Get Booking: Trips for Your October Holiday

The National Day holiday is fast approaching and if you still haven’t made plans for getting out of the city, here are some low-fuss options you can choose for touring through China. If you miss the booking deadlines (some are today!), then grab a pack and pick from several hikes on and around the Wall.

You’ve got a week off. Use it to see some new parts of China. Here are some various trips you can sign up for:

Sep 30
Guilin and Zhangjiajie
Until Oct 6. Get ready to (photographically) snap up all the gorgeous scenes in the south of China. RMB 4,800. SnapAdventures (150 1036 4340; snapadventures.com) Book by today!

South of the Clouds Yunnan Tour: Dali, Lijiang & Shangri-La
Until Oct 7. See the most popular sites in this southwestern province. RMB 12,700 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Xinjiang: Journey from the West
Until Oct 6. Spend seven days following part of path Monk Xuanzang and the Monkey King passed through in Gansu and Xinjiang. RMB 16,800. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com) Booking ends today!

Oct 1
Ancient City Xi’an
Until Oct 3. Isn’t it time you saw those terracotta warriors? RMB 4,800 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Five-Day Guilin and Yangshuo Cycling Tour
Until Oct 5. Start stretching those leg muscles. Price and time TBD. Cycle China (6402 5653)

Highlights of Guizhou & Ethnic Culture
Until Oct 6. Trek through this remote southwest province. RMB 9,500. China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

In-Depth South Xinjiang
Until Oct 6. Explore Kashgar, Kucha and the Takalamakan Desert. RMB 11,600 (book by Sep 27). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Ningxia’s Muslims & Inner Mongolia Desert Sand Dunes
Until Oct 3. Try camel riding and goat-skin rafting. RMB 6,200 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Qinghai and Xiahe
Until Oct 6. Seek out hidden monasteries and centuries-old stupas. RMB 9,700 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Sichuan Panda Nature Reserve & Leshan Buddha
Until Oct 3. Spice up your October holiday. RMB 6,700 (book by Sep 27). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

South of the Clouds Yunnan Tour
Until Oct 8. Visit the minority villages of Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La. RMB 12,700 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

The Silk Road
Until Oct 6. Ride the ancient trail from Dunhuang to Kazakh. RMB 13,600 (book by Sep 27). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Oct 2
Four-Day Tour of Guilin, Yangshuo & Longsheng
Until Oct 5. Bike and raft past the Li River, karst mountains and terraces rice paddies. RMB 7,100 (book by Sep 26). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Ningxia’s Muslims & Inner Mongolia Desert Sand Dunes
Until Oct 4. Try camel riding and goat-skin rafting. RMB 6,200 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Sichuan Panda Nature Reserve, Leshan Buddha & Jiuzhaigou
Until Oct 6. CCC’s regular Sichuan trip plus a visit to the famous nature reserve of shimmering lakes, forests and mountains. RMB 14,500 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Six-Day Qinghai Cycling Tour
Until Oct 7. Rely on your own pedal power to explore Qinghai Lake and Ta’er monastery. Price and time TBD. Cycle China (6402 5653)

Oct 3
Three-Day Trip to Pingyao and Datong
Until Oct 5. Stay in an ancient walled city, than head to a cliffside monastery. Price and time TBD. Cycle China (6402 5653)

Oct 4
Sichuan Panda Nature Reserve, Leshan Buddha & Sanxingdui
Until Oct 6. Visit the archaeological site of an ancient Chinese city. RMB 6,500 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Oct 5
Ningxia’s Muslims & Inner Mongolia Desert Sand Dunes
Until Oct 7. Try camel riding and goat-skin rafting. RMB 6,200 (book by Sep 28). China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Oct 6
Coloured Cliffs of Zhangye
Until Oct 8. Hike through magnificently multi-coloured mountains, valleys, hills, and cliffs that ripple away towards the horizon. RMB 9,190. (Book by Sep 24). Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Would you rather stick close to home? Here are some local hikes and excursions to fill that whole week you have off:

Oct 1
5-day Great Wall Trekking: Gubeikou-Jinshanling-Huanghuacheng-Jiankou
Until Oct 5. Go for a nice, long walk on the Wall. RMB 3,500. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Gubeikou Winding Dragon Great Wall Hiking and Camping
Until Oct 2. Wake up to the sunrise on the Wall. RMB 850. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Gubeikou Winding Dragon Great Wall Hike and Chinese Family Cooking Style Meal
Don’t want to camp? Just go for the day. RMB 400. 8.30am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Two-Day Great Wall Trek
Until Oct 2. Get ready to tackle the wildest and steepest parts of the Wall. Price and time TBD. Cycle China

Oct 2
Countryside Stroll: Lily Village and the Silver Pagodas
Take a relaxing walk in the countryside on this hike, starting with a stroll around Lily Village, following a road through orchards and fields on the way to a delicious lunch at on of the Hikers' favourite countryside hot springs hotel. RMB 400. 8.30am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Jinshanling Great Wall Hike and Chinese Family-Style Meal
Look out over Miyun from your choice of more than 100 watchtowers. RMB 450. 8.30am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Oct 3
Huanghuacheng Great Wall Hiking and Camping
Oct 3-4. A perfect break if you’re the outdoorsy type. RMB 850. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Hiking to Huanghuacheng Great Wall and See the “Waterside Wall”
A day hike through the yellow foliage on a section of the Wall that overlooks a reservoir. RMB 400. 8.30am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Two-Day Great Wall Trek
Until Oct 4. Get ready to tackle the wildest and steepest parts of the Wall. Price and time TBD. Cycle China.

Zhuangdaokou Great Wall and Walled Village
A slightly tougher version of one of their nicest countryside walks. RMB 350. 8.30am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Oct 4
Hiking to Jiankou (Arrow Lock)
A challenging hike with stunning views. RMB 400. 8.30am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Zhenbiancheng Great Wall loop hike
A moderately difficult walk through peach orchards, up valleys, and along the Great Wall. RMB 330. 7.30am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Oct 5
Great Wall Spur Holiday Hike
Visit a remote stretch of the Great Wall that was completed around A.D. 1580, during the reign of Emperor Wan Li. Price includes lunch after the hike. RMB 350. 8.30am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Nine-Eye Tower Great Wall Hike and Brazier Hot Pot Dinner
Reward yourself with food at the end of the day. RMB 450. 8am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Oct 6
Gubeikou to Jinshanling
Walk along the seldom-visited Gubeikou Great Wall and end at Jinshanling after a detour through Hemp Village. RMB 450. 8am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Hiking to Zhenbiancheng Wild Great Wall
Head out to Hebei for one of the most original and ruined Wall sections around Beijing. RMB 400. 8am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Oct 7
Auspicious Village and Huanghuacheng
A countryside walk through farmland, hills, valleys and small villages hidden from the outside world.
RMB 300. 8.30am. Beijing Hikers (6432 2786; beijinghikers.com)

Hiking to the Qiangzilu Great Wall
Relax on this leisurely 10k trek. RMB 400. 8am. China Travellers (188 0133 5578; chinatravellers.com)

Royal Canal Boat Tour Summer Palace
Travel like an emperor to your summer retreat. RMB 420, RMB 280 (kids 5-11). 9am-4.30pm. China Culture Center (6432 9341; chinaculturecenter.org)

Still searching? Check out more fun things to do on our events page. Have an event? Post it here and also leave the information below in the comments.

Photos: snapadventures.com, beijing-hikers.com, chinatravellers.com