The Ultimate Self-Launched Adventure Through China

Fly into Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). Take the Airport Express train directly to central Beijing — it runs every 10 minutes, takes ~25 minutes and costs around £4. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the hutong district. Spend the late afternoon on a self-guided orientation walk through the Nanluoguxiang or Wudaoying hutongs — narrow historic alleyways lined with courtyard homes, independent cafes and local life. For dinner, head to a local Peking duck restaurant; Siji Minfu is a popular and affordable chain serving excellent duck for around £10–12 per person. If you have a day or two to spare before the tour kicks off, the Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven are both nearby and well worth an early visit.

🚌Airport Express train from PEK: ~£4

🛏Generator-style hostel or budget hotel in the hutong area (e.g. Leo Hostel or similar) — ~£15–20/night

• →Self-guided hutong walk through Nanluoguxiang or Wudaoying
• →Peking duck welcome dinner at a local restaurant (~£10–12pp)
• →Airport Express train from PEK to central Beijing (~£4)

Rise early and catch a direct bus or shared minibus from Beijing to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall (~2.5 hrs, £8–10 each way — book via local hostels or Klook). Jinshanling is one of the least-visited, most dramatic stretches of the Wall. The 4-hour hiking route between watchtowers is stunning and wild. Entry tickets cost around £10. A self-guided audio guide or downloaded map from AllTrails is all you need. Carry a packed lunch or buy simple food from vendors at the base. Afterwards, rather than returning to Beijing, book a night in the small village of Jinshanling at a local family guesthouse (many are clustered near the Wall's east car park) for an authentic rural experience. In the evening, ask your guesthouse host to arrange a dumpling-making session — many offer this informally for a small fee (~£5).

🚌Shared minibus or direct bus from Beijing to Jinshanling: ~£10 each way. Book via hostel or Klook.

🛏Local family guesthouse near Jinshanling Wall — ~£15–18/night

• →4-hour hike along the Jinshanling Great Wall (~6km, ~500m elevation gain)
• →Visit multiple watchtowers and wild, unreconstructed Wall sections
• →Dumpling-making experience at local guesthouse (~£5)
• →Sunrise walk on the Wall (steps from guesthouse)

Optional: catch the sunrise on the Wall from your guesthouse — it's a short walk from the village. After breakfast, take the return minibus to Beijing (~2.5 hrs). Head to Beijing Capital Airport for your internal flight to Chengdu Tianfu International Airport — budget airlines like Air China and Sichuan Airlines offer fares from ~£35–60 if booked in advance (check Skyscanner). On arrival in Chengdu, take a bus or metro towards Qingcheng Mountain (about 1.5 hrs, ~£3). Check into a guesthouse or hot spring resort near Qingcheng — several budget-friendly options exist. Spend the evening soaking in nearby hot spring baths; many resorts offer day/evening passes for ~£8–12.

🚌Minibus back to Beijing (~£10), Airport Express or taxi to PEK (~£4–15), internal flight to Chengdu (~£40–60), local bus to Qingcheng area (~£3)

🛏Budget guesthouse or basic hot spring resort near Qingcheng Mountain — ~£15–20/night

• →Optional sunrise walk on the Great Wall
• →Domestic flight: Beijing (PEK) to Chengdu (CTU) — book in advance for ~£40–60
• →Hot spring relaxation at resort near Qingcheng Mountain (~£8–12 entry)

Buy your entry ticket at the gate (~£10) and head up Qingcheng's Front Mountain on foot. Follow stone stairways through dense forest and mist to visit Jianfu Palace, Tianshi Cave — birthplace of Taoism — and the Upper Qing Palace at the summit. The route is 6–8km and takes 4–5 hours. A cable car is available for the descent (~£5 one way). The mountain is easily navigable without a guide — download a trail map or use Maps.me. Pack snacks and water; small restaurants dot the trail. Return to your guesthouse in the afternoon and enjoy the hot springs for the rest of the evening. Optional: ask locally about visiting Jiezi Ancient Town (~20 mins away) for dinner.

🚌Local bus or taxi to Qingcheng Mountain gate (~£3–5)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 3 — ~£15–20/night

• →Hike Qingcheng Front Mountain: Jianfu Palace, Tianshi Cave, Upper Qing Palace (~6–8km, 4–5hrs)
• →Cable car descent from summit (~£5)
• →Evening hot springs relaxation
• →Optional: Jiezi Ancient Town evening stroll

Head to Dujiangyan Panda Base early — arrive by 8am when pandas are most active and enclosures are least crowded. Entry is ~£20; book online in advance via the official website or GetYourGuide for guaranteed slots. Spend 2 hours exploring the bamboo-covered hillside park, spotting giant pandas and the more acrobatic red pandas. Afterwards, take a Didi (Chinese ride-hailing app, ~£5) or bus into central Chengdu and join a kung fu class — book via GetYourGuide or Klook for ~£20–30 for a 2-hour session with a local master. This evening, explore Kuanzhai Alley for street food and atmosphere — grab Sichuan hot pot at a local restaurant for ~£10–15.

🚌Bus or Didi to Dujiangyan Panda Base (~£3–5), Didi to Chengdu centre (~£5)

🛏Budget hostel or guesthouse in central Chengdu — ~£12–18/night

• →Dujiangyan Giant Panda Base visit (early morning, ~£20 — book online)
• →Kung fu training class with local master via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£20–30)
• →Kuanzhai Alley street food and evening exploration
• →Sichuan hot pot dinner (~£10–15)

Enjoy a slow morning in Chengdu — head to People's Park to watch locals practise tai chi, play mahjong and dance. Then check out and take the metro to Chengdu East Station for a high-speed train to Guilin (~5.5–6.5 hrs, £25–40 — book in advance on Trip.com or the 12306 app). From Guilin, take a local bus or shared taxi to Yangshuo (~1.5 hrs, £2–4). Check into a guesthouse or hostel in West Street or near the Li River. This evening, take a self-guided stroll along the riverside — the silhouette of karst peaks at dusk is unforgettable. Grab dinner at one of the many local restaurants near the waterfront (~£6–10).

🚌Metro to Chengdu East Station (~£1), high-speed train Chengdu–Guilin (~£30), local bus Guilin–Yangshuo (~£3)

🛏Hostel or guesthouse in central Yangshuo (e.g. Yangshuo Mountain Retreat area or West Street) — ~£12–18/night

• →Morning visit to Chengdu People's Park (free)
• →High-speed train: Chengdu East to Guilin (~£25–40, book in advance on Trip.com or 12306)
• →Local bus or shared minivan: Guilin to Yangshuo (~£2–4)
• →Self-guided riverside evening walk in Yangshuo

Rent a bicycle from your hostel or a nearby shop (~£3–5/day) and spend the morning cycling through quiet country lanes past rice paddies, water buffalo and karst peaks towards Moon Hill and the Yulong River valley. The terrain is mostly flat — you don't need a guide, just download an offline map. Stop for lunch at a local family restaurant in one of the villages along the way (~£4–7). In the afternoon, book a bamboo raft ride on the Yulong River directly at the riverside — no guide needed. Rates are typically £8–12 per raft for 2 people. Drift for 1–2 hours through the most iconic karst scenery of the trip. Return bikes to town and spend the evening at leisure exploring the West Street night market.

🚌Bicycle (self-powered)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 6 — ~£12–18/night

• →Bicycle hire and self-launched cycle through karst countryside (~£4/day)
• →Lunch at local family restaurant in rural village (~£5)
• →Bamboo raft ride on the Yulong River (~£8–12 per raft, book at the river)
• →West Street night market exploration

After breakfast, arrange a local taxi or minivan towards Guilin direction, stopping at a tea farm along the way — many offer free or low-cost walk-throughs with tea tasting (ask your hostel to recommend one, or book a tea experience via GetYourGuide for ~£10–15). Then continue north by shared minibus or public bus to the Longji Rice Terrace scenic area (~3.5 hrs total, ~£8–12). Buy your entry ticket (~£10) and take the shuttle bus up to Ping'an or Dazhai village. Check into a local guesthouse with terrace views — many family-run options available for £12–18/night. If the weather is clear, walk to a nearby viewpoint for sunset over the layered terraces. Dinner at your guesthouse (~£6–10).

🚌Local taxi/minivan Yangshuo to tea farm (~£5), minibus to Longji (~£10), shuttle bus to village (~£3)

🛏Family-run guesthouse in Ping'an or Dazhai village with terrace views — ~£12–18/night

• →Tea farm visit and leaf-picking experience (~£10–15 or free with walk-in)
• →Local bus or minivan to Longji Rice Terraces (~£8–12)
• →Entry ticket to Longji Scenic Area (~£10)
• →Sunset walk to viewpoint over the terraces

Set off early for a full-day self-launched hike from Ping'an to Dazhai (or reverse), following stone paths that weave through layered rice fields, forested ridgelines and remote Zhuang and Yao minority villages. The route is ~10km and takes 5–6 hours. No guide is necessary — the trail is well-marked and guesthouse owners can point you in the right direction. Download the AllTrails map or pick up a printed map at your guesthouse for £1. Stop for lunch at a village along the route (~£4–7). The terraces change colour dramatically by season — brilliant green in summer, golden in autumn. Return to your guesthouse for dinner and a well-earned rest.

🚌On foot / shuttle bus between villages if needed (~£2–3)

🛏Same guesthouse as Day 8 — ~£12–18/night

• →Full-day self-launched hike: Ping'an to Dazhai through rice terraces (~10km, 5–6hrs)
• →Village stops through Zhuang and Yao minority communities
• →Lunch at local village restaurant (~£5)
• →Download AllTrails map or buy printed trail map (~£1)

After breakfast, take the shuttle bus down from the terraces and a local bus or shared taxi to Guilin station (~2.5 hrs total, ~£8). Board a high-speed train from Guilin to Hong Kong West Kowloon Station (~3.5 hrs, £30–45 — book in advance on Trip.com or 12306). On arrival, store luggage at the station and head straight to Victoria Peak via the Peak Tram (~£5 each way) or a short bus ride for sweeping views over Hong Kong's skyline. In the evening, head to a local dim sum restaurant in Kowloon or Sham Shui Po for a celebratory final dinner (~£10–15). Check into a budget hotel or hostel in Kowloon for your last night.

🚌Local bus/taxi to Guilin (~£8), high-speed train Guilin–HK (~£40), MTR or bus to Peak Tram (~£2)

🛏Budget hotel or hostel in Kowloon, Hong Kong — ~£25–35/night

• →Shuttle bus down from terraces and transfer to Guilin station (~£5–8)
• →High-speed train: Guilin to Hong Kong West Kowloon (~£35–45, book in advance)
• →Victoria Peak via Peak Tram or bus for panoramic skyline views (~£5)
• →Celebratory dim sum dinner in Kowloon (~£10–15)

Your trip ends today in Hong Kong. Check out and make your way to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) via the Airport Express train from Kowloon Station (~30–35 mins, ~£10) or by taxi (~£25–35). If you have time before your flight, Hong Kong rewards extra exploration: the Dragon's Back coastal hike on Hong Kong Island is one of Asia's best city-fringe walks (free, ~3–4 hrs), and the outlying islands of Cheung Chau or Lamma offer beaches and seafood restaurants reached by cheap ferry (~£3 return). The city's MTR metro is cheap, fast and covers almost everywhere you'd want to go.

🚌Airport Express from Kowloon to HKG: ~£10

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Airport Express train to HKG: ~£10 (or taxi ~£30)
• →Optional: Dragon's Back coastal hike on Hong Kong Island (free)
• →Optional: Outlying island day trip via ferry to Cheung Chau or Lamma (~£3 return)