Wild China: Self-Launched — Beijing to Hong Kong

Arrive in Beijing at any time. Take the Airport Express train from Beijing Capital Airport to the city centre (Line S1/S2, ~£3, 20 mins). Check in to your hostel in the Drum Tower or Qianmen area — both brilliant bases with great metro access. Spend the evening exploring the hutong alleyways and grabbing Peking duck at a local restaurant.

🚌Airport Express train to city centre ~£3

🛏Bed in a dorm at a well-rated hostel (e.g. Leo Hostel or Beijing Drum Tower Youth Hostel) — approx £12–16/night

• →Arrive and settle in
• →Explore the hutong neighbourhood on foot
• →Street food dinner near Qianmen or Drum Tower

Head to Mutianyu Great Wall, one of the best-preserved and least crowded sections. Take bus 916 from Dongzhimen to Huairou (£1), then a minibus to Mutianyu (£1.50). Entry ~£8. Hike along the wall and enjoy views from the 22 watchtowers. Take the toboggan down for fun (£5 extra). Return to Beijing by late afternoon. Book via GetYourGuide if you prefer a small-group day trip (~£25 including transport).

🚌Bus 916 + minibus to Mutianyu ~£3 return

🛏Beijing hostel dorm ~£12–16/night

• →Hike the Great Wall at Mutianyu
• →Explore watchtowers and ridgeline views
• →Optional toboggan ride down

Start early at Tiananmen Square (free entry), then cross into the Forbidden City (book tickets in advance online, ~£10). Spend a few hours exploring the imperial palace complex. In the afternoon, make your way to Beijing West station for an overnight sleeper train to Xi'an (Hard sleeper ~£25–35, book via Trip.com or 12go.asia). This is one of China's great train journeys.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Beijing → Xi'an ~£25–35

🛏Overnight sleeper train (hard sleeper berth) ~£25–35

• →Walk Tiananmen Square
• →Explore the Forbidden City
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Xi'an

Arrive in Xi'an in the morning. Check in to your hostel near the Muslim Quarter — a brilliant area for street food. Take an orientation walk around the ancient city walls (entry ~£6) and the Muslim Quarter's buzzing food street. Optional: rent a bike and cycle the full 14km perimeter of the city walls (~£4 bike hire) — a brilliant way to get your bearings.

🚌Local metro and walking

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

• →Orientation walk of the city
• →Explore the Muslim Quarter food street
• →Optional: cycle the Xi'an City Walls

A full day at the Terracotta Warriors — one of the world's most extraordinary archaeological sites. Take Bus 307 or tourism Bus 5 from Xi'an Railway Station (~£1 each way). Entry ~£16. Spend 3–4 hours exploring all three excavated pits and the on-site museum. Around 8,000 warriors and hundreds of horses are on display. Return to Xi'an in the afternoon for more Muslim Quarter street food (must-try: lamb skewers and roujiamo).

🚌Bus 307 to Terracotta Warriors ~£1 each way

🛏Xi'an hostel dorm ~£10–14/night

• →Visit the Terracotta Warriors Museum (Pits 1, 2 & 3)
• →Explore the on-site exhibition halls
• →Evening street food in the Muslim Quarter

Morning free to visit the Great Mosque of Xi'an (one of the largest in China, ~£3 entry) or the Shaanxi History Museum (free with passport). In the evening, board an overnight sleeper train from Xi'an to Emeishan (hard sleeper ~£25–30, book via Trip.com). Settle in for the night as the train trundles southwest through China.

🚌Overnight sleeper train Xi'an → Emeishan ~£25–30

🛏Overnight sleeper train hard berth ~£25–30

• →Visit the Great Mosque of Xi'an
• →Optional: Shaanxi History Museum
• →Board overnight sleeper train to Emei Shan

Arrive at Emeishan station and take a local bus to the mountain (£2). Begin exploring one of the four sacred Buddhist mountains of China. Many monasteries on the mountain offer basic overnight accommodation — Wannian Monastery and Qingyin Pavilion area are popular options (~£10–15/night including simple meals). Buy a combined entry and scenic area ticket (~£18). The mountain's forests, mist-shrouded temples, and free-roaming Tibetan macaques make it magical.

🚌Local bus from Emeishan station ~£2

🛏Basic monastery guesthouse on Emei Shan ~£10–15/night

• →Arrive and hike lower trails of Emei Shan
• →Visit Wannian Monastery
• →Check in to basic monastery guesthouse

A full free day to hike Emei Shan at your own pace. The mountain has trails ranging from easy temple-to-temple walks to a serious summit hike to the Golden Summit (3,099m). You can take a cable car near the top (~£15 return) and walk the final section to the Golden Summit for panoramic views. Watch out for the cheeky Tibetan macaque monkeys! Return to your monastery guesthouse for another night in this peaceful, atmospheric setting.

🚌On foot / optional cable car ~£15 return

🛏Basic monastery guesthouse on Emei Shan ~£10–15/night

• →Hike Emei Shan trails at leisure
• →Optional: cable car + hike to Golden Summit (3,099m)
• →Watch for Tibetan macaques

Head down the mountain and take a bus to Leshan (~45 mins, £2). The Leshan Giant Buddha is the world's largest stone-carved Buddha at 71m tall — take a boat tour for the best views (~£5) or hike down the cliff-side stairs to its feet (entry ~£14). Afterwards, catch a bus or train to Chengdu (1–1.5 hrs, ~£5). Check in to a lively hostel in the Jinli or Kuanzhai area. Optional evening: Sichuan opera face-changing show (~£15 via GetYourGuide).

🚌Bus Emei → Leshan ~£2; Bus/train Leshan → Chengdu ~£5

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

• →Boat tour or cliff-side hike to see the Leshan Giant Buddha
• →Bus/train to Chengdu
• →Optional: Sichuan opera face-changing performance

Rise early for the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — pandas are most active in the morning. Bus 87 or a Didi taxi (~£3) gets you there. Entry ~£10. Spend 2–3 hours watching giant and red pandas up close. Return to the city, grab a bowl of proper Sichuan hotpot for lunch, then head to Chengdu Shuangliu Airport for an afternoon flight to Lijiang (~£40–60 booked in advance on Trip.com). Check in and take an orientation walk of Lijiang's stunning UNESCO-listed old town.

🚌Taxi/Bus to airport ~£5; domestic flight Chengdu → Lijiang ~£40–60

🛏Guesthouse in Lijiang Old Town ~£12–18/night

• →Morning visit to Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
• →Sichuan hotpot lunch
• →Fly to Lijiang; orientation walk of the old town

A free day to wander the cobbled canal-laced streets of Lijiang's UNESCO-listed Dayan Old Town. Explore the Naxi market, visit Black Dragon Pool for the iconic Jade Dragon Snow Mountain reflection photo, and browse the wooden architecture. Optional: horse riding to the countryside (~£20) or a day trip to Jade Dragon Snow Mountain with cable car (~£40 via GetYourGuide). In the evening, enjoy a cold Yunnan craft beer in one of the old town's atmospheric bars.

🚌Walking / local tuk-tuk ~£2

🛏Guesthouse in Lijiang Old Town ~£12–18/night

• →Explore Lijiang Old Town at leisure
• →Visit Black Dragon Pool Park (free)
• →Optional: Jade Dragon Snow Mountain day trip (~£40)

Take a morning bus from Lijiang's North Bus Station to Qiaotou (£4, ~2 hrs) — the start of the famous Tiger Leaping Gorge trek. Begin hiking the high trail through one of the world's deepest river gorges. The gorge drops 3,900m from Jade Dragon Snow Mountain above to the Jinsha River below. Aim to reach the mid-point guesthouses at Bendiwan or Halfway Guesthouse for the night (~£8–12). The views are absolutely jaw-dropping.

🚌Bus Lijiang → Qiaotou ~£4

🛏Mid-gorge guesthouse (e.g. Halfway Guesthouse or Tina's) ~£8–12/night

• →Bus from Lijiang to Qiaotou
• →Begin Tiger Leaping Gorge high trail hike
• →Arrive at mid-gorge guesthouse

Complete the second day of the Tiger Leaping Gorge trek, descending to the lower path along the river and finishing at Tina's Guest House near Walnut Grove. The full 2-day trek is around 22km — one of the most spectacular hikes in Asia. From the end point, catch a bus back to Lijiang (~£4) or continue onward to Shangri-La. Rest your legs with a well-earned dinner and overnight in Lijiang.

🚌Bus from gorge end point to Lijiang ~£4

🛏Guesthouse in Lijiang Old Town ~£12–18/night

• →Complete Tiger Leaping Gorge high trail (Day 2)
• →Optional river-level walk along lower path
• →Bus back to Lijiang or on to Shangri-La

Fly from Lijiang to Guilin (book via Trip.com, ~£50–80). On arrival in Guilin, take a shuttle bus or shared taxi to Yangshuo (~1.5 hrs, £5–8). Yangshuo is a laid-back town surrounded by extraordinary karst limestone peaks reflected in the Li River — one of China's most iconic landscapes. Check in to a guesthouse or hostel in town. Explore the famous West Street and enjoy a riverside dinner.

🚌Domestic flight Lijiang → Guilin ~£50–80; bus to Yangshuo ~£6

🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Yangshuo (e.g. River View Hotel or Yangshuo Village Inn area) ~£12–18/night

• →Fly Lijiang to Guilin
• →Bus/shared taxi Guilin → Yangshuo
• →Evening stroll along West Street, Yangshuo

Take a morning Li River bamboo raft or local boat trip from Yangshuo through the karst peaks (~£10–15). In the afternoon, rent a bicycle (~£3/day) and pedal through the countryside past Moon Hill, Dragon Bridge, and rural villages — arguably the best way to experience Yangshuo's magical scenery. Stop at a local noodle shop for Yangshuo's famous beer fish for dinner (~£5).

🚌Bicycle hire ~£3; boat ~£10–15

🛏Yangshuo guesthouse ~£12–18/night

• →Li River bamboo raft or boat trip
• →Cycling through karst countryside to Moon Hill
• →Beer fish dinner at a local restaurant

Join a local Yangshuo cooking class — many include a market tour to buy ingredients before learning to cook classic Guilin and Sichuan dishes. Book via GetYourGuide or direct with local schools like Cloud 9 Cooking School (~£25–35). Afternoon free to explore the countryside further, rock climb on the karst peaks (Yangshuo is a world-class climbing destination — instruction available from £25), or simply relax by the river.

🚌Walking / bicycle

🛏Yangshuo guesthouse ~£12–18/night

• →Central Chinese cooking class with market tour (~£25–35)
• →Optional: karst rock climbing session
• →Free afternoon to explore at leisure

Take a bus from Yangshuo back to Guilin (£5, 1.5 hrs) then a high-speed train from Guilin to Guangzhou South (£20–25, ~2.5 hrs — book via Trip.com). Guangzhou (formerly Canton) is China's southern metropolis and the birthplace of Cantonese cuisine. Check in near the old town area and explore Shamian Island — a leafy colonial enclave on a small island in the Pearl River. Dinner at a local yum cha (dim sum) restaurant for the real Cantonese experience.

🚌Bus Yangshuo → Guilin ~£5; HSR Guilin → Guangzhou ~£20–25

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Guangzhou ~£15–22/night

• →Bus Yangshuo to Guilin
• →High-speed train Guilin to Guangzhou
• →Explore Shamian Island and Pearl River area

Explore Guangzhou properly. Visit the Chen Clan Academy — a stunning example of traditional Cantonese architecture (~£5). Walk to the riverfront to see the iconic Canton Tower. Explore the Shangxiajiu pedestrian shopping street and the Qingping market. In the evening, head to Beijing Road Night Market or explore the Tianhe district's buzzing food scene. Guangzhou is one of China's great food cities — try char siu, wonton noodles, and egg tarts.

🚌Guangzhou Metro (single journey ~£0.50)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Guangzhou ~£15–22/night

• →Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (~£5)
• →Canton Tower riverfront walk
• →Guangzhou night markets and Cantonese food crawl

Take the high-speed rail from Guangzhou South to Hong Kong West Kowloon (~£18–25, 50 mins — book via MTR Express). Clear immigration at West Kowloon station. Check in to a hostel in Kowloon or Mong Kok — budget options abound. Get your Octopus card for the MTR. Spend the afternoon walking the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade for iconic views of Hong Kong Island's skyline. In the evening, take the Star Ferry across the harbour (~£0.30) and ride the Peak Tram (~£8) for the world-famous night view.

🚌HSR Guangzhou → Hong Kong ~£20; MTR Octopus card; Star Ferry ~£0.30

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Kowloon (e.g. Mei Ho House Youth Hostel or similar) ~£18–28/night

• →High-speed rail Guangzhou → Hong Kong West Kowloon
• →Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront promenade
• →Star Ferry harbour crossing
• →Victoria Peak at night

Full day exploring Hong Kong. Morning at Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road (free), then browse the antique shops and street art of Sheung Wan. Grab a classic Hong Kong milk tea and egg waffle from a cha chaan teng (local diner). Head to Mong Kok for the Ladies Market and Temple Street Night Market in the evening — iconic Hong Kong street-market energy. Optional: day trip to Lantau Island and the Big Buddha via cable car (~£25 return via Ngong Ping 360).

🚌MTR Octopus card ~£5/day

🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Kowloon ~£18–28/night

• →Man Mo Temple and Hollywood Road antiques
• →Hong Kong cha chaan teng breakfast experience
• →Mong Kok markets and Temple Street Night Market

Final morning in Hong Kong — head to a dim sum restaurant for a proper Cantonese breakfast send-off (try Tim Ho Wan, the world's most affordable Michelin-starred restaurant). Explore any remaining neighbourhoods — Sham Shui Po for electronics, Kennedy Town for a local vibe, or the vibrant Central district. Depart from Hong Kong International Airport (Airport Express from Kowloon ~£8, 20 mins). End of an epic 21-day self-launched adventure across China.

🚌Airport Express Kowloon → HKIA ~£8

🛏Check out — fly home

• →Dim sum farewell breakfast (e.g. Tim Ho Wan)
• →Final neighbourhood exploration
• →Airport Express to Hong Kong International Airport