Xtreme China Experience

Arrive and take to the water on your first afternoon in Yangshuo with kayaking as an optional activity. Wake up to the unbelievable karst scenery Yangshuo has to offer. This landscape of rivers, rice paddies and limestone peaks is your playground for the next three
days. Spend the day participating in the first of many free and un-missable attractions: bamboo rafting down the Li River. Put your feet up and relax as you meander downstream.
Once the river has run its course, there are lots of optional activities to be enjoying in Yangshuo. Take
mud-baths in underground caves, attend a Chinese cooking lesson, or try cupping (suction cups on the
back that help circulation). There’s also a chance to visit your adventure leader’s home village.
At the beginning of day 5 board your bus to Guilin, followed by a 7-hour bullet train to arrive in Chengdu in the evening.

Arrive in Chengdu and meet your new adventure leader – a fun-loving Sichuanese local. Ease out the strains of your overnight journey with a massage from a blind physical therapist. In the afternoon learn your first Chinese words in a free mandarin lesson!
Afterwards try a traditional Sichuan Hotpot for dinner – a meal where you cook meats and veggies by dipping them into a boiling pot of spicy broth.
The next morning you will visit the Panda Breeding Research Centre, arriving just in time to watch
these national treasures dig into breakfast (bamboo shoots, of course). In the afternoon you’ve got time to visit the world ́s largest stone Buddha (it’s 70m
tall!) in Leshan or you can walk through Chengdu’s Tibetan quarter with its Tibetan shops and cafes (yak dumplings anyone?).
Next morning is your last in Chengdu. Choose between visiting an Autism Children Rehabilitation
Center, The Wenshu Monastery, Mao ́s Statue and a traditional Chinese tea house then board the bullet train to your next destination: Xi ́an.

Today, after a beautiful free morning, you can join the group for an optional bike tour around the ancient city walls of the former dynastic capital. A great way
to get your bearings. In the late afternoon you can explore Xi’an’s fascinating Muslim Quarter, where
you’ll see unique Chinese mosques and sample the delights of Hui Muslim street food carts. The lamb
skewers are a must! Afterwards you ́ve got the opportunity to visit the Silk Road market nearby. Next morning we visit the jewel in Xi’an’s crown: the Terracotta Warriors, a full-sized stone army designed to protect Emperor Qin in the afterlife. In the evening have a Chinese-style night of
fun with a visit to the famous Big Goose Pagoda to watch the music & light show.

In the morning, take a private minivan and afterwards a 6-hour bus to Deng-Feng, the closest village to the Shaolin Temple. After your arrival, you’ll have the chance to put your strength and flexibility to the test in a Kung Fu lesson and then watch a show at a local children ́s home run by the shaolin temple. In the evening your second mandarin lesson starts – good luck/Yiqiè shùnlì!
Rise early if you wish to visit the flagship of Kung Fu – the Shaolin Temple! In the beautiful temple
courtyards you’ll see masterful displays and physically impossible feats from these Kung Fu masters. Had enough of temples or kung-fu? Visit the Longmen Grottoes, a UNESCO world heritage site with over 100,000 carved Buddha’s. Afterwards the group hikes together to Dharma Cave, a spiritual spot for Buddhist pilgrims. You will be rewarded
with beautiful views of both the shrines and the surrounding landscapes. In the evening you depart to Zhengzhou to board your night train to Beijing.

In the morning, we head off to our next unmissable attraction, The Great Wall of China! We go to a
deserted section of the Wall, where we will have the place to ourselves! Hike along this wonder of the world as the sun sets, before pitching up your tent for a night camping. Wake up the next morning for what will be one of the
most memorable sunrises of your life. Afterwards return to Beijing where you can visit the Temple of
Heaven, fake goods market, or enjoy in the afternoon the incredible Beijing Acrobatics Show. For dinner you’ve got the opportunity to taste one of Beijing ́s signature dishes: famous Peking Roast Duck. After a morning spent relaxing in the hostel in Beijing
and our third Mandarin lesson, it’s off to see the Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and a night
market where you can try snake, scorpion and a host of other “mouth-watering delicacies”. In the late afternoon, take a wander around Beijing’s ancient streets and alleyways and visit Nanluo district (one of the best preserved areas in Beijing) before saying
goodbye to your Adventure Leader.

After arriving in Hangzhou we head to West Lake for a relaxing boat tour. In the afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about China’s trade history,
with visits to the China National Tea Museum or the National Silk Museum. As the day comes to a close, embark on a hike up Jiuyao Mountain to catch the beautiful sunset over West Lake and the rest of the city. Finish the night with a delicious group dinner in the city centre. The next morning, why not explore Hangzhou old town, known for its street artists, boutiques and traditional teahouses. Afterwards, head to Misty Forest for a hike around the Nine Creeks area. After a morning full of exercise, make your way back to the hostel to freshen up and grab some lunch. Check out of your accommodation and transfer to Hangzhou Station as you prepare to catch the bullet train for our next destination: Shanghai!

Shanghai is one of the world’s biggest cities by population, and does not disappoint in what it has
to offer. Enjoy a free day open arrival to explore the city as you wish. We provide plenty of suggestions, including Disneyland, Moganshan Art Street and
Zhujiajiao Watertown!
Begin the following day with a Mandarin lesson from a professional teacher. Afterwards, walk to the Yu Gardens and back – a bustling historical site of a former dignitaries lavish family quarters. See People’s Square, then visit the world’s busiest shopping street, West Nanjing Road. Go for a walk along the Bund, a hub of global architecture. On your last day in the city take a stroll through the former French Concession to hear about Shanghai’s international history, visit a secretive propaganda history museum, visit TianZiFang a local artisan’s lane that blends the chique and traditional to Tianzifang, take in the sights of the ultra-modern Shanghai financial district and, if you’re feeling brave,
do a Skywalk at a stunning 340 meters above the ground. End the day enjoying a glass of champagne
in a hot tub, atop a skyscraper overlooking the city.

Today we take the bullet train to Nanjing in Fujian province, arguably the most picturesque
area in the whole of Asia. You spend the night in a Tulou (the Hakka people’s roundhouse).
There are over 30,000 Tulous in Fujian which still host the Hakka minority people today. This
provides an opportunity to not just observe, but also actively experience their fascinating
way of life. In the morning participate in another unmissable
activity: a walking tour around the
UNESCO World Heritage Site exploring the neighbouring round-houses and the beautiful
countryside. Later we will head to a tea plantations to sample some fresh oolong tea. Take some cash if you’d like to purchase some!
In the afternoon you can cycle to a
neighbouring village that is famous for its beautiful rivers and mountains. After arriving back, you’ve got some free time to relax with the locals before dinner. In the evening take the night train to Guangzhou.

Visit Macao’s Historic Centre and tour the Ruins of St Paul’s and the Old Fortress. Take a short drive to
the Macau Tower and try the world’s highest bungee jump! (Approx. £350/$420) Next, we’ll visit the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, take a stroll alongside the canals and marvel at the gondolas and gondoliersbellissimo!!
In the evening, we’re taking the high-speed ferry back to Hong Kong and to the hostel we started our adventure.