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Southern China Highlights: Hong Kong to Shanghai

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Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: CBSH
Overview
Destination:
China, 
Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region Of China, 
Start:Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region Of China
Finish:Shanghai, China
Duration:10 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Style:
Adventure,
Explorer,
Travel Period
March 2026 - October 2027
Traverse southern China from the neon lit Hong Kong to the top skyline of Shanghai. Explore the cyber punk city of Chongqing, sweat a little over its signature hotpot, ride the world's tallest outdoor elevator to see the Avatar mountains in Zhangjiajie National Park and dive into the mystic Nvshu scripts in Changsha. This is a trip that showcases a different side of China that mixes modern landscapes with traditional culture.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

1. A single supplement is available for booking, subject to availability. Please contact your booking agent if you are interested
2.A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase our train tickets.
3. Travelling in China will heavily rely upon using local payment apps – Wechat and Alipay for making payments. It’s essential to install them on your phone and have a data package ready prior to your travel. Please read ‘money matters’ in the Essential Trip Information for more details. You shouldn’t rely on credit card for travel in China.
4. While travelling in China, you won’t have access to social media and some websites. You may consider installing a VPN to access those sites and apps. Please check the Essential Trip Information for more details.

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Standard inclusions
  • Meals: Meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch.
  • Transport: Private vehicle, High-speed Train, Subway, Taxi.
  • Accommodation: Hotel (9 nights).
  • Hong Kong - Temple Street Night Market visit.
  • Chongqing - Hotpot meal in former air raid shelter.
  • Chongqing - Guided Chongqing city tour.
  • Zhangjiajie - Leader-led orientation walk.
  • Zhangjiajie - Tianmen Mountain.
  • Zhangjiajie National Park - Cable car.
  • Zhangjiajie National Park - Balong Elevator.
  • Zhangjiajie National Park - Hike.
  • Changsha - Local night market visit.
  • Changsha - Nvshu script writing with local master.
  • Shanghai - Leader-led night bund walking tour.
  • Shanghai - Leader-led French Concession walking tour.
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Itinerary
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Day 1: Hong Kong
Neih-hou! Welcome to Hong Kong. A fusion of east and west, this dynamic city is known for its skyline, bustling markets and rich cultural heritage. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe ride the Peak Tram for panoramic views over Hong Kong, visit the Tian Tan Buddha or take a stroll along the Victorian Harbor. Tonight, join your group for a tour through the lively Temple Street night market, where the energy of Hong Kong comes alive. After, maybe head out together for dinner and sample some local cuisine like dim sum or roast goose.
Day 2: Chongqing
Enjoy a relaxed morning before your first bullet train journey. This is a true taste of modern China, as you reach speeds of up to 300 km/h. Sit back and enjoy the scenery, read a book or listen to your favourite podcast as you travel across provinces. You may even want to try ordering takeaway food from a train station to your seat (your leader can assist to make this happen). You’ll arrive in Chongqing early evening. Either settle into your accommodation or join your leader for a short orientation walk to explore the city.
Day 3: Chongqing
Start today with a guided city walking tour. Experience daily life like a local as you explore Chongqing’s Old Town on guided city walking tour. Stroll through Longmenhao Old Street, walk among the skyscrapers of Nanbing Road and visit the Hongya Cave. Learn about the city’s history from the street and cross the Yangtze River on the public cable car and ferry. Your walk ends with a traditional Chongqing hot pot lunch served in a former air raid shelter. These shelters, built during World War II to protect citizens from bombings, have since been repurposed. Take the rest of the day to explore this city of hills, maybe even check out the trending site where the train goes into a building or try and find the local spot where you come out of a highrise building's 22 floor onto a street - no wonder the locals call it the 8D city!
Day 4: Zhangjiajie City
Travel from Chongqing to Zhangjiajie City today via train. You'll arrive in Zhangjiajie by mid-afternoon, then head out on a short orientation walk with your leader to help you get familiar with the area. Located in Hunan Province, Zhangjiajie city is known for its natural landscapes, including the famous Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and Tianmen Mountain. Beyond the iconic scenery, the city itself offers a vibrant local life in its bustling night markets, leafy parks filled with locals practicing tai chi and a distinct Hunan-style food culture known for its bold, aromatic spice (quite different from Chongqing’s heat). Enjoy a free evening to relax, try some local dishes or simply soak in the atmosphere of this lively mountain city.
Day 5: Tianmen Moutain/ Zhangjiajie City
This morning, you’ll visit the iconic Tianmen Mountain. This area is known for its cliff-hanging walkways, scenic cableway and the iconic Tianmen Cave – a massive natural archway often called Heaven’s Gate. Here, you’ll spend a few hours exploring the landmark. For those who’d rather skip the 999 steps, you can take an escalator to the top. After soaking in the views and fresh mountain air, you’ll return to Zhangjiajie city. This afternoon is free for you to explore the city at your own pace.
Day 6: Zhangjiajie National Park/Zhangjiajie City
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, located in China’s Hunan Province, is renowned for its towering sandstone pillars and misty peaks – and this area was the inspiration for the floating mountains in the Avatar! Spend the day exploring the national park, hiking along well-maintained trails that weave through dramatic cliffs and forested valleys. You’ll also ride the Bailong Elevator – a glass lift built into the side of a cliff. This UNESCO World Heritage-listed landmark offers countless of photo-worthy moments, so have your camera ready. Later, return to your accommodation in Wulingyuan for a relaxing night.
Day 7: Changsha
Take another bullet train to Changsha – the capital of Hunan Province. When you arrive, you’ll head straight to a local cultural heritage centre to learn about Nvshu – the world’s only known writing system created and used exclusively by women. Now recognised as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, this unique script reflects generations of female expression and resilience. Learn about the culture and stories behind Nvshu and try writing your own message in this elegant script. After, check into your hotel and enjoy some free time before you head to one of Changsha’s night markets, where you can pick up some local street food for dinner. For the more adventurous in eating, maybe try sticky tofu, pig’s feet or crayfish mouth.
Day 8: Shanghai
Travel to Shanghai this morning by bullet train, arriving in the city in the afternoon. After checking into your hotel, the rest of the afternoon is free for you to spend as you like. In the evening, your leader will take you to the Bund, where you’ll see the striking contrast between old and new Shanghai. As you walk, you’ll see historic mansions dating back 100 to 200 years on one side and across the Huangpu River, you’ll see the modern skyline with high-rises and towers built over the past four decades.
Day 9: Shanghai
This morning, set off on a walking tour to Shanghai’s French Concession. Originally a residential and retail area of Shanghai, this neighbourhood is now known for its tree-lined streets, European-style architecture and vibrant cafes. Stroll through its historic lanes and learn about the city's blend of Chinese and French influences. This afternoon you have some free time to explore Shanghai at your own pace. Maybe visit the Shanghai Museum, explore the Yuyun Garden and Old Bazar or head up to the Shanghai Tower observation deck. Tonight, maybe meet up with your group and celebrate the end of the trip with a farewell dinner.
Day 10: Shanghai
With no activities planned today, you’re free to leave at any time. If you’d like to extend your stay in Shanghai, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.
Departure dates

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Travellers

Operator
Intrepid Travel

Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.

Important Information
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*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice. For more information, please see Terms of Use
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9 nights
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