Self-Launched Hong Kong to Shanghai: Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu & Beyond
10 days · China
Top China Travel charges £2,025
No-markup version: ~£650 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
This self-launched itinerary covers the same epic sweep of China as the Top China Travel private tour — from the karst peaks of Guilin and the Li River, to the fiery hotpot streets of Chongqing, the giant pandas of Chengdu, and the glittering Bund in Shanghai — at a fraction of the cost. By swapping private guides and 4-star hotels for high-speed trains, local buses, well-reviewed budget hotels, and self-bookable activities via GetYourGuide and Klook, you can experience the best of China independently. All cost estimates are approximate and based on current budget traveller rates.
Day-by-day
Hong Kong to Guilin
Guilin, Guangxi
Take the high-speed train from Hong Kong West Kowloon station to Guilin North (G-series train, ~3 hrs, book via 12306.cn or Trip.com, ~£35–45). Arrive early-mid afternoon and check into your guesthouse near Zhongshan Road. Spend the evening strolling along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic waterway as the karst peaks light up at dusk. Grab dinner at a local noodle shop — Guilin rice noodles are the must-try.
🚌High-speed train Hong Kong West Kowloon → Guilin North (G-series, ~3 hrs, ~£40)
🛏Guilin Mix Hostel or similar well-rated budget guesthouse (~£18–22/night)
- →Arrive in Guilin and check in to your guesthouse
- →Evening walk along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes scenic waterway
- →Try Guilin rice noodles at a local street restaurant
Longji Rice Terraces & Ping'an Village
Longji, Guangxi
Take a shared minibus from Guilin's Qintan Bus Station to Longji Terraces (~2 hrs, ~£5 each way). Buy a combined entrance and cable car ticket at the gate (~£12). Hike up through the Ping'an Zhuang village, explore the terraces, and enjoy lunch at one of the wooden guesthouses perched on the hillside (~£5–8). Head back to Guilin in the late afternoon. Book the minibus in advance at the bus station or via your hostel.
🚌Shared minibus Guilin → Longji (~2 hrs each way, ~£5 per leg)
🛏Guilin Mix Hostel or similar (~£18–22/night)
- →Take shared minibus to Longji Terraces Scenic Area
- →Buy entrance ticket and cable car pass at the gate (~£12)
- →Walk through Ping'an Zhuang village
- →Enjoy lunch at a hillside guesthouse restaurant
- →Return to Guilin by shared minibus
Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
Li River & Yangshuo, Guangxi
Book the official Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo independently (book via Trip.com or at the pier, ~£30–35 for tourist class with buffet lunch). The ~4.5-hour cruise winds through impossibly beautiful karst scenery, arriving in Yangshuo by early afternoon. Spend the rest of the day wandering West Street (Xi Jie), rent a bicycle to explore the Ten-Mile Gallery (~£3/day), and browse the night market. Stay overnight in Yangshuo.
🚌Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (~4.5 hrs, ~£32 incl. buffet lunch)
🛏YHA Yangshuo or similar budget guesthouse (~£15–20/night)
- →Board the Li River cruise at Zhujiang Pier (~£32 incl. lunch)
- →Cruise through karst scenery to Yangshuo (~4.5 hrs)
- →Stroll West Street (Xi Jie) and browse local shops
- →Rent a bicycle and cycle the Ten-Mile Gallery (~£3)
- →Explore Yangshuo night market
Guilin City Highlights then Fly to Chongqing
Guilin & Chongqing
Take a bus back to Guilin in the morning (~£3, 1 hr). Use the morning to visit Elephant Trunk Hill Park (~£7 entrance) and Reed Flute Cave (~£8 entrance) — both are easily reachable by taxi or city bus. Head to Guilin Liangjiang Airport for an afternoon domestic flight to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (book via Trip.com or Skyscanner, ~£40–60). Check in to your Chongqing hostel in the Jiefangbei or Ciqikou area.
🚌Bus Yangshuo → Guilin (~£3, 1 hr) + Domestic flight Guilin → Chongqing (~£50)
🛏Chongqing Flip Flop Hostel or similar (~£16–22/night)
- →Bus back from Yangshuo to Guilin
- →Visit Elephant Trunk Hill Park (~£7 entrance)
- →Explore Reed Flute Cave (~£8 entrance)
- →Fly to Chongqing Jiangbei Airport (~£50)
- →Check in and explore Jiefangbei area in the evening
Chongqing City Exploration
Chongqing
Spend the day exploring Chongqing's iconic sights independently. Start at the Three Gorges Museum (free entry). Walk to the Ancient Town of Ciqikou (~40 min by metro/bus, free to enter). Head to Liziba Station to watch the metro pass through the apartment building — free to observe from outside. Take the Yangtze River Ropeway (~£3 return). Finish the evening at Hong Ya Dong, the spectacular stilted riverside building packed with restaurants — try the famous Chongqing hotpot for dinner (~£8–12). All sites are connected by Chongqing's excellent metro (~£0.50–1 per journey).
🚌Chongqing Metro (day pass ~£3)
🛏Chongqing Flip Flop Hostel or similar (~£16–22/night)
- →Visit Chongqing Three Gorges Museum (free entry)
- →Explore Ancient Town of Ciqikou (free entry)
- →See Liziba Station metro-through-building (free)
- →Ride the Yangtze River Ropeway (~£3 return)
- →Evening at Hong Ya Dong riverside complex
- →Chongqing hotpot dinner at a local restaurant (~£8–12)
Leshan Giant Buddha then on to Chengdu
Leshan & Chengdu, Sichuan
Take a high-speed train from Chongqing North to Leshan (~2 hrs, ~£12) or go direct to Chengdu and take a day trip to Leshan from there (bus from Chengdu Xinnanmen station, ~1.5 hrs, ~£5). Entrance to Mt. Leshan scenic area is ~£20, which includes the short cruise boat to view the Giant Buddha from the river (~30 min, spectacular). After visiting, take the bus to Chengdu (~1.5 hrs, ~£5) and check in. Explore the hostel's neighbourhood in the evening.
🚌Bus or train Chongqing → Leshan (~£12) + Bus Leshan → Chengdu (~£5)
🛏Chengdu Mix Hostel or Traffic Inn (~£15–20/night)
- →Travel to Leshan by bus or train
- →Enter Mt. Leshan Scenic Area (~£20 incl. river cruise)
- →30-minute cruise to view the Leshan Giant Buddha from the river
- →Walk the cliff-side staircase for close-up Buddha views
- →Bus to Chengdu and check in to hostel
Giant Pandas, People's Park & Kuan Zhai Alley
Chengdu, Sichuan
Head to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding first thing in the morning — arrive by 8am for the best panda activity (entry ~£10, book on Klook or at the gate; bus 198 from city centre). Spend 2–3 hours with the pandas, then take the metro to People's Park — entry is free. Join locals for tea at the famous Heming Teahouse (~£3 for a pot). Spend the afternoon wandering Kuan Zhai Alley (Broad and Narrow Alleys) — free to enter, great street food. End with a traditional hotpot dinner at a local restaurant (~£8–12).
🚌Bus 198 to Panda Base + Chengdu Metro (~£2 total)
🛏Chengdu Mix Hostel or Traffic Inn (~£15–20/night)
- →Visit Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding (~£10, arrive early)
- →Take bus 198 back to city and metro to People's Park (free entry)
- →Tea house experience at Heming Teahouse, People's Park (~£3)
- →Walk Kuan Zhai Alley (Broad and Narrow Alleys, free entry)
- →Traditional Sichuan hotpot dinner at local restaurant (~£8–12)
Chengdu to Shanghai by High-Speed Train
Chengdu to Shanghai
Book the high-speed train from Chengdu East to Shanghai Hongqiao in advance via Trip.com or 12306.cn (~£60–80, ~11–13 hrs depending on train). This is a great overnight option if you prefer to save on one night's accommodation — look for overnight trains that arrive in the morning. Alternatively, take a daytime train and arrive in Shanghai in the evening. Check in to your Shanghai hostel in the French Concession or near the Bund.
🚌High-speed train Chengdu East → Shanghai Hongqiao (~11–13 hrs, ~£70)
🛏Shanghai Captain Hostel or Marvel Hostel near the Bund (~£20–28/night)
- →Check out of Chengdu hostel and head to Chengdu East station
- →Board high-speed train to Shanghai (~£70, 11–13 hrs)
- →Arrive in Shanghai and check in to hostel near the Bund
- →Optional: evening walk along the Bund to preview tomorrow's sights
Shanghai: Old Town, the Bund & Lujiazui
Shanghai
A full day exploring Shanghai's contrasts. Start in the morning with a walk through the Shikumen Longtang (Nong Tang) alleyways in the former French Concession — free and atmospheric. Head to Yuyuan Garden (~£5 entrance) and the surrounding Yuyuan Bazaar / Chenghuangmiao Old Street (free to browse, great street snacks). Visit the Shanghai City History Museum inside the Oriental Pearl Tower base (included with lower-level ticket, ~£10). Take the metro across the Huangpu River to Lujiazui to see the financial skyline. Walk the Bund waterfront in the evening for the famous light show — completely free.
🚌Shanghai Metro (day pass ~£4)
🛏Shanghai Captain Hostel or Marvel Hostel (~£20–28/night)
- →Walk the Shikumen Nong Tang alleyways in the French Concession (free)
- →Visit Yuyuan Garden (~£5 entrance)
- →Explore Yuyuan Bazaar and Chenghuangmiao Old Street (free)
- →Visit Shanghai City History Museum / Oriental Pearl Tower base (~£10)
- →Walk through Lujiazui financial district
- →Evening stroll along the Bund (free, spectacular skyline views)
Shanghai Departure
Shanghai
Enjoy a final breakfast near your hostel. Depending on your flight time, you may have time for a last wander through the French Concession or Tianzifang art district. Take the Maglev train from Longyang Road Metro Station to Pudong Airport (~£7, ~8 mins) or the metro to Hongqiao Airport (~£1, ~40 mins). Check out of your hostel and head to the airport for your onward flight.
🚌Maglev to Pudong Airport (~£7) or Metro to Hongqiao (~£1)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Final breakfast in Shanghai
- →Optional: last wander through Tianzifang art district or French Concession
- →Take Maglev or metro to airport
- →Depart Shanghai
Self-launched vs. Top China Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Top China Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£650 | £2,025 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,375 per person (68%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Top China Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£650
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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Hong Kong to Shanghai: Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu & Beyond cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £650 per person for 10 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 Top China Travel?+
Yes — Top China Travel charges around £2,025 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £650 — a saving of roughly £1,375 (68%) per person.
How long is the China trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 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 culture, adventure, foodie 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.
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