{"id":33181,"date":"2019-02-26T04:05:05","date_gmt":"2019-02-25T17:05:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/?p=33181"},"modified":"2025-02-26T03:49:00","modified_gmt":"2025-02-25T16:49:00","slug":"active-travel-in-china","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/active-travel-in-china\/","title":{"rendered":"Active traveller? Here\u2019s why you should visit China"},"content":{"rendered":"

The impressive diversity of China\u2019s landscapes makes it the perfect outdoor playground for those obsessed with all things active.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mountains for climbing, rice terraces for hiking, city walls for cycling<\/a>, bays for kayaking, seas for swimming and more. There\u2019s no end to the active adventures<\/a> that await you in China<\/a> and to help you decide where to start I\u2019ve whittled them down to a handful of highlights.<\/p>\n

Running the Great Wall of China<\/h2>\n
\"Traveller

Izf\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Since 2012, avid runners from around the world have flocked to the famous Jinshanling section of the Great Wall to test their endurance in a race like no other. Travellers can choose whether to take part in a 10k, half or full marathon, running or in some cases clambering this punishing route over several hours. But running the Great Wall isn\u2019t your only opportunity to experience it, walking helps you to really grasp its magnitude and the incredible scenery that it winds through.<\/p>\n

Kayaking around the islands of Hong Kong<\/h2>\n

Bustling Hong Kong is best known for its bright lights and soaring skyscrapers. But sprinkled along its coastline you\u2019ll also find luscious green islets, vast limestone caverns and unspoiled golden beaches. The Sai Kung peninsula is an ideal starting point for an island-hopping excursion, so jump in your kayak and start paddling. This is a brilliant way to access some of Hong Kong\u2019s oldest and most remote fishing villages and to engage with the locals that call these places home.<\/p>\n

Hiking across the Longji Rice Terraces<\/h2>\n
\"Traveller<\/a>

Creative Family\/Shutterstock<\/p><\/div>\n

Nicknamed the Dragon\u2019s Backbone because of its semblance to dragon scales in spring, the Longji Rice Terraces are some of the most impressive on the planet. Dating back as far as the Yuan Dynasty, the late 13th century, these paddies have a long history. There are plenty of trails to try out, but perhaps the best known is the one connecting Ping\u2019an and Dazhai. On your hike, you\u2019ll likely come across people going about their daily business, a brilliant window into life in these rural parts of China.<\/p>\n

Climbing Emei Shan<\/h2>\n

Home to China\u2019s first Buddhist temple, Emei Shan is one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains across the country. Towering at over 3,000 metres you can take a three-hour hike up the misty peaks to a monastery enveloped by wispy clouds. Spending the night here is a truly unique experience, as you wake to the sounds of drums and prayers. If you\u2019re not up to the climb, there\u2019s the option to ride the cable car marvelling at the country\u2019s natural beauty as you inch higher and higher above ground.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: WHY EMEI SHAN NEEDS TO BE ON YOUR CHINA BUCKET LIST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Cycling the Xi\u2019an City Wall<\/h2>\n
\"Cycling

Photo captured by Alison Armstrong<\/p><\/div>\n

Travellers often label Xi\u2019an as a highlight of their Chinese travels<\/a>. Irresistibly charming, it\u2019s guarded by a city wall that was built in the 1300s. The 14km paved route offers a great way to soak up the ancient capital\u2019s sights and gets your street food appetite going. There are plenty more opportunities to explore China on two wheels though. From cycling through the dramatic karst-dotted countryside of Yangshuo<\/a> to riding passed the many abandoned watchtowers of Kaiping and pedalling to the Ming tombs in Miyun.<\/p>\n

ALREADY BEEN TO CHINA? BROWSE INTREPID TRAVEL’S FULL RANGE OF ACTIVE TOURS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Learning kung fu in Beijing<\/h2>\n

Legend has it that Chinese martial arts originated as many as 4,000 years ago. There are loads of forms of Kung Fu, with Shaolin, Wing Chun and Tai Chi being some of the most widely practised. A lesson with a local master is a must. Get ready to pick up the basic principles, shake off common misconceptions and discover how this age-old practice relates to Zen traditions as you\u2019re shown a handful of simple moves.<\/p>\n

Whether you travel for food, family, festivals, local experiences, active adventures or anything else for that matter \u2013 there will be an Intrepid Travel small group tour of China<\/a> to suit you!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The impressive diversity of China\u2019s landscapes makes it the perfect outdoor playground for those obsessed with all things active. Mountains for climbing, rice terraces for hiking, city walls for cycling,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15998,"featured_media":33193,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1313],"tags":[5,1183,180,32,2287],"class_list":["post-33181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-active","tag-active-adventures","tag-asia","tag-china","tag-trekking-and-walking","ipf_theme-active-adventures","ipf_region-china"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Active Adventures To Have In China | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The diversity of China\u2019s landscapes makes it the perfect outdoor playground for those travellers obsessed with all things active.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/active-travel-in-china\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Active traveller? 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