1. Select a Region

2. Select a Country

3. Search a Keyword

This trip covers the popular place, Yangshuo in South China, and historical cities in North China, as Xi’an, Luoyang and Beijing. You also have the opportunity to visit the powerful monks in Shaolin Temple. We begin our trip in Hong Kong and will have a cycling tour through the beautiful countryside field in Yangshuo.

The awesome Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an will bring you back to the Qin Dynasty 2000 years ago. The Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang will help you understand the ancient Buddhism in China. The powerful monks in Shaolin Temple will show you the Chinese martial arts. We finish our journey in the capital, Beijing, home to the renowned Forbidden City and Great Wall.

Days 1-2 Hong Kong
Your trip starts today with your arrival in Hong Kong. No activities are planned, so arrive early if you can, as there is plenty to see. There will be a pre-tour briefing with your tour leader late in the afternoon. After dinner there is the opportunity to view the spectacular Sound and Light Show on the skyscrapers of Hong Kong Island - 8:00 to 8:20pm. If you are a first-time visitor to Hong Kong, it is recommended that you arrive a few days before the tour starts to allow yourself enough time to explore this exciting city.

The next morning we head to Guangzhou (Canton) on a two-hour hydrofoil journey. The views, as we sail out of Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, are sensational! In Guangzhou, we transfer to the train station, for our overnight journey to Guilin. You can purchase dinner on the train or prior to boarding. We stay in six-berth air-conditioned cabins that have an open and relaxed feel about them. A blanket, sheets and a pillow are provided, although some people may wish to bring their own inner sheet. Travelling on the train is a great way to mix with the locals and practise your Chinese language skills.

Days 3-5 Yangshuo
We arrive in Guilin in the early morning and transfer by public bus to the small countryside town of Yangshuo (1.5 hrs). Yangshuo, a place nestled amongst the imposing limestone karst formations that have inspired poets and painters for centuries. This small town is a haven for back-packers and here we stay in a delightful local style hotel.

Day 4 we take a half-day bike ride through the surrounding countryside to gain an insight into rural life in South China and have a scrumptious lunch in a local restaurant at the foot of Moon Hill. It is also a wonderful area for exploring individually, as every turn in the road brings you to another picture-postcard location- this is why Yangshuo is the favorite with LPC travellers. A boat trip on the Li River to the surrounding town is an option to consider in your free time. Taking an afternoon flight on Day 5 and we arrive in Xi'an, the starting point of the Silk Road for a mix of history and bike riding.

Days 6-7 Xi'an
Xian topped the other ancient capital cities in China. Many wonderful places are on your exploration list. Food options are excellent here as well, ranging from delicious Muslim fare to great little dumplings in local restaurants. Widely known as the first capital of a united China in 221 BC, the city is the deep root of Chinese history. A half-day tour to the renowned Terracotta Warriors shows us to these unearthed pottery statues, considered one of the most important archaeological finds of the 20th Century. Over 6,000 of them were individually sculpted from clay, each having a different costume, height, even facial expression. They are standing in battle formation, facing east in order to protect the tomb of China's first Emperor, the great Qin Shi Huang Di. These soldiers were accidentally discovered by local farmers in 1974. A free day can easily be spent wandering the narrow streets among the Muslim quarter where we find quaint shops, lively markets, groups of white-bearded men in skull caps sipping tea in dingy cafes.

For those who are interested in history, please do not miss Shaanxi History Museum, which introduces you the total history of Chinese civilization. Other places you may visit include Bell Tower, Drum Tower, City Wall and Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a famous Buddhist temple.

Days 8-9 Shaolin
We take afternoon train ride on Day 7 to Luoyang which is where we spend the night before starting our adventures in Shaolin, home of the famous kung fu schools and ancient Buddhist temple with very powerful monks. We will go to visit Longmen Grottoes in the morning. Longmen Grottoes is one of the top three Buddhist grottoes in China with more than 2,300 caves and 100,000 statues. Originally it was carved during the Norther Wei Dynasty, and it came to its climax during the Tang Dynasty when Queen Wuzetian believed in Buddhism and promoted Buddhism in the country. In the afternoon we will bus to Shaolin, and stay at a guesthouse in the Kongfu school nearby, and have the opportunity to watch the practice of the Kongfu students. At night we can take a leisurely walk in the surrounding mountains with a local guide to tell us about the area. In the morning of Day 9 we will visit Shaolin Temple, the renowned Buddhist temple with powerful monks. In the afternoon we catch the bus to Zhengzhou, and then overnight train to Beijing.

Days 10-13 Beijing
Beijing is abundant in cultural and historical sites. The vast Forbidden City, built nearly 600 years ago and off limits to citizens for almost all that time, is a truly amazing place. The size might surprise you (it is huge!), but what makes it fascinating is that every square metre is interesting, ranging from intricately carved walkways to colourful, painted ceilings. A visit to China is not complete without walking along the Great Wall. We will travel to Simatai Great Wall, a largely unrestored and, as such, more authentic section of the famous wall, not crowded with hordes of other tourists. Climbing up this incredible man-made engineer and surveying the spectacular surrounding countryside is an unforgettable experience.

There is also ample free time in the itinerary, allowing you to make your own discoveries and explorations. Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace are two other fine examples of extraordinary workmanship and architecture. In the evening, you have the chance to enjoy a performance of the unique Beijing Opera or Kongfu Show (optional). We have a final night's dinner in one of the great restaurants.Our trip ends in Beijing on Day 13. Checkout time is usually around 12 Noon; however you are free to leave at any time in the morning. Additional accommodation can be arranged on request.