Hike & Bike China

Today you will arrive in the vibrant city of Beijing. You will be greeted at the airport and driven directly to your hotel, excellently placed in the center of the city. At the hotel, you will meet your guide and enjoy a relaxing walk around the local area to get your bearings. Enjoy some delicious traditional cuisine at a local restaurant before settling into your hotel for a good night’s sleep ahead of your amazing Chinese adventure.

You will immerse yourself in the city of Beijing as you visit the world-famous Tiananmen Square, the old quarter and the 15th century Forbidden city, the former center of the Chinese government and the current UNESCO world heritage site. Admire the stark contrast between modern developments and stunning ancient buildings as you enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the vibrant capital city. You will do plenty of walking today so make sure you wear comfortable shoes.

Today you will leave the city of Beijing behind you as you travel to the iconic Great Wall of China, still standing 600 years after it was built in the Ming Dynasty. This is the biggest man-made feature in the world. You will spend 3-4 hours hiking today, enjoying the rich history and striking beauty of this wonderful historical site.

You will spend the day hiking the Great Wall with your guide, enjoying its eye-catching watchtowers, lush green foliage and traditional villages that you pass along the way. This was such an important strategic site that two walls were built side by side in case the first should fail. You will be able to visit both the inner and outer walls before arriving in your village guesthouse.

After a delicious breakfast in your guest house, you will continue your Great Wall hike from Jinshanling to Simatai West. The terrain will be mostly paved, but there are a few steep sections to watch out for. After a day of admiring the stunning views and gorgeous ancient architecture, you will enjoy your lunch at a local farmer’s restaurant before being driven back to Beijing for the next stage of your adventure.

You will have some free time to enjoy Beijing at your own pace this morning. In the afternoon you will travel by high-speed train to the small city of Huashan where you will spend the next two nights. Huashan lies next to China’s most sacred mountains and will be a perfect base from which to explore the stunning craggy landscapes.

You will spend the day hiking on the steep and craggy paths of Mount Huashan. The terrain is physically challenging, but the guide will adjust the route according to the fitness and desires of the group as well as the weather conditions on the day. After exploring the stunning mountain trails, you will take the gondola back to the base of the mountain before heading to your hotel for a well-earned meal.

Today you will visit the world-famous site of the ancient Terracotta Warriors. You will view 2,000 of the 6,000 warriors, each individually sculpted with unique battle armor and facial features and buried with an ancient emperor to protect him in the afterlife. Afterwards, you will take a tour of the Muslim quarter of Xi’an, visiting its great mosque, towers, and street food markets.

You will travel to the mountain village of Ping’an, famous for its traditional terraced fields of rice and stunning rural landscapes. You will stay in this gorgeous village for 2 nights, travelling by internal flight to Guilin and then onward to Ping’an by bus.

Dive into the Chinese countryside as you walk in the mountains to the village of Dazhai. This village is picturesque, with wooden houses stilts and panoramic views of rice terraces. Although you will be walking high in the mountains, the terrain that you cover isn’t particularly steep. After a full day of walking, you will transfer back to your hotel in Longji for the night.

You will begin your day with a wonderful downhill stretch through the mountains, passing rivers and sleepy traditional villages. Later you will pass through bamboo forests and tea plantations with views of pretty settlements clinging to the mountainside. You will stay in a lovely riverside hotel, where you can eat your dinner al fresco by the water’s edge.

You start the day with a downhill cycle to reach your breakfast in the village of Wantian. After sampling the wonton soup and homemade steamed buns you will pass the buzzing local market before cycling into the peaceful Chinese countryside. Stopping to enjoy a traditional tea ceremony on the route, you will push on through sleepy villages, forest paths and reservoirs before arriving in the pretty city of Guilin to spend the evening relaxing, enjoying local cuisine and exploring the shops and markets.

You will continue to discover the authentic side of China as you spend the day cycling to Xing Ping. Following the Li River, you will pass through several river towns with their cobbled streets and eat a delicious lunch prepared by a local farmer in his field. Following the bamboo along the river’s edge, you will cover steeper terrain in the afternoon, exploring the mountain roads with their stunning views of rice fields to arrive in Xing Ping for the evening.

After a short cycle along the Li River, you will load your bike onto a bamboo raft and ride along the river in style, sitting back to enjoy the stunning views of the karst mountains. After a short, steep climb to Xianggongshan, you will ride along the ridge, passing pretty orchards and joining up with the Dargon river. After enjoying a meal in a local farmer’s restaurant, you can take a dip in the river or head straight back to the quiet river paths that take you on to Yangshuo.

You will travel to the major city of Shanghai by flight. On arrival, you can explore the shops on the famous Nanjing Road or discover the history of the Bund, a beautiful waterfront promenade on the banks of the River Huangpu. After immersing yourself in the bustling streets of Shanghai, you will settle down in your hotel for your final night on your Chinese adventure tour.

All good things must come to an end! It is time to say goodbye to your guide and fellow travelers, after an amazing trip exploring the cities, mountains, and rivers of China. You will be driven back to the hotel by private transfer to ensure a safe and stress-free onward journey.