Highlights of China: Self-Launched 14-Day Adventure (Shanghai to Beijing)

Land at Shanghai Pudong (PVG) or Hongqiao (SHA) and take the Metro (Line 2) or the Maglev from Pudong to the city — the Maglev costs about ¥50 (~£5.50) to Longyang Road. Check into a hostel in the French Concession or People's Square area. Spend the evening walking the Bund for free views of the Pudong skyline, then eat xiaolongbao dumplings at a local spot for £5–8.

🚌Metro/Maglev from airport ~£5

🛏Hostel or budget hotel, French Concession / People's Square (dorm £12–20, private £28–40)

• →Walk the Bund at dusk
• →Eat xiaolongbao dumplings

Start with the Shanghai Museum (free entry, book a slot online). After lunch, take a bullet train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Hangzhou East — about 45–60 minutes, £8–12. In Hangzhou, check in near West Lake and wander the lakeside paths in the late afternoon.

🚌Bullet train Shanghai–Hangzhou ~£10, metro in both cities ~£2

🛏Hostel or guesthouse near West Lake (dorm £10–16, private £25–35)

• →Shanghai Museum (free)
• →West Lake evening walk

Visit Longjing village tea plantation in the morning (bus/taxi from the lake, ~£5) and stop at the famous West Lake viewpoints. In the evening fly Hangzhou to Guilin (advance budget fares from £40–70), then take the airport shuttle or bus the 1.5 hours to Yangshuo (~£3–5). Check into a riverside guesthouse.

🚌Bus to Longjing ~£5, flight Hangzhou–Guilin £40–70, bus to Yangshuo ~£4

🛏Yangshuo hostel or guesthouse (dorm £10–16, private £20–35)

• →Longjing tea plantation visit
• →West Lake scenic area

Rent a bicycle (~£4/day) and ride the flat lanes around the Yulong River among rice paddies and karst peaks. In the afternoon try a Chinese cooking class in a local home (~£20–25) or take a tai chi session. In the evening see the Impression Sanjie Liu light-and-sound show (~£25) or just relax on West Street.

🚌Bicycle rental ~£4, local taxis ~£3

🛏Yangshuo hostel or guesthouse (dorm £10–16, private £20–35)

• →Self-guided cycle tour
• →Chinese cooking class (optional)
• →Tai chi (optional)
• →Impression Sanjie Liu show (optional)

Cycle further afield today — head toward Moon Hill and the village lanes, stopping for a home-cooked lunch at a farmer's house (arrange via your guesthouse, ~£8). Swim or raft on the Yulong River in the afternoon. Aim to be back before dark.

🚌Bicycle rental ~£4

🛏Yangshuo hostel or guesthouse (dorm £10–16, private £20–35)

• →Cycle to Moon Hill villages
• →Farmer's home lunch
• →Optional bamboo raft on Yulong River

Take a morning bus or train back to Guilin, then fly to Chongqing (budget fares from £45–80). Chongqing's People's Liberation Monument and hotpot dinner are worth an evening before heading to Chaotianmen Dock. Board a budget/standard Yangtze cruise boat for the Three Gorges — pre-book online; 3-night standard-class cabins run roughly £180–280 per person including meals and shore excursions.

🚌Bus Yangshuo–Guilin ~£4, flight Guilin–Chongqing £45–80, taxi to dock ~£5

🛏Onboard Yangtze cruise boat (standard cabin, included in cruise fare)

• →Chongqing hotpot dinner
• →Board Yangtze cruise

A full day cruising through the dramatic Three Gorges. Most cruises include an excursion to Shibaozhai or the Ghost City of Fengdu on the first full day, plus on-board lectures and meals. Shore trips and small-boat tributary excursions are usually included or sold as optional extras (~£15–30).

🚌Cruise boat (included)

🛏Onboard Yangtze cruise boat (standard cabin)

• →Shore excursion to temples/villages
• →Small-boat tributary side trip (optional)

Another full cruising day past the Wu and Xiling Gorges. Take the optional small sampan boat up the Shennong Stream, visit the Three Gorges Dam viewing area, and enjoy the river scenery from the deck. Meals on board; budget only for extras and drinks.

🚌Cruise boat (included)

🛏Onboard Yangtze cruise boat (standard cabin)

• →Shennong Stream sampan trip (optional)
• →Three Gorges Dam visit
• →Deck views of Xiling Gorge

Disembark at Yichang mid-morning and take a local bus or taxi to Yichang East railway station. Ride the high-speed train to Xi'an (about 4 hours, £25–40) or, for a cheaper classic experience, take an overnight hard-sleeper train (¥200–300, ~£22–33). Settle into a hostel near the Bell Tower.

🚌Taxi/bus to station ~£4, train Yichang–Xi'an £22–40

🛏Overnight train (hard sleeper) or Xi'an hostel (dorm £8–14, private £20–30)

• →Disembark at Yichang
• →Overnight train experience

Take bus 306 (or tour 5/306) from Xi'an railway station to the Terracotta Army, ~£1 fare plus £15 entry; join a self-bookable guide for ~£15 or use the audio guide. Afternoon: cycle the Ming city walls (~£10 for bike hire plus wall entry ~£7). Evening: graze the Muslim Quarter food streets.

🚌Public bus to warriors ~£1, metro/taxi ~£3

🛏Xi'an hostel (dorm £8–14, private £20–30)

• →Terracotta Warriors self-booked guided visit
• →Cycle the Xi'an city walls
• →Muslim Quarter street food

Morning at the Great Mosque or Shaanxi History Museum (free but book ahead). Take a bullet train Xi'an North to Beijing West — about 4.5–6 hours, £45–65. Check into a hostel in the Dongcheng or hutong area and eat Peking duck or noodles for dinner.

🚌Bullet train Xi'an–Beijing £45–65, metro ~£2

🛏Beijing hostel or budget hotel, Dongcheng / hutongs (dorm £12–20, private £30–45)

• →Shaanxi History Museum (free)
• →Beijing hutong evening

Walk Tiananmen Square (free, ID/booking needed) and enter the Forbidden City (~£8, book online in advance — it sells out). In the afternoon climb Jingshan Park (~£2) for the classic palace-roof view, then explore the hutongs or take a rickshaw loop. Optional acrobatics show in the evening (~£20).

🚌Metro ~£2

🛏Beijing hostel or budget hotel, Dongcheng / hutongs (dorm £12–20, private £30–45)

• →Tiananmen Square
• →Forbidden City
• →Jingshan Park viewpoint
• →Hutong walk

Travel independently to Mutianyu: either the 916 bus to Huairou then a local shuttle (~£5 total) or a direct tourist bus from Dongzhimen (£8–12 return). Great Wall entry is ~£6 and a cable car/toboggan is ~£12–15 optional. Walk between towers for the best photo spots, then return to Beijing for a final dinner.

🚌Bus to Mutianyu ~£5–12 return, metro ~£2

🛏Beijing hostel or budget hotel (dorm £12–20, private £30–45)

• →Mutianyu Great Wall hike
• →Cable car / toboggan (optional)

Last morning for souvenir shopping or a temple visit (Temple of Heaven ~£4), then head to Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airport by Express train (~£5) or airport bus. Fly home or onward.

🚌Airport Express ~£5

🛏None (departure day)

• →Temple of Heaven (optional)
• →Last-minute shopping