China6 days
Southern China: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Yangshuo & Longji — 6 Days
Hong Kong's harbor and commerce, colonial Guangzhou, karst countryside cycling in Yangshuo, and terraced farming in Longji—six days by train, ferry, and on foot.
This tour moves through four distinct regions of Southern China by regional rail, establishing itself in each place before moving on. You begin in Hong Kong, where a guide takes you through commercial districts and across Victoria Harbour by ferry, then up to The Peak by tram. A fast train carries you to Guangzhou, where you walk the Chen Clan Academy—a 19-building complex with traditional Chinese woodcarvings and pottery—then tour Shamian Island's French and British colonial architecture before a ferry ride up the Pearl River to Canton Tower. From there, another fast train takes you to Yangshuo, where you cycle 50 minutes past the Yulong River to Moon Hill, attend a cooking class in a local village, and take a sunset boat ride on the Li River. The final two days move you to Longsheng County to see the Longji Rice Terraces—large-scale earthworks built to maximize arable land—and visit Miao ethnic villages. You finish with a three-to-four-hour guided hike through the terraces, returning views of the surrounding rice fields, forests, and mountains before your flight back to Hong Kong.
Highlights
- Ferry crossing of Victoria Harbour and tram ascent to The Peak for views of Hong Kong Island and the harbor
- Chen Clan Academy in Guangzhou: a 19-building complex with traditional Chinese woodcarvings, pottery, and architectural detail
- Shamian Island: French Catholic Church, British Protestant Church, and colonial-era bronze structures
- 50-minute bike ride through Yangshuo countryside to Moon Hill, a crescent-shaped limestone cave formation
- Chinese cooking class in a Yangshuo village, preparing kung pao chicken, jiaozi, eggplant, and tofu dishes
- Sunset boat ride on the Li River through karst landscape with limestone mountains and farming villages
- Reed Flute Cave in Guilin: natural limestone formations shaped by water and geology
- Elephant Trunk Hill in Guilin: a natural rock formation 3.5 million years old
- Longji Rice Terraces (Dragon's Backbone): large-scale terraced farming in Longsheng County
- Visit to Miao ethnic villages to learn local customs and ways of life
- Three-to-four-hour guided hike through Longji terraces to Dazhai village
Day by day
1Arrival in Hong KongWest Hotel · a popular local restaurant
Meet your guide in the lobby of the West Hotel and complete your check-in. Your guide will provide a brief orientation covering the activities planned for the next four days. End your first evening with dinner at a popular local restaurant, where you'll get a taste of Hong Kong's food culture.
2Hong Kong's Harbor and Peak, Then Train to GuangzhouCanton Road · Harbour City · Victoria Harbour · The Peak · railway station · Holiday Inn
Spend your morning exploring Hong Kong's commercial heart with an expert guide. Walk down Canton Road, a prestigious shopping street lined with upscale retail shops and business establishments, then step into Harbour City, the largest shopping and entertainment center in the city. From here, head to the waterfront for one of Hong Kong's most well-known experiences: a ferry crossing of Victoria Harbour. The 10-to-12-minute journey to Hong Kong Island's central district is considered a defining cultural experience by both locals and visitors alike, offering views of the harbor's busy maritime life and the city's distinctive skyline. Next, board the Peak Tram for an eight-minute scenic ascent up the mountainside. The ride itself is remarkable, delivering unobstructed perspectives of Hong Kong Island, Victoria Harbour, and the surrounding natural landscape. At The Peak, take time to absorb the panoramic vistas stretching across the city and harbor below. In the afternoon, transfer to the railway station and board a fast train to Guangzhou. Upon arrival, a private transfer will drive you to the Holiday Inn for check-in. Rest well tonight, as the coming days will be filled with exploration and adventure.
3Guangzhou: Colonial Architecture, Pearl River & Canton TowerPearl River · Canton Tower · Chen Clan Academy · Shamian Island · Guangzhou to Yangshuo
After breakfast, take the subway with your guide to the Chen Clan Academy, a symmetric complex of 19 buildings arranged around nine halls and six courtyards. Marvel at the exquisite traditional Chinese architecture and examine the collection of woodcarvings, pottery, and other art pieces on display throughout the compound. From there, your guide will lead you to Shamian Island, a neighborhood filled with remnants of European colonial presence: the French Catholic Church, the British Protestant Church, and bronze statues depicting Western figures from centuries past. Board a ferry for a 20-minute cruise along the Pearl River, viewing the city's modern skyline from the water before arriving at Canton Tower, a 1,968-foot (600-meter) observation structure. Enter one of the observation rooms to see panoramic views of Guangzhou below. Before day's end, board a fast train to Yangshuo.
4Yangshuo: Moon Hill, Li River & Cooking ClassMoon Hill · Li River · Yangshuo countryside · Yangshuo West Street local village
Set out on a 50-minute bike ride through the Yangshuo countryside, passing the Yulong River where locals use bamboo rafts to navigate the shallow water. The terrain around you reveals karst topography—distinctive limestone formations marked by sinkholes, caves, and subterranean caverns. Arrive at Moon Hill, a crescent-shaped cave formation that gives the hillside its name. After the ride, private transport takes you to Yangshuo West Street to a local village where you will take a Chinese cooking class. Learn to prepare three or four traditional dishes—typically kung pao chicken, jiaozi (Chinese dumplings), a Chinese eggplant dish, and a tofu preparation—then eat what you have cooked. In the late afternoon, begin a sunset boat ride on the Li River. The landscape surrounding you—towering mountains, caves, calm water, and farming villages—creates the effect of moving through a landscape painting.
5Guilin & Longji: Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill & Rice TerracesReed Flute Cave · Elephant Trunk Hill · Longji Rice Terraces · Miao ethnic village · guesthouse within the village
Travel with your guide to Guilin to visit the Reed Flute Cave, a limestone cavern whose interior walls and ceiling have been shaped by water into an astonishing gallery of natural rock formations. Afterward, head to Elephant Trunk Hill, the centerpiece of Guilin's riverside park. This natural formation, created approximately 3.5 million years ago, resembles an elephant using its trunk to drink from the water below. After lunch, private transport drives you to Longsheng County and the Longji Rice Terraces, known locally as the Dragon's Backbone. These large-scale agricultural earthworks climb mountainsides in stepped layers, engineered to maximize both arable land and water management across the terrain. Your guide will share the history and ingenuity behind their construction. Visit one of the county's Miao ethnic villages and spend the afternoon learning about their customs, cultures, and daily life. Check into a guesthouse within the village for the night.
6Longji Terraces & Return: Hike to DazhaiLongji Rice Terraces · ethnic villages · Guilin airport
Conclude your journey with a guided hike through the Longji Rice Terraces to Dazhai village, a trek lasting three to four hours depending on your pace. Along the way, take in panoramic views of the surrounding rice fields, forests, and mountains, while passing through additional ethnic villages and observing the varied customs and traditions of their inhabitants. In the afternoon, return to Guilin airport for your flight back to Hong Kong.
Where you go
- 1Li River
Included
- Included:
- 5 nights hotel accommodation based on twin share
- National English speaking guide throughout
- Private transfers as specified
- Sightseeing tours with entrance fee as specified
- 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Regular class fast train Hong Kong-Guangzhou-Guilin-Hong Kong
Not included
- Do Not Include:
- International airfare
- Visa fee