Shanghai to Hong Kong: Bustling Cities & Mind-Blowing Views (Self-Launched)
9 days · China & Hong Kong
G Adventures charges £1,250
No-markup version: ~£446 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day Shanghai-to-Hong-Kong route: neon Shanghai, the misty peaks and bamboo rafting of UNESCO Wuyishan, colonial Xiamen and Gulangyu Island, an unforgettable night in a real Hakka tulou roundhouse in Hongkeng Village, then a bullet train across the border into Hong Kong. Same route, same experiences — you book your own trains, hostels and guesthouses, and pay a fraction of the group-tour price. Peak-season note: avoid Golden Week (1–7 October) and Chinese New Year, when trains, tulou guesthouses and attractions book out fast.
Day-by-day
Arrive Shanghai & The Bund at night
Shanghai
Fly into Pudong or Hongqiao and get to your hostel by Metro Line 2 (¥3–8) or the Maglev + metro combo (¥50 for the Maglev). Skip the airport touts. Settle into a hostel in the Jing'an or Huangpu area, then eat your first xiaolongbao dinner (¥30–50) and walk the Bund promenade after dark — the Pudong skyline lights up around 19:00. Pick up a Chinese eSIM/VPN setup before arrival so your maps and messaging apps work.
🚌Airport Metro Line 2 or Maglev + metro, ¥8–58
🛏Hostel dorm in Jing'an/Huangpu (approx. £12)
- →Bund night walk (free)
- →Xiaolongbao dinner
- →People's Square area wander
Shanghai by day, then bullet train to Wuyishan
Shanghai → Wuyishan
Morning in Shanghai: daytime Bund views, the Old Town/Yuyuan bazaar lanes, People's Park and the Propaganda Poster Art Centre if you want something quirky (¥25). Mid-afternoon head to Shanghai Hongqiao station and take a high-speed train to Wuyishan East/Nanpingshi (roughly 3–4 hrs, ¥250–330 second class) — book on Trip.com or the 12306 app a few days ahead. Check into a guesthouse near the scenic area entrance.
🚌Metro in Shanghai ¥4–6; high-speed train Shanghai–Wuyishan ¥250–330 (~£28–37)
🛏Guesthouse near Wuyishan Scenic Area (approx. £14)
- →Bund daytime walk
- →Old Town bazaar
- →People's Park
- →High-speed train ride
Wuyishan Biosphere Reserve hike & bamboo raft
Wuyishan
Full day in the UNESCO Wuyishan Biosphere Reserve. Buy the combined scenic-area ticket on arrival (approx. ¥140–225 depending on season) plus the shuttle bus inside the park. Hike the Tianyou Peak (Heavenly Tour Peak) trail for the cloud-mist valley views, then descend and walk the Nine Bend Stream valley for the famous look-up panorama. In the afternoon, book a bamboo raft down the Nine Bend Stream directly at the dock (approx. ¥180) — go early if it's peak season. Pack water and snacks; food inside the park is limited.
🚌Local bus/taxi to scenic area entrance ¥10–30; park shuttle included in ticket
🛏Guesthouse near Wuyishan Scenic Area (approx. £14)
- →Tianyou Peak hike
- →Nine Bend Stream valley walk
- →Bamboo raft ride (¥180)
Bullet train to Xiamen & Gulangyu Island
Wuyishan → Xiamen
Morning high-speed train from Wuyishan to Xiamen North (about 2.5–3 hrs, ¥170–220). Drop bags at a hostel near Zhongshan Road or the ferry pier, then do your own orientation wander: Zhongshan Road's arcaded shopping street, the Nanputuo Temple, and the seaside promenade. Late afternoon take the ferry to Gulangyu Island (¥35 return for tourists, booked online via the official WeChat mini-program or at the pier — bring your passport). Climb Sunlight Rock for the 360° view and wander Shuzhuang Garden before the last ferry back.
🚌High-speed train ¥170–220 (~£19–25); city bus/metro ¥2–5; Gulangyu ferry ¥35 return
🛏Hostel near Zhongshan Road, Xiamen (approx. £13)
- →Nanputuo Temple
- →Zhongshan Road walk
- →Gulangyu Island ferry + Sunlight Rock
- →Shuzhuang Garden
Local bus to Hongkeng Village & Hakka tulou night
Xiamen → Hongkeng Village (Yongding)
This is the day the group tours charge a premium for — and it's easy on your own. Take a bus or shared van from Xiamen's Hubin or Fanghu bus station to Yongding/Hukeng (approx. 2.5–3 hrs, ¥60–80), then a local taxi or village shuttle the last stretch to Hongkeng Village. Pay the Yongding tulou scenic-area entry (approx. ¥90). Check into a family-run guesthouse inside a tulou or right beside one — book on Trip.com or Hostelworld a week ahead, as rooms are genuinely limited. Afternoon stroll to Hongchuan Creek and watch village life unfold as the tour buses leave.
🚌Bus Xiamen–Yongding ¥60–80 (~£7–9); local taxi/village shuttle ¥20–40
🛏Hakka tulou guesthouse, Hongkeng Village (approx. £16)
- →Scenic bus ride through Fujian mountains
- →Hongchuan Creek walk
- →Tulou sunset photography
Tulou-hopping & Hakka village life
Hongkeng Village
Spend the full day on foot. Hongkeng is home to the Chengqi Lou (the 'King of Tulou', a four-ring roundhouse) and Zhencheng Lou — entry is covered by your scenic-area ticket. Wander between them, chat with residents, try Hakka food (stuffed tofu, salted chicken, rice wine; ¥40–60 for a good meal) and, if you want, hire a local guide for an hour (¥50–100) to explain the clan history and architecture. A genuinely slow, rural day in sharp contrast to Shanghai and Xiamen — plan around it.
🚌Walking
🛏Hakka tulou guesthouse, Hongkeng Village (approx. £16)
- →Chengqi Lou & Zhencheng Lou visit
- →Hakka home-cooked meal
- →Optional local guide (¥50–100)
Back to Xiamen for Zhongshan Road night out
Hongkeng Village → Xiamen
Morning bus or shared van back to Xiamen (¥60–80). Check back into a hostel and spend the afternoon on the beach at Huandao Road or exploring the arty Shapowei district. At night, hit Zhongshan Road for street food — oyster omelette, peanut soup, satay noodles, shacha skewers (¥60–80 for a proper graze) — then find a rooftop bar or the live-music spots around Shapowei. Solo travellers: Xiamen is a big university town, so it's an easy place to meet people at the hostel bar.
🚌Bus Yongding–Xiamen ¥60–80 (~£7–9); local bus/taxi ¥5–20
🛏Hostel near Zhongshan Road, Xiamen (approx. £13)
- →Shapowei district
- →Huandao Road beach
- →Zhongshan Road street-food crawl
- →Hostel bar / nightlife
Bullet train to Hong Kong
Xiamen → Hong Kong
Take a morning high-speed train from Xiamen North to Hong Kong West Kowloon (approx. 4–4.5 hrs, ¥250–330 second class) — immigration is done on arrival at West Kowloon, so no need for a separate border crossing. Book via Trip.com or 12306 and bring your passport. Check into a hostel in Jordan, Mong Kok or Causeway Bay (HK hostels are pricey — expect £20–28 for a dorm), then ride the Star Ferry (HK$4–6) and walk the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront for the Symphony of Lights at 20:00, finishing with a night stroll along the Victoria Harbour promenade.
🚌High-speed train ¥250–330 (~£28–37); MTR HK$10–30; Star Ferry HK$4–6
🛏Hostel dorm, Jordan/Mong Kok (approx. £24)
- →West Kowloon arrival stroll
- →Star Ferry crossing
- →Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront & Symphony of Lights
Hong Kong highlights & departure
Hong Kong
Depending on your flight: ride the Peak Tram or the cheaper bus 15 up to Victoria Peak (HK$52 tram return / HK$10 bus) for the morning view, walk the Mid-Levels escalators, or take the MTR to explore Sham Shui Po's street markets and cha chaan teng breakfasts (HK$40–60). Grab a final dim sum lunch, do any laundry at a street laundry shop, then take the Airport Express (HK$115) or bus A21 (HK$33) to the airport.
🚌Peak Tram or bus 15, MTR, Airport Express HK$115 / bus A21 HK$33
🛏Departure day — no night booked
- →Victoria Peak viewpoint
- →Mid-Levels escalators
- →Sham Shui Po markets
- →Dim sum lunch
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£446 | £1,250 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £804 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£446
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 Shanghai to Hong Kong: Bustling Cities & Mind-Blowing Views (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £446 per person for 9 days in China & Hong Kong. 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 £1,250 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £446 — a saving of roughly £804 (64%) per person.
How long is the China & Hong Kong trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through China & Hong Kong.
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 adventure, culture, hiking trip through China & Hong Kong, 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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