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Peregrine Travel Centre

China Real Food Adventure

China Real Food Adventure

From $ 4,060 AUD

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Description

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.

Trip Name
China Real Food Adventure
Last Updated
1970-01-01
Days
10
Capacity
12
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.

Itinerary

ITINERARY CHANGES Our itineraries are updated regularly throughout the year based on customer feedback and to reflect the current situation in each destination. The information included in this Essential Trip Information may therefore differ from when you first booked your trip. It's important that you review this information prior to travel so that you have the latest updates. Due to weather, local conditions, transport schedules, public holidays, political unrest or other factors, further changes may be necessary to your itinerary once in-country. Your group leader or local representative will keep you up to date with any such changes once your trip is underway and has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if deemed necessary due to safety concerns. , OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES A selection of optional activities that have been popular with past travellers are listed in the day-to-day itinerary. This isn't an exhaustive list and should be used as a guide only for some of what might be available. Prices are approximate, are for entrance fees only, and don’t include transport to and from the sites or local guides unless indicated. All activities are subject to availability, and maybe on a join-in basis. It may not be possible to do all the activities listed in the time available at each destination, so some pre-planning for what you are most interested in is advised. When it's recommended that travellers pre-book these activities, look for a note in the Special Information section of the day-to-day itinerary. For most, they can either be organised independently on the day, or let your group leader or local representative know you are interested at the Welcome Meeting and they can assist. Where activities are considered medium or high risk, we work with operators whose safety and credentials we have sighted and assessed. Although it is possible that you may find the same activity cheaper with another operator on the ground, we cannot vouch for the safety or quality of that operator. Medium and high-risk activities not listed above have not been assessed by us and as such our staff and group leader or local representative are unable to assist you with organising these activities. Activities that contravene our Responsible Travel policies are also not listed. Please remember that the decision to partake in any activity not listed is at your own discretion and risk., PASSPORTS USED FOR ENTRY TO TOURISM SITES AND TRAIN STATIONS International visitors will have their passport scanned upon entry to tourism sites and at train stations in China. The passport acts as an entrance ticket and it takes 1-2mins for scanning and entry. This means that it can take 20-30mins for our groups to enter some locations, depending on group size and processing capacity in each location. Chinese nationals have their ID cards scanned at these locations and these are processed instantly.

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.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type
11-04-202620-04-2026AUD $ 4,660-
09-05-202618-05-2026AUD $ 4,460-
23-05-202601-06-2026AUD $ 4,490-
06-06-202615-06-2026AUD $ 4,090-
05-09-202614-09-2026AUD $ 4,060-
19-09-202628-09-2026AUD $ 4,390-
10-10-202619-10-2026AUD $ 4,260-
24-10-202602-11-2026AUD $ 4,260-
10-04-202719-04-2027AUD $ 4,090-
08-05-202717-05-2027AUD $ 4,090-
22-05-202731-05-2027AUD $ 4,405-
05-06-202714-06-2027AUD $ 4,090-
14-08-202723-08-2027AUD $ 4,090-
04-09-202713-09-2027AUD $ 4,090-
18-09-202727-09-2027AUD $ 4,405-
09-10-202718-10-2027AUD $ 4,405-
23-10-202701-11-2027AUD $ 4,405-

Accommodation

Hotel (9 nights)

Transport

Private Vehicle, Public Bus, High Speed Train, Subway

Map

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