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Hong Kong to Beijing on a Shoestring
13 days, Hong Kong to Beijing
Itinerary
Day 1Hong Kong
Arrive at any time.
For your first night out, head down to Kowloon and experience the spectacular light show at Victoria Harbour. Get to know your fellow travellers and snap that iconic photo with the neon city backdrop. Afterward, opt for a traditional Cantonese dinner in a local restaurant and share stories over some Dim Sum.
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Hong Kong/Yangshuo
Board a bullet train and enjoy the scenic ride to Guilin, then transfer to the nearby village of Yangshuo. The Li River and limestone karst mountains interspersed with picturesque riverside villages and markets make this area perhaps the best known scenic attraction in the region, and a backpacker haven for activities, cultural immersion, and relaxing at cafés.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Border Crossing (Hong Kong - China)
Ready for a little more ink in your passport? Grab your bags and get ready to check another country off your bucket list.
Metro
Get around underground via public transit.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Day 3Yangshuo
Enjoy free time in Yangshuo. Opt for a tai chi lesson, visit a women-run Community Restaurant, take a cooking class, or cycling tour of the area.
Try your hand at cooking local fare at a boutique cooking school and pre-book the Central Chinese Cooking Class by adding it to your checkout page, or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Yangshuo, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like taking a tai chi lesson, indulging in a traditional massage, and checking out the Li River Light Show. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 3 HideShow
Central Chinese Cooking Class - Yangshuo
Calling all foodies! Get an inside look at real Chinese food with a tour of the Yangshuo market to learn about the ingredients used in the Yangshuo area. Afterward, learn to cook Chinese food in a traditional Chinese farmhouse in the beautiful countryside just outside Yangshuo. After the cooking class you can sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared.
Yangshuo Tai Chi Lesson
80-150CNY per personLearn how to do Tai Chi, the local exercise regimen. Practice in any park around sunrise, and be sure to have company from locals.
Chinese Language Lesson
80-150CNY per personEnjoy a lesson in basic Mandarin and practice what you've learned with the locals.
Kung Fu Lesson
80-150CNY per personPick up some basic skills of Kung Fu and learn a bit of the history behind this ancient martial art form.
Moon Hill Entrance and Hike
15CNY per personEnjoy a hike up to Moon Hill, one of Yangshuo's most popular attractions. This karst hill has a huge hole through the middle that's shaped like the moon, hence its name. The views of the surrounding countryside from the hill are spectacular -- it's worth the climb!
Impression Liu Sanjie Culture Show
298CNY per personWhen the sun goes down, the Li River lights up for the 'Impression of Liu Sanjie' light show. The show consists of 7 episodes: the Prelude, Red Impression, Green Impression, Golden Impression, Blue Impression, Silvery Impression and the Epilogue. Each scene in the show is more spectacular and breathtaking than the last and is made up of 600 actors and actresses, colourful stage lights, and special-effect smoke systems. Watch the moonlight dance along the Li River combined with colourful lights and dancers as the show plays on!
Yangshuo Guided Cycle Tour
200CNY per personFollow the guide and cycle over the flat(ish) landscape past rice paddies, local farmers, and water buffalo. Marvel at the limestone karsts and hear the legends of how they came to be. Stop for lunch at the house of a local family for a tasty meal made from freshly grown produce.
Jia Community Restaurant
Enjoy a traditional Chinese meal served by rural women working to create new opportunities for their families. Since the migration of men to urban centres is common in rural regions, women and children now have a safe place to gather and learn together at Community Corners, created by the Rural Women's Development Foundation. In Liandaowan Village, you'll enjoy a meal and support women developing new work skills to become self-reliant. This initiative helps to create meaningful employment alternatives to agriculture as a source of income.
Day 4Yangshuo
Continue to explore beautiful Yangshuo with a free day.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Yangshuo, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like taking a tai chi lesson, indulging in a traditional massage, and checking out the Li River Light Show. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Central Chinese Cooking Class - Yangshuo
Calling all foodies! Get an inside look at real Chinese food with a tour of the Yangshuo market to learn about the ingredients used in the Yangshuo area. Afterward, learn to cook Chinese food in a traditional Chinese farmhouse in the beautiful countryside just outside Yangshuo. After the cooking class you can sit down and enjoy the delicious dishes you have prepared.
Yangshuo Tai Chi Lesson
80-150CNY per personLearn how to do Tai Chi, the local exercise regimen. Practice in any park around sunrise, and be sure to have company from locals.
Chinese Language Lesson
80-150CNY per personEnjoy a lesson in basic Mandarin and practice what you've learned with the locals.
Kung Fu Lesson
80-150CNY per personPick up some basic skills of Kung Fu and learn a bit of the history behind this ancient martial art form.
Moon Hill Entrance and Hike
15CNY per personEnjoy a hike up to Moon Hill, one of Yangshuo's most popular attractions. This karst hill has a huge hole through the middle that's shaped like the moon, hence its name. The views of the surrounding countryside from the hill are spectacular -- it's worth the climb!
Impression Liu Sanjie Culture Show
298CNY per personWhen the sun goes down, the Li River lights up for the 'Impression of Liu Sanjie' light show. The show consists of 7 episodes: the Prelude, Red Impression, Green Impression, Golden Impression, Blue Impression, Silvery Impression and the Epilogue. Each scene in the show is more spectacular and breathtaking than the last and is made up of 600 actors and actresses, colourful stage lights, and special-effect smoke systems. Watch the moonlight dance along the Li River combined with colourful lights and dancers as the show plays on!
Yangshuo Guided Cycle Tour
200CNY per personFollow the guide and cycle over the flat(ish) landscape past rice paddies, local farmers, and water buffalo. Marvel at the limestone karsts and hear the legends of how they came to be. Stop for lunch at the house of a local family for a tasty meal made from freshly grown produce.
Jia Community Restaurant
Enjoy a traditional Chinese meal served by rural women working to create new opportunities for their families. Since the migration of men to urban centres is common in rural regions, women and children now have a safe place to gather and learn together at Community Corners, created by the Rural Women's Development Foundation. In Liandaowan Village, you'll enjoy a meal and support women developing new work skills to become self-reliant. This initiative helps to create meaningful employment alternatives to agriculture as a source of income.
Day 5Yangshuo/Chengdu
Today, take the bullet train from Yangshuo to Chengdu. Transfer to your hotel and spend the rest of your day free to explore Chengdu.
Bullet Train
Get there quicker! Take the fast train from Yangshuo to Chengdu.
Metro
Transfer via public bus to your hotel in Chengdu.
Day 6Chengdu
Enjoy a free day to explore Chengdu, known for its spicy local food and the Giant Panda Breeding Centre.
Free Time
Get outside and discover Chengdu.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Evening Foodie tour by Tuk-Tuk
The best way to experience the greatest food Chengdu has to offer is by tuk-tuk. So climb aboard and join us as we venture through the city's winding alleys and bustling streets to discover the locals' favorite places. Often referred to as the “Heavenly Land of Plenty”, Chengdu is the perfect place for foodies. Visit a mix of family-owned restaurants and hidden snack shops to sample the local delicacies and leave with a full stomach and some unforgettable memories.
Wenshu Monastery
5CNY per personWenshu Monastery definitely worth a visit during your stay in Chengdu. The monastery was first built in Tang dynasty (618-907). More than 500 pieces of painting and calligraphy by celebrities are stored in this monastery. The exquisite garden and solemn halls are other highlights of this place.
Day 7Chengdu
Opt to see the Giant Pandas or continue exploring the vibrant city of Chengdu.
Free Time
Opt to visit Leshan and see the giant Buddha.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Wenshu Monastery
5CNY per personWenshu Monastery definitely worth a visit during your stay in Chengdu. The monastery was first built in Tang dynasty (618-907). More than 500 pieces of painting and calligraphy by celebrities are stored in this monastery. The exquisite garden and solemn halls are other highlights of this place.
Giant Panda Breeding Center
58CNY per personVisit the popular pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, created to provide an ideal breeding environment for these endangered creatures. Learn about their life cycle and habitat and take memorable photographs of these iconic national treasures. See a number of other rare species, including the little-known red panda. Arrive in the fall for a chance to see tiny newborn pandas.
Chengdu City Culture Tour
Spend the morning exploring a beautiful park as the locals perform their daily Taichi all around you. Pick up some Taichi for yourself, with the help of a martial arts master instructor. Learn about the philosophies of Taoism and Fengshui (Superstitious Wind and Water), and come away with a deeper understanding of the local way of life. Chengdu is the home of the Sichuan Opera, which has been performing since the 1700s. Get a once in a lifetime backstage experience as you watch them prepare their elaborate costumes and makeup. Join the locals in the audience for tea, snacks and incredible performance. No trip to Chengdu would be complete without a visit to its renowned antique market, the perfect opportunity to find a unique keepsake or support local artisans. Sample some local delicacies to learn more of Chengdu’s rich food scene, then head to a local teahouse to relax and learn more about tea culture. If you’re feeling lucky, learn more about Mahjong, then join a game. Don’t feel bad if you don’t do it well at first; it is one of Chengdu’s most popular games!
Day 8Chengdu/Luoyang
Say goodbye to Chengdu and its Giant Pandas and travel to Luoyang.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Day 9Luoyang
Arrive in Luoyang and opt to visit the Longmen Grottoes.
Enjoy time in Luoyang located in central China’s Henan province, widely recognized as the region where Chinese civilization originated. The city was China's ancient capital and is home to many Temples, and close by the Longmen Grottoes which contain thousands of Buddhist rock carvings dating back to the 5th century.
Free Time
Enjoy free time to explore local Temples.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Longmen Grottoes Visit
120CNY per personEnjoy a visit to this fantastic UNESCO World Heritage Site, with over 100,000 Buddha images carved into a mountain side. Giant panoramas featuring various images of Buddha are flanked by smaller statues that depict him in a variety of poses.
Day 10Luoyang/Song Shan
Catch the public bus with an overnight pack to Song Shan, a beautiful Mountain area best known as the home of the Shaolin Temple and birthplace of kung-fu. One of the five sacred Daoist Mountains of China, Dengfeng Shan, or Mount Song is a unique rock mountain containing many valleys, caves, pools, waterfalls, and steep cliffs. Hike the surrounding areas and get a glimpse into this scared natural area.
Free Time
Get out and explore this scenic region.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Day 11Song Shan/Beijing
Visit the Shaolin Temple, the home of Kung Fu. Transfer by private vehicle to Luoyang then board the bullet train to Beijing.
Explore the Shaolin Temple, birth place of China Zen Buddhism and UNESCO World Heritage site. Established in 495 AD, martial arts have been practiced here for 1500 years as a way to practice Zen Buddhism.
We'll have some time upon return to Luoyang to pick our bags up from storage.
Shaolin Temple Visit
Song Shan is home to the Shaolin Monastery and Temple, the mystical birthplace of the world famous martial art, Kung Fu. First founded in the 5th century, Shaolin has been rebuilt multiple times.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Bullet Train
Get to your next destination faster than the speed of light (ok maybe not that fast) aboard a high-speed train.
Metro
Get around underground via public transit.
Day 12Beijing
Arrive in bustling Beijing this morning and opt to visit the famous Great Wall with free time.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Beijing, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like shopping at the Silk Market, visiting the Summer Palace, and taking a hutong tour. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 12 HideShow
Forbidden City Tour
60CNY per personOur CEO will steer around crowds and help make the most of a visit to the Forbidden City.
Factory 798 Art & Galleries
Explore the modern art district of Beijing! Named after 798 factory which was built in 1950's, now an exhibition centre of Chinese culture and art, also the world - famous culture and creative industries centralized area. This is a place to not miss while in Beijing!
Mutianyu Great Wall Visit
60CNY per personClimb the rolling hills of Huairou County at Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. Enjoy scenic views as the wall winds along mountain ridges, and take brag-worthy photos of the wall from any of the 22 towers. The Great wall is an incredible piece of engineering stretching 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from nomadic northern tribes, and even though it failed in this purpose, it's still one of the country's most remarkable achievements and an iconic destination. The Mutianyu section of the Great Wall is located about 80km away from the Beijing City Center. The walk is approximately 5 kilometres and will take 2 to 3 hours depending on your level of fitness.
Beijing Acrobatics Performance
Enjoy an evening of spectacular acrobatics performed by some of China’s most talented performers and athletes. This unforgettable spectacle features Chinese-style tricks, like plate-spinning, contortion, foot-juggling, and a host of circus-style acrobatics, too.
Tiananmen Square
Explore one of the world's largest public squares and the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace with its Mao portrait, Mao's Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People, the National Museum, and with elaborate flag raising and lowering ceremonies at dawn and dusk, it's a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation.
Day 13Beijing
Depart at anytime.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.