South China: from Hong Kong to Shanghai
- Length10 days
- Groupup to 8 people
- Formatgroup tour
- DifficultyModerate
A big trip across China: a route that mixes cities of the future, wild nature, ancient culture and the best of southern cuisine. Cities that feel like the year 3025, landscapes that take your breath away, the longest cable car in the world and glass bridges straight over the abyss.
Four cities with completely different characters: Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai. The trip leader is a photographer, so you come home with hundreds of professional shots. No dull coach excursions — only what stays with you.
Activity level
A lot of walking in cities and parks. The Avatar mountains have good infrastructure and no big altitude changes. No special skills needed, but decent fitness helps.
Accommodation
4-star hotels
Day by day
Tap a day to see the details and highlight the spot on the map.
Hong Kong grabs you from the first minutes — a city where past and future exist side by side and neither is giving way. We start at the fish market: the smell of the ocean, mountains of dried seafood and crabs that are still very much alive. This is where locals pick their dinner every day, and that is a show in itself.
Then into the heart of the city. The towers stand so close and rise so high that your neck gives up before your eyes do. Among all that concrete futurism we find the old French Mission building and step into a former prison turned into one of the most interesting art spaces in town.
Lunch is the start of our food journey. Hong Kong cuisine is the perfect opening: no flamethrower spice, but an incredible range of flavours.
After that, the longest outdoor escalator on the planet, the Mid-Levels Escalator. Then a tropical botanical garden with waterfalls, orchids and birds. And to finish the day, Victoria Peak.
In the evening we go on a street food quest: dim sum, egg waffles with crunchy bubbles, squid on a stick, fish balls in broth. And grilled pigeon, for those ready to leave the comfort zone.
Night at the hotel, Hong Kong.
What's included
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure
- All travel along the route by high-speed trains and minibuses
- Domestic flight Zhangjiajie (DYG) — Shanghai (PVG)
- A trip leader with you for the whole route
- Hotel accommodation: 10 days, 9 nights
- Breakfasts (9)
- Eco fees and temple entrances
Not included
- Flights to Hong Kong and back from Shanghai
- Lunches, dinners and alcohol
- Going up Canton Tower and the ride at 450 metres
- The national show in Wulingyuan
- Extra activities outside the programme
- Insurance and visa
Insurance for active trips
We work with ERGO and are insured with them ourselves: their travel policy covers active holidays, hiking in the mountains and trips to exotic countries. It takes a few minutes to arrange online.
Dates & prices
- 25 October – 3 November 2026Almost full18-50 years€2440
FAQ
Do I need a visa for China?
Visa-free entry or transit is available for many nationalities, but the rules depend on your passport and flight route, and Hong Kong counts separately from mainland China. Write to us before booking and we will check your case.
What is the weather like in October and November?
Hong Kong and Guangzhou are usually warm and humid, around 25-28 °C during the day. Zhangjiajie is noticeably cooler: 10-18 °C by day and 5-10 °C on the peaks, with mist and wind. Shanghai in early November is 15-20 °C by day with cool evenings. Bring layers: a t-shirt, a fleece and a light waterproof jacket.
What should I pack?
Comfortable shoes for long walks and stairs, a rain jacket, a warm layer for the mountains, a power bank and an adapter: mainland China uses type A and I sockets, Hong Kong uses British type G. Passport and insurance are a must.
Is there an alternative to Chinese food?
Yes. Hong Kong and Shanghai have plenty of Japanese, Korean, Italian and European places; in Guangzhou and Zhangjiajie the choice is smaller but it is there. Lunches and dinners are not included, so you always decide where and what to eat. If you are vegetarian or have allergies, tell us in advance — we will suggest places and help you explain.
How spicy is the food?
Hong Kong and Cantonese food is barely spicy at all. Hunan cuisine, which waits for us in Zhangjiajie, is one of the spiciest in the country. You can ask for a dish without chilli anywhere, and the trip leader will help with the wording.
What insurance do I need?
Medical insurance for the whole trip with cover for China and Hong Kong. It is not included in the price. Artem will tell you which policy to take and what to look for in the terms: write to us and we will go through the options before you buy.
Find a policyPartner link
Can I come on my own?
Yes, and most travellers do. In a group of up to eight people you get to know each other quickly. By default we place you in a twin room with a traveller of the same gender; if you prefer a room to yourself, the single supplement is calculated separately — write to us and we will quote it.
What about the internet and mobile service?
In mainland China Google, WhatsApp, Instagram and Telegram are blocked — install a VPN in advance, you will not be able to download one on the spot. Hong Kong has no such restrictions. The easiest option is an eSIM with data for the whole route, and we can help you pick one.
How do I pay on the ground?
Almost everything is paid through Alipay and WeChat Pay on your phone, and you can link a foreign card to them — best done before you fly. Visa and Mastercard are not accepted everywhere, and cash yuan comes in handy in small places. In Hong Kong cards are easier.
How demanding is the programme physically?
No special training is needed, but we walk a lot: cities, parks, stairs and viewpoints. We go up by cable car and lift rather than on foot. If you have any health limits, tell us in advance and we will suggest what can be skipped without losing the point.
Which flights should I take?
Arrive in Hong Kong by 25 October, depart from Shanghai on 3 November after 15:00. The flight between Zhangjiajie and Shanghai inside the route is on us.
How large is the group and what language is the trip in?
Up to eight travellers, aged 18 to 50. The trip is guided in Russian.