Beijing to Hanoi

Itinerary

Days 1-3 Beijing

Wander the traditional hutongs full of local shops and restaurants.

Days 4-5 Great Wall

Walk a remote section of the wall and take in the view from the top. Stay overnight in a nearby guesthouse.

Days 6-8 Xi'an

Admire the famed 2,200-year-old Terracotta Warriors or mingle with the local Hui people.

Days 9-11 Shanghai

Shop up a storm in China's hippest stores, explore the Yuyuan Bazaar or head to the Shanghai Museum.

Days 12-15 Yangshuo

Cycle around the beautiful Guangxi countryside, taking in views of the area's spectacular limestone peaks.

Days 16-18 Longji Terraces

Explore the Longji valley's cascade of rice terraces that cling spectacularly to the sides of towering slopes.

Days 19-20 Hong Kong

Be prepared for some fast-paced action in Hong Kong. Cruise the harbour, take the cable car to Victoria Peak or check out the local nightlife.

Days 21-24 Kaili

Travel to Kaili, the capital of the south-east Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou province. Spend time among the rice paddies of rural China, exploring nearby waterfalls and markets, and stay overnight with a local family. Absorb everyday life among the Ming and Qing dynasty relics of the Forest City, Guiyang.

Day 25 Kunming

Bid China goodbye, perhaps with a traditional blind massage or a tasty feast.

Days 26-29 Sapa

Cross the border to Vietnam and discover a strikingly different countryside. Starting at the old French hill station of Sapa, trek through the extraordinary rural mountainscapes that are home to the colourful H'mong, Tay and Dzao people.

Days 30-31 Hanoi

Get back into the fast pace of city life in ambient Hanoi.