China13 days
Hong Kong to Beijing by Bullet Train — 13 Days
South to north through Yangshuo, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing via high-speed rail, with stops at the Terracotta Warriors, Shaolin Temple, and the Great Wall.
This 13-day journey follows the high-speed rail corridor from Hong Kong northward through four major regions of China, using overnight and daytime bullet trains as the primary mode of transport between hubs. The itinerary moves from the limestone terrain and rural villages around Yangshuo through Chengdu's urban heritage sites and the Leshan Buddha, continues to Xi'an's imperial archaeology and city wall, then to Luoyang's Buddhist cave temples before finishing in Beijing. The route emphasizes what remains intact from each era—Tang Dynasty stone work, Ming Dynasty fortifications, Qing Dynasty palaces, and contemporary urban centres—rather than attempting to condense "all of China" into two weeks. Accommodation, meals, guides, entrance fees, and travel insurance are included; international airfare is separate.
Highlights
- Victoria Peak tram ride above Hong Kong's harbour and skyline
- Rural cycling through Yangshuo's karst valleys and farmland, with morning tai chi instruction from a local practitioner
- Giant Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu, observing conservation and breeding programs for the species
- Leshan Buddha: a 71-metre stone statue carved into a hillside during the Tang Dynasty (8th century)
- Terracotta Warriors near Xi'an: approximately 6,000 individually sculpted clay soldiers in three excavated pits, discovered in 1976
- Longmen Caves near Luoyang: 2,100 caves containing over 100,000 Buddhist statues carved from the 4th century onward
- Shaolin Temple: historic monastery and centre of martial arts instruction in the Song Shan Mountains
- Xi'an city wall: 13-kilometre defensive perimeter, largely intact from the Ming Dynasty
- Forbidden Palace in Beijing: constructed between 1406 and 1420, the world's largest surviving collection of preserved ancient wooden architecture
- Great Wall at Mutianyu: 22-tower section northeast of Beijing, approximately 2 hours' travel from the city centre
- Hutong lanes in Beijing: traditional courtyard neighbourhoods, many still inhabited
Day by day
1Hong Kong: Victoria Peak and Border Crossing to YangshuoVictoria Peak · Hong Kong airport · Guangzhou · Yangshuo station · Shenzhen to Guangzhou
On arrival at Hong Kong airport, your guide and driver will transfer you to your hotel in Hong Kong's western district. After check-in and a brief rest, you will take the tram to Victoria Peak for views of the harbour and surrounding skyline, then return by tram to collect luggage. In the late afternoon, you will travel by car to cross the border into Shenzhen and proceed to Guangzhou, where you will board an evening high-speed train to Yangshuo. The train arrives late; your guide will meet you at Yangshuo station and transfer you to your accommodation at Yangshuo Outside Inn.
2Yangshuo: Rural Hiking and Local CookingYangshuo · countryside surrounding Yangshuo · villages around the karst landscape
After breakfast at your hotel, your guide will lead short hikes through the countryside surrounding Yangshuo, passing through farmland and small settlements. You will have the opportunity to observe daily routines in villages around the karst landscape. In the afternoon, you will attend a cooking class where you will learn to prepare dishes using local ingredients and ingredients, then share the meal you have prepared with your group.
3Yangshuo: Tai Chi Instruction and Countryside Cyclingyour hotel · surrounding countryside
After breakfast, you will join a tai chi class with a local instructor at or near your hotel. Following the session, you will cycle through the surrounding countryside on a route that passes through farmland, villages, and rural landscapes. The cycling is gentle, without steep climbs, and allows for stops to observe rural life and take photographs.
4Yangshuo to Chengdu by Bullet TrainYangshuo to Chengdu · Kuanzhai Alley · hotel in Chengdu
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station and board a daytime bullet train to Chengdu. During the journey, you will pass through terrain transitioning from hills to the Chengdu basin. Upon arrival in Chengdu, your guide will meet you at the train station and take you to Kuanzhai Alley (also known as Wide and Narrow Alley), a restored historic quarter with colonial-era facades, now housing restaurants, cafés, and small shops. You will check into your hotel in the evening.
5Chengdu: Giant Panda Breeding Centre, Street Food, and ParksChengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding · Jinli Street · People's Park
After breakfast, you will visit the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, a conservation facility where you will observe pandas at different life stages—playing, eating bamboo, and resting. The centre documents its breeding and research programs; your guide will explain the conservation context. In the afternoon, you will walk through Jinli Street, a historic shopping area lined with food stalls and restaurants serving Chengdu regional cuisine. You will sample local snacks including sticky rice cakes with sesame sauce, spicy chicken skewers, sweet rice jelly, and fried beef pancakes. Later, you will visit People's Park, Chengdu's largest downtown green space, which contains an artificial lake, gardens, and the Heming Tea House, a century-old establishment.
6Leshan Buddha Day Trip from ChengduLeshan Buddha · Chengdu · Chengdu to Leshan Buddha
After breakfast, you will travel by car from Chengdu to Leshan Buddha, approximately 2 hours away. The statue, carved into a hillside during the Tang Dynasty (circa 713 CE), stands 71 metres tall and took 90 years to complete. The sculpture includes a drainage system incorporated into the back of the head and ears. You will have time to view the statue from multiple vantage points and learn about the construction methods and historical context from your guide. You will return to Chengdu in the evening and check into your hotel.
7Chengdu to Xi'an by Bullet Train, Orientation to Ancient CapitalChengdu to Xi'an · Bell and Drum Towers area and the Muslim Quarter · the 13-kilometre city wall
After breakfast, you will be transferred to the train station and board a daytime bullet train to Xi'an, a journey of approximately 4 hours. Upon arrival, your guide will meet you at the station and take you to your hotel. After refreshing, you will begin an orientation of Xi'an, which served as capital during multiple imperial dynasties and was home to imperial courts for over 2,000 years. Your guide will walk you through the Bell and Drum Towers area and the Muslim Quarter, a historic neighbourhood where Han Chinese and Muslim merchants and residents have coexisted. You will also walk on the 13-kilometre city wall, largely intact from the Ming Dynasty, which offers views over the surrounding city.
8Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Archaeological SiteXi'an · Terracotta Warriors site
After breakfast, you will travel by car to the Terracotta Warriors site. Your guide will explain the archaeological discovery in 1976, when farmers digging a well uncovered the first figures. Three main excavation pits are open to visitors; you will view approximately 2,000 of the estimated 6,000 figures that remain buried. Each warrior was individually hand-sculpted from clay and given distinct costumes, heights, and facial features. The figures stand in battle formation and represent a terracotta army buried with China's first emperor over 2,000 years ago. You will return to Xi'an in the afternoon and check into your hotel.
9Xi'an to Luoyang: City Wall Morning and Longmen CavesLongmen Caves · Xi'an city wall · train station · older section of Luoyang city
After breakfast, you will walk on the Xi'an city wall in the early morning. You will then be transferred to the train station and board a train to Luoyang. Upon arrival, your guide will take you to Longmen Caves. Over 2,100 caves carved into the hillside contain more than 100,000 Buddhist statues dating from the 4th century onward. The caves represent a significant example of religious rock carving in China and are accompanied by explanatory inscriptions. You will spend several hours viewing the major cave groupings. Afterward, you will spend time exploring the older section of Luoyang city and check into your hotel.
10Shaolin Temple and Overnight Train to BeijingShaolin Temple · Song Shan · Pagoda Forest · Luoyang Longmen Train Station
After breakfast, you will travel by car to Shaolin Temple in the Song Shan Mountains, approximately 1 hour from Luoyang. Shaolin is a historic Buddhist monastery associated with the development of martial arts traditions in northern China, and you will watch a martial arts performance by practitioners trained at the temple. You will walk through the Pagoda Forest, a cemetery containing thousands of stone structures commemorating monks and abbots. You will also have time to walk in the scenic area surrounding Song Shan. In late afternoon, you will be transferred to Luoyang Longmen Train Station and board an overnight soft-sleeper train to Beijing. The sleeper car provides berths with sheets and basic bedding; the journey takes approximately 13 hours.
11Beijing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Palace, and Hutong LanesTiananmen Square · Forbidden Palace · Hutong lanes · Beijing train station
The overnight train arrives in Beijing in the early morning. Your guide will meet you at the train station and transfer you to your hotel for a rest and breakfast. You will then begin an orientation tour starting at Tiananmen Square, described as the world's largest public plaza. The Monument of the People's Heroes stands at its centre; the Great Hall of the People occupies one side. You will then enter the Forbidden Palace, built between 1406 and 1420 as the residence of imperial families. The site holds the world's largest surviving collection of ancient wooden architecture. After exiting the palace, you will walk through Hutong lanes, traditional courtyard neighbourhoods that formed the residential fabric of Beijing for centuries, many of which remain inhabited today.
12Great Wall at Mutianyu SectionMutianyu section of the Great Wall · Beijing
After breakfast, you will travel by car to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, located approximately 2 hours northeast of Beijing in Huairou County. This section contains 22 watchtowers winding along mountain ridges and is among the most well-preserved stretches of the wall. The Great Wall extends approximately 6,000 kilometres across northern China, built over many centuries as a defensive barrier against invasions from the north. You will walk along the wall, observe the construction techniques and defensive design, and learn the history from your guide. Many visitors bring a picnic lunch to eat at rest points along the wall while taking in views of the surrounding landscape. You will return to Beijing in the late afternoon and check into your hotel.
13Beijing: DepartureBeijing Capital International Airport
Your guide will arrange a transfer to Beijing Capital International Airport or to another destination according to your flight or onward travel plans.
Where you go
- 1Guangzhou
- 2Yangshuo
- 3Xi'an
- 4Terracotta Warriors site
- 5Xi'an City Wall
- 6Tiananmen Square
- 7Mutianyu Section of the Great Wall
- 8Beijing
Included
- Accommodation & breakfast
- Transport service from and to airport & tours
- Speaking English guide
- Entrance fee
- Local guide fee at particular tourism objects
- Meals & mineral water as a program
- Travel Insurance
Not included
- Air ticket
- Personal & other expenses
- Optional program