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China Real Food Adventure
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China Real Food Adventure
China Real Food Adventure
Land Tour
Uncover the vibrant flavours of China on this 10-day Real Food Adventure – with a side of iconic sites and cultural experiences for good measure. Start in Beijing, where you’ll feast like a Ming dynasty emperor at a Peking duck banquet, eat street food like a local and explore a stretch of the iconic Great Wall. Take a high-speed bullet train to Xi’an to meet farmers, make hand-pulled noodles and sample Hui specialties in the centuries-old Muslim Quarter. Then, head to Chengdu for spicy Sichuan hot pot and a visit to the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base. Finish in Hong Kong with dim sum, wet markets and the dazzling Symphony of Lights show at Victoria Harbour.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A single supplement is available if you'd prefer not to share a room on this trip. [The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability.] Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 45 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train tickets.. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new 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.
5. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China. Please refer to Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
2. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 45 days before departure in order for us to purchase your train tickets.. Fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases, you will be required to cover the cost of issuing new 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.
5. Please note that there are some prohibited items for trains and flights in China. Please refer to Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
From price
$4,090
Price per person, twin share
| Tour Provider | Intrepid Travel |
| Number Of Days | 10 |
| Start Location | Beijing, China |
| End Location | Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region Of China |
| Age Range | Avg. 30+ |
| Group Size | 1 to 12 |
| Tour Style | Standard |
| Tour Themes | Food |
| Physical Rating | Easy to Moderate |
Departure dates
Price per person, twin share
| Start | End | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Sep 2026 | 28 Sep 2026 | 1 | $4,590 |
| 10 Oct 2026 | 19 Oct 2026 | 5 | $4,390 |
| 24 Oct 2026 | 02 Nov 2026 | 8 | $4,430 |
| 10 Apr 2027 | 19 Apr 2027 | 10 | $4,090 |
| 17 Apr 2027 | 26 Apr 2027 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 08 May 2027 | 17 May 2027 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 22 May 2027 | 31 May 2027 | 12 | $4,490 |
| 05 Jun 2027 | 14 Jun 2027 | 11 | $4,090 |
| 14 Aug 2027 | 23 Aug 2027 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 04 Sep 2027 | 13 Sep 2027 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 18 Sep 2027 | 27 Sep 2027 | 12 | $4,405 |
| 09 Oct 2027 | 18 Oct 2027 | 10 | $4,405 |
| 23 Oct 2027 | 01 Nov 2027 | 12 | $4,405 |
| 08 Apr 2028 | 17 Apr 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 15 Apr 2028 | 24 Apr 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 06 May 2028 | 15 May 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 20 May 2028 | 29 May 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 03 Jun 2028 | 12 Jun 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 12 Aug 2028 | 21 Aug 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 02 Sep 2028 | 11 Sep 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 16 Sep 2028 | 25 Sep 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 07 Oct 2028 | 16 Oct 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
| 21 Oct 2028 | 30 Oct 2028 | 12 | $4,090 |
Inclusions
Itinerary details
Day 1: Beijing
Nimen hao! Welcome to China. Your Real Food Adventure begins in Beijing – the country’s intriguing modern capital with an ancient past. Be ready for your welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and group. After, head out for your first dinner to enjoy one of the country's most renowned dishes – Peking duck. Glossy, smoky and succulent, you haven’t really had Peking duck until you’ve eaten it in a traditional kaoyadian (roast duck restaurant) in Beijing! The dish became popular at imperial banquets during the Ming dynasty and has remained one of the country’s favourite meals.
Day 2: Beijing
Start the day at Tiananmen Square – the symbolic centre of China and a place of pilgrimage for many Chinese tourists. Then visit the Forbidden City – built over 600 years ago and off-limits to commoners for most of that time. Explore the gardens, halls, courtyards and art, and get a sense of the grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court at the height of the Ming and Qing dynasties. After lunch, follow your senses down Niujie Street – a favourite street food haunt in the heart of Beijing’s Muslim community – to sample halal snacks like niurou bing (meat pie) and sticky rice cakes. You’ll also visit a traditional hutong in the area. In the afternoon, find a moment of calm at Fayuan Temple – one of the city’s oldest Buddhist temples. You may want to finish the day with a classic Beijing hot pot (optional) – thin slices of meat simmered in bubbling broth in a copper pot.
Day 3: Great Wall - Beijing
This morning, drive out to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall – one of the best-preserved stretches of this world-famous wonder. Spend some time exploring the watchtowers, taking in the mountain views and learning about the history of this remarkable piece of engineering. The main walls stretch about 6000 km west from the mountain ridges north of Beijing and were originally built to protect Chinese empires from northern invaders. Then, head back to Beijing to relax or explore at your own pace. Maybe check out a local hutong market and watch vendors steaming fresh tofu and dumplings, or settle into a teahouse for a traditional Chinese tea ceremony. If you need suggestions, just ask your leader!
Day 4: Xi'an
Hop on a high-speed bullet train to Xi’an this morning, arriving in the early afternoon. Then it's time to roll up your sleeves for a noodle-making class. Run by a local couple in their apartment, the class offers insight into both one of China’s most revered culinary arts and modern Chinese life. You'll learn how to prep the dough, cut the noodles, and then sit down to a home-cooked feast of steaming bowls of soup (featuring your noodles) and stir-fried meat and veggie dishes. You’ll be amazed by what your hosts can whip up in their cosy kitchen! After, perhaps take a stroll along the Xi’an City Wall – widely considered the most complete in China – or explore the Drum and Bell Tower.
Day 5: Xi'an
Travel into the countryside this morning to visit one of China’s most famous archaeological sites – the Terracotta Warriors. Discovered by farmers digging a well in 1974, the site is home to thousands of life-sized clay warriors arranged in battle formation – each sculpted with unique costumes, hairstyles and facial expressions. Visit a local farm for a plant based lunch , a staple of intrepid Food trips , then return to Xi'an. This afternoon, you’ll try your hand at traditional calligraphy in Gao Jia Da Yuan – a historic mansion built during the Ming dynasty. In the evening, join your leader for a food crawl through the Muslim Quarter, tasting dishes like barbeque skewers, biang biang noodles, soup-filled dumplings and hammered candy. You’ll soon see why Xi’an is known as China’s snack capital!
Day 6: Chengdu
Rise early to catch a bullet train to Chengdu – the capital of Sichuan province and a UNESCO City of Gastronomy. It might be one of China's biggest cities, but Chengdu has preserved plenty of its traditional flavour with old teahouses, markets and ancient culinary traditions. On arrival, join your leader for an orientation walk – including Tianfu Square and People’s Park – where locals gather to relax, sip tea and play mahjong. You might even be invited to join an outdoor dance class! For dinner tonight, dig into a communal feast of Sichuan hot pot, a fiery favourite across China. If you feel like it, you can wash it off with some Chinese baijiu (a distilled grain spirit) and local beer (optional).
Day 7: Chengdu
This morning, rise early to visit the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base to learn about the conservation efforts to protect this endangered (and adorable) species. There are around 1800 pandas left in the world, and most of them live in the mountains in Sichuan. Watch them play, munch on bamboo, climb trees and lounge around. If you’re lucky, you may even see newborns taking their first steps in the nursery. After, head to the Sichuan Cuisine Museum – an interactive museum where you'll explore the province’s spicy heritage with all senses. Browse displays of ancient cooking tools, sample tastings and then learn how to rustle up kung pao chicken, mapo tofu and panda-shaped dumplings with a professional chef. After this, you might never need to order Chinese takeout again!
Day 8: Hong Kong
Board a bullet train to Hong Kong this morning. It’s a long travel day, but the carriages are modern and comfortable. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, join your leader for a walking tour to get a feel for this energetic city. The skyline is spectacular with shiny high rises, neon-lit streets and mega malls – yet picturesque islands and beaches are just a short ride away. Wrap up the day at Victoria Harbour to catch the Symphony of Lights show that plays out across the futuristic buildings along the harbour. After, you could head for dinner with your group to try some Cantonese classics like wonton noodles, sweet and sour pork or claypot rice.
Day 9: Hong Kong
Rise and shine for a special breakfast of dim sum, a Cantonese brunch tradition that evolved in the teahouses of Guangzhou in the 19th century. Tuck into small plates of steamed and fried dishes like dumplings, buns, rice noodle rolls and egg tarts – all washed down with hot tea. Then, take a walking tour through the cultural heart of the city, visiting Man Mo Temple and Tai Kwun – a former police station turned arts and heritage centre. You’ll also stroll along Graham Street Market – one of Hong Kong’s oldest open-air wet markets and a great spot to watch local life in action. As it’s your last night together, you might like to enjoy an optional final group dinner and dig into more Cantonese fare.
Day 10: Hong Kong
With no activities planned, your China Real Food Adventure comes to an end today. If you’d like to spend a couple of extra days in Hong Kong, we can help you book additional accommodation (subject to availability). Just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
You should choose this tour if you want a unique blend of culinary exploration and iconic sightseeing. This 'Real Food Adventure' allows you to dive deep into China's vibrant flavors—from Peking duck banquets and hand-pulled noodle classes to spicy Sichuan hot pot and Cantonese dim sum—all while visiting world-famous landmarks like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors.
This tour is designed for food lovers and curious explorers who enjoy immersive cultural experiences. Those who appreciate a mix of guided activities and local interactions, such as visiting farmers or taking cooking classes in a local apartment, will enjoy this trip the most.
The pros include a comprehensive itinerary covering four major regions, high-speed bullet train travel, and hands-on culinary experiences. Some potential cons include the heavy reliance on local payment apps (WeChat and Alipay) and restricted access to certain social media sites and websites while in China.
This tour is a great option for all these groups. For solo travellers, a single supplement is available if you prefer not to share a room. The small group size of up to 12 people makes it an intimate experience for couples or families to enjoy together.
This tour is excellent for first-time visitors as it covers the most iconic highlights of China, including Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Hong Kong, providing a broad and exciting introduction to the country's culture and cuisine.
The physicality rating for this tour is 'Easy to Moderate.' While it includes several walking tours and visits to sites like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City, it is generally accessible, though those with significant mobility concerns may wish to contact their booking agent for specific details.
This tour is a balanced blend of all three, with a primary focus on culinary culture. You will experience extensive sightseeing at historic landmarks, cultural immersion through calligraphy and temple visits, and the adventure of exploring bustling wet markets and street food haunts.
The pace is moderate. While the itinerary covers several cities in 10 days and includes early starts for some activities, it also incorporates moments of calm, such as visiting Buddhist temples or relaxing in traditional teahouses.
The itinerary is well-structured to maximize your time, utilizing efficient high-speed trains to move between cities. While there are many activities, there are also opportunities to explore at your own pace, such as the free time provided after visiting the Great Wall.
Yes, the tour includes many of China's most famous landmarks, such as the Great Wall (Mutianyu section), the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Terracotta Warriors, the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, and Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.
Yes, the tour includes a local leader who accompanies the group, facilitating experiences such as the welcome meeting, orientation walks, and food crawls, which helps guests navigate the local environment comfortably.
Disclaimer:
These FAQs have been generated with the assistance of AI to provide a general overview. They are intended as a starting point only and should be reviewed based on your knowledge, current supplier information and client requirements.
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