From Beijing to Xi'an: this is China at its most epic
You could travel for a lifetime in China and there would still be more to explore, taste and experience… but this 12-day tour does a pretty good job of narrowing it down to the essentials. That means big hitters like the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors and baby pandas. But it also means sipping tea in people’s Park, tasting street food in Xi’an and chilling in the misty countryside of Yangshuo. Ni hao baby!
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Eat your way through China from Beijing duck to Sichuan pepper, and challenge yourself with authentic local delicacies like silk worms, spicy rabbit head and beer fish.
Walk the walk on the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, watching the stones snake as far as the eye can see. If you’d like, you can even toboggan back down!
Go local every step of the way. See marquee highlights like the Terracotta Warriors with a local guide and sip tea with residents in People’s Park.
Watch rolly polly baby pandas playing, munching bamboo and generally doing their cute ol' thing at the Panda Breeding Centre.
Cycling through farms and villages in Yangshuo’s karst-dotted countryside is a trip highlight for many travellers, the perfect way to unwind in between chaotic cities.
This is an 18-29s trip; full of fun, flexibility and plenty of free time to explore at your own pace. If you are looking for a similar itinerary that you can book at any age, see our China Experience trip. Enter code CBSJ on the website search engine.
This trip packs a lot into a short amount of time, with very little time spent in our starting and finishing cities. We highly recommend allocating extra time in Beijing and Hong Kong before and after your trip if you want to explore them in depth.
Travelling like a local isn’t always glamourous. The overnight train travel 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 it’s 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.
1. A Single Supplement to have your own room is bookable on this trip, with the exception of the overnight train, subject to availability.
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.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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