Self-Launched: Pandas & the Peaks of Zhangjiajie (Shanghai to Hong Kong)
10 days · China (Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, Hong Kong)
G Adventures charges £2,350
No-markup version: ~£1,120 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 10-day China adventure following G Adventures' "Pandas & the Peaks of Zhangjiajie" route — Shanghai's futuristic skyline, the Avatar-inspiring quartzite pillars of Zhangjiajie, Chengdu's giant panda base, the dreamy karst of the Li River, and Hong Kong. Built around China's superb high-speed rail network and public cable cars/vans inside the national parks rather than private vehicles, with hostel and budget hotel stays. All costs are approximate per person in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Shanghai
Shanghai
Land at Pudong or Hongqiao and make your own way in — the Shanghai Metro is cheap, fast and English-signed. From Pudong (PVG) take Metro Line 2 or the Maglev to Longyang Rd then transfer; a taxi is about £15-20. Check into a hostel or budget hotel around the People's Square / Jing'an area, then wander the Bund at dusk as the Pudong skyline lights up opposite the colonial waterfront. Grab street food like shengjianbao (pan-fried pork buns) in a nearby lane. Book your onward flight to Zhangjiajie tonight to lock in a cheap fare.
🚌Metro Line 2 / Maglev from PVG (~£1-5); or taxi ~£15-20
🛏Hostel dorm or basic hotel, People's Square/Jing'an (~£15-22)
- →Self-transfer via metro/Maglev from airport
- →Sunset walk along the Bund
- →Street-food dinner in Jing'an
Fly to Zhangjiajie & get oriented
Zhangjiajie
Take a morning domestic flight from Shanghai (PVG/Hongqiao) to Zhangjiajie Hehua Airport — roughly 2h20m; budget carriers often run £45-70 if booked a few weeks ahead. Alternatively, the high-speed train runs Shanghai-Hongqiao to Zhangjiajie West in about 7-9h (approx £65-85) for those who prefer rail. On arrival, take the airport shuttle bus or a taxi to Wulingyuan, the town closest to the national park entrance, and settle into a guesthouse. Stock up on snacks and water for the park and buy your multi-day Zhangjiajie National Forest Park ticket (approx £28, valid 4 days).
🚌Flight PVG→DYG ~£45-70, or HSR ~£65-85; airport taxi/shuttle ~£4-8
🛏Guesthouse in Wulingyuan (~£12-18)
- →Domestic flight to Zhangjiajie
- →Check into Wulingyuan guesthouse
- →Buy multi-day national park ticket
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park — Avatar peaks
Zhangjiajie (Wulingyuan)
Spend the full day inside the UNESCO-listed Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. Enter at the Wulingyuan gate (Forest Park entrance), ride the park's free shuttle buses between viewpoints, and take the Tianzi Mountain cable car (approx £7) up to the ridgeline for the classic misty-pillar panorama. Walk to Yuanjiajie to see the 'Hallelujah Mountain' made famous by Avatar, then descend via the Bailong Elevator (approx £7) — the world's tallest outdoor lift, built into the cliff. Bring lunch; on-site food is pricey. Comfortable shoes essential — expect 10-15km of walking and lots of steps.
🚌Park shuttle buses (included in ticket)
🛏Guesthouse in Wulingyuan (~£12-18)
- →Tianzi Mountain cable car
- →Yuanjiajie / Hallelujah Mountain viewpoint
- →Bailong Elevator descent
- →Free park shuttle buses between stops
Tianmen Mountain & glass skywalk
Zhangjiajie (Tianmen Shan)
Head to Tianmen Shan National Park, reached by one of the world's longest cable cars (approx £24 return, runs from downtown Zhangjiajie). At the top, walk the cliff-hugging glass skywalk (small fee ~£3-5) and gaze through the natural rock arch of Heaven's Gate. Descend on foot or by the series of escalators and the famous 99-bend road, then take the cable car or shuttle back down. Cheap local buses and tourist shuttle lines link Wulingyuan and downtown Zhangjiajie (approx £1-3 each way).
🚌Local bus/shuttle Wulingyuan↔Zhangjiajie (~£1-3); cable car included in ~£24 ticket
🛏Guesthouse in Wulingyuan (~£12-18)
- →Tianmen Shan cable car
- →Glass skywalk
- →Heaven's Gate arch
- →99-bend road / escalators
High-speed train to Chengdu & People's Park
Chengdu
This morning take the high-speed train from Zhangjiajie West to Chengdu East — roughly 4-5h, approx £45-60. On arrival, metro to the city centre and check in. In the afternoon, explore People's Park, the city's original public green space: watch locals play mahjong, drink tea in a traditional teahouse, practise calligraphy and stroll the koi ponds and bonsai gardens. Evening: eat your way through a Sichuan hotpot dinner — a shared pot is about £8-12 per person.
🚌High-speed train ~£45-60; Chengdu metro ~£0.50-1 per ride
🛏Hostel or budget hotel near Chunxi Road / city centre (~£16-24)
- →High-speed train to Chengdu
- →People's Park & teahouse culture
- →Sichuan hotpot dinner
Giant Panda Base & Chengdu streets
Chengdu
Get to the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding early (they're most active at feeding time, 8-10am). Entry is approx £6-7; take metro Line 3 to Panda Avenue then a shuttle/taxi, or a Didi ride. Watch the pandas, learn about conservation at the museum and panda nursery, then return to the city. Afternoon options: Wenshu Monastery and its vegetarian teahouse, the Jinli ancient street, or a free guided walking tour. Book your onward train to Guilin this evening.
🚌Metro Line 3 + local shuttle ~£1-2; Didi taxi ~£4-6
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Chengdu (~£16-24)
- →Chengdu Panda Breeding Base
- →Wenshu Monastery / Jinli Street
- →Optional Sichuan opera face-changing show (~£20)
Train to Guilin & on to Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Take the high-speed train from Chengdu East to Guilin (roughly 5-6h, approx £55-75), then a bus or Didi to Yangshuo (about 1-1.5h, £3-5). Base yourself in Yangshuo, the little town amid the Li River karst. Spend the late afternoon wandering West Street and the riverside, hire a bike or scooter for tomorrow (bike ~£3/day), and enjoy the night market. Accommodation here is plentiful and cheap in hostels and guesthouses.
🚌HSR ~£55-75; Guilin→Yangshuo bus/Didi ~£3-5
🛏Hostel or riverside guesthouse in Yangshuo (~£12-18)
- →High-speed train to Guilin
- →Transfer to Yangshuo
- →Evening on West Street & night market
Li River bamboo raft & karst cycling
Yangshuo
This is the dreamy karst day. Take a shared bamboo raft or small-boat cruise on the Yulong or Li River (approx £15-25 for a group raft or cruise segment) to float between the sheer limestone peaks. In the afternoon, cycle or scooter through the countryside past rice paddies and villages to Moon Hill (small entry fee) and the Big Banyan Tree. Optional rock climbing, kayaking or a cormorant-fishing photo session can be booked locally for £10-25.
🚌Rented bike/scooter ~£3-8/day; local tuk-tuk ~£2-4
🛏Hostel or riverside guesthouse in Yangshuo (~£12-18)
- →Bamboo raft / Li River boat trip
- →Countryside cycling to Moon Hill
- →Optional kayaking or rock climbing
Train to Hong Kong via Shenzhen
Hong Kong
Travel onward to Hong Kong. The simplest route is a high-speed train from Guilin West to Shenzhen North (roughly 4-5h, approx £45-60), then cross into Hong Kong via the metro at Futian/Luohu or take the HSR to Hong Kong West Kowloon if a direct service is running. Make sure you hold the correct China visa/entry endorsement for re-entry where relevant. Check into a hostel in Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui or Mong Kok), then ride the historic Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour and take the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak for the skyline at dusk.
🚌HSR Guilin→Shenzhen ~£45-60; HK metro/ferry/Peak Tram ~£10-15
🛏Hostel in Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui/Mong Kok) (~£22-32)
- →High-speed rail to Shenzhen/Hong Kong
- →Star Ferry crossing
- →Victoria Peak & Peak Tram
- →Temple Street night market
Hong Kong farewell
Hong Kong
Spend your final morning exploring at your own pace — bargain hunt in Mong Kok's Ladies' Market, eat dim sum for breakfast (a few pounds per basket), or ride the Ding Ding tram across Hong Kong Island. Visit the Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau by cable car if time allows, or simply soak up the harbour views before heading to Hong Kong International Airport via the Airport Express (approx £11) or the cheaper bus routes (~£3-5) for your onward flight.
🚌Airport Express ~£11 or bus ~£3-5; tram/metro ~£1-2
🛏— (departure day)
- →Dim sum breakfast
- →Ding Ding tram ride
- →Optional Lantau & Tian Tan Buddha
- →Ladies' Market browsing
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,120 | £2,350 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,230 per person (52%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,120
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 Self-Launched: Pandas & the Peaks of Zhangjiajie (Shanghai to Hong Kong) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,120 per person for 10 days in China (Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, 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 £2,350 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,120 — a saving of roughly £1,230 (52%) per person.
How long is the China (Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, Hong Kong) trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through China (Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, 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 culture, hiking, adventure trip through China (Shanghai, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Guilin/Yangshuo, 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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