15-Day Hiking and Scenic Discovery Tour

The Experience

Welcome to Beijing, the starting point of your China hiking and scenic discovery tour.

Upon arrival, your private driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in the city. After checking in, you can take the rest of the day to recover from your journey and get settled.

Highlights

• Settle into China's historic capital at your own pace.
• Get your first taste of Beijing's everyday food and neighborhood life.

Tips

• Keep your passport accessible for hotel check-in.
• Let us know your arrival time so we can arrange a suitable airport pickup.

The Experience

After breakfast, we'll drive by private vehicle from Beijing to the Great Wall, usually taking around 1.5–2.5 hours, depending on the section we visit and traffic.

Mutianyu and Badaling are two popular options, each offering a different experience. Mutianyu is known for its scenic mountain setting and is often a good choice for travelers who prefer a less crowded atmosphere. Badaling is one of the most famous and accessible sections, with well-restored ramparts and convenient facilities.

Whichever section you choose, you'll have time to walk along the ancient wall, climb to the watchtowers, and enjoy views of the stone ramparts winding across the mountain ridges. The steps can be steep and uneven, so you can explore at your own pace. If you'd like to save your energy, Mutianyu offers a cable car or chairlift to go up, plus a toboggan slide to descend. Badaling also has a cable car option.

After the visit, your driver will transfer you back to the hotel.

Highlights

• Walk along the wall and explore its historic watchtowers.
• Take a cable car or try Mutianyu's toboggan slide, where available.

Tips

• Wear comfortable shoes with good grip for steep and uneven steps.
• Bring water, sun protection, and an extra layer for changing mountain weather.

The Experience

After breakfast, we transfer to Beijing railway station and board a high-speed train to Huangshan. The journey usually takes around 6-7 hours.

On arrival, your local driver will meet you and take you to your hotel near the Huangshan Mountain scenic area.

Highlights

• Travel south by high-speed train through changing landscapes.
• Arrive near Huangshan and prepare for a mountain adventure.

Tips

• Keep snacks and water handy for the train journey.
• Pack a small daypack for tomorrow and leave unnecessary luggage at your hotel if possible.

The Experience

Today is one of the major hiking days. After an early breakfast, we transfer to the Huangshan scenic area entrance and take the park shuttle to the selected trailhead.

If you don't want to walk a lot, we may use a cable car for part of the ascent, then continue on foot. Rather than rushing from viewpoint to viewpoint, we'll allow time to stop for photographs and enjoy the changing scenery. The route can include famous viewpoints such as Beginning-to-Believe Peak or Bright Summit.

We'll spend the night at a hotel on the mountain, making it easier to enjoy the highland atmosphere and prepare for an early sunrise attempt tomorrow.

Highlights

• Hike among Huangshan's granite peaks and distinctive pine trees.
• Enjoy panoramic views from the mountain trails.
• Stay overnight on Huangshan for a more immersive experience.

Tips

• Expect many stone steps, even if you use a cable car.
• Bring warm layers and rain protection; mountain weather can change quickly.

The Experience

Today, we'll get up early to watch the sunrise. The exact time depends on the season, and visibility is never guaranteed, but the changing light over Huangshan's peaks can be memorable even when clouds drift across the view.

After sunrise, we'll return to the hotel for breakfast. Then, we'll descend by cable car or on foot.

Your driver will then transfer you to the railway station for a high-speed train to Hangzhou. The train journey generally takes around 1–2 hours.

After arriving in Hangzhou, we transfer to your hotel and leave the evening free.

Highlights

• Try to catch the sunrise over Huangshan's mountain peaks.

Tips

• Bring a warm jacket for the early-morning viewpoint.

The Experience

Today we explore two of Hangzhou's best-known places, starting with West Lake.

West Lake has long been celebrated in Chinese poetry, painting, and garden design. Its appeal lies not in one single landmark, but in the way water, bridges, gardens, and the surrounding city come together.

We can walk along the lakeside paths, visit scenic causeways and pavilions, and take in views of willow trees, pagodas, and wooded hills reflected in the water.

After exploring the lake area, we'll travel by private vehicle to Lingyin Temple, set among green hills on the western side of Hangzhou. It is one of China's important Buddhist temples, which was founded in the fourth century.

Highlights

• Walk beside West Lake and enjoy its classic Chinese garden scenery.
• Visit Lingyin Temple and discover Hangzhou's Buddhist heritage.

Tips

• Wear comfortable walking shoes; the lake area is best explored on foot.

The Experience

After breakfast, we'll transfer to Hangzhou Airport for a flight to Guilin. On landing, your local driver will meet you and take you into the city.

Our first stop is Elephant Trunk Hill, a natural limestone formation that resembles an elephant dipping its trunk into the Li River. It's one of Guilin's best-known landmarks and a good introduction to the karst landscape that defines this part of southern China.

We'll then visit the area around the Sun and Moon Pagodas, two distinctive lakeside towers in central Guilin. Their reflections on the water are particularly attractive when the light begins to soften.

Tonight, you'll stay in Guilin before continuing toward Yangshuo tomorrow.

Highlights

• See Guilin's iconic Elephant Trunk Hill.
• Enjoy the lakeside setting of the Sun and Moon Pagodas.
• Try Guilin rice noodles and other regional specialties.

The Experience

Today, we experience the karst countryside through a Li River cruise from Guilin toward Yangshuo.

After breakfast, we'll transfer to the designated cruise pier and board the boat. The main cruise usually takes around four hours.

As the boat moves downstream, limestone peaks rise above bamboo groves, villages, and stretches of farmland. This is the landscape often seen in traditional Chinese paintings, and the changing shapes of the hills make the journey feel different from one bend in the river to the next.

After disembarking near Yangshuo, we'll transfer to your hotel. Depending on your energy and arrival time, you can stroll along West Street, browse local shops, or find a quiet riverside spot to enjoy the views.

Highlights

• Cruise through the Li River's famous limestone scenery.
• Watch rural life unfold along the riverbanks.

Tips

• Keep your camera ready, but take time to enjoy the views without a screen.

The Experience

After breakfast, we'll leave Yangshuo by private vehicle and drive north toward the Longji Rice Terraces, a journey of roughly 3–4 hours.

We'll head to Dazhai, one of the villages within the Longji terrace area. After checking in and arranging your luggage, we'll explore the village and take a walk along the terrace paths. The rice fields have been shaped over generations by local communities, including Yao and Zhuang people, who developed farming methods suited to the steep hillsides.

Depending on the season, the terraces may be filled with water reflecting the sky, bright green with young rice, golden near harvest, or quieter after harvesting.

Staying overnight in Dazhai lets you enjoy the area after day visitors leave and experience the quieter rhythm of village life.

Highlights

• Walk through the Longji Rice Terraces and hillside villages.
• Learn about traditional farming landscapes and local communities.

Tips

• Pack light for the village stay, as some guesthouses may require walking with your bags.
• Terrace colors change with the season, so the landscape will look different depending on your travel dates.

The Experience

We'll start the day early and travel by private vehicle from Dazhai to Guilin Airport for your flight to Lijiang.

After arriving in Lijiang, your local driver will take you to your hotel.

We'll keep the rest of the day flexible rather than adding too many activities after the journey. You might enjoy a relaxed dinner in the old town and sample Yunnan specialties, such as rice noodles or dishes flavored with local mushrooms when in season.

The Experience

Today is dedicated to Lijiang and its surrounding scenery.

We'll explore Lijiang Old Town on foot, wandering through narrow lanes, stone bridges, canals, and traditional wooden buildings.

The town became an important stop on historic trading routes linking Yunnan with Tibet and other parts of southwestern China. Its architecture reflects this history.

If you're interested, we can also visit a traditional courtyard or a local cultural site to learn more about Naxi customs and Dongba culture.

Depending on your interests and the weather, we can add a visit to Black Dragon Pool Park, known for its views toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, or arrange an excursion outside the old town.

We'll keep the day flexible so you can enjoy the atmosphere, browse local handicrafts, or take a break at a small café. Lijiang is touristy in places, but exploring at a relaxed pace reveals more than its busiest shopping streets.

Highlights

• Explore Lijiang's historic lanes, canals, and courtyard architecture.
• Learn about Naxi culture and the town's trading history.
• Enjoy views toward Jade Dragon Snow Mountain if weather permits.

Tips

• Explore early or later in the day to avoid the busiest streets.

The Experience

After breakfast, we'll leave Lijiang by private vehicle and travel toward Tiger Leaping Gorge, one of the most dramatic river valleys in Yunnan.

A full high-trail hike requires considerably longer and may need an extra night. In this particular route, we'll explore a section of the gorge on foot.

After our visit, we'll continue by private vehicle toward Shangri-La. The scenery becomes more open as we climb toward the highlands, where Tibetan-influenced architecture and culture become increasingly visible.

On arrival, we'll check in and keep the evening easy to help you adjust to the altitude.

Highlights

• See the dramatic cliffs and river scenery of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
• Enjoy a walk suited to your fitness and available time.

Tips

• Bring sturdy walking shoes and water for the gorge.
• Shangri-La is at a high elevation; take it slowly and avoid strenuous activity if you feel unwell.

The Experience

Today we'll explore Shangri-La, a highland town where Tibetan cultural traditions meet the landscapes of the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

After breakfast, we'll visit Songzanlin Monastery, the largest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Yunnan.

Built in the seventeenth century, it is often called the “Little Potala Palace” because of its hillside setting and layered golden-roofed halls. We'll walk through the monastery grounds, learn about its religious role, and observe the details of Tibetan Buddhist architecture and daily worship respectfully.

Later, we'll head toward Napa Lake, a seasonal wetland surrounded by grasslands and mountains. Depending on the time of year, you may see grazing yaks, horses, and migratory birds. The lake's appearance changes considerably with the seasons: during wetter months, water spreads across the grasslands, while in drier periods, more open meadows emerge.

Back in town, we can explore Dukezong Old Town, with its traditional-style buildings, small shops, and prayer flags. It's a good opportunity to browse local handicrafts or try a warming Tibetan-style meal before returning to your hotel.

Highlights

• Visit Songzanlin Monastery and discover Tibetan Buddhist traditions.
• Enjoy the open grasslands and seasonal scenery around Napa Lake.
• Wander through Dukezong Old Town.

Tips

• Dress modestly at the monastery and follow local photography rules.
• Bring sunscreen and warm layers; the highland sun can be strong even when the air is cool.

The Experience

After breakfast, we'll transfer to Shangri-La Airport for your flight to Shanghai. After landing, your private driver will meet you and take you to your hotel.

Depending on your arrival time, we can arrange an easy introduction to the city, such as a walk along the Bund, where historic waterfront buildings face the modern skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River.

After two weeks of mountain trails, villages, river scenery, and historic sites, Shanghai provides a final glimpse of China's fast-changing urban life.

Highlights

• Walk along the Bund if time permits.
• Enjoy a final evening of Chinese food and city life.

The Experience

After breakfast, enjoy any remaining free time before your departure.

Depending on your flight schedule, we'll arrange a private transfer to the airport with enough time for check-in and any international departure procedures.

We hope you'll leave with a deeper appreciation of the country's variety, along with plenty of memories from the trails and places you've explored.

Highlights

• Enjoy a smooth private transfer to the airport.

Tips

• Allow extra time for airport travel, especially during busy periods.