THE DRAGON TRIP: HONG KONG TO HONG KONGHong Kong Hong KongBeijingCHINAXi’anShaolinORIENTAL ASIASichuanYangshuoMacauShanghaiHangzhouFujianHong KongHighlights• Climb Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak• Bamboo raft in Yangshuo at sunset• See pandas in Chengdu• Visit the Terracotta Army in Xian• Kung Fu lesson with Shaolin monks• Watch sunrise on the Great Wall• Champagne in a hot tub above Shanghai• Rural mountain homestayDepartures 2015Every Wednesday , March - OctoberInclusionsAccommodation: Hostels, choose from dormstylerooms with shared bathroom or upgradeto single/twin/double rooms with private ensuites (13 nts), night train/bus with fully flatbeds (5 nts), lodge (1 nt), basic guesthouse/camp (4 nts) Transport: Ferry, train, privateminibus Includes: Tour guide, accommodation,transport, tickets for un-missable activitiesMeals: Not included Tour Code: HKGHKGChina is a land filled with wonders and you can see it all on this affordable adventure tour.<strong>Travel</strong>ling as part of a group of ready-made friends with a local guide on a route designedspecifically for backpackers, experience China’s unmissable attractions; the TerracottaWarriors in Xi’an, learn Kung Fu with the Shaolin Monks and camp on China’s greatestWall as well as visiting some off-the-beaten-track locations; stay overnight on a farmsurrounded by waterfalls in the mountains or take a bamboo raft down the Li River. Eachdestination is connected by a sleeper train so you’ll waste no time during the day travelling.DAY0102-0506-0809-1011-1213-15ITINERARYHong KongAn early start to kick off your 25-day adventure; today enjoy an optional guided hike up VictoriaPeak for incredible views over the city and harbour below. In the afternoon, cross the border intoChina before taking a night bus to Yangshuo.YangshuoWake up in rural Yangshuo, one of the most popular backpacking destinations in China and famed forits stunning karst scenery. This afternoon’s activities include rafting down the Li River on bamboorafts whilst the sun sets over the karst peaks. There is no shortage of optional activities to fill yourthree days here; you can visit mud baths in underground caves, enjoy a guided bike tour to swimmingspots and lookouts, sample snake liquor or take a Chinese cooking class! On the final morning, riseearly to see an incredible sunrise over the karst peaks from an ancient pagoda before taking thenight train to Chengdu.ChengduArrive in Chengdu and explore the Wuhu monastery before enjoying a traditional Sichuan Hotpotdinner. In the morning visit the Panda Breeding Research Centre arriving in time to watch themtuck into breakfast, followed by a massage from a traditional blind masseuse. The next day, join anoptional tour to the World’s largest buddha statue before hopping on your next night train.XianAfter arriving in Xian, visit another unmissable and free attraction: the Terracotta Warriors. In theevening you have the chance to help out at a soup kitchen for Xi’an’s homeless people. On Day 9,enjoy an independent walking tour of the Muslim quarter which finishes with a visit to the GreatMosque, or join an optional bike tour around the ancient city walls. Tonight, don’t miss the fountainand light show before experiencing a night out Chinese style; yes, there will be Karaoke, or KTV as itis known here.ShaolinTake the bus to Dengfeng to visit an orphanage in the evening. All the children at the orphanage aretrained in Kung Fu and will put on a performance for you! Then, the Kung Fu teacher who trainedin the Shaolin Monastery will teach you the basics in an optional lesson. Afterwards, it’s your turnto teach the children games and help them practice their English. On Day 12, rise early to visit theShaolin Temple before boarding the night train to Beijing.Beijing / Great Wall of ChinaAfter arriving in Beijing you’re off to The Great Wall of China! You get to hike along a deserted partof the wall as the sun sets without any other tourists around before pitching your tent for a nightof camping on the wall. In the morning wake for what will be one of the most memorable sunrisesof your life and then head back to Beijing. Over the next two days there is time to see all thehighlights including the Forbidden City, Chairman Mao’s embalmed body in Tiananmen Square, andthe Olympic Village.148VISIT WWW.<strong>STA</strong>TRAVEL.COM
FR$2,23925 DAYSORIENTAL ASIA16-1819-2122-2425Moganshan / ShanghaiToday, there is time to enjoy more optional activities before boarding the train to Hangzhou,where you will catch a bullet train to a bamboo nature reserve called Moganshan. Hike to thepeak of Moganshan Mountain, passing Chairman Mao’s former summer house, before heading toa mountain lodge for an overnight stay. Spend the morning splashing in a crystal clear mountainlagoon, before travelling on to Shanghai where you can join China’s largest bar crawl andexperience the famed nightlife.ShanghaiThere are plenty of optional activities in Shanghai to fill your days; see incredible acrobaticperformances, join a former French Concession walking tour including a visit to a hidden undergroundpropaganda museum, and visit a bar on the roof of a skyscraper, where you can enjoy views ofPudong and the Bund whilst sipping Champagne in a hot tub. After taking in all Shanghai has to offer,board a night train deep into the tea growing hills of Fujian Province.Fujian ProvinceToday, arrive in Fujian Province, arguably the most picturesque area in the whole of China. Here youspend the night in a tulou, a traditional earthen roundhouse of the Hakka people. This provides anopportunity to not just observe, but also actively experience their fascinating way of life. On Day 23,enjoy breakfast in the roundhouse prepared by one of your local Hakka hosts and then you can visitneighbouring round-houses and temples, discover the beautiful countryside, sample the tea in a teaceremony, and swim in the local river. In the afternoon, mountain bike to a tea plantation in the hillsand set up camp for a night around the campfire. The next morning try picking the local tea whilsttaking in the stunning views. Cycle to a village famous for its beautiful rivers, mountains and originalTulou clusters for lunch, before boarding the night train to Shenzhen.Macau & Hong KongArrive in Shenzhen and transfer straight to Hong Kong. Today there is an optional day tour ofthe nearby colony of Macau where you can try the world’s highest bungee jump! There is also theopportunity to visit the Venetian Macau, a replica of the Venetian in Vegas, only twice the size!In the evening catch a high-speed ferry back to Hong Kong. Say your final good byes to the grouphaving just completed an epic 3-984 mile journey around China!You might likeThe Dragon Trip runs on a backpacker loop whichmeans there’s flexibility where you can start andend your adventure. If you don’t have time todo the full 25 days, the trips below pack in thesame adventure in a shorter amount of time:FR FR FRSHANGHAI TO SHANGHAI $1,785 BEIJING TO BEIJING $1,788 HONG KONG TO HONG KONG $1,58918 DAYS: Shanghai Yangshuo Chengdu Xi’anShaolin Beijing Hangzhou ShanghaiStart in glitzy Shanghai and head straightto the stunning scenery of Yangshuo.Get the best of China, from seeing giantpandas to camping on the Great Wall.18 DAYS: Beijing Shanghai Yangshuo ChengduXi’an Shaolin BeijingSimilar to the Shanghai loop, on this routeyou’ll see top sites, including Shanghai, onan epic loop of China starting and endingin Beijing.25 DAYS: Hong Kong Yangshuo Chengdu Xi’anShaolin Beijing Hong KongExperience the first half of the full circuit,before heading back to Hong Kong fromBeijing. Perfect for seeing China on a tightschedule!Departures 2015 Every Wednesday between March & October Departures 2015 Every Sunday between March & October Departures 2015 Every Wednesday between March & October149
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