Southern China (Mountain) & Hong Kong
Rice terraces, karst rivers, ancient towns and the Avatar mountains — southern China's greatest landscapes, ending in Hong Kong
From
£1,895pp
About this tour
Most first journeys to China head north to the emperors. This one heads for the landscapes. Beginning in Guangzhou, southern China's great gateway, you travel by rail into the hills — first to the sweeping, sculpted Longji Rice Terraces, then on to Yangshuo, where the karst peaks of the Li River rise from the water like a classical scroll painting brought to life. From there the route turns into western Hunan, a region very few British travellers ever see: the stilted riverside houses of Fenghuang Ancient Town, the hillside lanes of Furong, and then four nights at Zhangjiajie, whose towering sandstone pillars inspired the floating mountains of the film Avatar. Cable cars, mountain lifts and fast-track access take the effort out of scenery that would otherwise demand a hiker's legs. The journey ends across the border in Hong Kong — reached, satisfyingly, by train — where two nights at the famous Salisbury on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront put Victoria Harbour on your doorstep. Throughout, excursions come with a choice: cable car or golf cart at Longji, VIP park tour or tranquil lake cruise at Zhangjiajie, a guided coastal hike or the Peak Tram in Hong Kong. You choose the effort; the scenery is guaranteed.
“Designed by Wei Zhang, our China specialist with 14 years of private guiding based in Beijing.”
Why this works for travellers over 50
- Every major excursion offers a gentler alternative — golf carts at the rice terraces, boat rides at Zhangjiajie, the Peak Tram in Hong Kong
- Four-night base at Zhangjiajie means the most spectacular scenery comes without daily packing
- The whole route is by comfortable high-speed and regional rail — no internal flights at all
- Fast-track VIP access at Zhangjiajie skips the long lift and cable car queues
- Ends in easy, English-friendly Hong Kong with the harbour on your doorstep
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Price per person — based on two travelling together.
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Your journey
Day-by-day itinerary
1Welcome to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Very lightAtour Hotel Guangzhou South Railway Station
Welcome to Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Your journey begins in Guangzhou, one of southern China's great gateway cities. Settle into the Atour Hotel Guangzhou South Railway Station and take the evening at your own pace after your arrival.
2Into the Terraces by Train
Guangzhou → Longji Rice Terraces
Travel day into the hillsBaike Boutique Hotel Longji
Into the Terraces by Train
Guangzhou → Longji Rice Terraces
This morning you travel by train to the spectacular Longji Rice Terraces area. Check in to the Baike Boutique Hotel Longji, perched among some of the most dramatic agricultural landscapes in China.
3Terraces, Cable Cars and Golf Carts
Longji Rice Terraces
Your choiceBaike Boutique Hotel Longji
Terraces, Cable Cars and Golf Carts
Longji Rice Terraces
A full day to explore the sweeping, layered rice terraces of Longji. You may choose between the Longji Dazhai Rice Terraces Day Tour with Cable Car or the Longji Rice Terraces Easy Exploration Tour by Golf Cart — both offer wonderful ways to take in these breathtaking hillside landscapes.
4Onwards to Yangshuo
Longji Rice Terraces → Yangshuo
Travel day with a free afternoonYangshuo Percent Hotel (West Street Li River)
Onwards to Yangshuo
Longji Rice Terraces → Yangshuo
Travel by train to the charming riverside town of Yangshuo, where the famous karst peaks of the Li River form one of China's most iconic backdrops. Your hotel, the Yangshuo Percent Hotel, sits in the heart of things on West Street beside the Li River.
5A Cruise on the Li River
Yangshuo
GentleYangshuo Percent Hotel (West Street Li River)
A Cruise on the Li River
Yangshuo
Today you join a four-star Li River cruise with buffet lunch, gliding past the extraordinary limestone peaks that inspired Chinese landscape painters for centuries. Afterwards, the lanes and river views of Yangshuo are yours to enjoy at leisure.
6A Leisurely Day in Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Free dayYangshuo Percent Hotel (West Street Li River)
A Leisurely Day in Yangshuo
Yangshuo
Another restful day based in Yangshuo, with the town's riverside setting and surrounding countryside to enjoy at your own pace. A bamboo raft on the Yulong River or simply a riverside coffee on West Street — the day is yours.
7Journey to Fenghuang
Yangshuo → Fenghuang Ancient Town
Travel day with a gentle evening walkFenghuang Memory Riverside Inn
Journey to Fenghuang
Yangshuo → Fenghuang Ancient Town
Travel by train to the remarkable Fenghuang Ancient Town, whose stilted riverside houses and cobbled streets have remained largely unchanged for centuries. Check in to the Fenghuang Memory Riverside Inn and take an evening stroll along the river as the lanterns come on.
8On to Furong Ancient Town
Fenghuang → Furong Ancient Town
Short travel day, unhurried exploringTuwangfu Danbi Xuan Resort
On to Furong Ancient Town
Fenghuang → Furong Ancient Town
Continue by train to Furong Ancient Town, a lesser-known gem tucked into the hills of western Hunan, famous for the waterfall that pours directly beneath its stilted houses. Your home for tonight is the Tuwangfu Danbi Xuan Resort.
9Arriving in Zhangjiajie
Furong → Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Travel dayHilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
Arriving in Zhangjiajie
Furong → Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Travel by train to Zhangjiajie and check in to the Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan, your base for the next four nights on the edge of one of China's most astonishing natural landscapes. The towering sandstone pillars of Wulingyuan await you over the coming days.
10The National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Your choiceHilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
The National Forest Park
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Today is dedicated to the extraordinary landscapes of Zhangjiajie National Forest Park. You may choose the National Forest Park 1-Day VIP Private Tour, which includes fast-track lane access to skip long elevator and cable car queues, or opt for the Baofeng Lake Entry Ticket with Boat Ride and Shuttle for a tranquil alternative.
11Tianmen Mountain
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Cable car ascent; walking as gentle or adventurous as you chooseHilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
Tianmen Mountain
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
A second day of spectacular scenery as you head to Tianmen Mountain. The choice is between the Tianmen Mountain Forest Park Private Tour or the Tianmen Mountain Admission with the stress-free easier route — both offering access to this iconic peak and its celebrated cliff-face views.
12A Final Day Among the Peaks
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Free dayHilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
A Final Day Among the Peaks
Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan
Your last full day in Zhangjiajie is yours to enjoy at a gentle pace, whether revisiting a favourite corner of the park or simply relaxing at the hotel before tomorrow's onward journey.
13South to Hong Kong
Zhangjiajie → Hong Kong
The longest travel day of the tourThe Salisbury - YMCA of Hong Kong
South to Hong Kong
Zhangjiajie → Hong Kong
Travel by train to Hong Kong, where the dramatic skyline and harbour greet you on arrival. The Salisbury — YMCA of Hong Kong places you right in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui, with the famous waterfront just moments away.
14Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Your choiceThe Salisbury - YMCA of Hong Kong
Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong
A full day to take in Hong Kong at your own pace. You may choose the Dragon's Back Trail Guided Hike for sweeping views over the island's southern coastline, or opt for The Peak Tram to ride up to Victoria Peak and enjoy one of the world's most celebrated panoramas.
15Farewell to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Departure day
Farewell to Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Your final morning in Hong Kong is yours to savour before your journey home. A wonderful adventure through southern China comes to a close.
Like what you see?
Our specialists can tailor every day to your preferences.
Fitness & mobility
Pacing & accessibility
A scenery-led route with several rail journeys and mountain excursions — but at every major sight there is a gentler option: golf carts at Longji, cable cars and lifts at Zhangjiajie, the Peak Tram in Hong Kong.
Accommodation
Your hotels
Atour Hotel Guangzhou South Railway Station
★★★Guangzhou, China · 1 night
A modern, well-kept hotel moments from Guangzhou South station — the practical, comfortable choice for the morning's rail departure into the hills.
- Steps from Guangzhou South station
- Modern rooms and reliable service
- Ideal for an early rail start
Baike Boutique Hotel Longji
★★★Longji Rice Terraces, China · 2 nights
A small boutique hotel built in local timber style among the Longji terraces, with terrace views from its balconies and a warmly personal welcome.
- Set within the rice terraces
- Balcony views over the hillsides
- Traditional timber architecture
Yangshuo Percent Hotel (West Street Li River)
★★★★Yangshuo, China · 3 nights
A contemporary four-star hotel on West Street beside the Li River, placing Yangshuo's cafés, lanes and karst views on your doorstep.
- West Street riverside location
- Karst peak views
- Comfortable modern rooms
Fenghuang Memory Riverside Inn
★★★Fenghuang Ancient Town, China · 1 night
A characterful riverside inn in the heart of Fenghuang's old town, with the stilted houses and lantern-lit river directly outside.
- Riverside old-town setting
- Views of the stilted houses
- Steps from the night market lanes
Tuwangfu Danbi Xuan Resort
★★★★Furong Ancient Town, China · 1 night
A four-star resort in traditional style near Furong's famous waterfall village, combining heritage architecture with modern comforts.
- Traditional Tujia-style architecture
- Close to the waterfall old town
- Peaceful hillside setting
Hilton Garden Inn Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan
★★★★Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan, China · 4 nights
A dependable international four-star hotel in Wulingyuan town, minutes from the National Forest Park gates — the ideal unpack-once base for the Zhangjiajie days.
- Minutes from the park entrance
- International standards and English-speaking staff
- Four-night base — unpack once
The Salisbury - YMCA of Hong Kong
★★★★Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong · 2 nights
A Hong Kong institution on the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, next door to the Peninsula, with harbour-view rooms at a fraction of its neighbours' prices.
- Waterfront Tsim Sha Tsui location
- Victoria Harbour views
- Next to the Star Ferry pier
Enhance your trip
Business-class flight upgrade
+£from £1,650 per person
Upgrade your return international flights to business class — flat beds and lounge access in both directions.
Extra nights in Hong Kong
+£from £95 per person per night
Extend your stay at the Salisbury to explore the islands, Kowloon markets or a day trip to Lantau and the Big Buddha.
Guangzhou arrival night
+£from £65 per person per night
Add an extra pre-tour night in Guangzhou to recover from the flight before the journey inland begins.
Pricing
Holiday pricing
All prices are per person, based on two people sharing. We arrange departures throughout the year to suit your preferred dates.
Starting from
£1,895
per person · 2 sharing
Travelling solo?
Single supplement: +£545 pp
Full details
What’s included & not included
Included in your price
- Return international flights from London
- 14 nights' hand-picked accommodation
- Rail journeys: Guangzhou → Longji Rice Terraces · Longji → Yangshuo · Yangshuo → Fenghuang Ancient Town · Fenghuang → Furong Ancient Town · Furong → Zhangjiajie / Wulingyuan · Zhangjiajie → Hong Kong
- Longji Dazhai Rice Terraces Day Tour with Cable Car, or Longji Rice Terraces Easy Exploration Tour by Golf Cart
- From Guilin: 4-star luxury Li River cruise with buffet lunch
- Zhangjiajie: National Forest Park 1-Day VIP Private Tour with fast-track access, or Baofeng Lake entry with boat ride and shuttle
- Zhangjiajie: Tianmen Mountain Forest Park Private Tour, or Tianmen Mountain admission with the easier stress-free route
- Hong Kong: Dragon's Back Trail guided hike, or The Peak Tram ticket
- Daily breakfast
- All private transfers between stations and hotels
- Full ATOL 10205 financial protection
Not included
- Travel insurance (required)
- China visa fees (Hong Kong is visa-free for UK passports)
- Lunches and dinners not stated
- Gratuities for guides and drivers
- Personal expenses
Your specialist
Who will plan your holiday
Wei Zhang
Wei was born in Beijing and grew up exploring the hutong lanes of the old city with his grandfather, who spent weekends taking him through the Palace Museum. He studied Chinese history at Capital Normal University, then spent six years as a guide at the Palace Museum, where daily contact with imperial art and artefacts gave him a depth of knowledge few private guides can match. He moved into private touring in 2010 and has worked with Holidays to Asia exclusively since 2015. His English is warm and precise, his patience with questions unlimited, and his ability to make thousands of years of Chinese history feel genuinely personal — rather than overwhelming — is the quality guests mention most in their reviews.
Tailor-made
Like this tour but want it adapted?
Extra nights, alternative hotels, private transfers — our specialists will build your perfect itinerary from scratch.
Before you go
Practical information
Visa requirements
Tourist visa (L visa) required for British citizens for mainland China. Apply through the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC). Fee approx £155. 4 business days standard processing. Hong Kong has separate entry rules: UK passport holders enter Hong Kong visa-free for up to six months — no advance application needed. Full guidance provided with booking confirmation.
Currency
Chinese Yuan Renminbi (RMB/CNY) on the mainland; Hong Kong Dollars (HKD) in Hong Kong. £1 ≈ 9 RMB / 10 HKD. Credit cards accepted at all hotels. Mobile payments (WeChat Pay) essential for independent spending on the mainland — Wei helps set this up. Cards are widely accepted in Hong Kong.
Tipping
Tipping is not traditional in Chinese culture but is appreciated in the tourism industry. Guides: £20–25/day is appropriate. Hotel staff: 20–30 RMB per service. Drivers: 50–100 RMB per day. In Hong Kong, a 10% service charge is usually added to restaurant bills.
Electricity
220V, 50Hz. Mainland China uses Type A and Type I sockets; Hong Kong uses British-style Type G three-pin sockets. A universal travel adaptor covers all needs.
Health & vaccinations
No compulsory vaccinations. Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Tetanus recommended. Tap water not safe to drink on the mainland — bottled water provided at all hotels. Hong Kong tap water is safe. No altitude concerns on this route.
Flights
Fly London to Guangzhou (CAN) direct or via a Gulf or East Asian hub, and return from Hong Kong (HKG), which has excellent direct London services with British Airways, Cathay Pacific and Virgin Atlantic. Open-jaw flights for this itinerary are included and arranged by us.
Local transport
Six included rail journeys link Guangzhou, Longji, Yangshuo, Fenghuang, Furong, Zhangjiajie and Hong Kong — no internal flights. The Li River cruise runs from Guilin to Yangshuo. All station and hotel transfers are private and included.
Travel with like-minded people
Join a Small Group Departure
Prefer to travel with a small group of fellow over-50s rather than as a couple or solo? Our fixed-departure group tours put you alongside eight to twelve like-minded travellers with a dedicated tour manager for the entire journey.
- Maximum 12 travellers — intimate by design
- Dedicated tour manager throughout
- Social dinners and shared discoveries
- Single supplement waived on selected departures
- Like-minded over-50s travellers
- No single friends needed — just arrive and enjoy
Register Your Interest
Tell us your preferred dates and travel companions — we’ll match you with the right departure and send full details.
Our team will respond within 1 working day.
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Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China and Hong Kong?
British citizens require a visa for mainland China — the standard tourist visa (L visa) is obtained from the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre before travel, costs approximately £155 and is valid for 10 years with 30-day stays. Hong Kong is different: UK passport holders enter visa-free for up to six months, and the border formality at West Kowloon station is quick and straightforward. We provide full visa guidance with your booking confirmation.
How much walking is involved?
It varies with the options you choose. At Longji, the golf cart tour keeps walking under 2km, while the cable car and ridge walk is closer to 4–5km. Zhangjiajie is served by lifts, cable cars and shuttles, with the VIP tour skipping the queues, and Baofeng Lake as a largely seated alternative. Hong Kong offers a genuine 8km hike or the near-effortless Peak Tram. Typical days are 2–4km at an easy pace.
When is the best time to see the rice terraces?
The Longji terraces change character through the year: flooded and mirror-like in May and June when planted, brilliantly green through summer, and golden at harvest in late September and October. Spring and autumn also bring the most comfortable temperatures and clearest air across the whole route, which is why our departures favour April–May and September–October.
What are the trains like?
This tour uses China's high-speed and modern regional network for all six intercity legs — no internal flights at all. Seats are spacious and comfortable, luggage assistance is arranged at every station, and the final leg runs directly to Hong Kong West Kowloon. The longest single day is the journey from Zhangjiajie to Hong Kong.
I am travelling solo — is this tour suitable?
Yes. As a private escorted tour you travel entirely at your own pace with your own guide and drivers. A single supplement of £545 applies, covering sole occupancy of all rooms throughout.
What is the weather like at Zhangjiajie?
Zhangjiajie sits among forested mountains and has a mild, often misty climate — the swirling mist is part of the spectacle, wrapping the sandstone pillars exactly as in the famous photographs. Spring and autumn are ideal, with temperatures of 15–25°C. Bring a light waterproof at any time of year; summer is hot and humid, and winter can bring occasional snow, which is beautiful but cold.
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