsory, as your leader will help the group to obtain permission to access the locals-only area of the Great Wall. After lunch, you will then hike the section of the Great Wall of China only available to locals and see parts of the wall that many travellers miss. If it is the end of April to September, you will get a unique opportunity to camp on a part of the wall that has long been deserted. For those arriving outside those dates, you will stay in a fantastic guesthouse near the wall. After a memorable sunrise at the wall (which both campers and those staying at the guesthouse will see), you have a choice of activities. Either head to the Olympic Bird s Nest Stadium or watch the Beijing Acrobatics Show. For dinner, why not try the signature dish in Beijing - Peking Roast Duck. The last two days in Beijing, will be filled with sightseeing, including trips to Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. You will also experience the bustle of a night market, where there are many different street food vendors. If you feel brave, why not try some of the more unusual foods, such as scorpions or snake! Watch the mind-blowing Beijing Acrobatics Show (14 RMB) Try Peking Roast Duck (70 RMB) Enter the Forbidden City boasting 980 buildings on home to many Chinese royalty (60 RMB) Pay to enter the Temple of Heaven a huge complex of religious buildings (40 RMB)
For those taking part in the 16-day tour, this is where your adventure ends. On day 15, you will travel back to Hong Kong on train, arriving at 6pm on the 16 th day. Your tickets will be booked for you. If you would prefer to stay in Beijing, let us know. For those continuing on the 25-day tour, board the night train to Hangzhou. Day seventeen to eighteen Hangzhou and Moganshan You will arrive in at Hangzhou in time for breakfast and then the group will get in a minivan to Moganshan to the bamboo forests. This is a great stop between Beijing and Shanghai and a real contrast to city life. You can choose to hike to the peak of Moganshan, known for its farreaching views of lush green hills. In the morning of day 18, you will leave your bags at the hostel while you take part in a bike trek cycling through local villages and enjoying the mountain scenery. After an active morning, the group will head back to the hostel for well-deserved lunch before travelling on a bullet train to Shanghai. Hike to Moganshan Peak Day nineteen to twenty one Shanghai Head to the most populated city in the world and be astounded by the impressive, futuristic modern architecture. Shanghai is an incredibly important financial hub globally and is a place where western and eastern cultures blend perfectly. Wander around the city to learn about China s modern history, including a visit to the Propaganda History Museum. Then hop on board a ferry to cross the Huangpu River and spend time in Tianzifang, an area dedicated to tourist arts and crafts and many unique shops and restaurants. Venture into modern Shanghai to take part in a walking tour down Nanjing Road, globally famous for being incredibly busy, and The Bund, the glamorous Western waterfront. In the evening, discover Shanghai nightlife and join the Shanghai Drunken Dragon Pub Crawl a firm favourite with travellers. For a more relaxed evening, sip champagne at the top of a skyscraper in a hot tub. Join the Shanghai Drunken Dragon Pub Crawl (approx 180-200 RMB) Gaze at the night skyline, while sat in a hot tube on the roof of a skyscraper (100 RMB)
Day twenty two to twenty four Fujian After an action-packed few days in Shanghai, the group will travel on a bullet train to the scenic Fujian province, the tea-growing region of China. Spend the evening with local people in a traditional Tulou, a roundhouse made predominantly of mud. Tulous house the Hakka minority people and this experience is a unique opportunity to learn more about their way of life. In the morning, the group will be taken on a walking tour of the UNESCO Heritage site, taking in the amazing surrounding countryside. After a busy morning, there is no better way to recharge than sampling oolong tea at a local plantation. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to buy some to take home. You can then choose to cycle to a nearby village, well known for its river and mountainous views. After dinner, board the night train to Guangzhou, Day twenty five Macao and Hong Kong On the last day of the tour, you will be heading into the autonomous region of Macao. Visit the historic centre, visiting St Paul s and the Old Fortress. If you are up for the challenge, travel to Macao Tower and try the world s highest bungee jump! The group will then be taken to the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel mini Venice with canals and gondolas. In the evening, the tour will board a high-speed ferry (hydrofoil) for the last journey back to the Yes Inn in Hong Kong, where the adventure started. Once back in Hong Kong, the group will have officially completed the 3,392 mile circular tour of China! Say goodbye to your group and either head home or continue on your travels.