explore
china
from beijing to shangai, explore the magic of china!! from visiting a world wonder, to exploring the avatar mountains, seeing the terracotta warriors and seeing pandas. china is top of our bucket list!!
why you'll love this trip
get ready to visit one of the most incredible destinations in the world!! china has probably been sitting right at the top of your vision board for ages, and we’ve jam-packed 13 days full of the most amazing bucket-list moments this beautiful country has to offer!! we’re kicking things off by walking the iconic great wall of china (obviously!!) before exploring beijing's historic forbidden city and diving into delicious street food, heading to xi'an to see the famous terracotta warriors, and stopping by chengdu to come face to face with a real-life giant panda 🐼 yes, really, you're not dreaming!! then it's time to explore furong ancient town, where gorgeous waterfalls flow right through the village and stunning light shows light up the night, before visiting zhangjiajie to step into the world's tallest glass elevator for views of the real-life avatar mountains that will literally take your breath away!! we'll end our chinese adventure in absolute style in stunning shanghai, sharing drinks and looking back on a trip you will NEVER forget
wonder of the world 
animal conservation 
seen on tiktok 
foodie experience 
a must in shanghai everything sorted for you
your 13 day route
your 13 day adventure
welcome to beijing 🇨🇳
welcome to china!! today you'll arrive in beautiful beijing, so check in and relax!! spend the day exploring the city, trying some incredible streetfood or hitting the amazing shops!! in the evening you'll meet up with the rest of the gals for our welcome dinner & an evening getting to know each other!!
a wonder of the world - visit the great wall of china🛕
wake up!! today we're heading to tick off another wonder of the world!! we'll spend the day walking the great wall of china. our local guide will tell us about it's history as we walk the winding walls. we visit from mutianyu which is known to be one of the quieter parts of the wall so grab some pics, learn it's history and explore!! after an amazing day we head back to the hotel to freshen up before we head our for an evening of dinner, drinks & exploring the city! **our local guide will have all the tastiest food recommendations, so don't forget to ask if you have something in mind!!**
beijings forbidden city 🐉
today we're up and exploring beijing's forbidden city. the forbidden city is the largest preserved royal palace complex in the world. your local tour guide will take us on a walking tour of the temple and tell us all about the significance in chinese culture. late afternoon we'll jump on a high speed train to our next destination - xi'an!!
xi'an ancient city wall & foodie tour 🍚
today we'll wake up in beautiful xi'an so grab some breakfast and let's explore!! we'll first visit the city wall, it gives incredible views over the city. we'll go inside and learn more about local traditions in xi'an and even have the opportunitiy to put on some traditional dresswear. a rich morning of culture and history. for lunch, we've found an incredible noodle spot nearby recommended by our tour leader as one of the tastiest in xi'an, but don't eat too much as this evening we're heading out on a foodie tour to try the local streetfood!!
time to see the terracotta warriors!!🥋
today we're off to see the terracotta warriors!! thhey were built around 210-209 bce to guard the underground tomb of qi shi huang the first emperor to unite china. he created them to protect and serve him in the afterlife but they we're discovered until 1974 by local farmers!! it's somewhere you have to see with your own eyes to take in the intricacies and beautiful design. it's a must visit in xi'an! our local tour guide will show us around dive deeper into the history. in the evening we'll head of for dinner after a beautiful day of exploring xi'an.
next stop - chengdu!! 🪭
this morning we'll jump on the train to our next stop - chengdu!! we arrive early afternoon have have the day to explore. we'll visit kuanzhai alley!! known for it's traditional tea houses, local boutique shops and incredible food stalls. you can spend hours exploring the 3 different alleys. in the evening we'll head out for a 'traditional hot pot experience'!! it's a must do in chengdu!
time to see some pandas🐼
did you know pandas are the national animal of china? today we visit the chengdu research base of the giant panda breeding. it's a research facility that is home to over 100 pandas over 165 acres!! we'll arrive early morning as that's when the pandas are their most active!! their mission is to grow the population, study panda genetics and health and help reintroduce pandas back into the wild!! after a wonderful day we'll head back, freshen up and grab another dinner with gals!!
let's go and see furong ancient town 🇨🇳
okay girls... you may have seen furong ancient town all over tiktok, it was a must when we started planning our trip to china!! the flowing waterfall, the jaw dropping views and it's 10x more magical at night time. today is a travel day as we leave chengdu and head towards furong we'll grab the fast train and take a private transfer. we arrive around mid afternoon and head out to explore the town!! in the evening we'll head out for dinner at one of our fav restaurants and wait to see one of the incredible light shows of furong!!
hello zhangjiajie & the avatar mountains ⛰️
another destination we were so excited to add to our china itinerary!! today we visit the zhangjiajie also known as the avatar mountains!! this national park is jaw droppingly stunning and you have to see it to really take it the beauty! we'll spend today walking the park, taking in the views before stepping into the worlds tallest elevator!! the glasss will take you up 326m up in the air in just 1 minute and 32 seconds. the views from the top are out of this world and are the perfect lock screen photo!!
exploring zhangjiajie national park 🎋
Because one day is nowhere near enough to do this place justice, we'll be back again today to see some more. If the Glass Bridge or Tianmen Mountain are on your radar, you can take time to go and visit them today, but we'll just spend the day getting happily lost in this magical National Park. It's our last day in nature before we swap it for the hustle and bustle of the city, so take it all in and enjoy!
travel to shanghai 🏮
after a few days in nature and taking in the jaw dropping views of furong and zhangjiajie it's time to head for city life!! today is a travel day and the train will take between 6-7 hours to get to our next stop - shanghai!! so download a podcast, looking through the photo albums or just sit back and relax as we travel by train to our next and final destination - shanghai!!
explore shanghai 🇨🇳
t's our final full day on our gals trip, and we have one last chance to explore shanghai! at the top of our list is yu garden, a 5-acre classical chinese garden, built in 1559, which is in the old city and is known as the "garden of peace and comfort". As it's our last day in shanghai, we'll also explore the shops in search of some final souvenirs to take home with us! It's been an amazing journey through china, and we'll head out tonight for a goodbye dinner, one final hotpot for old times' sake!
chilled check out 🌆
ahh gals what an incredible trip!! after 13 amazing days exploring china it's time for our trip to come to an end!! today is a chilled check out, if you're staying in shanghai longer maybe check out disneyland, if you're looking for onward travel plans try our gals who travel japan trip, our gals who travel vietnam trip or even our gals who travel philippines trip for the ultimate break!!
hand picked stays
welcome to xi'an!! we have so much to see and do here it's only right we stay close to the main attractions!! our hotel offers clean and quiet twin rooms, free wifi and vintage styling. it's the perfect place to unwind with the gals after a day exploring!!
we loveee our hostel in chengdu, it's social, fun and rich in culture!! we stay in twin share rooms to have all the benefits of a hotel but the perfect fun mix of entertainment and relaxation with it's free activities and social spaces.
this beautiful 4* hotel is located in furong old town and has great links to explore. we'll spend our time here marvelling at waterfalls, exploring the town and even seeing a light show!! our accommodation is the perfect place to rest your head after a day exploring.
our hotel is modern, stylish and located so so close to the entrance to the avatar mountains!! we have a few days here and it's the perfect location to get out and explore in your free time!! it's just a 3-5 minute walk to the scenic gate with lots of tasty food & drink options nearby.
shanghai is biggggg so we wanted to chose a hotel that is centrally located and easy to get around!! we end our trip in shanghai but there's still so much to explore!! we stay close to the north bund area so walking distance to lots of sights like nanjing road and the huangpu river waterfront!!
Real experiences.
Real memories.
Such an incredible experience. I’ve never been away solo travelling and wanted an opportunity to do so but meet new people. I loved that girls who travel allowed girls to feel safe exploring new places and this company made it all possible.
Mita was absolutely amazing, truly could not have asked for a better tour guide. She was so organised and knew everything about everything but also felt like a friend and member of the group. I loved hearing her stories and she is truly iconic. She is so funny and I genuinely enjoyed spending time with her. I learnt so much from her and will remember her forever. She arranged extra activities for us to do such as jewellery making which she didn’t have to do. Overall, Mita is an incredible tour guide.
This experience was the most incredible trip ever. I gained so much confidence. The people were the best ever. Do this trip. It will most certainly improve your life.
WOW. I can’t believe the trip has come to an end. i am a 24 year old from Liverpool who has never travelled alone before. being in a group of like minded girls who have all come together on the other side of the world, because we all felt we needed something, has been nothing short of amazing. it’s so hard to find like minded people - gals who travel fixed this!
Our tour guide - Mita - where do I start. to answering all my questions before the trip on WhatsApp, to meeting you irl in Bali. there was nothing you would not do for us girls. Your smile lit us up on early mornings and your laughter kept us going through the night. I love you my Bali sister!!!
if your thinking of joining a travel group - DO IT. You will not regret it girl!!!🩷🌺🏄🏽♀️🍦
I went on the gals who travel Sri Lanka trip in February and it was the most incredible trip of a lifetime. Sri Lanka is the most beautiful country - it was literally tropical paradise! My favourite moment in the itinerary was the elephant safari through the national park and then we spent the night glamping in the jungle!!! We literally went to bed with the sounds of the jungle surrounding us and then woke up to noises of monkeys and nearby elephants. The whole trip is magical from start to finish but that part felt extra special <3
Also worth mentioning that everything was made super simple for me, all I had to do was book my flights - the rest was all handled!! It was so nice to go to a brand new part of the world and just relax and take it in, rather then having to plan everything myself!!
Sri Lanka and Hasi have my heart!!! the most incredible 10 days exploring Sri Lanka and i loved every single minute of it, the food, the company, the activities were all amazing and i left this trip with 19 new lifelong girl friends! if you're thinking of doing this trip... BOOK IT!! i hope you get Hasi!! he's the most thoughtful, passionate and kind person and made our whole experience 11/10!!
this was my 4th gals who travel trip and i can't wait to book another, i'd even do this trip again in a heartbeat!
I went on the Morocco Uncovered GWT trip in March and had the time of my life!! This was my first trip like this and I’m soooo glad I did it.
The activities on the trip were amazing and our guide, Driss, went above and beyond to make sure we were getting the most out of our trip. I felt truly immersed in Moroccan culture and feel so lucky to have experienced the Sahara Desert, Atlas Mountains, and Marrakech.
I also found this trip really reasonable price for all of the bucket list activities we were doing. Would recommend this trip to anyone!
I had the best chemistry with the group, with the gals and the guide. It feels like a group of best friends .Chris is the stage best guide I could ever ask for. I got along so well with him. I felt in a safe, comfortable place. I think he excelled at his role. He provided us with all the important information, really good recommendations, and valuable advice.
I can’t imagine this without Chris. As a group, we hit the jackpot to have him as a tour guide. Forever grateful for the opportunity of meeting Vietnam along with these gals and Chris.
got questions?
China is quite relaxed when it comes to daily fashion, especially in big cities like Shanghai and Chengdu! At cafés, shopping districts, and restaurants, you can wear whatever you'd normally wear at home. When visiting sacred temples or cultural sites, covering your shoulders and knees is respectful. we always suggest packing a lightweight scarf or pashmina in your daypack, perfect for temple visits or chilly air-conditioned train rides!
China is almost entirely cashless, but it's so easy to handle! Before heading off, all you need to do is download the Alipay app and link your standard visa or mastercard to it. you'll be able to scan QR codes for boba teas, street food, souvenirs, and coffees everywhere you go!🧋
that’s so understandable to wonder about!! China uses the "great firewall," which blocks standard apps like instagram, whatsapp, tiktok, and google maps. But don't worry, we will get this sorted for you!! Before you fly out, you'll need to set up a travel eSIM or install a VPN on your phone. Once set up, your phone will work normally so you can drop pics into the group chat and message back home easily!! 📲
we think it's one of the most rewarding places for a solo adventure, but it does take some planning! unlike southeast asia, english isn't spoken everywhere, and standard credit cards or cash aren't used for day-to-day purchases. if you're doing it completely alone, it can feel a little exhausting to navigate. joining a group trip gives you all the magic of china with a friendship group of gals plus a local leaders to make sure everything runs smoothly for you 💌.
If it's your first time in china, we’d recommend beijing, xi'an, chengdu, and shanghai! beijing and xi'an are amazing for diving into culture and ancient history with huge pedestrian zones. chengdu is our personal favourite for relaxed, café-hopping wellness vibes (and seeing pandas!!), while shanghai offers an ultra-modern, boujee, and exciting city experience! The perfect combo!!!
in our experience, yes! we felt incredibly safe in china. Statistically, it is known as one of the safest destinations in the world for solo women streets and subway systems are modern, clean, and well-lit, and locals are incredibly helpful and welcoming. The main challenges solo female travellers face are usually the language barrier and digital setups which is why travelling with a group of like-minded gals makes it feel so easy and reassuring!!
yesss!! we create group whatsapp chats around 1 month before your trip so you can chat, plan outfits, find matching flights or just share your excitment for your trip with the gals joining you!! the link to your whatsapp chat will be in a welcome email from our gals who travel team.
of course!! nearly 90% of our gals join solo on our trips and our china trip will be no different. come solo and leave with friends for life <3
the currency in china is chinese yuan CN¥
the accommodation for our gals on this trip is twin share hotel accommodation.
you'll need to fly into beijing international airport (PEK)
the trip starts in beijing and ends in shanghai!!
