High Lights

＊ Explore the memorable limestone karst scenery of Yangshuo, immortalised in countless traditional Chinese paintings
＊ Spend the night in a guesthouse in the lovingly restored town of Yunnan, visit the Market and be transported back to when it was a significant stop on the Tea Horse Trail
＊ Enjoy two days to hike around the dramatic scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge
＊ Stay in the centre of Lijiang’s Old Town and get lost in its culture and jumble of shops and temple-filled alleyways
＊ Discover Shanghai’s bright lights, fevered trade and frenetic pace, which provides a glimpse into modern China.
＊ Like everything it does, China’s ancient history is on an epic scale-see in the faces of the thousands or Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, and in the endless stretch of the Great Wall as you walk along it.
＊ Get a hands-on insight into Chinese dishes and ingredients with a cooking class in Yangshuo.

Take a journey into a land overflowing with ancient history, myth and legend but heading fast into the modern world. From contemporary Hong Kong, step back in time with the painterly scenery of the Yunnan and Guangxi provinces.The enigmatic faces of the Terracotta Warriors and the imperial highlights of Beijing, and also the Great
Wall set in rolling hills. This is a trip that will bring you the real China, where tradition and modernity fuse in an exhilarating concoction.

Is this trip right for you?
This trip uses a mix of transport for a local experience including overnight trains and plane, as a well as private buses. The trip covers a fair amount of ground, so be prepared for some long journeys. We suggest packing relatively lightly for this trip, as you’ll need to be able to comfortably carry your luggage for the duration of the trip. This includes
to and from accommodation, and on and off flights, trains and buses. Accommodation on this trip is on a twin-share basis, unless booking a Single Supplement.

Itinerary
Day 1 Hong Kong
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you are back in time to meet the group.

Day 2 Hong Kong/Yangshuo
Arrive to Guilin by train and transfer to the nearby village of Yangshuo. The Li River and
the limestone karst mountains interspersed with picturesque riverside villages and markets make this area perhaps the best known scenic attraction in the region.

Day 3 Yangshuo
Take a full-day bike ride through the surrounding countryside with a local guide to gain insight into rural Chinese life. Enjoy lunch at a local family’s home.

Day 4 Yangshuo/Kunming
After a free morning in Yangshuo, transfer to Guilin and fly to Kunming,
capital city of Yunnan. Free Time

Day 5 Kunming/Dali
Take a walk around the Bird and Flower Market in Kunming before
boarding an express bus to Dali. With free time, opt to visit the old town, take
a boat around Lake Erhai, or ride a bike to Xizhou.

Day 6 Dali
Enjoy a free day to continue exploring this scenic town.

Day 7 Dali/Lijiang
Travel by bus to Lijiang and take an orientation walk before free time to explore on your own. Dali-Lijiang3h-3h30m148km

Day 8 Lijiang/Yongsheng County
Bus to Tiger Leaping Gorge and start on the famous hike. The route follows
the stunning scenery of the Yangtze as it cuts through the gorge.

Day 9 Yongsheng County/Lijiang
Continue the hike through Tiger Leaping Gorge. After completing the trek, drive back to Lijiang.

Day 10 Lijiang
Enjoy a day to discover Lijiang. Opt to explore the UNESCO Heritage-listed
Old Town or visit the Black Dragon Pool Park..

Day 11 Lijiang/Chengdu
Chengdu, the capital of Sichuanprovince, is a city of almost 12 million people, which still manages to retain some of its older characteristics and traditions.

Day 12 Chengdu
Visit the Panda Breeding Center for an up-close experience with these gentle
giants. Later, board an overnight train to Xi’an.

Day 13 Xi’an
Trip ends on arrival at Xi’an train station at approximately 1pm.Enjoy an
orientation walk through the Muslim Quarter, cycle the ancient city walls.

Day 14 Xi’an/Beijing
Xi’an Take a guided tour of the Terracotta Warriors where more than 8,000
clay soldiers and hundreds of replica horses and chariots stand in three pits. Learn why the Emperor Qin Shihuang commissioned the statues to serve as his army in the afterlife and how they were discovered.

Day 15 Beijing
Explore the vast expanses o f Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden
City. Use free time to shop in the various markets scattered throughout
the city, take a tour of the ancient hutongs (alleyways) in Beijing’s old
city or visit the Tibetan Monastery.

Day 16 Beijing
Travel north to the Great Wall. One of the most iconic sights in all of
China, spend the better part of the day exploring and taking photos, soaking
in the atmopshere.

Day 17 Departure