North China Getaway - 12 Days

Nimen hao! Welcome to China. Your adventure begins in Beijing, a food-centric city with ancient sites and modern architecture around every corner. You'll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm this evening to meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After the meeting, settle into your hotel and then perhaps get together with your newfound travel crew and head out for dinner – ask your local leader for all the best recommendations.

Enjoy a few hours of free time this morning to explore Beijing before taking a private bus to the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall. Built as a northern defensive line for Beijing (known then as Youzhou), this section of the Great Wall was first constructed between AD550 and AD557, then fortified during the early years of the Ming Dynasty. You’ll spend the night in a family-run guesthouse nearby, and while the facilities are more basic than some of the other accommodation on this trip, the local hospitality more than makes up for it. Most travellers choose to eat at the guesthouse for dinner tonight as it's a great chance to sample local produce and home cooking.

Embrace an early start and make the trek from the Gubeikou section of the Great Wall to the Jinshanling section. Hike over steep, remote terrain, taking in incredible views along this comparatively quiet trail. Some parts of the wall are unrestored, so you'll need to concentrate to keep your footing, while other stretches will take you off the wall to walk alongside it through the countryside. The trek will be challenging, but the sight of the Wall snaking through the hills as far as the eye can see and the feeling of being immersed in ancient history will be ample reward for your efforts. After the hike, return to the guesthouse, put your feet up and maybe learn how to play mah jong with the locals.

Drive back to Beijing before midday and make use of your last free afternoon in the capital. Consider checking out the Temple of Heaven while you're in the city or tuck into a Peking duck banquet right in its birthplace. Keep in mind that you’ll board an overnight train bound for Xi’an this evening, so maybe stock up on snacks and supplies for the journey. While comfortable, the train isn’t luxurious, but it's certainly one of the best ways to come face to face with the vastness of this country. Be sure to have a good book or a device loaded with binge-worthy shows for the journey.

Welcome to Xi’an – the capital of the Shaanxi Province and the largest city in north-west China. Head to the hotel to drop off your luggage, then travel by public transport to the acclaimed Terracotta Army. Spend a few hours at this incredible archaeological find which was buried for 2000 years before being discovered in 1974 by farmers who were digging a well. Three main pits are open for viewing the clay statue warriors – each has a different costume, height and even facial expression. Return to Xi'an in the late afternoon, check into your hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening. Xi’an’s Silk Road history means it has an exciting mixture of cultures – especially in its food options. Why not try one of the many local specialties for dinner? Your leader will be able to advise on some of the best spots and dishes to try.

This morning, head on a leader-led walking tour to the Muslim Quarter, which features narrow streets of quaint shops, lively food markets and the life of Chinese Muslims. Then, enjoy some free time until your evening train. You can choose to visit the Bell Tower, which according to legend was built to restrain dragons that were causing earthquakes, or the Drum Tower, which is full of instruments once used to mark time and warn the population of emergencies. Or, explore the 13-km-long City Walls and attached Gates – you can rent a bike and cycle the whole loop. In the evening, board your second overnight train bound for Shanghai.

This morning, you’ll arrive in Shanghai, where dizzying skyscrapers blend with old-world character. When you disembark, take the subway to your accommodation. Enjoy a full day of exploration, but don't worry if you can't see everything you want to today – you’ll be back later in your trip. Get a taste of what the city was like during the roaring 1920s with a leader-led walk of the Bund, a strip of art deco-style buildings. Wander the narrow winding lanes (nongtangs) of Old Shanghai, where you can get a glimpse of local life. Explore the European-influenced French Concession, then pound the pavement along Luwan's Huaihai Road – a busy shopping street. The area's tree-lined avenues and many Tudor mansions earned it the nickname 'Paris of the East'. When night falls, why not get together with a few of your travel pals for a taste of Shanghai’s eclectic food scene.

Travel into the countryside by bullet train to Huangshan, otherwise known as Yellow Mountain. The 72 sharp peaks of Huangshan provide some of China's most striking scenery, as well as a respite from the bustle of the city. Spend the next two days in a guesthouse with free time to explore the area as you wish. Two popular trails you might like to hike are the Eastern Steps and the Western Steps. It’s recommended to take the cable car to the summit, explore the area and then descend via the Western Steps. Whatever you choose, the dramatic limestone peaks framing this region make for some dramatic vistas. After taking in the natural beauty of Huangshan during the day, return to the guesthouse for a well-earned evening rest.

A day in Huangshan.

Jump on a public bus and travel to the picturesque villages of the Huizhou region. A number of these villages are now World Heritage-listed, and you may recognise the ramshackle, ornate buildings from the film ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon’. Arrive in Hongcun, check into your village guesthouse and then set out on a guided tour of cobbled alleys and Ming Dynasty architecture. After this short walk, you have the rest of the afternoon and evening free to spend as you wish. You might like to clamber up into the hillsides for panoramic views over the traditional settlements. Or, maybe you'd prefer to explore the surrounding villages on two wheels. Your group leader will have all the information on bicycle hire and other optional activities.

Bid farewell to the glorious countryside and make the journey back to Shanghai by bullet train. You’ll arrive back in the mid-afternoon, and if there’s time, consider booking into a traditional tea ceremony to learn how important this drink is to Chinese culture. Tonight is cause for celebration, so why not gather with your travel crew and go all out at one of Shanghai’s great restaurants – ask your local leader for recommendations. If you haven't already, tonight is the perfect chance to try the city's famous xiao long bao (steamed soup dumplings).

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with your accommodation’s internal check-out policies. That doesn’t mean your adventure has to stop here! If you’d like to spend more time in Shanghai, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).