Experience the natural beauty of China on this action-packed 19-day guided tour
You will immerse yourself in stunning Chinese landscapes on this activity-packed 19-day guided tour in China. From hiking the Great Wall of China to exploring the stunning Longji valley and sacred mountains of Simatai you will hike and cycle your way through breathtaking scenery throughout this guided adventure tour.
Other highlights include hiking in Tiger Leaping Gorge, exploring the Terracotta Warriors near Xi’an, and visiting major cities such as Beijing and Shanghai. You will visit beautiful historic towns, vibrant cities, and sacred ancient sites as you travel through rich and diverse landscapes.
You will have the services of an expert local guide to ensure you have a safe and comfortable stay as you interact with local people, savor traditional cuisine, and soak up the authentic sights and sounds of China.
Highlights Of China Adventure Tour
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China Adventure Tour Itinerary
Day 1 Beijing
Arriving at the airport in Beijing, you will be met by your driver for a private transfer to your city center hotel. You will have an early evening briefing where you can meet your guide as well as clarifying any details about the tour. Afterwards, you will enjoy a guided walk around your hotel to get your bearings, before stopping at a local restaurant for a delicious welcome dinner.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Beijing
Distance: None
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 Hike the Great Wall
Prepare yourself for an early start as you set out for the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall. This amazing ancient construction is over 20,000 km long and has 2,500 years of history. This iconic section of the wall was built to defend a vital mountain pass and offers spectacular craggy scenery for hikers to enjoy.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Gubeikou
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 Hike The Great Wall
After a delicious breakfast at your, hotel you will set out for a hike to Jinshanling. Parts of the crumbling walls now shelter thrifty farmers who used the fallen rocks to build their homes. You will explore both the inner and outer sections of the wall, stopping for lunch along the way. You will spend the night at a guesthouse in Jinshanling.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Jinshanling
Distance: 4-5 hours, 12 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 The Great Wall
You will spend the morning hiking the wall at Simatai, famous for its spectacular position along narrow mountain ridges. Stop to enjoy the stunning view from the shelter of ancient watchtowers before savoring a delicious meal cooked for you by a local farmer. In the afternoon you will head back to Beijing to visit the Temple of Heaven, where Chinese people have prayed for fertility and good harvests for over 600 years.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Beijing
Distance: 11 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 Explore Beijing
Soak up the energy of the city as you explore the vibrant streets of Beijing with your guide. You will visit the world-famous Tiananmen square and the stunning world heritage site known as the Forbidden City. Exploring the narrow streets of Old Beijing, you will get a real sense of the capital city before taking an overnight sleeper train to arrive in Xi’an. Please note, that the Forbidden City is closed on Mondays, so if this day of the trip falls exactly on Monday, we would adjust your itinerary to move this visit to another day. This might move the hike along the Great Wall from day 2 to day 3.
Overnight Location: Train to Xi’an
Distance: 5 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6 Discover Xi’an
After spending the night on the sleeper train from Beijing, you will transfer to your hotel for a delicious local breakfast by private bus. You will discover the city of Xi’an by bicycle today, pedaling around the City Wall. After refueling your energy levels at lunchtime, you will visit the Big Goose Pagoda and check out the ancient Muslim quarter on foot.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Xi’an
Distance: 13 km
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 Terracotta Warriors
Today you will visit one of the most iconic sites in China. The Terracotta Warriors were buried with an ancient emperor to protect him in the afterlife and have been perfectly preserved below the earth. You can view 2000 of the 6000 warriors, each individually sculpted with unique battle armor, facial features and expressions. After enjoying this extraordinary historical site, you will enjoy lunch in a local village and head to the sacred mountain of Huashan to spend the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Xi’an
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8 Exploring Mount Huashan
After enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will head to the foot of the spectacular mountain of Huashan, where you will take a cable car to the tip of the North Peak. After savoring the stunning landscape, you will spend the day hiking from North Peak to West Peak. You will return to the mountain base by gondola.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Xi’an
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9 Explore Lijiang
Today you will fly to the city of Lijiang. Lijiang lies on the ancient tea horse road and is home to gorgeous cobbled streets, ancient historical sites and world-famous local hiking at the Tiger Leaping Gorge. This unique destination is surrounded by snow-capped mountains and famous for its beautiful Old Town, a UNESCO world heritage site.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Lijiang
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10 Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge
Fulfilling the dreams of hikers all around the world, you will set out to trek through the Tiger Leaping Gorge. This stunning canyon of the Jinsha River is nestled below the snowy mountains and offers some of the most diverse and beautiful landscapes in the whole of China. After enjoying the breathtaking views of the gorge, you will spend the night in a local guesthouse.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 Hike Tiger Leaping Gorge
Continuing through the magical setting of Tiger Leaping Gorge, you will make your way to Walnut Grove on foot. You will experience a side of China that most tourists completely miss, as you soak up the peaceful scenery and stop to greet local villagers along the way. You will stay in the small village of Walnut Grove tonight, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and spectacular views of the night sky.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Tiger Leaping Gorge
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 Visiting the ancient shrines
You will travel by private bus to Shibaoshan, where you will spend the day exploring the mountain paths and checking out the Shizongshan Grottoes. Wandering amongst the ancient statues, you will notice the even rock beneath each shrine, rubbed smooth by all the people that have knelt in prayer for over 1000 years. After a lovely picnic lunch with a wonderful view of steep red cliffs, you will transfer to your guesthouse in Shaxi Old Town.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Shaxi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 Exploring Shaxi Old Town
After a good night’s rest in your guesthouse, you will spend the day exploring the historic market town of Shaxi. This gorgeous town was an important point on the Old Tea Horse Trail and its stunning traditional buildings are very well preserved. Historically, Shaxi was a major trading hub for horses, yak furs, tea, and fabric but the town was left isolated and forgotten after the 1950s. Shaxi has now been appointed a UNESCO world heritage site and has begun to flourish once more.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Shaxi
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 The rice terraces of Longji
After a peaceful night in the historic town of Shaxi, you will travel by bus and air to arrive in Longji. This beautiful region is famous for its iconic rice terraces which have been cultivated under traditional methods for over 700 years. You will enjoy a short walk to stretch your traveler’s legs when you arrive, before spending the night in Dazhai, a Yao minority village.
Overnight Location: Guesthouse in Dazhai
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 15 Hiking Longji valley
You will take to the Longji valley on foot, experiencing the beautiful rice terraces up close. This unique valley is fondly known as the Dragon’s backbone for its scale-like terraces and craggy mountain-ridge spine. The terrain will be challenging at times, but you will be rewarded by the shade of chestnut forests, the sound of waterfalls and panoramic views of the valley. You will spend the night in Yangshuo, a peaceful town nestled amongst impressive limestone pinnacles.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Yangshuo
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 16 Cycling through rice paddies
Today you will cycle through the idyllic Chinese countryside, passing pretty rice paddies and the grazing water buffalo with their mighty horns and quiet, docile nature. You will take a stop at Moon Hill, where you have the option to scramble to the summit to enjoy gorgeous views of the local countryside. You will enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant before cycling back into town to unwind.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Yangshuo
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 17 River cruise
After a long day of cycling yesterday, you will be rewarded with a peaceful cruise alongside the clear waters of the Li River. Take your time to admire the view as you wind through the beautiful mountain scenery. Afterwards, you will take a flight to the major city of Shanghai where you will take a stroll along the waterfront to get your bearings before settling down in your hotel for the night.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Shanghai
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 18 Explore Shanghai
Shanghai is the most important political, economic and cultural city in the East of China. This buzzing metropolis sits on the banks of the river Yangtze and is famous for its futuristic skyline and peaceful temples alike. You will visit the City God’s Temple before exploring its famous Yuyuan Garden and checking out the tree-lined avenues of the Concession. Here you can explore shops, teahouses and restaurants before heading to your hotel for your final night on your Chinese adventure tour.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Shanghai
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 19 Farewell
Today your adventure holiday comes to an end. After an amazing trip of hiking, cycling and exploring the ancient monuments of China, you will be sad to say goodbye to your group and guide. There are no activities planned for today so you can decide how to spend your final hours in the city.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
China Adventure Tour Price and Dates
This tour is run as a private tour for your group only where pricing depends on the size of your group and your travelling dates.
The prices below are per person sharing a double or a triple room:
- Guided Groups of 4+: from $5,895 USD per person
Please note that the prices depend on the size of your group, as well as your travelling dates.
Book NowAccommodation on China Adventure Tour
You will stay at a range of different accommodations during your 18-night stay in China. You can expect hotels to offer 2 or 3-star facilities, to ensure you get a comfortable night’s sleep.
Prices are based on double occupancy, but single travelers can arrange a private room for a supplement.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
You can pay a supplement to have a private room in a hotel. Contact us and we can try and match single travelers up, where possible.
Hotels on Standard Tour
2-3-star hotels
The accommodation on this tour will range from city centre hotels to rural guesthouses as you travel around different towns and regions.
What’s included in the China Adventure Tour?
Meals
18 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 15 dinners are included.
Accommodations
The accommodation for 18 nights along the tour is included.
Transportation during the Tour
Transportation is included for you and your luggage. Please note, that the departure and arrival airport transfers are for the whole group and if you require separate, private transfers, you can book them during the booking process for an extra charge.
Also Included
- Bottled water daily
- Entrance fees in each city as listed in the itinerary
- English-speaking guide
Not included
- Flights to and from China
- Personal expenses and tips
- Insurance
- Anything not stated as ‘included’
Optional Extras
- Extra night in Beijing before the tour
- Extra night in Shanghai after the tour
- Private transfer to or from the airport
Frequently Asked Questions about China Adventure Tour
China Adventure Travel has over 30 years of experience in tour operation. They specialize in adventure travel, including cycling, hiking, and tailor-made adventure tours. Their philosophy is to develop a trip in China that you won’t ever forget.
Besides adventure tours, China Adventure Travel also offers cultural tours and cultural exchange programs. They consider excellent leadership to be the soul of a trip, so their guides are chosen carefully for their expertise.
They pay great attention to every detail of your trip, and recognize that great service is a culmination of many smaller efforts.
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Charles has been working with China Adventure Travel since graduating from university. He’s patient, personable, and willing to take on any challenge. Guests love his warm smiles and pleasant personality. He’s also an exceptional violinist!
- Q: What’s the best part about leading tours in China?
- A: China is such a big, developing country. Guiding in China allows you to witness the development of our motherland. We bring different tourists to the same place but we can always find something new to share. It’s such an amazing thing.
- Q: What are guests most surprised about when visiting China?
- A: China has well-developed cities like Beijing and Shanghai, but also quite under-developed areas and remote villages far from the cities. It’s all about contrast.
- Q: What is one local dish or drink that anyone visiting China should try?
- A: Too many! China is a country famous for its food. Try Beijing duck, dumplings of all kinds, hot pot, spicy food in Sichuan, noodles in Xian, Cantonese dim sum, and more. We’ve got a long list.