Beijing to Hong Kong Adventure





Embark on a highlights adventure from Beijing to Hong Kong.
Hit the major sights and sounds of China on a 12-day adventure from Beijing to Hong Kong. See the magnificent Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an, the giant pandas of Sichuan and the striking limestone karsts in Yangshuo. Soak up the exciting neon lights in Hong Kong, meet locals over homemade dumplings and explore the countryside in Yangshuo. Travel with ease on China’s modern rail network for almost 4000 km and get up close and transcend time with a visit to an ancient town. With a knowledgeable small-group leader at the helm, your China adventure will be full of insightful history, delicious cuisine and unforgettable experiences.
4.9
76 reviewsStart: Beijing, China
End: Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Duration
- 12 days
- Group size
- 1 to 12
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Original
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer, Rail
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- See the heart of China, using the vast train network – you'll take one overnight train and three high-speed trains, covering almost 4000 km across the country from the north to the south – a fantastic way of low impact travelling!
- Be welcomed into a local guesthouse near the Great Wall – after hiking along this magnificent Wonder of the World – and join a dumpling demonstration for lunch.
- Explore the local countryside in the Yangshuo region, cycling through the riverbanks and karsts and stopping by a local home for a freshly prepared lunch.
- Embrace the epicurean delights of China with a leader-led tour of Xi’an’s Muslim quarter (where you can try lots of authentic snacks), a day in Chengdu, the City of Gastronomy, and a steaming bowl of hotpot.
- Veer off the busy tourist trail with a visit to the time-forgotten Taian Ancient Town, a hike down Mt Qingcheng – a sacred mountain in Taoism – and a meet and greet with giant pandas at the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Center.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe get acquainted with Beijing on your own before joining your group and leader for the meeting, then head out for an optional welcome dinner. Consider ordering Peking duck for your first meal in the country – first, the skin is carved and served in pancakes, then the rest is chopped and cooked into a soup. Yum!
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
This morning, get ready to tick one of the Wonders of the World off your list – the Great Wall of China, of course! You’ll visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall and spend some time exploring, taking photos and learning the history of this mighty sight. An incredible piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km west from Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders from the north and continues to be one of the country's most remarkable achievements and a worldwide icon. The Mutianyu section is one of the best-preserved and has a high density of watch towers dotted along the wall. There is also the option to ride a toboggan down the hills near the Great Wall too, if you’re after a bit of a thrill! After, head to a local guest house for a dumpling making demonstration, tucking into the delicious favourites for lunch with your hosts. Return to Beijing for a free afternoon and evening.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Lunch
- Great Wall - Dumpling making demonstration
- Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
- Beijing - Acrobat show (ticket) - CNY290
The option to take a cable car or chairlift up onto the wall, or take them down from the wall, and the option for taking the toboggan down are not included in your Great Wall visit. You may choose to do this at your own expense.
Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours. Your hiking time will be approximately 3 hours.
Visit the symbolic power centre of China this moring – Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Framed by the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao's Mausoleum and the Great Hall of the People, it's a place of pilgrimage for the Chinese tourists who consider it to be the heart of their nation. Cross the Golden Water bridge north to the square and enter the grounds of the enormous Forbidden City, which was built more than 600 years ago and has been off limits to commoners for almost all that time. Despite the transformation of the city around it, the Forbidden City looks much like it always has. Explore the halls and courtyards and appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Then, you’ll have a free afternoon to maybe explore the Hutong area in the old part of the city, which originated from Yuan Dynasty when the Mongols were in control of China. Now, it’s a local neighbourhood that represents the spirit of old Beijing. Leave in the early evening for an overnight train to Xi’an.
- Overnight Train (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Beijing - Forbidden City
- Beijing - Tiananmen Square
Your travel time tonight will be approximately 13 hours.
Compartments on the overnight train are clean, with padded two-tiered berths (4 to a compartment), with a slide door. Wherever possible, travellers will be grouped together, but depending on the size of the group and availability, you may share your compartment with other travellers outside the group. Sheets, pillows and a blankets are provided. Safe, hot drinking water is always available. It’s a good idea to bring a mug, spoon or fork if you will be preparing your own hot drinks or food on the train, otherwise there are snacks for sale on the train. Basic, shared bathroom facilities with toilets and washbasins are at the end of each carriage. Keep in mind, general train cleanliness may not be to the same standards you are accustomed to.
The maximum capacity for the Forbidden City has been reduced from 80,000 visitors a day to 30,000 a day after the pandemic. This now has a big impact on the availability of Forbidden City tickets to both tour groups and individual visitors, especially during high domestic travel season from March to October. The local team will try their best to secure the entrance tickets to the Forbidden City, however, in the odd cases where the visit becomes impossible, you'll visit Temple of Heaven instead which is another exemplary ancient architecture complex that’s a must see in Beijing.
Tiananmen Square can occasionally close without notice due to local events and ceremonies, especially in March when the National Congress Conference is held.
This morning upon arrival, you’ll journey outside of Xi’an to what is undoubtedly one of the man-made wonders of the world – the Terracotta Warriors. Learn all about this incredible archaeological find, which was discovered after being buried for 2000 years. These clay statues depicting soldiers, horses and chariots were commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huang as part of his mausoleum after he ascended to the throne in 264 BC. See over 1000 warriors, each individually sculpted from clay and with a different costume, height and facial expression. In the afternoon, return to Xi’an and refresh. In the late afternoon, you’ll head out on a walking tour of what was once the start of the Silk Road. Your leader will introduce you to the Muslim Quarter. Xi’an’s Silk Road history means it has an exciting mixture of cultures, especially found in its food – Muslim dishes are a specialty here! For tonight's dinner, you'll get to try a range of different snacks to get a real sense of the passion for food the locals have – maybe try some lamb kebabs, persimmon cake, cold noodles, fried rice with pickles or a varied range of dried fruits.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Dinner
- Xi'an - Leader-led Muslim Quarter snack crawl
- Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
Today is a free day to explore Xi’an at your own pace. Within the ancient city walls, this city is very walkable! You could also hop on a bike on the city wall for a different perspective. Maybe visit the Bell Tower, which according to legend was built to restrain dragons that were causing earthquakes, or the Drum Tower, which is full of instruments once used to mark time and warn the population in emergencies. Maybe see the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and its squares, which now is a popular hotspot in the city for the locals – music, fountains, dancing, and lots of food!
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Xi'an - Tang Dynasty Show - CNY290
- Xi'an - City Wall bike hire - CNY45
- Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Xi'an - Big Goose Pagoda (entrance fee) - CNY80
- Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50
Take the bullet train to Chengdu and transfer to Mt Qingcheng. On the way, stop and visit the Dujiangyan Panda Breeding Center to learn how they introduce the pandas back into the wild after the breeding program, which battles against extinction. Then, head on to Mt Qingcheng – where philosopher Zhang Ling founded the doctrine of Chinese Taoism in 142 AD. Most of the temples on the mountain represent the main teachings of Taoism, having been built in the Jin and Tang dynasties. Explore the ancient town at the foot of the mountain with your leader, wander the old streets lined with houses that were built hundreds of years ago and soak in the scenery. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a hotpot dinner in town (spicy bubbling broth cooking fresh meat and vegetables).
- Hotel (1 night)
- Dinner
- Dujiangyan - Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base
- Mt. Qingcheng - Tai'an Ancient Town visit
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
This morning, you’ll continue to explore Mt Qingcheng with your leader. Take the cable car up the mountain for some incredible panoramic views, then take the easy hike back down. While you walk through the ancient forest, listen to the chimes of old temples and maybe find your own meditative state within the trees. After, take a private transfer to Chengdu. Here, you’ll head out on a walking tour through Tianfu Square (spot the giant statue of Chairman Mao!) and the People’s Park. Perhaps take the chance to sit down in a traditional tea house with your free time this afternoon. Tonight, make the most of Chengdu’s culinary offerings for dinner – Chengdu was listed a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO, so you know you’re in for a treat!
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Chengdu - Leader-led walking tour
- Chengdu - People's Park & Tianfu Square
- Mt. Qingcheng - Cable Car (one way)
- Mt. Qingcheng - hike
- Chengdu - Sichuan Opera (ticket) - CNY260
Your travel time today will be approximately 1.5 hours. Your hiking time will be approximately 2 hours.
Embrace a full day of travelling from Chengdu to Yangshuo today. Hop on a high-speed train from Chengdu to Guilin, then transfer to your hotel in Yangshuo. Surrounded by limestone karsts, Yangshuo is popular with both international and local tourists and has become a hub for those wanting to explore the natural side of China. Take a walk through the town with your leader and head down to the Li River to get a feel for the landscape, having been immortalised in many paintings and summed up by Han Yu, a Tang dynasty poet – ‘the river winds like a green silk ribbon, while the hills are like jade hairpins.’
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Yangshuo - Walking Tour
Your travel time today will be approximately 7 hours.
This morning, strap on your trainers and get active with a bike ride through the striking natural landscape. You’ll head into the countryside and gain a true insight into rural Chinese life. Stop by a local house for a delicious home-cooked meal from locally grown produce. You’ll have a guide during the ride, and helmets and bike rental are included. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free for you to explore Yangshuo’s lively restaurant and bar scene, so perhaps grab yourself some pork stuffed tofu or ‘beer fish’ (a regional specialty of fish simmered in a fragrant broth).
- Hotel (1 night)
- Lunch
- Yangshuo - Bike Tour with Lunch & Moon Hill Visit
- Yangshuo - Moon Hill (entrance fee) - CNY15
- Yangshuo - Massage/Hot cupping - CNY100
If you are unable to cycle today, there's the option of hiring a local taxi/van at your own expense to join the rest of the group for lunch. Please let your tour leader know in advance so that they can assist in arranging this.
The cycling tour will take about 4-5 hours including stops and lunch.
Today is as clear as Yangshuo’s spring, and there are plenty of optional activities to choose from. You could begin the day by focusing your body and mind with a morning tai chi class or kung-fu lesson. Perhaps try your hand at Chinese calligraphy, or book in a relaxing cruise down the Li or Yulong River. Maybe visit the market to shop with the locals and get a feel for the regional produce, and perhaps put this new knowledge to use in a cooking class at the Yangshuo Cooking School. Later, you can book in to watch the Liu San Jie Impression Light Show, which runs every night and has been staged by 2008 Beijing Olympics’ Opening Ceremony director, Zhang Yimou. It’s best to book tickets in advance to ensure you have an ideal viewing and get to see the show from the official seating area.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Yangshuo - Impressions Liu Sanjie light show (minimum 4 people) - CNY328
- Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour - CNY230
- Yangshuo - Li River Cruise - CNY230
- Yangshuo - Xianggongshan & Tea Farm Visit (Minimum 6, transport and entrance fee) - CNY358
Take a private bus to the train station, then board a bullet train to Hong Kong. When you arrive, follow your leader on an orientation walk near your hotel. Hong Kong's cityscape is spectacular, and its modern fast-paced life is only minutes from picturesque islands and beaches. The locals are very proud of their Cantonese culture and history, so step out of the shopping malls and off the main streets to discover another side of the city. This evening, enjoy an optional final farewell dinner to sample some of the best Cantonese dishes.
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Hong Kong - Leader-led orientation Walk
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
There are no activities planned for the today, and you’re free to leave at any time. It’s highly recommended that you spend a couple of extra days here so that you can make the most of Hong Kong. If you would like to book additional accommodation, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
There are no meals included on this day.
Inclusions and activities
2 lunches, 2 dinners
Private vehicle, Overnight Train, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi
Hotel (10 nights), Overnight Train (1 night)
- Great Wall - Dumpling making demonstration
- Beijing - Mutianyu Great Wall
- Beijing - Forbidden City
- Beijing - Tiananmen Square
- Xi'an - Leader-led Muslim Quarter snack crawl
- Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
- Dujiangyan - Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base
- Mt. Qingcheng - Tai'an Ancient Town visit
- Chengdu - Leader-led walking tour
- Chengdu - People's Park & Tianfu Square
- Mt. Qingcheng - Cable Car (one way)
- Mt. Qingcheng - hike
- Yangshuo - Walking Tour
- Yangshuo - Bike Tour with Lunch & Moon Hill Visit
- Hong Kong - Leader-led orientation Walk
- Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) - CNY40
- Beijing - Acrobat show (ticket) - CNY290
- Xi'an - Tang Dynasty Show - CNY290
- Xi'an - City Wall bike hire - CNY45
- Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) - CNY25
- Xi'an - Big Goose Pagoda (entrance fee) - CNY80
- Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) - CNY50
- Chengdu - Sichuan Opera (ticket) - CNY260
- Yangshuo - Moon Hill (entrance fee) - CNY15
- Yangshuo - Massage/Hot cupping - CNY100
- Yangshuo - Impressions Liu Sanjie light show (minimum 4 people) - CNY328
- Yangshuo - Cooking School & Market Tour - CNY230
- Yangshuo - Li River Cruise - CNY230
- Yangshuo - Xianggongshan & Tea Farm Visit (Minimum 6, transport and entrance fee) - CNY358
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- As this trip spends very little time in Beijing and Hong Kong, we recommend you spend arrive a few extra days before or after your trip if you want to experience all these cities have to offer.
- Be prepared for some long travel days as we need to cover plenty of ground in order to see China's main highlights and include a good variety of experiences. On the other hand, the scenery is absolutely amazing, so sit back, relax and soak it up.
- China’s world-class sites and experiences draw large numbers of local and international travellers. We recommend a little patience and comfortable shoes as you may need to wait before entering the more popular locations on your itinerary.
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.
Beijing Chongwenmen Hotel 北京崇文门饭店
No.2 Chongwenmen West Stree, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Beijing
CHINA
Phone: +86 1065122211
Description
Beijing Chong Wen Men Hotel enjoys a convenient location just a 5-minute walk from Chongwenmen subway station, which links to various attractions in Beijing. It is an 8-minute drive from the shopping belt of Wangfujing Street, an 8-minute drive from Temple of Heaven, and a 10-minute drive from Tiananmen Square.
Instructions
An arrival transfer from the airport is bookable with Intrepid. Please advise your flight details no later than 14 days prior to your departure. There are different locaitons at different terminals where you will meet your driver for the pre-arranged arrival transfer, so please refer to below information for more details. Your driver will be holding a sign with Intrepid's logo and your name on it. The maximum waiting time for your driver is 2.5 hours after your flight arrival. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, please contact our local office on the number in the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section. There are clear sinages in the airports to navigate but the airports can be very busy and crowded, so please be aware.
Beijing Capital International Airport
If you arrive at Terminal 2, please meet your driver at the entrance/exit #7 after you go through the baggage claim area.
If you arrive at Terminal 3, please meet your driver in front of the white jade screen wall with the dragon pattern, after you walk through Exit B. Exit B is the only international arrival gate in Terminal 3. Please note that Beijing Airport is very crowded so please be patient.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Follow the airport signs to reach to the official taxi stand for meteored taxis. The taxi ride from the airport to our starting point hotels takes about 1 hour and should cost around CNY120. PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER.
By airport express and taxi: Follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY25, service time: 06:20 to 22:50) to Dongzhimen station, where you may hail a taxi to your hotel. It'll cost around 30CNY. THERE IS NO TAXI LINE AT THIS STATION. AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE.
Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX): meet your driver at the exit after you clear customs for pre-arranged arrival transfer.
If you are making your own way to the joining hotel:
By taxi (the easiest option): Follow the airport signs to reach to the official taxi stand for meteored taxis. The taxi ride from Beijing Daxing International Airport to our starting point hotels takes about 1.5 hours and should cost around CNY200. PLEASE AVOID TAXI DRIVERS WHO DON'T WAIT IN THE TAXI LINE FOR CLIENTS AND APPROACH YOU IN THE QUEUE CLAIMING THEY USE METER.
By airport express and taxi: Follow the airport signs to reach to the airport express station. Take the airport express (CNY35, service time: 06:00 to 23:00) to Caoqiao station. The taxi station is close to E1 exit of Caoqiao station, where you may hail a taix to your hotel and it will cost around CNY45 AVOID USING TAXIS THAT ARE WAITING JUST OUTSIDE THE STATION EXITS. THEY DON'T USE METER AND TEND TO OVERCHARGE.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip, excluding Day 3 (overnight train), 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. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps - Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. Please read ‘money matters’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.
4. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps. Please check the Essential Trip Information for more details.
5. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China. Please refer to Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
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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