Essential China Adventure - 22 Days
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Overview
Highlights
- Shanghai - Start your tour with rooftop drinks overlooking the city, and end your adventure back here with several free days to explore
- Yangshuo - Cycle past karst mountains and lush landscapes and enjoy bamboo rafting on the Yulong River
- Chengdu - Watch curious and clumsy giant pandas at this important conservation facility, also home to other rare Chinese wildlife
- Xi'an - Marvel at the giant Terracotta Army and enjoy an optional bike ride along the historic Xi'an city walls
- Shaolin - Choose to visit the home of Kung Fu at Shaolin Temple or pay a visit to the UNESCO-listed Longmen Grottoes instead
- The Great Wall - Hike along a deserted section of the wall and camp beside it, waking early the next day to watch the sunrise
- Beijing - Explore the Chinese capital independently, with optional excursions to the Forbidden City and Nanluo district
- Hangzhou - Sail on West Lake and hike to the peak of Jiuyao Mountain, then hike through the picturesque Misty Woods
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Trip includes
- 18 nights hostel dorm, 1-night camping, 2 overnight trains (6 berth hard sleeper cabins): Shanghai - Guilin, Beijing - Hangzhou
- Local guides for scheduled sightseeing in Yangshuo, Chengdu, Xi’an, Shaolin and Beijing. Unescorted travel between cities
- Local guide in Shanghai for tour briefing
- All relevant transfer and transportation within China using public transport
- Cycle and cruise excursion down Yulong River
- Entrance to Giant Panda Research and Breeding Centre
- Free basic Mandarin lessons
- Entrance to Terracotta Warriors museum
- Hiking along unrestored parts of The Great Wall of China
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Itinerary
Shanghai - Guilin. Huan ying, Welcome to China! Meet the trip leader and the rest of the group for a quick tour briefing and a welcome drink. We then make our way to Shanghai South Station, where our leader leaves us and we board the night train to Guilin (the journey...
Guilin - Yangshuo. Yangshuo is a picturesque resort town, surrounded by dramatic karst mountains and known for its outdoor adventure opportunities. Day 2 is at leisure, with available optional activities including kayaking along the Li River or a Chinese therapy exper...
Yangshuo - Chengdu. Our final morning in Yangshuo is at leisure to see any last minute sites before we leave beautiful Yangshuo and our tour leader behind and travel by bus and bullet train to Chengdu, the capital of the Sichuan province and home to the largest and be...
On day 6 we take a short drive out of town to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, to visit China's animal emblem. We spend the day exploring the grounds, watching the pandas eat their bamboo breakfast and seeing other endangered animals including red pa...
Chengdu - Xi’an. Our final day in Chengdu is free for you to laze in the hostel or head out for some last minute exploring. Perhaps you would like to visit the Chengdu People's Park? Home to an artificial lake, it is the largest green space in the city, perfect for an...
The morning of day 9 is at leisure. In the afternoon there is an optional bike ride along the Ming Dynasty Xi'an City Walls, an unforgettable experience which we strongly recommend you partake in! You can also join an excursion to visit the Bell Drum Towers and the Mu...
Xi’an - Shaolin. Today we leave Xi’an behind and board the bus to Shaolin (approx. 6 hours). On arrival we make our way to our family run guest house, located a stone’s throw away from the Shaolin Temple. This afternoon there is an optional Kung Fu lesson and show at ...
Shaolin - Beijing. You can choose from two incredible optional activities today. Visit the Shaolin Temple, the home of Kung Fu. Here you can admire the masters practicing physically impossible moves in the courtyard. Then, hike to Dharma cave, located on Elephant Trun...
Shaolin - Beijing - The Great Wall. We rise early, taking the bullet train to Beijing. You will be met by your local guide and taken to China's most famous attraction, the Great Wall. We’ll stop at a local farming village for lunch (at your own expense) and to gain ac...
We wake early on day 14 in order to watch the sunrise over the Great Wall. There is a strong possibility this will be the highlight of your trip! Take in your surroundings and appreciate the early morning silence. At around 9am we transfer back to Beijing. Opt to t...
Beijing - Hangzhou. Our final day in Beijing is free for you to tick off any last sights or experiences. Make sure you have enjoyed a rickshaw ride, or you could head to the imperial Summer Palace. This evening at around 17:00, we take the subway to Beijing station. At around 19:00, we board an overnight train to Hangzhou (approx. 14.5 hours).
Arrive early into scenic Hangzhou, the southern terminus of the Grand Canal and an important centre for silk, tea and paper-making. After settling into our accommodation, we embark on a scenic boat trip to Lesser Yingzhou Isle on the West Lake which is dotted with var...
Hangzhou - Shanghai. This morning, we kick our day off with a beautiful hike to the Nine Creeks. On the way, meander through the Misty Woods – a truly magical place. Once we’re back at the hostel, there is time to freshen up and grab some lunch before we check out. ...
Enjoy a relaxing morning before there's another Mandarin lesson today. This extra special class will be held by professional teachers, all the way from the Mandarin Garden Chinese Language School! The rest of the day is free. You could opt to walk to the Yu Garden...
The next two days are at leisure to further explore Shanghai. You could visit the Disneyland theme park, take in the Shanghai Museum or wander down Moganshan Art Street. In the evenings, why not enjoy the company of your fellow travellers in the city's bars and restaurants. There's an optional Huangpu River cruise on day 21.
Sadly, today marks the end of our Shanghai backpacking tour! You’ll bid farewell to your fellow travellers and prepare to head home.
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Dates & Availability
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The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
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Logistics
What's excluded
- International flights and visa
- Tipping - an entirely personal gesture
- Optional activities - paid locally
- Airport transfers
Accommodation
Age ranges from 18 – 55 years old. Please note these are backpacker type tours, please bear this in mind when quoting passengers. There is some flexibility with the maximum age on the family tours. Min age: 18 years old for group tours.Avg age: 28 years old.
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