Real China
Real China
Real China
12 Days Starting in Beijing and ending in Hong Kong
Visiting: Beijing, Great Wall / Beijing, Beijing / Overnight Train, Xi'an, Chengdu, Yangshuo, Hong Kong
Tour operator:
Tour code:
CBYC
Specialist Group:
18-30 Somethings
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 16
Physical rating:
Low, Low
Age range:
18-35 years
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$1140
$1026 (USD)
Operator discount: -$114
Tour Overview
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.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Beijing
Location: Beijing
Accommodation: Hotel
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
Location: Great Wall / Beijing
Accommodation: Hotel
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. Take in the surrounding views (hopefully it’s a clear day!) and take plenty of pics – 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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Beijing / Overnight Train
Location: 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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 4: Xi'an
Location: 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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 5: Xi'an
Location: Xi'an
Accommodation: Hotel
This morning, you’ll visit Xi'an's most famous site – the Terracotta Warriors. Take 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, hot pot or barbecued meat skewers. Later, maybe head out to karaoke with your group and sing the night away.
Included Activities:
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Day 6: Chengdu
Location: Chengdu
Accommodation: Hotel
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 7: Chengdu
Location: Chengdu
Accommodation: Hotel
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Yangshuo
Location: Yangshuo
Accommodation: Hotel
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.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 9-10: Yangshuo
Location: Yangshuo
Accommodation: Hotel
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.
Included Activities:
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Day 11: Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong
Accommodation: Hotel
Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to Hong Kong. You'll be transferred to Guilin, then you’ll hop on the high-speed train to Shenzhen. From there, cross the border into Hong Kong before heading to your hotel. 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.
Included Activities:
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Day 12: Hong Kong
Location: Hong Kong
Accommodation: Hotel
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.
What's Included
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Hong Kong - Leader-led walking tour
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Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall (entransce fee, transfer included)
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Beijing - Tiananmen Square
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Beijing - Leader-led hutong walking tour
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Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour (entrace fee, transport, local guide included)
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Xi'an - Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square walking tour
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Xi'an - Musllim quarter walking tour and snack sampling
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Chengdu - Walking tour (Tianfu Square, People's Park and Kuanzhai Lane)
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Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (entrance fee & transport included)
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Yangshuo - walking tour
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Overnight Hard Sleeper Train , Public bus , Private vehicle , High-speed Train , Subway , Taxi
Included Activities
- Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall (entransce fee, transfer included)
- Beijing - Tiananmen Square
- Beijing - Hutong walking tour
- Xi'an - Musllim quarter walking tour and snack sampling
- Xi'an - Big Wild Goose Pagoda Square walking tour
- Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour (entrace fee, transport, local guide included)
- Chengdu - Walking tour (Tianfu Square, People's Park and Kuanzhai Lane)
- Chengdu - Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
- Yangshuo - Walking tour
- Yangshuo - Countryside cycling
- Hong Kong - Walking tour
Accommodation
- OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
- TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
- Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.
- CHECK-IN TIME
- Throughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.
- PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
- If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
- HOTEL ROOMS:
- Some travellers have reported that hotels/accommodation in this region tend to have harder bed mattresses than those they are used to at home. You may like to request an extra quilt or bedding from the hotels if you find this an issue.
- SMOKING ROOMS:
- Smoking is prevalent in China and hotels generally do not offer specific non-smoking rooms. Larger hotels with central air conditioning will sometimes transport the smell of smoke between rooms. While we ask our hotels to ensure our rooms are well cleaned and ventilated well before occupation in some cases this is not possible, and the smell of smoke may linger. Please speak to your leader about the possibility of changing rooms if you encounter this.
- WIFI:
- WiFi is often available in hotel reception areas and sometimes in rooms. Your leader will be able to advise on the best places to get connected.
- HARD SLEEPER TRAINS CHINA:
- We use hard sleeper class trains for most of our overnight train journeys in China unless otherwise specified. These are not as rough as they sound - compartments are open-plan, clean, with padded berths (6 to a compartment) and sheets, a blanket/quilt & pillow provided. We recommend bringing your own sleeping sheet if you are concerned about the quality/cleanliness of sheets being not what you are used to. Basic bathroom facilities with toilets and washbasins are situated at the end of each carriage. As toilet paper isn't always available, it's best to bring an emergency supply.Most trains have a dining carriage where meals or snacks are available and all have hot water in each carriage for tea and instant noodles.
- While we aim to have our groups staying together there may be times where due to ticket availability the group will be staying in different compartments and carriages. The compartments are not segregated by gender and you may share with locals or other travelers instead of your own group members. Your leader will help you settle in once on board and it’s a great opportunity to experience first-hand how Chinese travel in the country. While railway services are rapidly being modernised in China, some train journeys on less frequented routes may use older rolling stock and the carriages of a more basic standard.
- GUESTHOUSES
- In smaller, rural locations in China we may stay in guesthouses, which are mostly small family run establishments. Facilities are basic compared to hotels and towels may not be provided. Please note that on occasion the group may be accommodated in separate guest houses within walking distance of each other.
Important Information
- 1.A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 3 (Sleeper train) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train tickets.
- 3. The overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an on this tour is in 6-berth 'hard-sleeper' class. Bedding is provided and wash basins and toilets (squat/western) are available in each carriage, but there are no shower facilities.
- 4. Please note while traveling through mainland China you will not be able to access some popular internet websites.
Check out our Q&As
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
No, this trip is catered for those aged 18-29 years
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Is this trip right for you
This trip packs a lot into a short amount of time, with very little time spent in Beijing and Hong Kong – it’s recommended that you extend your stay in these locations before and after your trip if you want to explore them in depth.
The overnight train included on this trip is in ‘hard sleeper’ class, meaning carriages are sectioned off with six sleepers per compartment in tiers of three. It’s not luxury but efficient and a way to spend time with local travellers. If you would prefer more comfort, upgrades to ‘soft sleeper’ (2 tier/4 berth compartments with lockable doors) can be booked (subject to availability) through your agent. -
Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
No
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Are international flights included in this tour?
No
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Dates & Availability
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Oct 15, 2025 - Oct 26, 2025Wednesday - Sunday
Nov 12, 2025 - Nov 23, 2025Book with Confidence
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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COVID Protection
Trips from 1 January 2023 onwards
From 1 January 2023, Intrepid will no longer require travellers to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.
However, we continue to strongly recommend that all travellers and leaders get vaccinated to protect themselves and other Specific proof of testing or vaccination may still be required by your destination or airline. Please ensure you check travel and entry requirements carefully.
This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination remains a requirement. Please refer to the Essential Trip Information of your chosen tour for more details. -
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