Experience China in a really adventurous way. Travel in a young and dynamic group and go cycling, rock climbing, trekking and you can even learn Tai Chi. Easing you in to soften the culture shock we teach you about the language, cooking and culture. The weeks after are packed with action. This trip takes you to one of the most stunning places of China.
Exciting Flexible 4 Week Trip
China has much to offer, so we have a wide variety of activities for you to choose from. The various weeks are all about getting to know the beautiful natural environments and experiencing Chinese culture in a group of other travellers. You can pick your weekly activities in country and choose what to do as you go.
China Experience highlights:
- Cultural trips to temples
- Proper introduction to the Chinese culture
- Activity Week Option: choose your week: trekking, cycling and Tai Chi
- Stay with Hill tribes
- Stunning landscapes in one of the most beautiful parts of China
- You can choose between the following weeks, or combine them all. It is up to you!
- The first week is the introduction week, after that you can take your pick!
There is a very good reason we take you here
Yangshou is in the Guilin Area and this area is know for many things, we listed a few below:
- It is one of the of the four major must-see cities in China recommended by World Tourism Organization.
- It is the only place in China that has stunning scenery with limestone mountains together with beautiful rivers.
- There are many small and ancient ethnic groups like Zhuang, Yao, Miao and Dong people and they still have all their national traditions with rich and elegant clothing.
- In Yangshou you will find the the symbol of China’s natural landscape, the Li River, and we take you on it! Crystal waters and bamboo groves, water buffalo´s, ducks, farmers reap paddies, beautiful fish and kids splash in the water.a feast for your eyes.
- The bike rides here are also amazing, just like you would imagine!
- There is just so much to do here, no wonder it is becoming a paradise for backpackers.
Photos
China Experience Itinerary
How the weeks work out
Introduction week:
A soft landing in a new and very different culture, we help you immerse your self in the Chinese Culture. We teach you a few words of Chinese, explain you about the culture, let you taste the great food and take you around in the stunning surroundings of Fengyan village, a typical China Village.
With the Introduction week over, you are all settled in. Now you can make your pick of the following option weeks: (min 2 options)
Activity week options:
The cycle and tour week option:
This week you have the opportunity to experience the perfect combination of Orient and the West culture, the warm and friendly people and their hospitality. We cycle through rice fields and take you to very important cultural sites.
Trekking week option:
During this week you stay in different places, since you are trekking through mountains to meet Chinese tribes (the girls with the longest hair in the world). You will spend 2 nights at the Hill tribes and enjoy specially made local food, watch performances of the hill tribes while experience the picturesque and quietness terraced fields….
Tai Chi in China week option:
Now this is a special one! You can sign up for 1 week, but we advise you to stay a minimum of four if you really want to progress in Tai Chi. Also you can train up to Master Level if you decide to stay with us for 6 months! you will eat, sleep and breath Tai Chi here for 6 days a week….
Community Experiences
Beyond the big cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are the rural communities in China. These are often poor, existing on subsistence farming to earn a living. Fengyan is one such community. It is a small but well preserved village in Guangxi province in the South of China 42kms from Yangshuo and 104 kms from the city of Guilin. It typifies the traditional rural way of life in China. The people are hardworking – it is not unusual for the farmers to go to their fields at 6.30 a.m. and not return until 7.00 p.m. as they seek to provide food and money for their families.It is somewhere where you can make a real and substantial difference:
- By farming.
- By working with children.
- By volunteer English teaching.
Note: All of our community projects are agreed with the village elders. Their concern is to improve the village for the benefit of the villagers. You can make a real difference by doing this – and at the same time experience the warmth of Chinese friendship. Of getting to know them and their families. Of experiencing their hospitality. It is your opportunity not just to make a difference where it is most needed but to learn about traditional China and its rural communities. For those doing the Duke of Edinburgh award or the equivalent in different countries, you should check how this volunteering programme can count towards the achievement of your award.
Food included, taste it all!
Yes, some days you can eat western food like pizza´s, but come on… you are in China! That means tasty Chinese food! Like Yangshuo Beer Fish, fish mixed with a blend of spices, herbs, tomato, celery, mushrooms and, not to forget, beer. Or cashew nut Chicken with rice and bamboo rice, Longsheng Oil tea and special snacks. Now if that really does not do it for you then yes, in some places there are restaurants close by for if you want to treat yourself to a pizza.
The Weeks In More Detail
China Introduction Week
Come face to face with China and say Ni Hao! This Introduction week is the first step towards a great stay in a new country! It is designed so that you can avoid culture shock and be eased into the Chinese ways of doing things. It is a fun filled week that is dedicated to getting to know China and some of its cultural aspects first hand. You will also get time to meet the local people, taste the local cuisine and get familiar with the Chinese customs. The Introduction week will take place in our regional centre located in Fengyan village
Read more about the intro week
Sunday: Arrival Day
We will pick you up from the airport and bring you to the hotel from where you will be picked up on Monday morning when the China Experience really starts.
Monday: Welcome orientation day
Introduction during which you will get to know the other travellers and the coordinators. We will tour the local village and view the beautiful scenery of the fruit tree fields. In the winter months you can taste the fruits by picking it from the tree directly. You will also learn your first few words in Chinese.
Tuesday:Intro to the culture of China and settling in.
We will go to Lianhua Town to show you around and to go to police station to register. It is required for all foreigners to register where they are living during there stay in China.
We can enjoy the local fair and visit the mini-supermarket to buy some necessities and maybe a sim card.
Chinese Lesson: Introduction to Chinese and Yao culture: do & don’ts and some cultural differences explained. In the evening we will introduce you to the Chinese traditional game of Mahjong (Majiang to the locals) combined with Chinese numbers learning.
Wednesday: Tea, Towers and Cooking!
Traditional breakfast with Gongcheng You Cha (local special tea) and we will also teach you how to make this tea, quite interesting and fun. Later that day we will visit the Hengshan village by climbing up the amazing tower built in traditional Chinese style. And another thing we do today is teach you about Chinese cooking. The cooking classes are interactive so you will learn a skill for life and cook in traditional Chinese style for your friends when you get home. But before we can start cooking we will go to the market to buy the ingredients!
Thursday: Culture & Traditions.
Today we have Chinese lesson in culture and traditions. In the afternoon we will visit Hongyan Village, which is named the ‘New Model Socialism Village’. Here you can enjoy yourselves by walking in the ocean of fruit trees, walk to Fengyu Bridge to view the typical architecture and the local art of the Yao Minorities, or row a boat along the beautiful river.
Friday: Chinese language lessons again so you will be able to talk to the villagers on the rest of your trip!
We have lunch in Gongcheng county and try local traditional food. We also visit the local primary school, meet the village kids and get some ideas of the Chinese educational system. This is very fun and interactive. Be sure to take your camera! We will also visit a Confucius temple and a Guangong temple in Gongcheng town.
Saturday & Sunday Free time.
After the intro week you can choose a minimum of 2 option weeks. They are listed in detail below:
China Cycling and Tour Week Option
In this week you will have the opportunity to experience elegant town of Yangshuo. It is renowned for the beautiful nature, the excellent combination of the Orient and the West culture, and the hospitality of the lovely and warm people. In recent years Yangshuo has become one of thee most famous places in China. We will explore and experience the beauty of the Big Banyan, Moon Hill, the Yulong Bridge, the Li River and ‘Peach Blossom Paradise‘. Also you will have the chance to explore to Fuli culture street and the well preserved ancient city of Huangyao with more than 2000 years of history. We also include variety of lessons such as Paper crafting, Calligraphy, Tai Chi etc. to explore Chinese culture.
Read more about the Cycling and Tour week
West street is the beating hart of the centre of Yangshuo and is over 1400 years old! West Street has become, since the 1980′s, a window of eastern and western culture and the biggest ‘foreign language center’ in China. It is the most prosperous district in Yangshuo and is the main shopping area. There are many little shops selling anything from local produced paintings, T-shirts, souvenirs and other local curios. There are some internet cafe’s too!
Tuesday: In the morning we will cycle to Yulong Bridge. This is a very scenic spot. Experience the quietness of rural scenery and appreciate the beauty of Ancient Bridge – more than six hundred years old. It may be also a possibility to go for a swim! We will visit the Ten Li painting gallery on the way back to Yangshuo and later on: Paper Crafting lesson, a very important Chinese tradition. Come on give it a shot it will be fun.
Wednesday: In the morning, we will visit the Fuli Culture street, where Chinese painting has its roots. It is an amazing place to explore unique traditional Chinese culture. Then, in the afternoon, we will visit Peach Blossom Paradise/Dragon Cave. In the evening, enjoy yourselves in West street, a bit of shopping and partying!
Thursday: In the morning, a Tai Chi lesson and a Calligraphy lesson. And after that we take a bamboo boat up the Li River. The scenery is so majestic here it is on the 20yuan note! This is absolutely a must, very scenic and very Chinese!
Friday: Today we have a full day tour to Huangyao Ancient Town. We will go there by bus and we will get an excellent guided tour. Back in Yangshuo around 6pm.
The town of Huangyao is most famous for its mountains with caves, pavilions, temples, ancestor hills, old trees and tablets. Every corner of the town presents a typically Chinese scene and presents a marvelous photo opportunity. Huang Yao was built in 927 B.C. and was a flourishing and wealthy town then.
Saturday & Sunday is free time.
China Trekking week option
See the more adventurous side of China! Experience the picturesque and quietness of the Longsheng Terraced Field. Trek in the amazing terraced fields and stay in hill-tribe villages.
The old-time water stores, drum-tower and ‘Rain and Wind‘ Bridge of the villages demonstrate the ethnic features that show the culture, life and spirit of local people as well as their nationalities. The Yao and Zhuang people are minority groups in China (95% of the population are Han Chinese). The hills are laced with flood terraced fields that glisten in the morning sun. The natural landscape and human landscape reflects their blaze with each other and shares a unique charm. If you were personally at the scene, you would be stunned by its beauty and get a sense you never had before.
Enjoy a few days of peaceful wondrous scenery. The journey is challenging but it will be worthwhile. Longsheng is known all over China. The scenery is great all year round from different perspective but from Dec. to March is low season for Longsheng due to the relatively cold weather.
Read more about the Trekking Week
Monday: We departure from the Yangshuo and have lunch in Guilin and arrive at Huangluo village of Longsheng around 5pm. There we enjoy the exhibition of Yao Embroidery from the villagers and if you are interested you can learn how to embroidery. We will stay overnight at Huangluo village, which is named as the Longest hair village.
Tuesday: We start of with a tour the Longest hair village and meet the girls with the longest hair in the world. Then we trek the mountains and tour Jinzhu Zhuang village. In the afternoon we watch the beautiful performance by Yao people. And later on in the afternoon, trek part of the terrace – Qian Ceng Tian Ti. This night we stay overnight in the Yao Village and get to know the life style of Yao Minority.
Wednesday: Spend the day trekking the spectacular terraced hills – JinFoDing and Xishan Shaoyue and we stay overnight in Tiantou Yao village.
Thursday: We take you trekking from Tiantou village to Zhongliu village which is an amazing mountainous area and we enjoy the special local food in Zhongliu village. In the afternoon we carry on and trek to Ping’an Zhuang village to stay overnight in Ping’an Zhuang village and here we get to know Zhuang Minority.
Friday: Trekking and tour the terraced field named as Nine Dragons and Five Tigers，Seven stars surrounding the Moon of Ping’an Zhuang village and in the afternoon we go back to Guilin/ onwards to next destination for your next programme.
Saturday: Free time or the coordinator will help you to catch airport bus or arrange taxi but you are expected to cover the fee to the airport.
Additional information
Longji Terraces are large-scaled rice terraces built into the hillside. Longsheng is famous for them. They were first built in the Yuan dynasty and completed in the Qing dynasty by Zhuang people. The highest part is 880m while the lowest part 380m in elevation. Some of the terraces look like great chains, other look like ribbons. They wind from the foot to the top of the hill. There are layers on layers of terraces, high and low. The outline is very smooth. Its scale is enormous and it divides the mountain into layers of water glittering in the sun in spring, layers of green rice shoots in summer, layers of golden rice in fall, and layers of silvery frost in winter.
China Tai Chi Week Option
At the Tai Chi training school you have receive 6 days of Tai Chi training a week! Intense! During these weeks you will begin your Tai Chi training. Standing pole posture Chen style, Tai Chi Quan hand work and foot work, relaxed power and Yang style Tai chi Quan are to name but a few styles.
Read more about the Tai Chi Week
- Location: Yangshuo town, Guilin City, Guangxi Province
The Tai Chi programme can be booked for multiple weeks. You can get further and more advanced training (even with weapons) and the Master will help you make personal training content & schedule according to your motivation and capability. For the very dedicated it takes about 6 months focused training to become a master.
Requirements: You should be in generally in good physical and mental health, but previous experience is not required. Read more about Tai Chi on our Blog.
Accommodation
During all weeks you will stay in a in a room with 2 or 3 others of the group and each room has its own bathroom and there is 24-hour hot water.
During the trekking week you will stay in residential hostels. These mainly are traditional styled wooden structures with a double room and bathroom and we will do a home stay too!
Trip Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average age on the China Experience?
I am a first time traveler, what type of support can I expect?
Transport and activities are included. Also meals are included. On week days you get 3 meals a day and in weekends 2 meals are included. We make sure we direct you to the nice places for a snack or a drink out. The accommodation is in our special built hostels and centers (2-4 people max.) and on some programmes we have a home stay with a local family to experience the real China! There is a 24/7 emergency number and support by English speaking staff on site. The guides are super friendly and there to help you out.
Can I book a private room?
For €60 a week extra you can have your own room, some weeks it might costs a little bit more, because we stay in hotels. Just ask us if you would like to have a private room.
When does the programme start?
Do I need to book an introduction week?
Will I be picked up from the airport?
How are the transfers arranged?
When is the best time to go?
Where do I need to fly into?
I will arrive early. How do I book an extra night?
What about the meals?
Price
Prices in GBP
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Included
- Pre departure information
- Airport pick up
- In country support
- All accommodation
- All transfers
- All meals
- All activities
- Guides
Excluded
- Flights
- Visa
- Extra snacks and drinks
- Spending money
- Extra nights
- Travel insurance
- Transfer back to the airport (but our rep in China will help you with this)
Dates
The trip starts on the first Sunday of the month.
Trip Combos
Did you know we can help you plan an epic adventure? You can combine this trip with the following trips to extend you travels? Why not do the triple and book the Xtreme Thailand Experience and Vietnam Experience to get a detailed understanding of lots of Asian countries?
Vietnam Experience
Xtreme Thailand Experience
Do you want see it all in one of the most exciting countries in the world? Join our group and have an incredible adventure. You choose your activities. An intro week, an adventure week, an action week and a beach week. You will be check out the buzz in Bangkok with new mates and letting the good times roll.
“I was so anxious to see China. So nervous and so excited at the same time. in the end I didn’t want to leave. I had such a great time there. See more reviews here.”L. van Loon