China Discovery: Beijing to Shanghai — Self-Launched

Arrive into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) or Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX). Take the Airport Express train to the city centre (~£3.50). Check into your hostel in the Dongcheng or Gulou district — both are perfectly placed for exploring. Spend the evening getting your bearings: head out to explore Beijing's buzzing night food stalls, grab a bowl of zhajiangmian (noodles with minced pork sauce) and plan your days ahead.

🚌Airport Express train from PEK to Dongzhimen station, then subway to hostel (~£3.50 total)

🛏Red Lantern House or Peking Yard Hostel (Dongcheng district) — mixed or same-sex dorm ~£12-16/night, or private room ~£30/night

• →Arrive and check in to hostel
• →Airport Express train to city centre (~£3.50)
• →Self-guided evening wander and street food exploration

Spend the day exploring Beijing's unmissable landmarks on foot and by subway. Start at Tiananmen Square at sunrise when it's quietest, then walk north to the Drum Tower (admission ~£3). Dive into the Hutong backstreets of Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying for coffee, street snacks and local boutiques. In the afternoon, climb Jingshan Park (admission ~£0.50) for the classic panoramic view over the Forbidden City rooftops at golden hour. The Beijing Subway is cheap, fast and easy to navigate with Google Maps or the Baidu Metro app.

🚌Beijing Subway — day of travel ~£2-3

🛏Red Lantern House or Peking Yard Hostel, Beijing

• →Tiananmen Square (free)
• →Drum Tower (admission ~£3)
• →Nanluoguxiang and Wudaoying Hutong stroll (free)
• →Jingshan Park viewpoint over the Forbidden City (~£0.50)
• →Optional: Forbidden City Palace Museum entry (~£8) — book online in advance at dpm.org.cn, tickets sell out fast

Head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall, widely considered the best-preserved and least crowded section accessible from Beijing. Book your entry ticket (£12) and cable car or toboggan (~£8-10) online in advance via the official Mutianyu website or GetYourGuide. Take bus 916 from Dongzhimen bus terminal to Huairou (~£1.20), then a shared minibus to Mutianyu (~£2). Allow 4-5 hours on the wall. Return to Beijing in the late afternoon, collect your luggage, and head to Beijing West Railway Station for the overnight sleeper train to Xi'an. Book hard-sleeper berths on China's 12306.cn rail booking site (or use Trip.com for English-language booking) — ~£28-35 for a hard sleeper. Departs ~20:00, arrives Xi'an ~07:00.

🚌Bus 916 from Dongzhimen + shared minibus to Mutianyu (~£3 total); overnight train Beijing West to Xi'an (~£28-35)

🛏Overnight hard-sleeper train (Beijing West → Xi'an)

• →Mutianyu Great Wall hike (~5km section) — entry ~£12
• →Optional cable car up / toboggan down (~£8-10)
• →Return to Beijing and board overnight sleeper train to Xi'an (~£28-35 hard sleeper)

Arrive into Xi'an around 07:00 and head to your hostel to drop your bags. Take Metro Line 9 (or a public bus) out to the Terracotta Warriors Museum (~35 mins, ~£1). Buy entry tickets on-site or via official channels (~£18). The self-guided experience is excellent with an included audio guide; an optional extra guided tour is available via GetYourGuide (~£8) if you want deeper historical context. Return to the city in the late afternoon. In the evening, head to the legendary Xi'an Muslim Quarter (Huimin Jie) — a street-food paradise famous for roujiamo (Chinese 'burgers'), lamb skewers and pomegranate juice. Soak up the lantern-lit atmosphere and browse the souvenir stalls.

🚌Xi'an Metro Line 9 to Terracotta Warriors (~£1 each way); city metro day ~£2

🛏Han Tang Inn or Shuyuan Youth Hostel, Xi'an — dorm ~£10-14/night

• →Terracotta Army Museum — entry ~£18 (book via official site: bmy.com.cn)
• →Optional audio guide included; optional GetYourGuide guided tour ~£8
• →Xi'an Muslim Quarter evening street food wander (free to explore, budget ~£8-10 for food)

Spend the morning exploring Xi'an at leisure. The Ancient City Wall is one of the best-preserved city walls in China — rent a bicycle at the top and cycle the full 14km loop (~£4-5, ~1.5 hours). Or simply walk a section and enjoy the views. Head to Xi'an North Railway Station by early afternoon and board a high-speed bullet train to Chengdu East (~£35-45 for a second-class seat, journey ~3.5 hours). Check into your Chengdu hostel in the Kuanzhai Alley or Tianfu Square area. Spend the evening exploring Chengdu's famous bar and food streets.

🚌Bullet train Xi'an North → Chengdu East (~£35-45 second class)

🛏Traffic Hotel or Sim's Cozy Garden Hostel, Chengdu — dorm ~£10-15/night

• →Xi'an Ancient City Wall bike rental and cycling (~£4-5)
• →Optional: Big Wild Goose Pagoda (~£4)
• →Bullet train Xi'an North → Chengdu East (~£35-45, ~3.5 hrs — book via Trip.com or 12306.cn)
• →Evening exploration of Chengdu food and bar scene

Start early (gates open 07:30) at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — morning is the best time to see the pandas active and feeding. Entry ~£10, booked in advance at pandabase.cn. Take bus 198 or a DiDi (Chinese Uber, ~£3-5) to get there. In the afternoon, explore Chengdu's famous Kuan Zhai Alley (Broad and Narrow Alleys) — a beautifully restored Qing Dynasty neighbourhood packed with teahouses, street food and local boutiques (free entry). Finish at People's Park for a classic Chengdu afternoon: locals playing mahjong, dancing and sipping tea at the famous Heming Teahouse (~£2 for a pot of tea). This evening, try a Chengdu hotpot — a quintessential local experience, budget ~£8-12.

🚌Bus 198 or DiDi to Panda Base (~£3-5 each way); city metro/DiDi ~£3

🛏Traffic Hotel or Sim's Cozy Garden Hostel, Chengdu

• →Giant Panda Breeding Research Base — entry ~£10 (book at pandabase.cn)
• →Optional: Red panda enclosure included in same ticket
• →Kuan Zhai Alley (Broad & Narrow Alleys) — free to explore
• →People's Park and Heming Teahouse (~£2 for tea)
• →Chengdu hotpot dinner (~£8-12)

Today is a travel day across China. The most efficient route is to fly Chengdu (CTU) to Guilin (KWL) — budget airlines like Air China or China Southern offer fares from ~£35-60 (book 2-4 weeks ahead on Trip.com or Skyscanner). Alternatively, take a high-speed train Chengdu East → Guilin North (~£40-55, ~5.5 hours). From Guilin, take a public bus direct to Yangshuo (~£3, 1.5 hours). Check in to your Yangshuo hostel — many are right on the famous West Street. Spend the evening wandering the buzzing riverside night markets and bar street.

🚌Flight CTU→KWL (~£35-60) or bullet train (~£40-55); bus Guilin→Yangshuo (~£3)

🛏Yangshuo Village Inn or Magnolia Hotel Yangshuo — dorm ~£10-15/night, private ~£25-35

• →Morning checkout from Chengdu hostel
• →Flight or train to Guilin (book ahead via Trip.com — flight from ~£35-60, train from ~£40-55)
• →Public bus Guilin → Yangshuo (~£3, 1.5 hrs)
• →Evening wander of West Street and night market

Join a self-guided or locally-led cycling tour through Yangshuo's spectacular karst countryside. Rent a bicycle from your hostel or a local shop on West Street (~£4-6/day) and follow the popular Moon Hill and Dragon Bridge countryside route (~25km loop). Pass through rice terraces, river villages and bamboo groves. Alternatively, book a guided half-day cycling tour via GetYourGuide or Klook (~£15-20 including guide and lunch). Have lunch at a local village restaurant along the route — try local dishes like beer fish (~£5-8). Spend the afternoon back in Yangshuo, kayaking on the Li River (self-bookable ~£10-15) or relaxing.

🚌Bicycle (~£4-6 rental) — all local

🛏Yangshuo Village Inn or Magnolia Hotel Yangshuo

• →Countryside bike rental (~£4-6) for Moon Hill / Dragon Bridge loop
• →OR Book a guided cycling and countryside tour via GetYourGuide (~£15-20 inc. lunch)
• →Village restaurant lunch (~£5-8)
• →Optional: Li River kayaking (~£10-15, book via hostel or GetYourGuide)

A full free day to shape your Yangshuo experience exactly as you like. Options abound: hike to Moon Hill (entry ~£2) for sweeping karst panoramas; take a Chinese cooking class in a traditional farmhouse (~£20-25, bookable via GetYourGuide); join a Tai Chi class at sunrise (~£8-12 via local schools); or simply laze by the Li River. In the evening, don't miss the spectacular 'Impression Liu Sanjie' outdoor light show, directed by Zhang Yimou and staged on the Li River itself — book tickets in advance at ~£20-25 on the official site or via your hostel.

🚌Walk / bicycle locally

🛏Yangshuo Village Inn or Magnolia Hotel Yangshuo

• →Optional: Moon Hill hike (~£2 entry)
• →Optional: Chinese cooking class in countryside farmhouse (~£20-25 via GetYourGuide)
• →Optional: Tai Chi class at sunrise (~£8-12)
• →Optional: 'Impression Liu Sanjie' light show on the Li River (~£20-25 — book in advance!)

Take an early morning bus from Yangshuo to Guilin North Railway Station (~£3, 1.5 hours), then board a high-speed train to Guangzhou South (~£20-28, ~1.5 hours). Check in to your Guangzhou hostel in the Yuexiu or Haizhu district. Spend the afternoon exploring Guangzhou's highlights: stroll through Yuexiu Park (free), a vast green oasis home to the iconic Five Rams Sculpture, then visit the ornate Chen Clan Academy (~£5) and the tranquil colonial enclave of Shamian Island (free). In the evening, explore Guangzhou's celebrated Cantonese food scene — this is the home of dim sum. Optional: book a Pearl River Night Cruise (~£8-12 via Klook).

🚌Bus to Guilin (~£3); bullet train Guilin→Guangzhou (~£20-28); Guangzhou Metro day ~£3

🛏Guangzhou 7Days Inn or Vienna Hotel (budget) — dorm ~£12-16, private ~£25-35

• →Bus Yangshuo → Guilin North (~£3)
• →High-speed train Guilin North → Guangzhou South (~£20-28, ~1.5 hrs — book via Trip.com)
• →Yuexiu Park and Five Rams Sculpture (free)
• →Chen Clan Academy (~£5)
• →Shamian Island stroll (free)
• →Optional: Pearl River Night Cruise (~£8-12 via Klook)

Today's journey takes you off the tourist trail to the remarkable Hakka Tulou earthen fortress villages of Yongding, Fujian. Take a morning high-speed train from Guangzhou South to Longyan (~£25-35, ~2.5 hours), then a local bus or shared taxi from Longyan to Yongding/Nanjing Tulou cluster (~£6-10, ~1 hour). Check in to a guesthouse INSIDE a Tulou — several families rent basic rooms within the ancient fortress walls for ~£12-18/night, giving you an authentic experience. Spend the afternoon settling in, exploring the Tianluokeng (Four Dishes and One Soup) Tulou cluster on foot, and enjoying the serene mountain scenery.

🚌Bullet train Guangzhou South → Longyan (~£25-35); local bus/shared taxi to Yongding (~£6-10)

🛏Family-run guesthouse room inside a Hakka Tulou, Yongding — ~£12-18/night (book via Trip.com or ask your Longyan hostel to arrange)

• →High-speed train Guangzhou South → Longyan (~£25-35, ~2.5 hrs)
• →Local bus or shared taxi Longyan → Yongding Tulou cluster (~£6-10)
• →Check in to Tulou guesthouse — sleep inside a UNESCO World Heritage fortress
• →Self-guided wander of Tianluokeng Tulou cluster (entry ~£8-12)

Enjoy a peaceful morning waking up inside your Tulou — a genuinely unique experience. Spend the day exploring the wider Yongding Tulou scenic area at your own pace. Visit the Hakka Folk Custom Centre (~£3-5) to learn about the history and culture of the Hakka people. Wander the Hongkeng Village cluster to see the largest and most elaborate Tulou buildings, browse antique shops and traditional teahouses, and walk the surrounding hillside trails for panoramic views over the fortress rings. This is a UNESCO World Heritage Site — savour the slow travel pace. Pick up local Hakka snacks from village vendors.

🚌Walking / local tuk-tuk within Yongding (~£2-4)

🛏Family-run guesthouse inside a Hakka Tulou, Yongding

• →Hakka Folk Custom Centre (~£3-5)
• →Hongkeng Village Tulou cluster walk (covered by area entry ticket)
• →Hillside trail walk for panoramic Tulou views (free)
• →Browse antique shops and traditional teahouses (free)

Travel day from rural Fujian to the megacity of Shanghai. Take a local bus or taxi back to Longyan station (~£6-10), then a high-speed train to Shanghai Hongqiao (~£40-55, ~4-5 hours). Settle into your Shanghai hostel — the French Concession, Jing'an or the Bund area are all great bases. By evening, Shanghai will leave you speechless: head to the Bund waterfront to see the iconic city skyline illuminated across the Huangpu River. Grab dinner and drinks in a bar in the Former French Concession neighbourhood.

🚌Taxi/bus to Longyan (~£6-10); bullet train to Shanghai (~£40-55); Shanghai Metro ~£2

🛏Mingtown Hiker Youth Hostel or The Marvel Shanghai — dorm ~£14-18, private ~£35-45

• →Local bus/taxi Yongding → Longyan (~£6-10)
• →High-speed train Longyan → Shanghai Hongqiao (~£40-55, ~4-5 hrs — book via Trip.com)
• →Check in and evening walk along The Bund (free)
• →Dinner in the French Concession (~£8-12)

Start your day at The Bund (free) early morning — the view of Pudong's futuristic skyline across the river is best before the crowds arrive. Walk south to the enchanting Yu Garden and Shanghai Old Town (~£5 entry for Yu Garden itself) — lose yourself in the traditional zigzag bridges, teahouses and pagodas. In the afternoon, explore at will: the leafy streets and café culture of the Former French Concession (free), the stunning Jade Buddha Temple (~£8), or cross the river to Pudong to ride the elevator to the top of the Shanghai Tower observation deck (~£15) for jaw-dropping views. Toast your final evening with drinks on a Bund rooftop bar.

🚌Shanghai Metro day pass ~£3

🛏Mingtown Hiker Youth Hostel or The Marvel Shanghai

• →The Bund waterfront walk (free)
• →Yu Garden and Shanghai Old Town (~£5 entry)
• →Former French Concession neighbourhood stroll (free)
• →Optional: Jade Buddha Temple (~£8)
• →Optional: Shanghai Tower observation deck (~£15)
• →Farewell drinks on a Bund rooftop bar

Your adventure ends today. Shanghai has two main airports: Pudong International (PVG) for long-haul international flights, and Hongqiao (SHA) for domestic. The Maglev train runs from Pudong Airport into the city in 8 minutes (~£6), or take Metro Line 2 (~£1.50). Depart at any time. If you have a late flight, store your luggage at the hostel (most offer this service) and squeeze in any last-minute sightseeing — Tianzifang, a charming arts and crafts alley in the French Concession, is perfect for a final wander and souvenir shopping.

🚌Maglev from Pudong Airport (~£6) or Metro Line 2 (~£1.50)

🛏Check out — no accommodation needed

• →Luggage storage at hostel if needed (free or ~£1-2)
• →Optional: Tianzifang arts alley final wander (free)
• →Transfer to Pudong (PVG) via Maglev (~£6) or Metro Line 2 (~£1.50)