Compare Old Towns and Li River Cruises by Wendy Wei Tours vs Real China by Intrepid Travel

Day 1

Meet your tour guide in the morning and travel to the Zhujiang Pier to board your Li River Cruise boat. During the cruise, which lasts between 3 – 4 hours (depending upon waterflow) and is along an 83 kilometre section of the river, visitors will see incredible scenery with large karst mountains either side of the river among beautiful rural scenery.  Upon arriving at West Street, disembark the boat and walk along this busy street.

In the afternoon, explore the Yulong Valley and its scenic beauty by bicycle or walking. There are a number of different local villages, rural scenery and karst formations throughout this area and it’s a peaceful and scenic way to spend an afternoon.

During the evening you will return to West Street for dinner before watching the famous Impression 3rd Sister Liu Show held on the banks of the Li River during the evening.  You will return to your hotel in Yangshuo at approximately 9:30 pm at the conclusion of the show.

Day 2

On the morning of Day 2, travel to Huangyao Ancient Town which is located approximately 1.5 hours south of Yangshuo near the town of Hezhou. Huangyao is a large, historic town and has been largely preserved allowing visitors to imagine how life here was in the past. Usually an entire morning is spent at Huangyao covering the different areas of the old town.

During the afternoon, return to Yangshuo and board your own private raft to drift and be slowly paddled along the Yulong River. Finish the afternoon off with a massage and enjoy the evening at leisure.

Day 3

Begin the day with either a Cooking Class (which takes and entire morning) or alternatively explore some of the nearby sights by climbing the hills of either Xianggong Hill or Cuiping Hill. You will also have time to visit a local rural market day (subject to specific date). These rural market days are held on specific dates each month and they’re a good place to have a quick stopover to experience traditional Chinese markets (how all markets used to be!) and rural life nowadays for farmer’s living in the Yangshuo countryside.

In the afternoon, depart Yangshuo and visit Yao Mountain and Reed Flute Cave, which are two famous attractions in Guilin City before either being transferred to the airport or to your Guilin Hotel to conclude the tour.

Day 1 Beijing

Nimen Hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, get acquainted with Beijing on your own and maybe walk around Silk Market and pick up some souvenirs or explore the Forbidden City. After your meeting, maybe head out for an optional welcome dinner and order your first Peking duck.

Day 2 Great Wall / Beijing

This morning, it’s time to visit the Great Wall – one of the Seven Wonders of the World – at Mutianyu, which is one of the best-preserved and easily accessed sections from Beijing. Take in the surrounding views (hopefully it’s a clear day!) and take plenty of pics – this is one to remember. A truly epic piece of engineering, the wall stretches 6000 km westwards from the mountain ridges north of Beijing. It was originally constructed to protect Chinese empires from invaders in the north, and even though it failed in this purpose, it's still without a doubt one of the country's most amazing achievements. There’s an opportunity to take a thrilling toboggan ride to the base of the Great Wall, which is a unique way to rest your legs after all the ups and downs.

Day 3 Beijing / Overnight Train

Spend the morning exploring Tiananmen Square and follow your leader through the zigzag lanes known as the Hutong area. This is one of the most notable areas in Beijing because these lanes and courtyard houses are the root of old Beijing city and now, offering a peek into local life. In the afternoon, enjoy free time to explore at your own pace, maybe visiting the Forbidden City if you haven’t already. Perhaps jump on a bike and ride through the hutongs, hang out in the Temple of Heaven Park or visit the Lama Temple. Tonight, you’ll board an overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an in a six-berth, air-conditioned cabin.

Day 4 Xi'an

This morning, you’ll arrive in Xi'an – the imperial centre of China for 2000 years and now a vibrant, modern city dotted with interesting historical sites. Head out on a leader-led walking tour of the Muslim Quarter – famous for its food, this neighbourhood’s almost 1300 years old! Along the way, your leader will buy some dishes for you to sample. Some local specialties include persimmon cake, lamb skewers and sticky rice cakes, though it’ll depend on the season. Enjoy a free afternoon, where you can maybe hire a bike and ride to the top of Xi'an City Wall – the only intact ancient city wall in China. Tonight, your leader will take you to the lively square near the Big Wild Goose Pagoda. Seeing the 600-year-old temple ablaze with lights is pretty amazing, and it’s a great place to mingle with locals.

Day 5 Xi'an

This morning, you’ll visit Xi'an's most famous site – the Terracotta Warriors. Take a public bus and spend a few hours exploring the fascinating location. Hear all about this incredible archaeological find (it was discovered by farmers digging a well in 1976 after being buried for thousands of years). These clay statues of soldiers, horses and chariots all standing in battle formation were commissioned by the emperor of the Qin dynasty as part of his mausoleum, and now, several pits are on view to the public. The rest of your afternoon and evening is free – you might want to grab some local specialities for dinner, such as pao mo (lamb broth that you break flat bread into), hand-pulled noodles, hot pot or barbecued meat skewers. Later, maybe head out to karaoke with your group and sing the night away.

Day 6 Chengdu

Hop on a high-speed train from Xi'an to Chengdu this morning. Chengdu has a very casual vibe and the locals tend to value pleasure more than work, so mahjong and tea are two of the most crucial parts of life here. Go on a walking tour with your leader to downtown Tianfu Square, where a giant statue of Chairman Mao stands. Continue to the lively People's Park and sit down in a tea house to sip a brew and take advantage of the other services on offer (like ear cleaning and massages). Make the most of your time here and immerse yourself in local life by joining a group dance or martial arts practice or maybe just find a table and brush up on your mahjong skills.

Day 7 Chengdu

This morning, you’ll get the heartwarming opportunity to get up close with the adorable pandas at the Panda Breeding Centre in Chengdu. Learn about the conservation efforts being made to repopulate this ancient species and watch them being fed, playing and sleeping (or just being plain cute in their playgrounds). Enjoy some more downtime in the afternoon to research pandas or check out the hip Kuanzhai Lane. You could also go searching for some spicy Chengdu snacks on Jinli Street.

Day 8 Yangshuo

Embrace a full day of travelling on the bullet train this morning, headed for Yangshuo – surrounded by limestone karsts, this city is super popular with both international and domestic tourists (which isn't a bad thing if you're into cafes and bars). It's one of the best places in the country to get a feel for local culture and traditions while having plenty of fun at the same time. Take a walk through the town with your leader when you arrive and then head down to the Li River to get a feel for a landscape immortalised in Chinese paintings.

Day 9-10 Yangshuo

Hop on a bike and follow your leader on a cycling tour through the picturesque countryside of Yangshuo. Cycle past karst hills that rise from rice paddies and tiny villages, watching locals working the fields with water buffalo for company. Visiting this stunning region is a trip highlight for many travellers (so don’t forget your camera over these next two days), and every turn in the road brings you to another postcard-perfect spot. Stop for lunch in a local family’s house and be treated to some homecooked local delicacies, like chicken and vegetables. Then, ride to Moon Hill and take a short hike to the famous archway for panoramic views of the area. Tonight and tomorrow are free in Yangshuo – maybe head out on a river cruise on the Li River and ask your leader for the best local eats.

Day 11 Hong Kong

Leave Yangshuo and continue your journey to Hong Kong. You'll be transferred to Guilin, then you’ll hop on the high-speed train to Shenzhen. From there, cross the border into Hong Kong before heading to your hotel. Tonight, you’ll go on a walking tour with your leader, checking out the Temple Street night market or the light show at Victoria Harbour. Take the chance to celebrate your final night with the group in this incredible city and hit the nightlife – as always, your leader will know some great spots.

Day 12 Hong Kong

With no further activities planned, your trip comes to an end this morning. If you’d like to extend your time in Hong Kong, just speak to your booking agent.