Days 1-4 | Beijing Your south china tour begins in Beijing, this amazing capital city.
There's no official arrival time for the first day. You will need to ask reception when you arrive at your accomodation for your note which will tell you where and when to meet your leader for the welcome meeting.
Note that your group leader will collect your local payment at the group meeting on day 1. Please bring new US$ bills/notes in large denominations.
For those who arrive early, a great way to get started is to rent a bike and venture onto the streets to get a feel for this enormous city. There is simply so much to see and do in Beijing that it's well worth staying 3 nights.
While here, we have a trip to the Great Wall (approx. 3 hours each way), where we take a walk from along the Jingshanling to Simatai section of the Wall (approx. 5 hours walk). An incredible piece of engineering, the Wall stretches over 6,000 km from the eastern coast of China all the way to the mountain ridges north of Beijing. Originally constructed to protect the Chinese empires from the 'barbarians' of the north, the Wall ultimately failed in its purpose but remains a poignant reminder of the power of the Middle Kingdom.
Beijing itself is the capital of all capitals and we take time to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, followed by a visit to an Intrepid-supported local charity, Beijing Huiling, which provides training and opportunities for locals with mental disabilities.
Other sights that you might want to visit in your free time include the Temple of Heaven, the Summer Palace and the Lama Temple. Alternatively, you might want to shop in one of the many markets or explore the hutongs of the Old City.
Our hotel in Beijing is clean, twin share with private bathroom and in a great location.
In the evening of day 4, we board the overnight train to Xi'an (approx. 13 hours). Although it's a long journey, train travel in China is interesting and reasonably comfortable. We use hard sleeper class trains for most of our overnight train journeys. These are not as rough as they sound - compartments are open-plan, clean, with padded berths (6 to a compartment), sheets, a blanket and hot water available. Most trains have a dining carriage where meals are available three times a day, and there are snacks available on the train along the way.
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Days 5-7 | Xi'an We arrive in Xi'an early in the morning of day 5 followed by an orientation walk (approx. 1 hour) to get you better acquainted with this ancient city. We will walk past many interesting sites you can further explore like the Muslim Quarter, Bell and Drum Towers, Ancient Street and Bar Street on our search for the best local facilities and the tastiest snack food.
This former imperial capital is our base for a day trip to the Terracotta Warriors, situated just a short drive out of town (approx. 1 hour each way). These remarkable stone warriors, no two alike, have been buried for over 2,200 years and are all facing east in battle formation, complete with horses and chariots.
In your free time afterwards, why not head out for some independent exploration? There are many other attractions on offer in the city of Xi'an, including the Great Mosque (which is a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city) and the fantastic evening food markets. The centre of Xi'an is enclosed by an enormous city wall, which is a great place to view the city or to watch the locals in the morning doing tai chi and ballroom dancing.
Our hotel in Xi'an is clean, twin-share with private bathroom and in a great location.
On day 7 we leave Xi'an mid-afternoon on an overnight train bound for the capital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu (approx. 17 hours).
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Days 8-9 | Chengdu/Leshan Chengdu has managed to preserve some of its traditional flavour and you'll still be able to find legendary teahouses as well as some of the most interesting foods in China, including the spicy Sichuan hot pot.
Upon arrival in Chengdu on the morning of day 8, we will take a short orientation walk of the local area surrounding our hotel. Your leader will point out where to find an ATM or local bank, laundry shops, internet cafes and the best places to sample the local delicacies.
On day 8 we also make a morning visit to the Giant Panda Reserve, to witness the conservation efforts being made to save this adorable endangered species. We then have the afternoon free to explore the Wenshu Monastery, sip freshly brewed tea in one of the many teahouses in Chengdu, get a massage or maybe sample some of the local specialties. A Sichuan cultural performance should not be missed.
Our hotel in Chengdu is clean, twin share with private bathroom and in a great location.
We travel by private bus early in the morning of day 9 to the town of Leshan (approx. 2.5 hours) which is home to the world's largest outdoor seated Buddha. 'Da Fo' - the Buddha - is carved into a cliff face and is 71 m tall. We then continue on to the Baoguo Monastery (approx. 1 hour) which is the base for our excursion to the famous Mt Emei, one of the most famous Buddhist sites in China
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Days 10-11 | Emei Shan The views from the 3,099 m peak at Mt Emei are truly spectacular on a clear day, and on day 10 we travel by local bus and cable car to soak it up (approx. 3 hours). The truly energetic can join the procession of pilgrims winding their way down the mountain on foot (approx. 6 hours), weather permitting. For the less energetic, we can take the public bus back down the mountain and then a 2 hour walk to our accommodation at one of the mountain's monasteries. Although basic, it keeps our travellers raving!
Day 11 is free to explore the beautiful countryside at the base of the mountain and provides ample opportunity for leisurely paced walks - this tranquil area is a welcome retreat from the hustle and bustle of Chinese cities. It's also possible to visit local hot springs to relax and revive. At night, we stay at one of the monasteries or in similar accommodation.
Our accommodation at the Buddhist monasteries is basic but atmospheric, with pillows and blankets provided and shared bathroom facilities. During religious festivals or busy periods, we may have to stay at a guesthouse in Emei town.
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Days 12-16 | Yangzi RiverOn the morning of day 12, we catch a local bus to the industrial city of Chongqing (approx. 6 hours), the gateway to the Yangzi River and then another short transfer (30 minutes) to the starting point of our Three Gorges boat trip.
Water levels permitting, we board a boat tonight for a journey along the mighty Yangzi River. We spend 2 full days on board a basic Chinese-style boat, cruising through the Three Gorges en route to Yichang. Our cabins are clean, twin-share with private toilet and shower facilities, but not luxurious. Along the way, we may have the opportunity to visit some of the many attractions and towns, and at one stage, we leave our river boat to take a trip down a tributary of the Yangzi River.
We stay in a basic hotel in the city of Yichang on the evening of day 15 and get a chance to try some of the local flavours.
On the morning of day 16 we take a private transfer to Wuhan (approx. 5 hours) and then board an overnight train to Guilin (approx. 13 hours).
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Days 17-19 | Yangshuo Arriving in Guilin very early in the morning of day 17, we transfer by bus (approx. 1.5 hours) to the small countryside town of Yangshuo, where the Li River winds its way around thousands of limestone karst mountains. Each are impressively named, in true Chinese tradition!
After checking into our guesthouse your leader will accompany you on a 30 minute orientation walk pointing out where to grab the best local noodles and best shopping in Yangshuo.
There are many activities you can enjoy in your free time here: a boat ride along the stunning Li River, stopping at picturesque villages along the way, calligraphy, tai chi or cooking lessons or a walk by the river to observe local traditions such as cormorant fishing.
On day 18 we take a full-day bike ride through the surrounding countryside with a local guide to gain an insight into rural Chinese life, stopping to have a scrumptious lunch in a local farmer's home or in a riverside cafe. This is an absolutely stunning region to explore, as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location, and this is why Yangshuo is a firm favourite with travellers.
Our guesthouse in Yangshuo is clean, twin-share and centrally located with laundry facilities available.
We travel back to Guilin in the evening by bus and board an overnight train to Shenzhen in the evening of day 19 (approx. 13 hours).
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Days 20-21 | Hong Kong After a mid-morning arrival in Shenzhen we cross the border into Hong Kong.
After checking into our hotel we will take a short orientation walk of the area surrounding our hotel. Your leader will point out where the nearest subway is, some local eateries and possibly even where to grab a bargain.
There are plenty of things to do in Hong Kong - explore Stanley Market, shop, eat, go up Victoria Peak or take a harbour cruise. Be prepared for the change of pace as we enjoy a final night's dinner in one of the most dynamic city in Asia. As this trip doesn't include much time here at all, you may wish to arrange extra nights' accommodation in this exciting city.
Our hotel in Hong Kong is clean, twin-share with private bathroom and in a great location, just a short walk from the markets.
There are no activities planned for day 21 and you are able to depart the hotel at any time. Check out time from the hotel is at 12 noon. If you are departing later, you can arrange luggage storage at the hotel.
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Itinerary DisclaimerPlease note: occasionally our itineraries are updated during the year to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers' comments and our own research and may change with no prior notice.
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