Highlights of China tour

DAY 1: Meet in Hong Kong . Visit Victoria Peak
Your Hong Kong to Beijing adventure starts today! After arriving in bustling Hong Kong, make your way to your hostel where you can drop your belongings. Meet your adventure leader early this afternoon.

We’ll then take you for your first glimpse of incredible Hong Kong, with a trip up Victoria Peak to see the sunset over the skyline. After that, we’re heading to Tsim Sha Tsui, where you’ll watch the ‘Symphony of Light’ show from the Avenue of Stars. Finally, if your busy day has you ready to eat, you’re in luck. You’ll head to the Temple Street Night Market, where your Adventure Leader will be on hand to show you the best places to grab a late dinner.
OVERNIGHT:
Hong Kong hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
None

DAY 2: Head to Yangshuo
We’re up bright and early this morning, ready to head to the train station. We’ll be taking the bullet train to Guilin. From there, it’s a bus to your hostel where you’ll arrive in the early evening. If you’d like, why not head out into Yangshuo to get your first taste of local food!

OVERNIGHT:
Yangshuo hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 3: Yangshuo (free day, options available)
You have a free day in Yangshuo today. To help you make the most of your time here, why not try some of these exciting optional activities?

Try your hand at cooking up some traditional Chinese foods, at a friendly culinary institute.
Enjoy kayaking among the mountains along the Li River!
Experience some relaxing Chinese traditional therapies – like Hot Cupping!
OVERNIGHT:

Yangshuo hostel
MEALS:
None
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DAY 4: Yangshuo, bike ride & bamboo rafting
Today begins with an unmissable bike ride around the local area, along with a cruise down the Yulong River on bamboo rafts. If you’re bringing your camera (which you definitely should!) – make sure it’s waterproof!

Later, you have the option of heading to the Moon Hill complex to get dirty! In this cave complex, you’ll find mud baths and hot springs galore. In the evening, you have the option of joining your fellow travellers for a spot of fun out in the local area.

OVERNIGHT:
Yangshuo hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 5: Yangshuo, free day (optional excursions available)
You day if free today to relax and enjoy the idyllic setting, or alternatively you can try your hand out at one of the many adventure activities on offer. These include rock climbing, kayaking, fishing, mountain biking and more. You can also jump on bikes to explore the surrounding countryside.

OVERNIGHT:
Yangshuo hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 6: Yangshuo, train to Chengdu
Today we make our way by train to Chengdu, situated in the heart of Western China in Sichuan province. Sichuan province is renowned for its beautiful countryside, there are many attractions on offer and the food is amazing. We transfer by metro to your hostel.

OVERNIGHT:
On board sleeper train
MEALS:
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DAY 7: Chengdu, Panda Research Centre Visit & Chinese lesson
Chengdu has plenty of sights and experience to keep you busy during your stay, but today you'll have a once in a lifetime opportunity to visit the Giant Panda Research and Breeding Centre, here you'll learn more about the efforts being made to breed and reintroduce pandas to the wild. While you won't be able to hold the Pandas, you'll have a chance to get up close to these beautiful creatures. After this, it’s time to brush up your Chinese skills! Your Adventure Leader will give you a Mandarin lesson, where you’ll learn all the key phrases you’ll need to make the most of your time in China.

In the evening you might like to head out to experience a night out in Chengdu and perhaps try the traditional dish of Sichuan Hotpot for dinner.

OVERNIGHT:
Chengdu hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 8: Chengdu (free day, options available).
You have some free time in Chengdu today to explore at leisure, or join our optional excursion to Leshan, to see the Worlds largest stone Buddha.

OVERNIGHT:
Chengdu hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 9: Chengdu, free time (optional excursions available), then train to Xi'an
After some free time in Chengdu where you can visit WenShu monastery and a traditional Chinese tea house, we board the train to Xi'an, cultural capital of China. Start and end of the famous "Silk Route", Xi'an is like a history book of China and the perfect place to explore the countries rich and interesting culture.

OVERNIGHT:
Xi'an hostel
MEALS:
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DAY 10: Xi'an, optional cycling tour
Today there is the option to take a bike ride over the city walls, an excellent way to get you bearing and a good overview of the city. In the evening is free for you to enjoy, perhaps try a dinner of local street foods at the Muslim Quarter and relax after dinner by visiting the local Silk Road market nearby.

OVERNIGHT:
Xi'an hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 11: Xi'an, Terracotta Warriors tour
Today we take you to visit the legendary Terracotta Warriors, row upon row of life-size statues stand silent guard over the burial place of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China. In the evening you'll have the chance to visit the Star Sun home for people with disabilities and to volunteer. Then it's time for a night out Chinese style!

OVERNIGHT:
Xi'an hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 12: Dengfeng, optional kung fu lesson & show
This morning we board the public bus to DengFeng, the closest village to the Shaolin Temple. The rest of the day if free to take an optional kung fu lesson & show at a local children's Home run by the Shaolin Temple. Here the monks teach the children to be kung fu masters. All proceeds go directly to the children's home. We also have a second Mandarin lesson to help brush up on your language skills.

OVERNIGHT:
Dengfeng hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 13: Dengfeng (optional excursions available)
The day is free to explore more of Dengfeng and it's surrounding. You can visit the world famous Shaolin Temple and watch the masters of Kung Fu perform their amazing feats set amongst the beautiful temple courtyards. We'll take a hike to Dharma cave, spiritual centre for Buddhist pilgrims, before we board the overnight train to Beijing.

OVERNIGHT:
DengFeng hostel
MEALS:
None
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DAY 14: Bullet train to Beijing. Great Wall Camping
This morning we're up early to take the bullet train to Beijing, we'll arrive by late morning. Late afternoon we visit one of the wonder of the world, the Great Wall of China. To obtain permission to access the locals only sections of the unrestored Great Wall, we enjoy a mandatory meal at a local farm. We'll then hike on totally unrestored sections of the Wall where we set up camp on a deserted section of the wall. In the evening we take in sunset in this ancient and dramatic setting (Please note, due to cold weather before the end of April and after September, we stay in a guest house near the Wall instead of camping, but still return to the Wall to watch sunrise in the morning. Between April and September monsoon rain may also mean we are unable to camp on the wall.).

OVERNIGHT:
Great Wall camping
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 15: Beijing, free day (optional excursions available)
After sunrise on the Wall we return back to Beijing. Back in Beijing the rest of the day is free for you to explore at your own leisure or try one of the many optional tour available (see the Options tab for all available local options). Perhaps you could visit the Olympic Bird's Nest Stadium, or enjoy the incredible Beijing Acrobatics Show. For dinner tonight there is a chance to taste Beijing's signature dish Peking Roast Duck, enjoyed exclusively by royalty in ancient times.

OVERNIGHT:
Beijing hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
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DAY 16: Beijing (free day, options available)
Today is a full free day to see more of Beijing like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. In the evening you could explore the WangFuJing night market where you can push your taste buds to the limit and sample many foods you'll have never tried before, like scorpion, bugs and more.

OVERNIGHT:
Beijing hostel
MEALS:
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EXTRAS:
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DAY 17: Beijing, tour ends
Today the tour ends so this is your last day to see more of Beijing like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Temple of Heaven. In the evening you could explore the WangFuJing night market where you can push your taste buds to the limit and sample many foods you'll have never tried before, like scorpion, bugs and more.

OVERNIGHT:
Beijing hostel
MEALS:
None
EXTRAS:
None