How much does it cost?

From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is train travel included?

Yes, the tour includes high-speed train travel between Hong Kong, Guilin, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing. Great Rail Journeys covers rail as part of the package.

Is this an escorted or independent tour?

This is an escorted tour operated by Great Rail Journeys with a group.

What hotels are used?

The tour stays in 4 and 5-star hotels, though Great Rail Journeys has not published a property-by-property itinerary in the available information.

What river cruise is included?

The tour includes a cruise along the Li River near Guilin, which passes karst mountain scenery, traditional villages, and limestone peaks.

Will we visit the pandas?

Yes, Great Rail Journeys includes a visit to meet giant pandas at a research centre in Chengdu.

Great Rail Journeys · Escorted tour

Wonders of Hong Kong & China

Hong Kong and China by high-speed rail, 13 days across five cities

Great Rail Journeys operates a 13-day escorted tour through Hong Kong and China, departing from Hong Kong and concluding at the Great Wall near Beijing. The journey connects five cities by high-speed train, river cruise, and boat, staying in 4 and 5-star hotels. Travellers depart Hong Kong by viewing the city from Victoria Peak and boarding a traditional sampan fishing boat in Aberdeen, then cross into mainland China by rail. The route passes through Guilin on a Li River cruise where limestone peaks rise above karst landscapes, continues to Chengdu to meet giant pandas at a research centre, reaches Xi'an to explore the Terracotta Warriors and the Silk Road, and concludes in Beijing with a walk along the Great Wall. The tour combines natural scenery, ancient history, and modern rail travel, spanning a mix of cultural discovery and urban exploration.

Price history

Across 3 checks, this price has fallen £400 since 12 Aug, to £4,299.

Each point is a day we checked this operator's own page, not a weekly average, and the line holds flat between checks rather than guessing at movement we did not see. 3 of 3 points are a live read of the operator's page.

What to know before you look closer

The operator publishes no day-by-day itinerary for this package; confirm the exact route and hotel locations with Great Rail Journeys before booking.

Day by day

Day 1
Overnight flight to Hong Kong
Your discovery of Hong Kong and China begins at London Heathrow, where you meet the Tour Manager and travelling group before boarding your direct flight to Hong Kong.
Day 2overnight: Hong Kong
Arrival in Hong Kong and a welcome dinner
We touch down in Hong Kong, transferring to our four-star hotel in the heart of the city and checking in for a two-night stay before we enjoy a welcome dinner.
Meals: Dinner
Day 3overnight: Hong Kong
Soaking up stunning views in Hong Kong
We board the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak for panoramic views, continue to Repulse Bay, then visit Aberdeen's floating fishing village and board a local sampan boat for a tour of the bay.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 4railovernight: Guilin
Witnessing Guilin's dramatic landscapes
We transfer to the station and board a high-speed train to Guilin, checking in to our five-star hotel on the Li River. We visit the Reed Flute Cave and Elephant Trunk Hill, then dine at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5overnight: Yangshuo
A scenic cruise along the Li River to Yangshuo
We transfer to Zhujiang Pier for a scenic cruise to Yangshuo, passing Mural Hill and Yellow Cloth Shoal, then tour Yangshuo's Old Town and check in to our five-star resort hotel before the Impression Liu Sanjie light-and-sound show.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6railovernight: Chengdu
Arriving in Chengdu, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy
We travel by coach to Guilin and board the train to Chengdu, visiting Wenshu Monastery and the historic Kuanzhai Alley before dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7overnight: Chengdu
Getting to know Chengdu's beloved giant pandas
We visit the Panda Research Centre in the morning, then Chengdu Renmin Park and the historic teak buildings of Jinli Street.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 8overnight: Xi'an
To Xi'an, an ancient Silk Road city
We transfer to the station for the journey to Xi'an, exploring the Great Mosque and the Muslim Quarter on arrival, before checking in to our hotel and enjoying a dumpling banquet.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9overnight: Xi'an
Xi'an's greatest sights
We marvel at the Terracotta Army, discovered by farmers in 1974, then continue to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, built in 652 AD. The evening is free to dine independently.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 10railovernight: Beijing
Arriving in Beijing, China's northern capital
We travel by high-speed train from Xi'an to Beijing, check in to our five-star hotel, and in the afternoon visit Tiananmen Square before dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11overnight: Beijing
Stepping into Beijing's imperial history
We visit the 15th-century Temple of Heaven, then after lunch explore the Forbidden City, the world's largest palace and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The evening is free to explore Beijing independently.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12overnight: Beijing
The Great Wall of China and a farewell dinner
We travel to Mutianyu and take a cable car up to a restored section of the Great Wall, then stop at the Olympic Park to see the Bird's Nest Stadium and Water Cube, before a farewell Peking duck dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13
Homeward bound
After breakfast, we transfer to the airport, where we board our flight to London via Hong Kong.
Meals: Breakfast

Included

Expertise of a UK Tour Manager from start to finish
11 nights' 4 & 5-Star hotel accommodation
First Class rail travel
All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
Flights from London Heathrow to Hong Kong, Beijing to London Heathrow via Hong Kong
Breakfast each day, 5 lunches, 6 dinners
Group luggage transfers between all hotels
All guided tours and excursions

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £4,299 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $5,807 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is train travel included?: Yes, the tour includes high-speed train travel between Hong Kong, Guilin, Chengdu, Xi'an, and Beijing. Great Rail Journeys covers rail as part of the package.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?: This is an escorted tour operated by Great Rail Journeys with a group.
What hotels are used?: The tour stays in 4 and 5-star hotels, though Great Rail Journeys has not published a property-by-property itinerary in the available information.
How long is the tour?: 13 days and 12 nights.
What river cruise is included?: The tour includes a cruise along the Li River near Guilin, which passes karst mountain scenery, traditional villages, and limestone peaks.
Will we visit the pandas?: Yes, Great Rail Journeys includes a visit to meet giant pandas at a research centre in Chengdu.