The China Xplorer

China is a land set on stark dichotomies, where rural rice paddies skirt sky-scraper metropolises, where modernism and traditionalism flirt in an endless dialectic of inventions versus agriculture, hi-tech versus hands-on, and the old versus the new. There is nowhere else on earth where a country is so divided by two equally as fascinating cultural characters than China, where the urban visions of the nation’s post-modern industrial machine run to a techno beat, high energy and hedonistic vibes, while the slow pace of China’s bucolic yesteryear still lingers tantalizingly in the background.
The China Xplorer itinerary has been developed to ensure no facet of this unique country is left unexplored. From the rural countryside of karts rock cliffs and forestry, to the bicycle-river city streets, with their high rise shadows and sleepless nights, this 21 day journey through southern China is the perfect way to get a taste of both, the old and the new, in this, one of the world’s most interestingly contradictory of nations.
The tour is fully guided, with experienced locals that really know where to go and what to do. What’s more, all accommodation along the way is included, which means you’ll be able to just sit back and enjoy the ride

 Highlights Include:

Photos

Full Details

Days 1 – 2: Guilin

At Guilin travellers will find a combination that could be said to be the perfect microcosm of the Chinese nation as a whole. Overhead, the leaning karst protrusions, forest clad and formidable, are images of the natural topography that dominates Southern China, while in the labyrinthine metropolis floor below, the streets are a veritable maze of commuters and energy. For the city lover, Guilin will be the perfect introduction to the buzz of China’s mega-cities, while for the nature minded visitor, the slow-flowing Li River is a gateway to Guangxi’s provincial beauty, and the city’s resident osmanthus tree clusters and beautiful parks, provide a natural frame to the overarching modernism of the place.
On arrival you’ll be given some time to settle in and to get to know your guides and fellow travellers. Then, it’s right to the action with a night tour of the city, taking in the Sun and Moon Pagodas, glowing yellow and blue respectively, and casting vibrating shadows onto the surface of the Li River.
On day 2, we’ll go for a full day tour of the city, to enjoy the bustling markets, toting the traditional Chinese hodgepodge of goods and tasty foods. We’ll also visit the city centre for some sightseeing opportunities, and some of Guilin’s famous parks.

Days 3 – 6: Fengyan

Now for a taste of rural China! The change from Guilin to Fengyan is a startling one. For next three days you’ll be immersed in a series of eco villages that are now the stuff of China’s back country. Shrouded by forest and mountain, the folk here are super friendly images of the authentic traditional Chinese life. You’ll arrive late on day 3, and it’s a good idea to get some sleep in, because the next few days will be intense!
We begin with a tour of Fengyan itself, to learn all about the village’s long and rich history, while the afternoon is all about culture. You’ll have lessons from the masters in local crafts and language, with classes in paper folding and local customs. On day 5, we hit the hills! Starting early, we trek into the ‘village mountain’ overlooking Fengyan itself. The region is a beautiful melange of thick woods and towering karsts, so have your camera at the ready. In the afternoon, we’ll drop by Hongyan and Dengpa village, where you’ll learn bamboo crafting high in the hills, where the mist clouds shroud the peaks that overlook these rural town steads.
On day 6 we use Fengyan as our base for Gongcheng; one of the most templed-up towns in the region, and home to the world-famous Wen Temple (a 15th century imitation of the magnificent Confucius Temple in Qufu), and the forest-framed Gongcheng temple. After exploring the religious complexes, we’ll do some traditional Chinese brush painting lessons, and finish off with a trip to a local school to observe how English is taught in one of the world’s most thriving business nations. Then, in the night, we all unwind with a chill out barbeque, and watch the sun drop behind the jagged horizon.

Days 7 – 10: Yangshuo

This rock climbing mecca on the Li River has elevated itself to must-see status on the Chinese backpacking route in the last decade. The city is a flux of life, with a myriad of really great coffee bars, music venues and interesting cafes to keep you busy after you’ve arrived. We’ll spend the first day just settling in and exploring, but you can opt to go to one of China’s most famous light shows (directed by the renowned filmmaker Zhang Yimou no less) in the evening for a little extra cost.

On your second day in Yangshuo we’ll go on a cycling tour that sounds (and looks!) like it’s been lifted straight from the pages of a fantasy novel. First, we visit the Big Banyan Tree, which is said to have been planted almost 1500 years ago by members of the Jin Dynasty. Over the years, shaman doctors and religious leaders have hailed the tree as a sacred spot, and, whether you believe them or not, at over 17 metres in height and covering almost 1000 square metres, the fact it’s still growing today is perhaps impressive enough. Then we head to Moon Hill, where a massive natural arch has carved its way into the stone, and end up at the Dragon Cave, where multi-coloured lights highlight the awesome hanging stalactites.
After an adrenaline-pumping second day, we start Day 9 with a relaxing taichi lesson in Yangshuo itself, before heading out to Fuli Town, a nearby cultural hub of the province. Here, you’ll be able to check out some traditional Chinese painting crafts and visit the famous ‘Culture Street’ which is at Fuli’s centre.
On day 10, after a quick visit to the Dazhai Yao village near Yangshuo, we depart for Longsheng.

Days 11 – 12: Longsheng

The contoured rice terraces that dominate the rolling hills in Longsheng, are quintessential images of the traditional China; rural, magnificent, and unspeakably beautiful. On arrival, you’ll immediately set off on a trek around the terraces of Xishan Shaoyue and Jin Fo Ding, where rice has been farmed for centuries.
On day 12, you’ll transfer to the amazing Ping’an village, where dark wooden houses are nestled in the small valleys of the rice hills. Here, the locals are proud of their embroidery tradition, so after trekking you’ll be given a tour of their works.

Day 13: Stopover at Guilin

We have a brief stopover in Guilin city on our way to Guangzhou, and we leave plenty of time for you to grab relaxing Chinese massage or explore the town even further than you did on your first stop, before we head off.

Days 14 – 16: Guangzhou

From the rice terraces of Longsheng, to the metropolitan maze of China’s third largest city, Guangzhou. This modern hub just north of Macau on the Pearl River, is a real ball of energy, bursting at the seams with life. On arrival, you can opt to take the Pearl River cruise at a little extra cost, or hit the bars in one of the city’s nightlife hot spots that our guides can recommend.
On day 15, there’s a really comprehensive city tour that incorporates all the major points of interest, from the impressive 20th century Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, to the ancient Tomb of King of Nanyue.
On our last day in Guangzhou, we’ll focus in on some of the city’s cultural must-sees, visiting the sprawling family-built complex of the Chens’ Ancestral Temple – an awesome reminder of familial power in dynastic China – and the towering Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, a Buddhist spire temple originating from the 6th century.

Days 17 – 18: Zhuhai

From one of China’s largest cities, to a perfect example of one of the nation’s prefecture-level smaller towns, Zhuhai is a city of around 1 million, nestled in the pretty hill valleys of the Pearl River Delta. Zhuhai’s nickname is the ‘city of lovers’, so we’ll take you to the famous lover’s walking street, where locals stroll by the sea in the evening. After dark, have some nightlife fun with your fellow travellers on the city’s bar street, where there’s a whole load of authentic Chinese haunts to choose from.
On day 18 you’ll visit Haibin Park, a place to relax and unwind in central Zhuhai. Then, it’s on to The Summer Palace, a prime example of Qing Dynasty architecture, and finally, to unwind, we finish the day with some hard earned retail therapy.

Day 19 – 21 Shenzhen

Our final destination is the business hub of southern China. A city scape of soaring sky scrapers and shiny façades, Shenzhen has been an attractive place of investment for foreign investors in last few decades and it’s the king of shopping in the region too. Our first visit will be to the massive Huaqiang North shopping district, which spreads its retail wings across a 1km long central boulevard with everything from knock-off mobiles to high fashion.
On day 20 we hit the cultural theme park known as Splendid China Folk Village. Here, the exhibitions are a great way to get an insight into the long history and rich culture of the Chinese people, and a great way to end your travels in the region.

The China Xplorer itinerary is intended to be a hybrid of old and new in a country where it’s difficult to escape either. In this curiously contradictory region, a mix of rural rice fields and business savvy metropolises, we’ll give you a taste of the lot; with everything from high rise city tours, to mountain forest trekking.

three weeks – £747

Dates

This trip starts on the first Sunday of the month. Arrivals will be picked up from the airport on Sunday only. Arrival before 17.00.