Hong Kong to Shanghai on a Shoestring — Self-Launched
19 days · China
G Adventures charges £1,850
No-markup version: ~£1,185 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 19-day independent rail-and-backpacker version of G Adventures' "Hong Kong to Shanghai on a Shoestring" (trip code ACRS). Cross China overland by high-speed and sleeper trains, staying in hostels and guesthouses: Hong Kong → Yangshuo → Chengdu (pandas) → Xi'an (Terracotta Warriors, city walls) → Beijing (Mutianyu Great Wall, Tiananmen, Temple of Heaven) → Shanghai (the Bund, acrobatics). Everything in the original tour highlights is self-bookable, usually for far less. Prices are approximate per person in GBP and assume hostel dorms, local transport, street and market food, and self-booked day trips.
Day-by-day
Arrive Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Land at HKIA and take the Airport Express or the cheaper A21/A11 bus (~£4) to a hostel in Tsim Sha Tsui or Mongkok. Settle in, grab a bowl of wonton noodles, and do an evening stroll along the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront for the Symphony of Lights skyline show (free, 8pm).
🚌Airport bus A21 (~£4) or Airport Express (~£10.50)
🛏Hostel dorm in Tsim Sha Tsui / Mongkok (~£18-25/night)
- →Airport bus to Kowloon
- →Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade
- →Symphony of Lights
Hong Kong exploring
Hong Kong
Ride the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour (~£0.45), take the Peak Tram or hike up to Victoria Peak for the view, wander the Mid-Levels and Central markets, then eat your way through a cha chaan teng and a dai pai dong. Cheap and endlessly walkable.
🚌MTR Octopus card day of transport (~£6)
🛏Hostel dorm in Tsim Sha Tsui / Mongkok (~£18-25/night)
- →Star Ferry crossing
- →Victoria Peak viewpoint
- →Central & Sheung Wan markets
- →Dai pai dong dinner
Hong Kong → Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Cross into mainland China at Shenzhen (or take a direct bus/ferry), then ride the high-speed rail toward Guilin and continue by local bus/train to Yangshuo (~2 hrs). Check into a guesthouse in Yangshuo town or West Street area. Evening riverside wander along the Li River.
🚌High-speed train Hong Kong/Guilin ~£45 + local bus to Yangshuo ~£3
🛏Yangshuo guesthouse / hostel dorm (~£10-16/night)
- →Border crossing at Shenzhen
- →High-speed rail to Guilin
- →Evening Li River stroll
Yangshuo karst country
Yangshuo
Rent a bike (~£3) and cycle the flat lanes past rice paddies, farmers and water buffalo — the self-launched version of the guided cycle tour. Optionally book a Chinese cooking class with a market tour (~£20) or a bamboo raft on the Yulong River (~£12). Eat at a local women's community restaurant if you find one.
🚌Bike rental ~£3
🛏Yangshuo guesthouse / hostel dorm (~£10-16/night)
- →Self-guided cycle through karst villages
- →Chinese cooking class with market tour (optional)
- →Yulong River bamboo raft (optional)
Yangshuo → Chengdu
Chengdu (overnight train)
Spend the morning on a viewpoint hike (Moon Hill, ~£2 entry) before boarding an overnight train to Chengdu. Book a hard sleeper berth in advance via the official 12306 app or Trip.com. Bring snacks and a mug for the hot-water boiler.
🚌Overnight train Yangshuo/Guilin–Chengdu ~£28
🛏Hard sleeper berth on overnight train (~£28)
- →Moon Hill hike
- →Overnight sleeper train experience
Chengdu
Chengdu
Arrive Chengdu and check into a hostel near Chunxi Road or the Jinli area. Afternoon at People's Park: drink tea in a teahouse and watch the bamboo ear-cleaners, then eat Sichuan hotpot or mapo tofu in a neighbourhood spot. Evening stroll down Jinli Ancient Street.
🚌Metro day ticket ~£2
🛏Chengdu hostel dorm (~£9-15/night)
- →People's Park teahouse
- →Jinli Ancient Street
- →Sichuan hotpot dinner
Chengdu panda base
Chengdu
Get to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early (book entry ~£7, arrive by 7:30am via metro + local bus or a cheap DiDi). Watch the pandas at feeding time. Afternoon: Wenshu Monastery teahouse or the Sichuan opera face-changing show (~£15).
🚌Metro + local bus/DiDi to panda base ~£4
🛏Chengdu hostel dorm (~£9-15/night)
- →Giant Panda Breeding Center (self-booked entry)
- →Wenshu Monastery teahouse
- →Sichuan opera face-changing show (optional)
Chengdu → Xi'an
Xi'an
High-speed train to Xi'an (~4 hrs). Check in near the Bell Tower / Muslim Quarter. Evening: graze the Muslim Quarter food street — roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, persimmon cakes — and walk the illuminated Bell and Drum Towers.
🚌High-speed train Chengdu–Xi'an ~£35
🛏Xi'an hostel dorm near Bell Tower (~£8-14/night)
- →High-speed rail to Xi'an
- →Muslim Quarter street food crawl
- →Bell & Drum Tower exterior
Xi'an
Xi'an
Rent a bike on top of the Ming city walls (~£3 entry + ~£3 bike) and cycle the 14km loop — the self-launched version of the guided wall cycle. Afternoon: Big Wild Goose Pagoda, then join a free Tai Chi session in the park with locals. Evening: dumpling banquet or a night market.
🚌Metro/bus ~£2
🛏Xi'an hostel dorm near Bell Tower (~£8-14/night)
- →Cycle the Xi'an city walls
- →Big Wild Goose Pagoda
- →Park Tai Chi with locals (free)
Terracotta Warriors
Xi'an
Take bus 306/游5 (~£1) from the main train station to the Terracotta Army site (entry ~£15). Either self-navigate or join an English-language group tour booked through GetYourGuide/Klook (~£25-35 with transport). The pits are staggering — spend 3-4 hours. Back in town, chill at a teahouse.
🚌Public bus 306 to warriors site ~£1
🛏Xi'an hostel dorm near Bell Tower (~£8-14/night)
- →Terracotta Warriors (self-booked entry or group tour)
- →Teahouse evening
Xi'an → Beijing
Beijing
High-speed train to Beijing (~4.5-6 hrs). Check into a hostel in Dongcheng or the hutong area. Evening walk around the Drum & Bell Towers and Houhai Lake, then a hutong noodle dinner.
🚌High-speed train Xi'an–Beijing ~£65
🛏Beijing hostel dorm in Dongcheng/hutong (~£12-20/night)
- →High-speed rail to Beijing
- →Houhai Lake evening walk
- →Hutong dinner
Beijing — Forbidden City & Tiananmen
Beijing
Book Forbidden City tickets online in advance (they sell out; ~£8). Walk through Tiananmen Square (free) before entering, then spend the afternoon in the Forbidden City and Jingshan Park for the rooftop view over the palace. Evening in the Wangfujing or Nanluoguxiang food streets.
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Beijing hostel dorm in Dongcheng/hutong (~£12-20/night)
- →Tiananmen Square
- →Forbidden City (advance ticket)
- →Jingshan Park viewpoint
- →Nanluoguxiang food street
Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu / Beijing
Take a direct tourist bus (e.g. from Dongzhimen, ~£4 each way) or a shared minivan to Mutianyu — the best-preserved, quieter section of the Great Wall (entry + cable car ~£18). Hike between towers and take the toboggan down if you like. Return to Beijing for a Peking duck dinner.
🚌Direct bus to Mutianyu ~£4 each way
🛏Beijing hostel dorm in Dongcheng/hutong (~£12-20/night)
- →Mutianyu Great Wall hike
- →Cable car or toboggan
- →Peking duck dinner
Beijing — Temple of Heaven
Beijing
Morning at the Temple of Heaven (entry ~£4) to watch locals do Tai Chi, dance and play cards in the surrounding park. Afternoon: 798 Art District or the Lama Temple, then try a karaoke room (KTV) with new hostelmates for the full shoestring experience.
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Beijing hostel dorm in Dongcheng/hutong (~£12-20/night)
- →Temple of Heaven & park
- →798 Art District or Lama Temple
- →KTV karaoke night
Beijing → Shanghai
Shanghai
High-speed train to Shanghai (~4.5-6 hrs, ~£70). Check into a hostel near the Bund or People's Square. Evening orientation stroll along the Bund to see the colonial-era waterfront lit up against the Pudong skyline — the self-launched version of the included orientation walk.
🚌High-speed train Beijing–Shanghai ~£70
🛏Shanghai hostel dorm near the Bund (~£14-22/night)
- →High-speed rail to Shanghai
- →Evening Bund orientation walk
Shanghai
Shanghai
Morning in the Yu Garden and Old Town bazaar, then the Tianzifang or Xintiandi lanes for crafts and coffee. Afternoon: M50 art district or a ride on the river ferry/xiaolongbao crawl. Evening: Shanghai Acrobatic Performance (~£15-30 booked via Klook/direct) — the original tour's optional show.
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Shanghai hostel dorm near the Bund (~£14-22/night)
- →Yu Garden & Old Town
- →Tianzifang lanes
- →Shanghai Acrobatic Performance (self-booked)
Shanghai markets & water towns
Shanghai / Zhujiajiao
Day trip by metro/bus to Zhujiajiao or Qibao water town (~£2-4) for canals, bridges and street snacks. Back in Shanghai, shop the Nanjing Road department stores, then enjoy a farewell dinner and night out in the French Concession.
🚌Metro/bus to water town ~£4 return
🛏Shanghai hostel dorm near the Bund (~£14-22/night)
- →Zhujiajiao water town day trip
- →Nanjing Road shopping
- →French Concession night out
Shanghai — flexible day
Shanghai
Buffer day for rest, laundry or anything you missed — swap it for an extra Xi'an or Chengdu day if you prefer. Options: a Suzhou day trip by high-speed train (~£12 return), the Shanghai Museum (free), or a Huangpu River cruise (~£8). Repack and prep for departure.
🚌Local metro ~£2
🛏Shanghai hostel dorm near the Bund (~£14-22/night)
- →Optional Suzhou day trip
- →Shanghai Museum (free)
- →Huangpu River cruise (optional)
Depart Shanghai
Shanghai
Final morning for a last xiaolongbao breakfast, then take the Metro Line 2 or the Maglev (to Pudong Airport, ~£6) for your onward flight home. Trip ends in Shanghai.
🚌Maglev to Pudong Airport ~£6
🛏—
- →Maglev to Pudong Airport
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,185 | £1,850 |
| Duration | 19 days | 19 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £665 per person (36%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,185
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Hong Kong to Shanghai on a Shoestring — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,185 per person for 19 days in China. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,850 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,185 — a saving of roughly £665 (36%) per person.
How long is the China trip?+
This itinerary runs 19 days, covering 19 day-by-day stops through China.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a budget, backpacker, culture trip through China, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.