China Real Food Adventure

Duration

10 days

Tour Type

Small Group

Accommodations

Moderate

Physical Rating

Light

Guide Language

English

Experience Overview

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.

Highlights

Explore some of China’s most iconic sites – from the Great Wall and Forbidden City to Tiananmen Square and the Terracotta Warriors – while tasting your way through its diverse cuisine.
Feast on flavours from different regions – Peking duck in Beijing, Muslim-influenced dishes in Xi'an, fiery hotpot in Sichuan and Cantonese dim sum in Hong Kong.
Snack your way through Xi’an’s Muslim Quarter, meeting local vendors and passing historic mosques. Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) or hammered candy, anyone?
Get your hands floury at a noodle-making class with a local couple in their home and gain a unique insight into one of China's most beloved culinary arts.
Visit a panda breeding centre in Sichuan, then whip up regional classics like kung pao chicken, mapo tofu and steamed dumplings at the Sichuan Cuisine Museum.

Trip Details

Duration

10 days

Transportation

Private Vehicle,Public Bus,High Speed Train,Subway

Tour Type

Small Group

Guide Language

English

Starts

Beijing, China

Finishes

Hong Kong, China

Accommodations

Moderate

Travel Style

Physical Rating

Light

Itinerary

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.

Included Activities:

Beijing - Welcome Meeting
Beijing - Peking Duck Dinner

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Beijing - Fayuan Temple
Beijing - Niujie Street snack sampling
Beijing - Tiananmen Square
Beijing - Forbidden City

Optional Activities:

Beijing - Beijing style hot pot dinner - CNY200 (300 CNY)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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!

Included Activities:

Beijing - Great Wall Visit - Mutianyu Section

Optional Activities:

Beijing - Lama Temple (entrance fee) (25 CNY)
Beijing - Temple of Heaven (entrance fee) (40 CNY)
Beijing - Acrobat show (ticket) (290 CNY)
Beijing - Hutong family visit (150 CNY)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Xi'an - Noodle making class

Optional Activities:

Xi'an - Bell & Drum Towers (entrance fee) (50 CNY)
Xi'an - Great Mosque (entrance fee) (25 CNY)
Xi'an - City Wall bike hire (45 CNY)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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!

Included Activities:

Xi'an - local farmer visit including plant based lunch
Xi'an - Terracotta Warriors Tour - leader led
Xi'an - Muslim Quarter Walking Tour and Food Crawl
Xi'An - Calligraphy class

Optional Activities:

Xi'an - Tang Dynasty Show (290 CNY)
Xi'an - Little Wild Goose Pagoda (50 CNY)
Xi'an - Big Goose Pagoda (entrance fee) (80 CNY)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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).

Included Activities:

Chengdu - Sichuan style hot pot dinner
Chengdu - Orientation walk, leader led

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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!

Included Activities:

Chengdu - Panda breeding center
Chengdu - Sichuan Cuisine Museum Visit including cooking experience

Optional Activities:

Chengdu - Wenshu Monastery (entrance fee) (5 CNY)
Chengdu - Sichuan Opera (ticket) (260 CNY)

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Hong Kong - leader led orientation walk
Hong Kong - Victoria Harbour and A Symphony of Lights show

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Included Activities:

Hong Kong - walking tour at Manmo Temple, Taikwun
Hong Kong - Graham Street Market
Hong Kong - Cantonese morning tea/dim sum experience

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

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.

Optional Activities:

Hong Kong - Victoria Peak & Tram (90 HKD)
Hong Kong - Star Ferry (15 HKD)
Hong Kong - Nightly Light Show - Free

Accommodation:

Hotel (Number of Nights: 1)

Exclusions

Flights to and from origin and destinations
Airport transfers (arrival and departure)
Anything else not explicitly listed in tour inclusions
Recommended gratuities/tipping
Optional activities/tours
Personal expenses
Travel insurance
Visas, meals and beverages not stated in the list of inclusions.

Important Information

Meals

When meals are not included, your tour leader (where available) will be happy to help with restaurant recommendations, bookings, and directions. Please let us know if you have any dietary needs or preferences. We willdo our best to accommodate these, though we cannot guarantee that every request can be met.

Luggage

You are responsible for your personal belongings throughout the tour. You will need to carry your own bags between the vehicle and your hotel room. Drivers will assist with loading and unloading luggage from the vehicle.

Mobility

Travellers requiring wheelchair access should contact our sales and service team, who can make enquiries on your behalf.

Fitness Level

This tour requires an Average level of fitness. Activities are paced gently and include leisure time. You may be expected to join guided walks of up to one hour, navigate short stairways and mild inclines, and manage your own luggage. You should also be able to board and exit all transport without assistance.

Travellers are expected to be self-sufficient and capable of handling all aspects of their journey. Please discuss your circumstances and support needs with your booking agent to confirm this trip is suitable.

If you are unsure, we recommend consulting your doctor before booking or travelling. (Note: I assume each tour has a different description depending on level of fitness required).

Sightseeing

If a planned site visit is unavailable due to changes in operating hours or holiday closures, the itinerary may be altered, or a comparable activity will be substituted where possible and subject to availability.

Visas

Visa conditions can change. Once you receive your travel documents, check with the relevant embassy, consulate, or immigration office of your destination for the latest information.

It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct and valid travel documents and to comply with all entry requirements.
Non-Australian citizens must also confirm visa and identification requirements with the appropriate consulate or visa agency.
Certain occupations (for example, journalists, government officials, or those working in charities) may face additional restrictions when applying for visas, which could affect the type of application required.

Departure Dates & Surcharges: See checkout for live dates and availability.

AUD $3,895

(Tour only)

Per Person Twin Share

Duration: 10 days

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Light

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.

Check Availability Brochure

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 11 Apr 2026

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel is a global adventure travel company, dedicated to providing sustainable, experience-rich travel opportunities. They’ve been the leader in ethical, small-group travel since 1989 - taking people around the world for more than 30 years. They’re the world’s largest travel B Corporation - dedicated to being the best travel company for the world. In 2002, they established The Intrepid Foundation so their travellers could make a lasting impact on the communities they had visited. Although Intrepid Travel absorbs all administrative costs of The Intrepid Foundation, they are separate legal entities, allowing The Intrepid Foundation to grow independently. Intrepid Travel is made up of a collection of tour operator brands and 28 destination management companies all united by one vision: To change the way we all see the world.

In Business Since 1989

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