AUGUST 2025 · 8 DAYS

Hiking Southern China's Natural Wonders

Embark on an unforgettable journey through China's most breathtaking natural landscapes. This budget friendly trip takes you into Guangxi, where you'll hike limestone karsts in Yangshuo and cruise the Li River. Next, explore one of China's most untapped provinces: Guizhou. There, we will trek along the terraced rice fields surrounding Miao and Dong villages. Then, we will travel to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan. Bike around Dianchi Lake or marvel at the Stone Forest, then head to Lijiang for the Jade Dragon Snow Mountains and the epic 2-day Tiger Leaping Gorge trek. This trip blends the great outdoors and off-the-beaten path cultural experiences -- perfect for backpackers already exploring Southeast Asia who want an introduction to China's wild beauty outside of metropolitan cities.

Who This Experience Is For

Embrace Rustic Living

You don't mind waking up early, staying at local homestays with basic amenities and are curious about Chinese villages

OTBP Adventurer

You crave an off-the-beaten-path type of China adventure with raw authenticity and genuine interactions with locals.

Avid Hiker

You are experienced when it comes to long hikes, carrying your own pack, and cheering on fellow hikers

Note: Itinerary may change, changes will be communicated to travelers in advance when possible.

This itinerary qualifies for 10 day visa free if you have an onward ticket to a 3rd country.

Itinerary

Get oriented on your first day in China. Get to know your fellow travelers!

Get SIM cards and shop for any last minute hiking/outdoor items at Decathalon.

For dinner, enjoy local specialties, like rice noodles or lemon duck.

Take the high speed train to Yangshuo in the evening (3 hours).
Hike lush limestone karst mountains along the Li River, made famous by the 20 yuan bill.

Embark on one or both of the beginner friendly hikes, one with stairs and one with a rocky trail (option to do a sunrise hike if the group is willing to do so).

Take a relaxing bamboo boat ride along the Li River. See if you can spot fishermen using trained cormorant birds to catch fish.

Enjoy Guangxi style dinner (like bamboo stewed chicken and sticky rice). Free time after dinner.
Take a train from Yangshuo to Congjiang (1 hour, 30 minutes). Take a one hour bus ride to the villages.

Walk the streets of a real 700-year old Dong village renowned for it's untouched traditions, stilted wooden houses, and majestic drum tower.

Hike China's most stunning green rice terraces in and nearby the village.

Stay overnight in a peaceful Dong village homestay. Enjoy a Dong style dinner in the village. Free time after dinner.

The next day, visit another real, 700-year old Dong village, renowned for the UNESCO World Heritage traditional polyphonic choir, multi-part singing without musical accompaniment.

Hike China's most stunning green rice terraces in and nearby the village.

In the evening, take a train from Congjiang to Kunming (4 hours, 30 mins).
Option 1: Visit the Stone Forest, labyrinth of limestone pillars reaching up to 30 meters tall and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Requires a 30 minute train ride from Kunming city.

Option 2: Bike around Dianchi Lake, Yunnan's largest freshwater lake (30 km paved loop).

Enjoy a Dai or Bai style group dinner in Kunming. Free time after dinner.
Take a train from Kunming to Lijiang (4 hours).

Day 6

Option 1: Check into homestay and explore Lijiang Ancient Town, a popular trading and commercial hub along the ancient Old Tea Horse Caravan Trail. Visit the Black Dragon Pond Park.

Option 2: Spend half day at Jade Dragon Snow Mountains*. Visit the enchanting Blue Moon Valley and gaze at the towering Jade Dragon Snow Mountains reflecting on the lake.

In the evening, enjoy a Naxi style group dinner in Lijiang. Free time after dinner.

Day 7 - 8

Option 1: Embark on 2 day Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike. Stay overnight at homestay on the trail. Return to Lijiang on day 2 to retrieve any luggage left in the homestay.

Option 2: Spend a second day at Jade Dragon Snow Mountains* and then free day on Day 8.

Note: If you want to take a cable car at the mountains, notify us in advance and we can make a booking for you but this will come with an additional cost at your expense.

Highlights

Ride a Bamboo Boat on Li River

Drift on a bamboo boat with dramatic karst mountains towering over you

Visit Ethnic Dong & Miao Villages

Walk through real ethnic minority villages, learn about the Dong polyphonic choir

Hike the Tiger Leaping Gorge

2 day, 1 night hike through China's most breathtaking hiking trails

What Is Included

Grace & Yongjian will accompany you on entire experience (except to/from airport and during free time). We LOVE sharing the beauties of China with our friends and encourage you to ask any questions!

Whenever necessary, we will have local guides and drivers accompanying us as well.
For all our experiences, we strive to pick accommodations that are clean and authentic.

Whenever possible, we choose to support small, local guesthouses run by people from the community.

Costs differ between single and double occupancy, please review the costs below
Every night, you will try different traditional dishes of the region we are in. Family style means you will share food with your fellow travelers. Both of us are HUGE foodies and we can vouch for the quality of the food we pick!

If you have any dietary restrictions (vegetarian, pescatarian, vegan, halal, gluten-free, etc.) or food allergies, please inform us in advance of the trip so we can make this trip enjoyable and safe for you.
In this virtual pre-departure orientation, we will cover essential apps (payment, maps, VPNs, eSIMs) and practical on the ground tips that will help you navigate China like a local.
It's also an opportunity to get to know your fellow travelers and ask us any questions!
For any sites mentioned in the itinerary that require an entrance ticket, the cost of the ticket for each traveler will be covered.

Tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
All overland transportation, including high speed trains, buses, and rideshares, on days 1 - 8

Metro rides within cities are not covered.

Transportation during free time is not covered.

Any transportation to Nanning (flight or train) before the trip begins is not covered and any transportation after Day 8 is not covered.
To remember your trip, you will receive a From Roots to Bridges themed goodie bag! Inform us of your t-shirt size prior to the trip.

What Is Not Included

- Travel Insurance (REQUIRED for every traveler)

- Chinese Tourist Visa (if required)

- Meals Not Included in the Itinerary

- Breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic drinks

- Personal Expenses (souvenirs, gifts, etc.)

- Room service, laundry, incidentals

- Activities not a part of the itinerary

- Hospital bills and related medical expenses
- Damaged or lost personal possessions

Costs

Single Occupancy

$1500 USD (includes VAT)

You will have a room and bathroom to yourself

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Double Occupancy

$1000 USD (includes VAT)

You will share a room with a person of the same gender or your requested roommate

What Our Travelers Say

Jurrien & Sandra

Together with Grace and Yongjian, we travelled for almost 2 weeks through the province of Yunnan. Having never been to China, we felt a bit overwhelmed with the required preparations for this huge country. Even before we crossed the border from Vietnam to China, they prepared us in every possible way. From how to use Alipay and WeChat, to buying SIM Cards and setting up a VPN. Their knowledge about the area was astounding. Especially on the topics on (local) cuisine and culture, they introduced us to so much we didn't know. The itinerary chosen, suited well with our interests and the execution went very well.

Sebastien

China wasn’t on my travel list until Yongjian and Grace's captivating passion and deep knowledge opened my eyes to its wonders. Their guidance was essential in securing a SIM card, managing payments, booking trains and ordering food. This allowed me to fully embrace Yunnan’s rich diversity, from vibrant markets and museums to stunning landscapes and historical sites. The region’s varied ethnic groups and incredible cuisine enriched every moment. This trip not only left me with precious memories and a new perspective on travel and China but also the gift of friendship with two remarkable people I now call friends.

Angela & Yang

During our trip to China, especially in Fuzhou, Grace and Yongjian made our experience truly unforgettable. Although we have visited China several times before and speak the language (more or less), it can still be challenging to navigate the country, as everything changes so quickly. What made the journey even more special were the fascinating stories they shared about their own trips and the history and culture of the region. Touring with Grace and Yongjian was an absolute pleasure, and I would highly recommend their services to anyone, who want an effortless and memorable trip!

Matt

I've lived in mainland China for over seven years and I was thrilled to join Yongjian and Grace for my first visit to Fujian Province. Together the three of us made stops at the historic district of the Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, Xichan Temple, and the Overseas Chinese Museum. It was a pleasure touring Fuzhou with Yongjian and Grace, who were kind enough to introduce local delicacies and locate vegetarian restaurants to accommodate my dietary restrictions. I would wholeheartedly recommend booking a tour with Yongjian and Grace--you will not be disappointed!

Ted

I had a wonderful time traveling with Yongjian and Grace. They created a comprehensive itinerary with unique, hard-to-find experiences while remaining flexible and open throughout the trip. Their approach to travel planning reflects their commitment to cultural authenticity and meaningful engagement

with the communities they visit.

I would definitely go on another trip with them!

Frequently Asked Questions

This group experience is designed for adults, 21 years and older.

If you have minors who would like to join an experience like this, we can arrange a private experience specifically for your family.

Please note that each minor requires at least one adult 21+ years old to accompany them.

Refer to our Private Experiences to learn more.
Enter in our Interest Form where you are interested in going and if there is enough interest in visiting that destination, we will consider adding it to the itinerary if possible.

The cost of the experience may change.

Alternatively, we can host a Private Experience for you and anyone you want to bring along.
Yes, we generally advise our travelers coming to China to get a Chinese tourist visa in your country of residency. If you have confirmed that your trip to China can be done under the 10 or 30 day visa free policy, then you do not need to apply for a Chinese tourist visa.

Visa-Free Entry Policies

10-Day Visa-Free Transit: Travelers from many countries (e.g., US, UK, Canada) can stay up to 10 days in certain Chinese cities (like Beijing or Shanghai) if transiting to a third country (proof of onward ticket required).

30-Day Visa-Free Access: Citizens of 38 countries (e.g. France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Republic of Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan and Negara Brunei Darussalam) can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days under mutual agreements.

Note: Policies may change—always verify with this official webpage before travel.

From Roots to Bridges will not accept responsibility if you are refused entry to China because you lack the correct visa documentation.
You can book your departure flight from your home country to Nanning (will likely require a layover in another city).

You can also book your departure flight from your home country to Hong Kong. From there, you can take a 4 hour high speed train to Nanning.

You can also book your departure flight from your home country to Guangzhou, China. From there, you can take a 3 hour high speed train to Nanning.

You can also book your departure flight from your home country to Hanoi, Vietnam and take a train to Nanning, China. If you choose this route, you will need a Vietnam transit visa. Please reach out to us via email at hello@graceandyj.com if you would like us to consult you on how to plan this route.

This experience ends in Lijiang. From there, you can take a high speed train to Kunming, Nanning, Guangzhou, or Hong Kong.
Prior to entering China, you should download WeChat (communication and payments) and AliPay (payments and more).
If you need to use Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp, or Google Apps during the trip, download a VPN.
Refer to our China Apps guide to see which other apps are required and recommended.
Prior to traveling to China, we recommend you to buy a 3HK E-SIM.

If you would prefer to get a physical SIM card, we will bring you to a physical store in China to get a SIM card.
Please refer to these CDC Guidelines for what vaccines to get prior to traveling to China.

For this experience*, our cancellation policy is below. To cancel your spot, you must email us at hello@graceandyj.com. If applicable, you will receive a refund to your original form of payment between 5-14 business days, excluding bank transaction fees.

More than 60 days prior to departure: Cancellation fee of 20% of total price (deposit)

Between 45 – 60 days prior to departure: Cancellation fee of 40% of the total price

Between 30 – 45 Days: Cancellation fee of 60% of the total price

Less than 30 days prior to departure: No refund

After trip departure: No refund

*Note: Different experiences may have different deposit amounts and cancellation policies. Please refer to each experience page for the most up to date information.
We understand that medical emergencies may cause you to not be able to attend this experience or cut the experience short.

Therefore, we require our travelers to buy travel insurance before the experience begins to cover unforeseen cancellations.

Our Travel Philosophy

We started traveling around China in 2023 with a desire to reconnect with our ancestral homeland. From then to now, we have traveled to half of China's provinces & regions. In the process, we realized that the beauty, history, and cultural diversity of China goes well beyond the typical path that tourists take (Beijing, Shanghai, etc). We want to show you the real China, from the cities to village in China's undiscovered provinces and regions. Whether or not you can speak Chinese, we want to help you navigate all the complexities that come with traveling around China and foster an environment that allows you to connect on a deeper level with Chinese culture, people, language, and food. Learn more from our videos!

Helpful Resources

How to Apply for a Chinese Visa
[for Americans] [free]

The first step to traveling to China is applying for a Chinese visa. We know that paperwork can be daunting and want to streamline the process for you in our step-by-step guide!

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Travel Packing List [free]

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