About this trip
Twenty-three days across China, moving between cities, countryside and mountains with a fully guided small group. You'll cover a lot of ground, from Shanghai to Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and beyond, mixing big-name sights with quieter local detours.
Expect a genuine range of activity: cycling through rural villages, floating on bamboo rafts, a Yangtze river sail, and a night camping on the Great Wall. There's also time with giant pandas, a Kung Fu session with Shaolin masters, and a look at the Terracotta Warriors.
It's a trip built around variety and pace rather than one single theme, with a local Adventure Leader guiding you through both the highlights and the lesser-known corners.
What you'll do
- Camp overnight on the Great Wall of China
- See the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
- Sail part of the Yangtze River
- Spend time with giant pandas near Chengdu
- Cycle through the countryside and ride bamboo rafts
- Train in Kung Fu with Shaolin masters
- A long trip at 23 days with frequent changes of location, so pack for varied terrain and climate
- Mixes physical activity (cycling, rafting, Kung Fu training) with cultural sightseeing, so a reasonable base fitness helps
- Overnight camping on the Great Wall means one night with more basic conditions than the rest of the trip
Worth it if you value the itinerary and group camaraderie enough to overlook poor value-for-money and hidden costs. Think twice if you're budget-conscious, vegetarian, or need fluent English guides.
- Markup is brutal: accommodation costs ~$8/night but you pay $80+ daily; activities cost 50-70% more booked through the company.
- "Vegetarian" meals frequently contained meat, causing illness; bring your own food or learn Mandarin to specify clearly.
- Group bonding is genuine and strong; guides are hardworking, knowledgeable locals despite variable English ability.
- Expect to spend £50+ daily on top of tour price for meals and activities; Great Wall camping included but sleeping bag quality varies.
Distilled from real traveller reviews on TourRadar — we don't edit out the bad bits.
The same-vibe trips, side by side — price, value per day, and how each is moving. Only we can lay two operators' trips out honestly.
Sorted by fit — never by who paid. Price moves and availability come from our own daily tracking.
Departing in Sep is cheapest — from £1,465, about 21% below the priciest month (Jul).
Getting there
Opens Trip.com, pre-filled — one-way so you can book your return whenever. Prices & booking shown there.
Where to stay
A night before your tour in Shanghai · 4 Sept – 5 Sept
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