Meals

11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. 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. Hotel (10 nights), Huizhou Feature Stay (1 night)

Transport

CHINA TRAIN TRAVEL SECURITY: When travelling by train in China you will need to pass through security checkpoints similar to those at airports. Please be aware that items that may be classified as ‘weapons’ might be confiscated (even from your suitcase), as all luggage travels in the compartment with you. We recommend leaving items that fall into this category (eg. pocket knives or scissors) at home. Aerosol spray bottles are not permitted on high-speed trains and can get confiscated at the station. Plane , Private Vehicle , High Speed Train , Metro

Others

Shanghai - Shanghai cuisine welcome dinner Shanghai - City walking tour Huizhou - Bamboo weaving family visit Huizhou - Stone tablet inscription printing demonstration Huizhou - Home-cooked lunch Huizhou - Tangmo village tour Shanghai - rooftop bar (one drink included) Yangshuo - Walking Tour Yangshuo - Xianggong Hill & Tea Farm Visit Yangshuo - Cooking class Xi’an - Muslim Quarter Walking Tour Xi’an - Muslim Quarter dumpling dinner Xi’an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led Xi’an - Home-cooked lunch Beijing - Forbidden City Beijing - Tiananmen Square Beijing - Wood mortise and tenon demonstration Beijing - Hutong home-cooked lunch Beijing - Hutong walking tour Beijing - Jingshan Park Great Wall - Huanghuacheng Section Beijing - Beijing duck dinner

Hygieneprotocol

All Intrepid travellers 18 years and older and Intrepid leaders will be required to be fully vaccinated. Travellers must provide proof of vaccination to the leader at the group meeting on day 1 of the trip. All children 5 and above must provide proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative COVID-19 test. Any high-risk customer who is unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons can apply for an exemption. Exemptions will be assessed on a case by case basis. Customers must provide a medical certificate from a medical professional.

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.

Not included:

Insurance

Flights

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Shanghai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Shanghai

Ni Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Shanghai, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You’ll then have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe head out to get a feel for this vibrant city and its bright lights. Maybe visit the Yuyuan Gardens where you can explore the sculptures, gardens and pagodas from the Ming Dynasty. After your meeting, it’s time for a foray into Shanghai’s unbeatable food scene. Head with your group and leader to a famous local restaurant to sample some of the city’s regional favourites like fried dumplings, braised pork and crystal shrimp.
Day 2 Day 2: Shanghai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Shanghai

Start your day with a walking tour with your leader who will introduce you to the sights and sounds of this animated city. Explore old residential neighbourhoods, known as nongtang, then head to the tree lined Wukang Road in the former French Concession part of the city, home to 37 protected historic buildings. Stop by a market and watch the locals go about their daily life, then hop on the metro and head to the Bund – an iconic promenade along the Huangpu River which divided Shanghai into Puxi and Pudong. The spectacular art deco buildings that line the street will give you a glimpse into 1920s Shanghai against the modern backdrop of Pudong’s metropolitan skyline. Your tour ends here, and the rest of the afternoon is yours.
Day 3 Day 3: Huizhou Villages
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Huizhou Villages

Depart Shanghai this morning and board a high-speed train to Huizhou. The beautiful villages of Huizhou and their unique Hui-style architecture have inspired poets and painters for generations. When you arrive, head to the home of a local family for a homecooked Hui lunch. Chat to your hosts about their way of life and find out what makes Hui cuisine so delicious. In the afternoon, take a tour of the ancient village of Tangmo – founded during the Tang dynasty. Visit some local families who have been weaving bamboo for decades and learn about the ancient art form, then head to the village ancestral temple to meet a local artisan famous for his stone inscription printing skills. Speak to him about his trade and gain insight into the world of Chinese calligraphy. This evening will be spent at your Feature Stay accommodation – this hotel was converted from the mansion of a famous Ming Dynasty poet. Traditional 17th-century Hui design is paired with 21st-century conveniences, and the hotel’s tranquil gardens will make you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time.
Day 4 Day 4: Shanghai
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Shanghai

Enjoy some free time in Huizhou today. Maybe wander the village’s narrow lanes and admire the local gardens. In the afternoon, return to Shanghai by high-speed train. This evening, head to a rooftop bar with your group and see the city’s cloud-piercing buildings and glittering neon lights from a different point of view.
Day 5 Day 5: Yangshuo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Yangshuo

Today you have a final morning to soak up the magic of Shanghai, then you’ll catch a midday flight to Guilin, followed by a transfer to Yangshuo, where karst mountains sprout like domes around the waters of the Li River. The countryside around Yangshuo is immortalised in many traditional Chinese paintings and it’s easy to see why. When you arrive, check in to your accommodation for the next two nights – a modern hotel tucked away among the karst hills and rivers of Yangshuo. Here you’ll experience serene surroundings and mountain views. You have a free evening to take in the natural setting – you may like to go for a walk in the surrounding area or spend some time relaxing.
Day 6 Day 6: Yangshuo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Yangshuo

After breakfast, head out to one of the largest tea plantations in Yangshuo, where you’ll learn about China’s most beloved beverage, from picking the leaves, to processing and brewing the perfect cup. Enjoy a cup of fragrant green tea to energise you for a short but steep climb up Xianggong Hill. From here, you’ll see an amazing birds-eye view of the Li River and the karst landscape. Wander through the local villages, where if you’re lucky, you may be invited into some old houses to get a glimpse at countryside life in China. Take some time out for lunch in a local village, then head into Yangshuo town where your leader will regale you with the history of the area as you explore. Wander up the busy West shopping street, then enjoy some time to browse the stores or relax in a cafe. Later in the afternoon, return to the countryside and visit a local cooking school where you’ll learn how to craft traditional Chinese dishes. Tonight’s dinner will be the tasty dishes you’ve whipped up during the class.
Day 7 Day 7: Xi’An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Xi’An

Enjoy a peaceful morning at your accommodation then catch a midday flight to Xi’an. Once the imperial centre of China for 2000 years, Xi’an is now a vibrant, modern city dotted with many historical sites. Arrive in the late afternoon and settle into your hotel before setting off for a walking tour. Your leader will unpack the layers of Xi’an’s rich history as you walk past the Bell and Drum tower, continuing to the buzzing Muslim quarter. Wander the narrow streets and find shops, markets and groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in cafes. Xi’an is a food lovers paradise, and tonight you’ll get a chance to sample the flavoursome regional cuisine during an included dinner at a local restaurant. Specialities include a variety of delicious dumplings.
Day 8 Day 8: Xi’An
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Xi’An

Today you’ll journey out into the countryside surrounding Xi’an and visit what is undoubtedly one of the man-made wonders of the world – the Terracotta Warriors. Your leader will share the unbelievable history of this incredible archaeological find, discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974 after being buried for 2000 years. These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots were commissioned by the emperor Qin Shi Huangdi as part of his mausoleum after he ascended to the throne in 264 BC. Three pits of warriors are open for viewing, where thousands of uniquely sculpted soldiers stand in battle formation. For lunch you’ll visit a local family restaurant, the owner of which has experienced firsthand of the changes brought about by the excavation of Terracotta Warriors. Listen to their stories while enjoying simple homecooked food. Return to Xi’an and enjoy a free afternoon – you may like to cycle across the ancient city wall or check out the Big Wild Goose pagoda and its musical fountain.
Day 9 Day 9: Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Beijing

Say goodbye to Xi’an and board a high-speed train bound for Beijing. The capital of the most populous country on earth, Beijing has mostly shed its historical face in favour of modernity. However, there are still plenty of places that give an insight into the nation’s ancient past. Enjoy a free evening in Beijing – you may like to attend a Chinese opera performance. Restaurants across the city span all styles and countless cuisines, so be sure to ask your leader for the perfect place to suit your tastes.
Day 10 Day 10: Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Beijing

Make your way to Tiananmen Square in the centre of the city that remains the symbolic centre of Chinese power. Framed by many imposing and iconic buildings such as the Gate of Heavenly Peace, Mao’s Mausoleum, the Great Hall of the People and the National Museum, it’s a place of pilgrimage for many Chinese tourists who consider it the heart of their nation. From here, you’ll enter the enormous scarlet walls of the Forbidden City. Built more than 500 years ago, and until recently off-limits to commoners, you can now explore the great halls and courtyards. Then, head to Jingshan Park for a glimpse from the top. Lunch today will be an authentic homecooked meal at a local home. After, walk around Beijing’s hutongs (residential alleyways) and learn about the history, dating back 800 years. Stop in at a hutong household where your leader will explain the ancient building technique of mortise and tenon. The rest of the afternoon is free.
Day 11 Day 11: Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Beijing

No trip to China would be complete without a visit to the Great Wall – one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Today you’ll visit one of the best-preserved areas, the Hanghuacheng section, also known as the Water Great Wall. It used to serve as the northern barrier defending the capital and the imperial tombs, and features guard towers dating back to the Ming dynasty. Take your time strolling along the wall, which snakes through the hills and seemingly endlessly into the distance, as your leader fills you in on the history. From here you can see parts of the wall submerged beneath the lake water. Being perched on this incredible engineering feat and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience. In the afternoon, head back to Beijing and take some time to relax before heading to a traditional courtyard restaurant where you’ll enjoy a Beijing duck feast for a final dinner with your group.
Day 12 Day 12: Beijing
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Beijing

Your trip comes to an end today after breakfast. If you have time, there’s plenty more to see in Beijing. If you would like to extend your stay here, just speak to your booking agent to organise additional accommodation.

12 days tour

Premium China

This tour includes:

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Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Premium China

Day 1: Shanghai

Day 2: Shanghai

Day 3: Huizhou Villages

Day 4: Shanghai

Day 5: Yangshuo

Day 6: Yangshuo

Day 7: Xi’An

Day 8: Xi’An

Day 9: Beijing

Day 10: Beijing

Day 11: Beijing

Day 12: Beijing

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