China12 days
Hong Kong to Beijing by Bullet Train — 12 Days
Cross China's length by rail, connecting Hong Kong's harbour to the Forbidden City, with stops at karst limestone, giant pandas, terracotta warriors, and the Great Wall.
This itinerary moves through mainland China's most significant historical and geographical landmarks, tied together by regional fast trains that run mostly in daylight, allowing you to observe agricultural valleys, industrial towns, and mountain passes without boarding a plane. You'll see the scale of the country by watching it pass at ground level: the karst peaks around Yangshuo, the Chengdu plains, the central highlands en route to Xi'an, and the approaches to Beijing. The trip connects two cities separated by 2,200 kilometers and thousands of years of imperial history — from Hong Kong's nineteenth-century colonial architecture and natural harbour to Xi'an's status as ancient capital of multiple dynasties, to Beijing's Forbidden City and the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall.
Highlights
- Star Ferry and Peak Tram in Hong Kong Harbour, with views across the skyline and Victoria Harbour
- Li River cruise and rural cycling through Yangshuo's limestone karst landscape and rice-farming villages
- Giant panda observation at the Chengdu Breeding Center, plus Sichuan hotpot in the city's historic quarter
- Leshan Buddha — a 71-meter Tang Dynasty stone carving carved into a hillside over 90 years
- Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an — over 6,000 individually sculpted clay figures in battle formation, discovered in 1976
- Mutianyu Great Wall section near Beijing, one of the best-preserved segments, stretching 13 kilometers
- Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang — limestone cliffs containing 110,000 Buddhist stone statues and 2,800 inscriptions from the 5th to 8th centuries
- Shaolin Temple martial arts performance and Dharma Cave
- Forbidden City in Beijing, UNESCO-listed for its preserved wooden architecture from 1406–1420
- Overnight soft-sleeper train between Luoyang and Beijing
Day by day
1Hong Kong Harbour, Victoria Peak & Train to YangshuoHong Kong Harbour · Victoria Peak · Yangshuo · Guilin to Yangshuo
Arrive in Hong Kong. After meeting your guide, travel by MTR and Star Ferry across the harbour, then board the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for views across the densely packed cityscape and the water below. Collect your luggage in the afternoon and head to the station for the fast train to Guilin, then a two-hour drive to Yangshuo, a rural resort town set within a dramatic landscape of limestone karst peaks. Check in to your accommodation for the first three nights.
2Yangshuo: Bicycle Tour & Moon HillMoon Hill · countryside surrounding Yangshuo · home of a local family
Depart on bikes into the countryside surrounding Yangshuo to observe rural farming life and the landscape close up. Each turn in the road reveals another karst formation. Stop at Moon Hill, recognizable by its crescent-moon-shaped natural arch; those with energy and sure footing can ascend the steep path to the summit for wider vistas of the surrounding valleys. Continue to the home of a local family for a lunch prepared from locally grown produce, then bike back to town for an evening at leisure to rest or wander.
3Yangshuo: Morning Hike & Li River CruiseLi River · surrounding countryside · local markets
A morning hike through the surrounding countryside is followed by a relaxing cruise on the Li River. The afternoon is free for your own activities — Chinese calligraphy classes, visits to local markets, shopping for handicrafts, or simply sitting in a café. Seek out local specialities for dinner.
4Bullet Train to Chengdu & Kuanzhai AlleyChengdu · Kuanzhai Alley
After breakfast board the fast train to Chengdu, watching the landscape shift through the journey. After checking in to your hotel, head to Kuanzhai Alley, a landmark area of the old city where traditional architecture and the leisure habits of Chengdu residents remain visible — locals gather to play cards, drink tea, and socialize in the narrow lanes lined with restored wooden shophouses.
5Chengdu: Panda Breeding Center, Jinli Street & Heming TeahousePanda Breeding Center · Jinli Street · Heming Teahouse
Spend the morning at the Panda Breeding Center, where conservation efforts protect this endangered species. You will watch the pandas at play, eating, napping, and munching bamboo at close range. Return to Chengdu city for an afternoon walking tour of Jinli Street, famous for its bustling atmosphere, historic shopfronts, and local street food — sticky rice cakes with sesame sauce, spicy chicken skewers, sweet rice jelly, fried beef pancakes, and for the adventurous, seasoned rabbit heads. In late afternoon, walk through the People's Park and sit with a cup of tea in the century-old Heming Teahouse.
6Leshan Buddha & Sichuan HotpotLeshan Buddha · Chengdu
Make an excursion south of Chengdu to the Leshan Buddha, one of the region's most significant sites. This stone figure was carved from a hillside and dates from AD713 (Tang Dynasty) when China was ruled by the Lee's imperial family. The carving took 90 years to finish and is complete with a well-designed drainage system at the back of the Buddha's head and ears. Return to Chengdu for dinner, experiencing a Sichuan hotpot, one of the city's most characteristic dishes.
7Fast Train to Xi'an & Imperial City OrientationXi'an · Bell and Drum Tower · Muslim Quarter
Board the four-hour fast train to Xi'an, arriving early afternoon. Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, was home to multiple imperial powers over 2,200 years; though the city is undergoing rapid modern development, many historical sites remain well preserved. Your orientation tour begins at the Bell and Drum Tower, then moves into the Muslim Quarter, a food-focused neighbourhood with street stalls and small restaurants.
8Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors, City Wall Cycling & Train to LuoyangTerracotta Warriors · local village · Xi'an city City Wall · Xi'an to Luoyang
Visit the Terracotta Warriors, discovered in 1976. This archaeological site comprises more than 6,000 individually sculpted clay warriors, chariots, and horses, each with distinct costumes, height, and facial expressions, arranged in battle formation across three main pits containing over 2,000 figures. Lunch in a local village, then return to Xi'an city for a cycling tour along the ancient City Wall, the most significant and best-preserved city wall remaining in China, running over 13 kilometers around the city perimeter. In the late afternoon, board the bullet train to Luoyang, approximately 1.5 hours east.
9Luoyang: Longmen Grottoes, Shaolin Temple & Overnight Train to BeijingLongmen Grottoes · Shaolin Temple · Luoyang to Beijing
Near Luoyang stand the Longmen Grottoes, where steep limestone cliffs extending nearly a mile contain approximately 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 stupas, and 2,800 inscriptions carved on steles. Most carvings date between the late 5th and mid-8th centuries, periods spanning the Northern Wei (486–534 CE) and early Tang dynasties (618–907 CE). Continue to Shaolin Temple to visit the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Pagoda Forest, the Dharma Cave, and the Martial Arts Training Center. Watch a live kung fu performance demonstrating concentration and technical skill. In the evening, board an overnight soft-sleeper train to Beijing, arriving early the next morning.
10Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Hutong AlleywaysTiananmen Square · Forbidden City · hutongs
Arrive in Beijing early morning and check in to your hotel for breakfast. Wear comfortable shoes — the day involves considerable walking and subway use. Start at Tiananmen Square, one of the world's largest public squares, home to the Monument of the People's Heroes and the Great Hall of the People. Enter the Forbidden City, built between 1406 and 1420 as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for over 500 years. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987 and is recognised as the most extensive collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world. Exit and walk through the hutongs — alleyways formed by lines of traditional courtyard homes — to experience daily life in Old Beijing.
11Mutianyu Great Wall Section near BeijingMutianyu Great Wall Section near Beijing · Beijing
Make a two-hour journey out of Beijing to Mutianyu, one of the best-preserved sections of the Great Wall. The wall stretches 6,000 kilometers along mountain ridges; the Mutianyu section is well restored, making it accessible for climbing and descent. Your guide will provide a picnic lunch at midday, allowing you to eat while appreciating views that illustrate the difficulty of constructing the wall in ancient times. Return to Beijing in late afternoon, with the evening free to relax or visit local markets.
12Beijing: DepartureBeijing airport
Your final day in Beijing is free until your transfer to the airport for departure.
Where you go
- 1Yangshuo
- 2Li River
- 3Xi'an
- 4Bell and Drum Tower
- 5Muslim Quarter
- 6Terracotta Warriors
- 7Longmen Grottoes
- 8Tiananmen Square
- 9Forbidden City
- 10hutongs
- 11Beijing
Included
- Included:
- · 10 nights' hotel accommodation based on twin share
- · Local English speaking guide service in each city for FIT booking of 2-5 pax
- · National English speaking guide service throughout for group booking of 6 pax or up
- · Private/Public transportation in each city as specified
- · Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
- · 11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 dinners
- · Overnight soft-sleeper train from Luoyang to Beijing (1 night)
- · Regular class fast train Hong Kong-Guilin-Chengdu-Xi'an-Luoyang
Not included
- Excluded:
- · International flights
- · Travel insurance
- · Chinese visa
- · Expenses of personal nature, ie laundry, alcoholic drinks, and etc.