Best of China: Self-Launched Edition
12 days · China
G Adventures charges £3,000
No-markup version: ~£635 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 12-day "Best of China" National Geographic Journeys trip — Beijing, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, Xi'an's city walls and Terracotta Warriors, the karst countryside around Yangshuo, and Shanghai. Instead of a private bus, CEO and internal flights, you'll use China's excellent high-speed and soft-sleeper trains, hostel and guesthouse stays, and self-booked local guides via GetYourGuide or the ticket office. Prices are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and exclude international flights and the Chinese visa (roughly £150–£250 depending on nationality and processing). Note: many Western apps and email services are restricted in China — set up a VPN and download Alipay/WeChat before you fly, as these are how you'll pay for nearly everything.
Day-by-day
Arrive Beijing — hutong evening and Peking duck
Beijing
Land at Beijing Capital or Daxing airport and take the Airport Express train plus metro to your hostel (¥25–30, ~£3). Chinese is rarely spoken outside hotels, so have your hostel address saved in Chinese characters on your phone. Settle in, then wander the Nanluoguxiang or Baochao hutongs at dusk and try Peking duck at a local roast-duck restaurant (Siji Minfu near the Forbidden City is excellent value, ¥150–200 per person, ~£17–23) rather than a hotel restaurant.
🚌Airport Express + metro ~£3
🛏Hostel dorm or private room in a central hutong guesthouse (e.g. near Dongsi or Nanluoguxiang), £15–25
- →Hutong evening stroll
- →Peking duck dinner
- →Set up Alipay/WeChat Pay and a VPN
Mutianyu Great Wall — hike and toboggan down
Mutianyu / Huairou, Beijing
Get an early start: take the metro to Dongzhimen and catch the 916 Express bus to Huairou (¥12, ~£1.50), then a shared local minivan to Mutianyu (¥10–20). Alternatively pre-book a shared shuttle or day tour on GetYourGuide or Klook (£20–35 including entry). Entry is ¥40 (~£4.50). Ride the cable car up (¥100–120) and hike the restored towers to the highest point, then slide back down on the toboggan (¥100). Bring water and snacks — food up there is pricey.
🚌Metro + 916 Express bus + shared minivan ~£5 return
🛏Same Beijing hostel, £15–25
- →Mutianyu Great Wall hike
- →Cable car up / toboggan down
- →Watchtower viewpoints
Forbidden City, Tiananmen, Temple of Heaven
Beijing
Book Forbidden City tickets online in advance (real-name passport booking, ¥60, ~£7) — they sell out days ahead, especially in summer and Golden Week. Do Tiananmen Square first (free, but bring your passport for security checks), then spend 2–3 hours in the Forbidden City. After lunch take metro Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen for the Temple of Heaven (¥34 combined ticket); the surrounding park is where locals practise tai chi, dance and card games — go late afternoon for the best atmosphere. Dinner in the Qianmen or Gui Street area, £8–12.
🚌Metro day pass ~£2
🛏Same Beijing hostel, £15–25
- →Tiananmen Square
- →Forbidden City
- →Temple of Heaven and park
- →Hutong walk
Free morning in Beijing, overnight soft-sleeper to Xi'an
Beijing → Xi'an
Spend the morning at the 798 Art District (free, metro Line 14) or the Lama Temple (¥25). In the late afternoon head to Beijing West Railway Station for the overnight soft-sleeper train to Xi'an — book on the official 12306 app or Trip.com roughly 15 days out; a soft sleeper berth is around ¥500–600 (~£55–65) and arrives early morning. Pack light: no knives, scissors or aerosols over 120ml on Chinese trains.
🚌Overnight soft-sleeper train Beijing West → Xi'an, ~11–12 hrs, ~£55–65
🛏Soft-sleeper train berth (4-berth), included in train ticket
- →798 Art District or Lama Temple
- →Overnight train experience
Xi'an city walls by bike and the Muslim Quarter
Xi'an
Drop bags at your hostel near the Bell Tower, then rent a bike on top of the Ming-era city wall (¥45 for 2 hours plus ¥200 refundable deposit, ~£5) and ride the full 14km loop — the best way to get your bearings. In the afternoon explore the Muslim Quarter's Beiyuanmen food street: roujiamo (Chinese 'burger'), biangbiang noodles, yangrou paomo and persimmon cakes for well under £10 total. Visit Gao's Grand Courtyard (¥30) and catch a shadow-puppet show — small theatres around the courtyard run short performances for ¥30–60.
🚌Walking + metro ~£2
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Bell Tower, £15–22
- →Cycle the Xi'an city wall
- →Muslim Quarter street food crawl
- →Gao's Grand Courtyard
- →Shadow puppet performance
Terracotta Warriors with a local guide
Xi'an
Take bus 306/游5 from the Xi'an railway station square to the Terracotta Army site (¥7, ~40 mins); entry is ¥120 (~£13). Pre-book a small-group English-speaking guide on GetYourGuide or Klook (£15–25) or hire one at the gate — the site is huge and context makes it. Spend the morning across Pits 1–3, then eat lunch in a nearby village. Back in Xi'an, opt for the Defachang dumpling banquet (¥105) or stick to street food and save the cash.
🚌Local bus 306 return ~£2
🛏Same Xi'an hostel, £15–22
- →Terracotta Warriors guided visit
- →Village lunch
- →Optional dumpling banquet
Fly or train to Guilin, Li River to Yangshuo
Xi'an → Guilin → Yangshuo
Fly Xi'an to Guilin (book 3–6 weeks ahead on Trip.com or Spring Airlines; budget fares £40–70 one-way) or take the high-speed train (7–8 hrs, ~£40). From Guilin, the classic move is the Li River cruise from Zhujiang Pier to Yangshuo — a 4-star boat ticket is ¥215–270 (~£24–30) and takes about 4 hours through the karst towers. Budget alternative: bus to Yangshuo (¥25) and take a short bamboo raft on the Yulong River (¥200 per raft, splits between two). Dinner at one of Yangshuo's rural-women-run community restaurants around the old town, £8–10.
🚌Flight £40–70 or high-speed train ~£40, plus transfer to pier ~£5
🛏Guesthouse in Yangshuo old town or Yulong River area, £12–20
- →Li River cruise or Yulong River bamboo raft
- →Karst scenery
- →Community restaurant dinner
Countryside cycling and Chinese cooking class
Yangshuo countryside
Rent a bike from your guesthouse (¥30–50/day, ~£4–6) and follow the Yulong River loop through rice paddies, orchards and villages — the Moon Hill climb (¥20) is a sweaty but worthwhile detour. In the afternoon do a market tour and cooking class: several Yangshuo outfits (Yangshuo Cooking School, Cook & Taste) charge ¥200–280 (~£22–30) for a market walk plus three dishes, and you eat what you make. Book direct or via Klook.
🚌Bike hire ~£5
🛏Same Yangshuo guesthouse, £12–20
- →Cycling the Yulong River loop
- →Moon Hill climb
- →Yangshuo market tour
- →Chinese cooking class
Sunrise tai chi and leisure in Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Many Yangshuo guesthouses and parks run informal sunrise tai chi sessions on the riverside for ¥50–100 (~£6–11) — ask at your hostel the night before, or join the free groups of locals practising near the waterfront. Spend the afternoon on West Street's cafés and riverside paths, or hike up TV Tower Hill for sunset views (free). Optional: the Impression Liu Sanjie night show on the Li River (¥198–298, ~£22–33) — tickets are cheaper booked through your guesthouse than online.
🚌Walking / bike ~£2
🛏Same Yangshuo guesthouse, £12–20
- →Sunrise tai chi
- →West Street cafés
- →TV Tower Hill sunset
- →Impression Liu Sanjie (optional)
Train to Guilin, fly to Shanghai, evening on the Bund
Yangshuo → Guilin → Shanghai
Bus back to Guilin (¥25–30, ~1.5 hrs), then fly Guilin to Shanghai (budget fares £45–80 booked in advance) or take the high-speed train (10–11 hrs, from ~£70 — worth it only if you enjoy the ride). Check into a hostel in the Jing'an or Huangpu area and walk the Bund at dusk as the Pudong skyline lights up — free and easily the best introduction to the city. Cheap eats on Yunnan Road or in the French Concession, £8–12.
🚌Bus to Guilin ~£3, flight £45–80 (or train ~£70), metro ~£2
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Jing'an / Huangpu, £20–30
- →The Bund at night
- →Pudong skyline views
Shanghai museums, gardens and acrobats
Shanghai
Free day in Shanghai: the Shanghai Museum is free (book a slot online) and holds a superb bronzes and ceramics collection. Yuyuan Garden and bazaar costs ¥40 (~£4.50) and is lovely early before the crowds. Walk the tree-lined streets of the Former French Concession, or pay ¥220 to go up the Oriental Pearl Tower — the Shanghai Tower observation deck (¥180) is arguably better. In the evening catch the Shanghai Acrobatics show at the Shanghai Circus World or Majestic Theatre (£25–40 via GetYourGuide), then eat xiaolongbao at Jia Jia Tang Bao (£6).
🚌Metro ~£2
🛏Same Shanghai hostel, £20–30
- →Shanghai Museum
- →Yuyuan Garden
- →French Concession walk
- →Chinese acrobatics show
- →Xiaolongbao dinner
Depart Shanghai
Shanghai
Depending on your flight time, squeeze in a last morning walk along the Suzhou Creek or a coffee in the French Concession before heading out. The Maglev train to Pudong Airport is ¥50 (~£5.50) and takes 8 minutes at 300km/h; metro Line 2 is ¥8 but slower. Allow 3 hours before an international departure.
🚌Maglev or metro to Pudong Airport ~£5
🛏None (departure day)
- →Last morning walk
- →Departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£635 | £3,000 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,365 per person (79%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£635
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 Best of China: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £635 per person for 12 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 £3,000 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £635 — a saving of roughly £2,365 (79%) per person.
How long is the China trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 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, city-breaks, 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?
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