Real China Self-Launched: Beijing to Hong Kong

Arrive in Beijing and get your bearings. The Airport Express train runs directly from Beijing Capital Airport to Dongzhimen station in around 25 minutes for CNY25 (~£3) — far cheaper than a taxi. Check into your hostel in the Dongcheng or Qianmen area, which puts you close to the major sights. Spend the afternoon wandering around the Silk Market area or strolling towards Wangfujing Street for your first taste of Beijing street food — try the famous scorpions on skewers if you're brave! No formal activities tonight; grab Peking duck at a local restaurant (budget around £8–12 for a solid meal).

🚌Airport Express train from Capital Airport to Dongzhimen (~£3)

🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse in Dongcheng/Qianmen area (e.g. Leo Hostel or Peking Youth Hostel) — ~£12–16/night

• →Arrive and take Airport Express train to city centre (~£3)
• →Check into hostel in Dongcheng/Qianmen district
• →Explore Wangfujing Street and Silk Market area independently
• →Dinner at a local restaurant — try Peking duck

Head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall independently — it's very well set up for self-guided visitors. From Dongzhimen bus terminal, take Bus 916 Express to Huairou (~£1.50), then a shared minibus to Mutianyu (~£1.50). Entrance fee is CNY65 (~£7); the cable car up is CNY80 (~£9) and the famous toboggan ride back down is CNY140 (~£16) — totally worth it. Spend 3–4 hours exploring the wall before returning to Beijing. Book tickets in advance at mutianyugreatwall.com. Back in Beijing in the evening, explore the Dongcheng hutong neighbourhood on foot.

🚌Bus 916 Express + shared minibus to Mutianyu (~£3 return); same route back

🛏Hostel dorm in Dongcheng/Qianmen area — ~£12–16/night

• →Take Bus 916 Express from Dongzhimen to Huairou, then shared minibus to Mutianyu (~£3 total)
• →Purchase Great Wall entrance ticket at the gate or online (~£7)
• →Hike the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall (one of the Seven Wonders of the World)
• →Optional: cable car up (£9) and toboggan ride down (~£16)
• →Return to Beijing and explore hutong lanes on foot in the evening

Start your morning at Tiananmen Square — free to enter and open to the public. Walk straight into the Forbidden City (pre-book online at bookingticket.dpm.org.cn, tickets CNY60/~£7 — book exactly 7 days in advance as only 30,000 visitors/day are allowed). After lunch, explore the hutong lanes around Nanluoguxiang and Beiluoguxiang on foot or rent a bike from one of many local hire shops (~£3 for a few hours). Visit the Lama Temple (CNY25/~£3) or Temple of Heaven (CNY40/~£5) if time allows. Tonight, take the overnight hard sleeper train from Beijing West station to Xi'an — a classic Chinese rail experience. Book via 12go.asia or the official China Rail app. Hard sleeper costs around CNY180–250 (~£20–28).

🚌Overnight hard sleeper train, Beijing West to Xi'an (~£20–28, book via 12go.asia or China Rail app)

🛏Overnight hard sleeper train (saves a night's accommodation cost)

• →Visit Tiananmen Square (free)
• →Explore the Forbidden City — pre-book online (CNY60/~£7)
• →Wander Nanluoguxiang hutong lanes on foot or by hire bike (~£3)
• →Optional: Lama Temple (~£3) or Temple of Heaven (~£5)
• →Board overnight hard sleeper train Beijing West → Xi'an (~£20–28)

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning and check into your hostel — the area around the Muslim Quarter is ideal. The Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) is an incredible self-guided food walk: explore the labyrinth of streets, try persimmon cake, lamb skewers, and sticky rice cakes from the countless street stalls. Entrance to the quarter is free. In the afternoon, hire a bike from your hostel or a rental shop and ride along the top of the ancient Xi'an City Wall (the only fully intact ancient city wall in China) — bike hire on the wall is CNY99 (~£11). In the evening, walk to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda square (free outdoor area) to see the lights and join locals for evening dancing.

🚌Walk or hostel shuttle from Xi'an railway station; local buses and metro (~£1–2/journey)

🛏Hostel dorm near Muslim Quarter (e.g. Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel) — ~£10–14/night

• →Arrive Xi'an, check into hostel near Muslim Quarter
• →Self-guided food walk through the Muslim Quarter — try persimmon cake, lamb skewers, sticky rice cakes (free entry, ~£5 snacks)
• →Hire a bike and cycle atop Xi'an City Wall (CNY99/~£11)
• →Optional: visit the Great Mosque (CNY25/~£3)
• →Evening walk to Big Wild Goose Pagoda square — free, with light shows

Today is all about Xi'an's star attraction — the Terracotta Warriors. Take Metro Line 9 from Xi'an North station to Terracotta Warriors station, then a short bus ride — total cost around CNY10 (~£1.50). Entrance to the Terracotta Warriors site is CNY120 (~£14). Spend 2–3 hours exploring the three pits at your own pace — download the free audio guide app (available on-site) rather than paying for a guide. In the afternoon, return to Xi'an and explore the Bell and Drum Towers area (combined ticket CNY50/~£6). Head to the Muslim Quarter for dinner: pao mo (lamb broth with flatbread) and hand-pulled noodles are the must-tries.

🚌Metro Line 9 + public bus to Terracotta Warriors site (~£1.50 each way)

🛏Hostel dorm near Muslim Quarter — ~£10–14/night

• →Take Metro Line 9 + bus to Terracotta Warriors site (~£1.50)
• →Self-guided visit to the Terracotta Warriors — 3 pits (entrance CNY120/~£14); use the free on-site audio guide app
• →Return to Xi'an; visit Bell and Drum Towers (CNY50/~£6)
• →Dinner in the Muslim Quarter — pao mo, hand-pulled noodles (~£5–8)
• →Optional: karaoke evening with fellow travellers met at your hostel

Take the high-speed G-train from Xi'an North to Chengdu East — journey time is approximately 3.5–4 hours and costs CNY200–260 (~£23–30). Book in advance on 12go.asia or the China Rail app. Arrive in Chengdu and check into your hostel in the Kuanzhai Alley area. In the afternoon, walk to Tianfu Square (free) — look for the giant Mao statue. Continue to People's Park (free entry), where you can sit in a traditional teahouse for a cup of tea for around CNY20–30 (~£3). Watch locals play mahjong, practice tai chi, or join a group dance — this is the heart of Chengdu's laid-back culture.

🚌High-speed G-train Xi'an North to Chengdu East (~£23–30, ~3.5hrs)

🛏Hostel dorm in central Chengdu (e.g. Mix Hostel or Flip Flop Hostel) — ~£10–14/night

• →High-speed G-train Xi'an North → Chengdu East (~£23–30, book in advance)
• →Check into hostel in Kuanzhai Alley or Jinli Street area
• →Walk to Tianfu Square and see the Chairman Mao statue (free)
• →Spend time in People's Park teahouse — sip tea for ~£3
• →Watch or join locals in mahjong, tai chi or group dancing
• →Explore Kuanzhai (Wide and Narrow) Alley in the evening

Get up early — pandas are most active in the morning between 8–10am. Take Bus 198 or a DiDi (Chinese Uber, ~£3–5) to the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Entrance is CNY90 (~£10). Spend the morning watching the giant and red pandas feeding, playing, and lounging in their enclosures. Book your ticket in advance at the official website (pandabase.cn) to avoid queues, especially in summer. Return to Chengdu by lunchtime and spend the afternoon exploring Jinli Ancient Street for lunch and shopping, or trying Chengdu's famous spicy hotpot for dinner (budget ~£8–12 for a full hotpot spread). Optional: book a Sichuan cookery class via GetYourGuide (~£25–35).

🚌Bus 198 or DiDi ride to Panda Base (~£3–5 each way)

🛏Hostel dorm in central Chengdu — ~£10–14/night

• →Take Bus 198 or DiDi to Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (arrive by 8am)
• →Visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base — entrance CNY90/~£10 (book at pandabase.cn)
• →Watch giant and red pandas feeding and playing in the morning
• →Return to Chengdu; explore Jinli Ancient Street for lunch
• →Dinner: Chengdu spicy hotpot experience (~£8–12)
• →Optional: Sichuan cookery class via GetYourGuide (~£25–35)

Today involves a longer travel day to reach beautiful Yangshuo. Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East to Guilin North (~5–6 hours, CNY300–380/~£34–43, book in advance). From Guilin North station, take a public bus or shared taxi to Yangshuo (~1.5hrs, CNY30/~£4). Check into your guesthouse on or near West Street. In the evening, your leader-free walking tour is easy to do yourself — walk down to the Li River waterfront at dusk for stunning views of the illuminated karst peaks. West Street is packed with cafes, bars and restaurants; grab a local beer fish (a Yangshuo speciality) for dinner.

🚌High-speed train Chengdu East to Guilin North (~£34–43); public bus/shared taxi Guilin North to Yangshuo (~£4)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel in central Yangshuo (e.g. The River Retreat or Giggling Tree) — ~£12–18/night

• →High-speed train Chengdu East to Guilin North (~5–6hrs, ~£34–43 — book ahead)
• →Public bus or shared taxi from Guilin North to Yangshuo (~£4)
• →Check into guesthouse in Yangshuo; drop bags and explore West Street
• →Walk to the Li River waterfront at sunset — iconic karst mountain views
• →Dinner on West Street — try beer fish, a Yangshuo local speciality (~£6–10)

Rent a bicycle from one of the many hire shops on West Street (~£4–6/day) and head out into the countryside independently — this is one of the most rewarding self-guided rides in all of China. Route: West Street → Baisha → Xingping (a highlight, known from the 20 yuan banknote view) → Moon Hill. The terrain is flat to gently rolling, following the riverside and looping past rice paddies, bamboo groves and water buffalo. Moon Hill (entrance CNY25/~£3) involves a 20–30 minute uphill hike to the famous natural arch with panoramic views. Pick up lunch from a roadside stall along the route (~£3–5). Note: if Moon Hill is closed for renovation, the nearby Gold Water Cave (CNY100/~£11) is a great alternative (largest underground river cave in the area).

🚌Bicycle hire (~£4–6/day)

🛏Guesthouse in Yangshuo — ~£12–18/night

• →Rent a bicycle from a West Street hire shop (~£4–6/day)
• →Self-guided cycle through karst countryside: Baisha → Xingping → Moon Hill
• →Stop to photograph the '20 yuan note' viewpoint near Xingping
• →Hike to Moon Hill archway for panoramic views (entrance CNY25/~£3, ~30 min hike up)
• →Alternative if closed: visit Gold Water Cave (CNY100/~£11)
• →Roadside lunch from local stalls along the cycling route (~£3–5)

A free day in Yangshuo to explore at your own pace. The most popular optional add-on is the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (CNY230/~£26 — book at the pier or via Klook). Alternatively, take a bamboo raft on the Yulong River locally (~CNY120/£14) for a quieter, more scenic experience. Other options: take a Tai Chi class in the morning via GetYourGuide (~£15–20), join a local cooking class and market tour (~£25–30 via GetYourGuide), or simply hike to Dragon Bridge and the surrounding rice terraces. In the evening, watch the famous Liu Sanjie light show on the Li River — a spectacular outdoor performance directed by Zhang Yimou (tickets ~CNY300/£34, book ahead at lijiangshowoffice.com).

🚌Walk, bicycle or local tuk-tuk (~£1–3 per ride)

🛏Guesthouse in Yangshuo — ~£12–18/night

• →Optional: Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (CNY230/~£26, book via Klook or at pier)
• →Alternative: bamboo raft on the peaceful Yulong River (~£14)
• →Optional: Tai Chi or Kung Fu class via GetYourGuide (~£15–20)
• →Optional: cooking class and market tour via GetYourGuide (~£25–30)
• →Hike to Dragon Bridge or explore nearby rice terrace villages (free)
• →Evening: Liu Sanjie outdoor light show on the Li River (~£34, book ahead)

Check out and take a shared taxi or bus back to Guilin North station (~£4). From Guilin North, take the high-speed train to Shenzhen North (~2.5hrs, CNY180–230/~£21–26), then the MTR cross-border train to Hong Kong (~30 mins, HKD80/~£8). Alternatively, take a direct high-speed service to West Kowloon station if available on your travel date (~£35–45 total, check on 12go.asia). Note: you will pass through Hong Kong immigration on arrival — ensure your passport is ready. Check into a hostel in Kowloon — the area around Mong Kok or Jordan is great for budget stays and local atmosphere. In the evening, explore the Temple Street Night Market (free entry) and then head to Victoria Harbour for the nightly Symphony of Lights laser show (free, starts 8pm).

🚌Bus to Guilin North (~£4); high-speed train + MTR to Hong Kong (~£29–45 depending on route)

🛏Budget hostel in Mong Kok or Jordan, Kowloon (e.g. Yesinn Hostel or Dragon Hostel) — ~£18–28/night

• →Shared taxi/bus from Yangshuo to Guilin North station (~£4)
• →High-speed train Guilin North → Shenzhen North, then MTR to Hong Kong (~£29–34 total)
• →Alternatively: direct high-speed train to West Kowloon, HK (~£35–45 total, check 12go.asia)
• →Check into hostel in Kowloon (Mong Kok or Jordan area)
• →Self-guided walk through Temple Street Night Market (free)
• →Head to Victoria Harbour for the free Symphony of Lights laser show (8pm)

Your final morning in Hong Kong is free. If time allows before your flight, take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak for sweeping views over the city and harbour (tram return HKD88/~£8.50, or hike up for free). Alternatively, take the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central for HKD2.70 (~£0.30) — one of the world's great short ferry rides. Hong Kong International Airport is served by the Airport Express from Hong Kong or Kowloon stations (~£10–11). Zai jian — safe travels!

🚌Airport Express from Kowloon or Hong Kong station to HKIA (~£10–11)

🛏Check out of Kowloon hostel

• →Optional: Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for panoramic city views (return ~£8.50)
• →Optional: Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui to Central (~£0.30) — iconic harbour crossing
• →Explore Central or Sheung Wan neighbourhood for a final dim sum breakfast (~£5–8)
• →Airport Express train to Hong Kong International Airport (~£10–11)
• →Depart Hong Kong