Real China
Tour Description
Day 1: Beijing
You could travel for a lifetime in China, and there would still be more to explore – but this 12-day trip through the country’s highlights does a pretty good job of narrowing it down. Tick an ancient Wonder of the World off your bucket list at the Great Wall, witness the Terracotta Warriors in Xi-an and watch baby pandas play in Chengdu. Sip tea in People’s Park, taste delicious street food with a local leader who knows all the best spots and cycle through the misty countryside of Yangshuo – home to stunning vistas, Moon Hill and karst mountains. Start in Beijing and end in Hong Kong for some thriving nightlife and you’ve got a pretty cool adventure.
Itinerary
Day 1: Beijing
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, get acquainted with Beijing on your own and maybe walk around Silk Market and pick up some souvenirs or explore the Forbidden City. After your meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner and order your first Peking duck.
Day 2: Great Wall / Beijing
This morning, it’s time to visit the Great Wall – one of the Seven Wonders of the World – at Mutianyu, which is one of the best-preserved and easily accessed sections from Beijing. Hop on a public bus and take in the surrounding views (hopefully it’s a clear day!) – this is one to remember. A truly epic piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km westwards from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders in the north, and even though it failed in this purpose, it’s still without a doubt one of the country’s most amazing achievements. There’s an opportunity to take a thrilling toboggan ride to the base of the Great Wall, which is a unique way to rest your legs after all the ups and downs.
Day 3: Beijing / Overnight Train
Spend the morning exploring Tiananmen Square and follow your leader through the zigzag lanes known as the Hutong area. This is one of the most notable areas in Beijing because these lanes and courtyard houses are the root of old Beijing city and now, offering a peek into local life. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace, maybe visiting the Forbidden City if you haven’t already. Perhaps jump on a bike and ride through the hutongs, hang out in the Temple of Heaven Park or visit the Lama Temple. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train from Beijing to Xi’an in a six-berth, air-conditioned cabin.
Day 4: Xi’an
This morning, you’ll arrive in Xi’an – the imperial centre of China for 2000 years and now a vibrant, modern city dotted with interesting historical sites. Head out on a leader-led walking tour of the Muslim Quarter – famous for its food, this neighbourhood’s almost 1300 years old! Along the way, your leader will buy some dishes for you to sample. Some local specialties include persimmon cake, lamb skewers and sticky rice cakes, though it’ll depend on the season. Enjoy a free afternoon, where you can maybe hire a bike and ride to the top of Xi’an City Wall – the only intact ancient city wall in China. Tonight, your leader will take you to the lively square near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Seeing the 600-year-old temple ablaze with lights is pretty amazing, and it’s a great place to mingle with locals.
Day 5: Xi’an
This morning, you’ll visit Xi’an’s most famous site – the Terracotta Warriors. Take the metro and a public bus and spend a few hours exploring the fascinating location. Hear all about this incredible archaeological find (it was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after being buried for thousands of years). These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in battle formation were commissioned by the emperor of the Qin dynasty as part of his mausoleum, and now, several pits are on view to the public. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free – you might want to grab some local specialities for dinner, such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand-pulled noodles or barbecued meat skewers. Later, maybe head out to karaoke with your group and sing the night away.
Day 6: Chengdu
Hop on a high-speed train from Xi’an to Chengdu this morning. Chengdu has a very casual vibe and the locals tend to value pleasure more than work, so mahjong and tea are two of the most crucial parts of life here. Go on a walking tour with your leader to downtown Tianfu Square, where a giant statue of Chairman Mao stands. Continue to the lively People’s Park and sit down in a tea house to sip a brew and take advantage of the other services on offer (like ear cleaning and massages). Make the most of your time here and immerse yourself in local life by joining a group dance or martial arts practice or maybe just find a table and brush up on your mahjong skills.
Day 7: Chengdu
This morning, you’ll get the heartwarming opportunity to get up close with the adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu. Learn about the conservation efforts being made to repopulate this ancient species and watch them being fed, playing and sleeping (or just being plain cute in their playgrounds). Enjoy some more downtime in the afternoon to research pandas or check out the hip Kuanzhai Lane. You could also go searching for some spicy Chengdu snacks on Jinli Street.
Day 8: Yangshuo
Embrace a full day of travelling on the bullet train this morning, headed for Yangshuo – surrounded by limestone karsts, this city is super popular with both international and domestic tourists (which isn’t a bad thing if you’re into cafes and bars). It’s one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions while having plenty of fun at the same time. Take a walk through the town with your leader when you arrive and then head down to the Li River to get a feel for a landscape immortalised in Chinese paintings.
Day 9-10: Yangshuo
Hop on a bike and follow your leader on a cycling tour through the picturesque countryside of Yangshuo. Cycle past karst hills that rise from rice paddies and tiny villages, watching locals working the fields with water buffalo for company. Visiting this stunning region is a trip highlight for many travellers (so don’t forget your camera over these next two days), and every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot. Stop for lunch in a local family’s house and be treated to some homecooked local delicacies, like chicken and vegetables. Then, ride to Moon Hill and take a short hike to the famous archway for panoramic views of the area. Tonight and tomorrow are free in Yangshuo – maybe head out on a river cruise on the Li River and ask your leader for the best local eats.
Day 11: Hong Kong
Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to Hong Kong. You’ll be transferred to Guilin, then you’ll hop on the high-speed train. Tonight, you’ll go on a walking tour with your leader, checking out the Temple Street night market or the light show at Victoria Harbour. Take the chance to celebrate your final night with the group in this incredible city and hit the nightlife – as always, your leader will know some great spots.
Day 12: Hong Kong
With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Hong Kong, just speak to your booking agent.
Departure Dates
| Start Date | End Date | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 11, 2025 | Jun 22, 2025 | $1,925.00 | |
| Jun 25, 2025 | Jul 6, 2025 | $1,745.00 | |
| Jul 9, 2025 | Jul 20, 2025 | $1,658.00 | |
| Jul 16, 2025 | Jul 27, 2025 | $1,415.00 | |
| Jul 23, 2025 | Aug 3, 2025 | $1,665.00 | |
| Aug 6, 2025 | Aug 17, 2025 | $1,685.00 | |
| Aug 13, 2025 | Aug 24, 2025 | $1,730.00 | |
| Aug 20, 2025 | Aug 31, 2025 | $1,745.00 | |
| Sep 3, 2025 | Sep 14, 2025 | $1,730.00 | |
| Sep 10, 2025 | Sep 21, 2025 | $1,800.00 | |
| Sep 14, 2025 | Sep 25, 2025 | $1,800.00 | |
| Sep 17, 2025 | Sep 28, 2025 | $1,800.00 | |
| Oct 15, 2025 | Oct 26, 2025 | $1,845.00 | |
| Oct 29, 2025 | Nov 9, 2025 | $1,658.00 | |
| Nov 12, 2025 | Nov 23, 2025 | $1,805.00 | |
| Nov 19, 2025 | Nov 30, 2025 | $1,730.00 | |
| Nov 26, 2025 | Dec 7, 2025 | $1,710.00 | |
| Dec 17, 2025 | Dec 28, 2025 | $1,665.00 | |
| Jan 7, 2026 | Jan 18, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Feb 25, 2026 | Mar 8, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 11, 2026 | Mar 22, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 18, 2026 | Mar 29, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 25, 2026 | Apr 5, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| Apr 1, 2026 | Apr 12, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Apr 8, 2026 | Apr 19, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| Apr 15, 2026 | Apr 26, 2026 | $1,890.00 | |
| Apr 19, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| May 6, 2026 | May 17, 2026 | $1,890.00 | |
| May 13, 2026 | May 24, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| May 20, 2026 | May 31, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| May 27, 2026 | Jun 7, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jun 10, 2026 | Jun 21, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jun 24, 2026 | Jul 5, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jul 8, 2026 | Jul 19, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| Jul 22, 2026 | Aug 2, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jul 29, 2026 | Aug 9, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Aug 5, 2026 | Aug 16, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| Aug 19, 2026 | Aug 30, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 4, 2026 | Sep 15, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | $1,890.00 | |
| Sep 16, 2026 | Sep 27, 2026 | $1,890.00 | |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Sep 29, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 9, 2026 | Oct 20, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 27, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 21, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 28, 2026 | Nov 8, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Nov 4, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Nov 11, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | $1,815.00 | |
| Nov 25, 2026 | Dec 6, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Dec 16, 2026 | Dec 27, 2026 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jan 6, 2027 | Jan 17, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Feb 24, 2027 | Mar 7, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 10, 2027 | Mar 21, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 17, 2027 | Mar 28, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 24, 2027 | Apr 4, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Mar 31, 2027 | Apr 11, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Apr 7, 2027 | Apr 18, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Apr 14, 2027 | Apr 25, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Apr 18, 2027 | Apr 29, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| May 5, 2027 | May 16, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| May 19, 2027 | May 30, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| May 26, 2027 | Jun 6, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jun 9, 2027 | Jun 20, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jun 23, 2027 | Jul 4, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jul 7, 2027 | Jul 18, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jul 21, 2027 | Aug 1, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Jul 28, 2027 | Aug 8, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Aug 4, 2027 | Aug 15, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Aug 18, 2027 | Aug 29, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 3, 2027 | Sep 14, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 8, 2027 | Sep 19, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 15, 2027 | Sep 26, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Sep 17, 2027 | Sep 28, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 8, 2027 | Oct 19, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 20, 2027 | Oct 31, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Oct 27, 2027 | Nov 7, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Nov 10, 2027 | Nov 21, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Nov 24, 2027 | Dec 5, 2027 | $1,750.00 | |
| Dec 15, 2027 | Dec 26, 2027 | $1,750.00 |