On Foot in Fujian China, 8 days

Embrace vibrant energy through some of the best of Fujian’s natural wonders and cultural heritage. Hike through tea-scented trails to dramatic Tianyou Peak for misty river vistas, a challenge on Tiger Roaring Rock’s steep stairs amid blooming Spring sensation. Drift along the serene Nine Bend River on a bamboo raft cruise and explore the Dahongpao tea trails and the UNESCO-listed Nanjing Tulou. Cap off the active vacation with the spectacular “Impression Dahongpao” night show. The tour blends moderate hiking (2-5 hours daily) with nature, culture and history.

While the summit elevations average 300–510 metres, sections of the trails feature steep stone staircases (some at 60° inclines) where hikers may need to use their hands for balance. These climbs are short but strenuous – think of them as “nature’s stairmasters” with rewarding views (& equivalent rewarding dinners)! You’ll walk the trails once treaded by tea traders and monks, with discover rest stops at hidden temples and tea terraces.

Duration: 8 days

Itinerary

Highlights:

~ Visit Nanputuo Temple, Hulishan Fortress and JImei School Village – by philanthropist Tan Kah Kee;

~ Hiking experience at UNESCO-listed Nanjing Tulou;

~ Hike to Qingtian Peak and visit XuanTong Temple – the temple that hangs on a cliff;

~ Walk the tea trail and see Dahongpao Mother Trees;

~ Cruise down Nine Bed River on a bamboo raft;

~ Ascend Tianyou Peak with sweeping views;

~ Watch the acclaimed performance “The Impression Dahongpao” choreographed by Director Zhang Yimou;

~ Ascend Tiger Roaring Rock and stroll Xia Mei Ancient Village.

Day 1 Arrive Xiamen

Meet and greet upon arrival at Xiamen Gaoqi Airport. Transfer to hotel. The rest of day at leisure.

Meal: nil

Stay: 4* hotel, Xiamen

Day 2 Xiamen Sightseeing

A perfect blend of cultural and historical day.

Start the day with Nanputuo Temple 南普陀 – Immerse in the tranquil ambiance of this ancient Buddhist temple, renowned for its exquisite architecture, lush gardens, and spiritual serenity. Step back in time at this 19th-century coastal defense fort – Hulishan Fortress 胡里山炮台, featuring massive Krupp cannons and panoramic views of the Taiwan Strait. Thereafter, visit Jimei School Village 集美学村 – Admire the unique blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles in this educational complex founded by philanthropist Tan Kah Kee 陈嘉庚 , a masterpiece of “Jiageng-style” buildings and how his Jiageng’s spirits and legacy remain in the people of Xiamen.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 4* hotel, Xiamen

Day 3 Xiamen – Nanjing Tulou – Taxia Village

(Note: leave your luggage in Xiamen. Pack your necessity items in an overnight bag for tonight’s stay in the village)

Discover UNESCO Hakka Architecture Wonders.

Journey from Xiamen through lush Fujian countryside to the UNESCO-listed Nanjing Tulou. The scenic drive takes around 3 hours.

Start the hike from atop the official viewing platform and capture the iconic bird’s-eye view of Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster 田螺坑土楼群. Comprises of five tulou 土楼, commonly known as “Four Dishes and One Soup” formation – a stunning arrangement of five UNESCO-listed tulou (earthen buildings) nestled in terraced hills. This iconic vista resembles a traditional Hakka meal: four round “dishes” (Yuchanglou, Heguilou, etc.) surrounding a central square “soup” (Buyunlou).

A descent trek through terraced tea fields to Tianluo Village 田螺村, experience authentic Hakka hospitality with the locals and learn about tulou life. Continue the hike to Yuchanglou 裕昌楼, known as “The Leaning Tulou” 东歪西斜楼. Marvel at this 700-year-old “skyscraper of antiquity,” famed for its tilted pillars ( and still standing strong!). Discover hidden wells and ancestral halls inside the tulou’s concentric rings.

The hike concludes at Taxia Village 塔下村. If time permits, stroll along the serene Zhang River, crossing moon-shaped stone bridges.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: Inn/Bed & Breakfast/Homestay, Taxia Village

Hiking Distance: approx. 7-8 KM Hiking Hours: 4-5 hours estimate

Hiking Terrain: paved, sloppy, steps

Day 4 Taxia Village – Lingtong Mountain – Xiamen

This morning, transfer to Lingtong Mountain. The hike starts from Yuping Cave trail head 玉屏洞登山口. A continuous ascent (1.5 – 2.5 hours) to the summit of Qingtian Peak 擎天峰 on stone steps with some steep sections where your hands may require aiding the climb. Reward with 360° panorama view overlook rolling peaks and the legendary “Sea of Clouds” 云雾奇观 on clear days (weather permitting).

Take a descent (around 30 minutes to 1 hour) to Xuankong Temple 悬空寺. This is a cliffside wonder with a 1,200 year-old Taoist temple clinging to a sheer rock face. You may capture the iconic shot of the temple with the seasonal waterfall cascading beside it.

Then continue to descend via Qingyun Temple 青云寺. Pass by ancient shrines and moss-covered stone slabs and you may hear the monks’ chanting.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 4* hotel, Xiamen

Hiking Distance: approx. 5-6 KM Hiking Hours: 3-4 hours estimate

Hiking Terrain: stone steps with handrails, some steep sections, paved trails

Day 5 Xiamen – Wuyishan

Take the high-speed rail from Xiamen Railway Station to Wuyishan 武夷山. The train journey takes around 2.5 – 3.5 hours.

Upon arrival, transfer to the starting location and hike (around 20 – 40 minutes) to see the Dahongpao Mother Trees 大红袍母树. See the legendary 350-year-old tea trees that produce China’s most expensive oolong tea (¥1 million per kilogramme at auction!). You may catch the tea pickers harvesting leaves.

Enjoy a scenic walk down Rock & Tea Fragrance Trail 岩骨花香漫游道 (around 3.5 KM). Walk on gently downhill path along a stream, flanked by tea terraces and bizarre Danxia rock formations. Enroute, make stops at Liuxiangjian 流香涧 – a misty gorge where tea bushes grow wild between boulders; Huiyuan Temple 慧苑寺 – a Ming Dynasty Buddhist temple hidden in tea fields. Then it’s a final climb of 300 stone steps lead to a cliffside cave where water cascades like a curtain, known as Water Curtain Cave 水帘洞.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 4* hotel, Wuyishan

Hiking Distance: approx. 4.5 KM Hiking Hours: 3-4 hours estimate

Hiking Terrain: paved trails, generally descending and flat; stone steps

Day 6 Wuyishan

An early but relaxed start to the day with a bamboo raft cruise (around 1.5 hours) down the Nine Bend River 九曲溪竹筏漂流. Admire UNESCO Views as you float past the “King of Peaks” 大王峰 and “Lovers’ Rock” 玉女峰 while the boatmen share about tea-picking legends.

Spend some time to stroll along Song Street 宋街. Check out Wuyi Palace 武夷宫at the street’s end – a Ming-era architecture with mountain views.

Challenge of the day awaits you for the ascent to Tianyou Peak 天游峰. A climb of 848 steep stone steps (some at 60° incline) to the top, standing at 408 metres. The route is shaded by pines and a rest stop at Tea Cave 茶洞 is recommended. Summit Reward? You may experience 360° panorama of Nine Bends River looping through red cliffs. The best photo spot is at Snowflake Pavilion 雪花亭.

This evening, watch a masterpiece performance, crafts by Director Zhang Yimou. The “Impression Dahongpao” Show 印象大红袍 (70 minutes) performance offers a mesmerizing blend of light, dance, and tea culture. It features open-air theatre with 360° rotating seats – audience platforms turn slowly to reveal 7 ever-changing stages against Wuyishan’s natural cliffs. The stage is framed by Wuyi’s sacred tea mountains as natural backdrop, illuminated by thousands of LEDs. Over 500 performers reenact 1,200 years of Wuyi rock tea (Dahongpao) history, from Tang Dynasty legends to modern harvests. Learn why Dahongpao was called “the Emperor’s tea” through poetic visuals. And there are tea-serving performers serving cups of authentic Dahongpao tea mid-show!

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 4* hotel, Wuyishan

Hiking Distance: approx. 4 KM Hiking Hours: 2-3 hours estimate

Hiking Terrain: paved trails, generally descending and flat; stone steps

Day 7 Wuyishan – Xiamen

The final hike brings you to Tiger Roaring Rock 虎啸岩 with an altitude of 510 metres. The entire hiking route takes around 2-3 hours with scenic rest stops along the way such as,

~ Jiyun Pass 集云关 – cloud-kissed vantage point with carved stone gates.

~ Tiger’s Milk Spring 虎乳泉 – legend says drinking this mineral spring grants courage!

~ Summit View! Overlooking Wuyi’s “36 Peaks”! (weather permitting)

Transfer to Xiamei Ancient Village 下梅古民居. Stroll the 18th-century Qing Dynasty courtyards where merchants traded Wuyi tea along the “Wanli Tea Road”. See Zou’s Family Mansion 邹氏大夫第 with ornate wood carvings depicting tea folklore, and Canals & Moon Pools 运河, 月池 which is designed for fire prevention and feng shui harmony.

Transfer to the train station for the high-speed rail back to Xiamen. The rail journey is around 3 hours.

Meal: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Stay: 4* hotel, Xiamen

Hiking Distance: approx. 3-4 KM Hiking Hours: 3-5 hours estimate

Hiking Terrain: stone steps with handrails, some steep sections; paved trails

Day 8 Depart Xiamen

Simply rest and relax until it’s time for the transfer to Xiamen Gaoqi Airport and the tour concludes. Official check out time is 12 PM.

Meal: Breakfast

Inclusions

~ 6 nights hotel accommodation;

~ 1 night stay in either inn, bed & breakfast or homestay;

~ return airport group transfers from/to Xiamen Gaoqi Airport (v.v);

~ return high-speed rail transfers Xiamen – Wuyishan (v.v) in 1st Class seating;

~ necessary private coach/minibus transfers as required;

~ 7 breakfast, 6 lunches, 6 dinners;

~ necessary hiking permit/sightseeing entrance fees;

~ service of a Mandarin/English Speaking Hiking Guide.

Exclusions

~ air travel to Xiamen, China;

~ meals not specified in the itinerary;

~ visa arrangement, if required;

~ personal travel insurance;

~ expenditure on personal effects;

~ tipping for the Hiking Guide and Driver;

~ anything not specified in the itinerary and trip inclusion.

Important Notes

~ A non-refundable deposit, 30% of the trip price, is required at the time of booking. If the actual trip price increases by more than 10% than the featured price, hikers may withdraw, and the deposit will be fully refunded.

~ Full or balance payment is 60 days prior to departure.

~ Only book your air ticket to Xiamen, China when you have been informed to do so.

~ Should you require a visa to enter China, it is your responsibility to obtain such document before departure. Check your entry requirement and apply for your visa HERE if you require.

~ Every effort is made to ensure the trip and included experiences take place during the ideal time or period of the year, however certain sights are subject to weather conditions and seasonal variations that are not within the control of Travel Wander. Although you may get to see and/or experience, we cannot guarantee the sightings.

~ Provision of meals during the trip showcases local authenticity, cuisine and food culture of the places we are visiting. All food allergies and dietary restrictions must be disclosed to Travel Wander at the time of booking. We will use reasonable efforts to accommodate special requirements or requests, but this is not always possible given the nature of the destinations visited and availability of options. We cannot guarantee that dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated. Travel Wander is not liable for failure to accommodate or fulfil such requests. Meal supplementary charges may be imposed to meet your dietary needs.

~ Trip grading is an indication of the difficulty of the activities included. Preparation and engaging in regular exercise to maintain good physical condition and active lifestyle prior to the trip will be most beneficial in ensuring you have full enjoyment of the trip. We are glad to discuss your concerns and answer your queries.

~ Our utmost priority is always the safety of the hikers. Therefore, the inclusion of the itinerary may be altered due to (not limited to) bad weather, local conditions, accommodation bookout, the skill levels of the cyclists and/or other unexpected circumstances beyond our control. We reserve the right to make changes necessary, and there will be no refund should you decide to discontinue the trip.

~ Because hiking requires a certain level of cardio and stamina exertion, it is not suitable for hikers with chronic and/or acute diseases. Please consider your physical condition before booking. Hikers must ensure they are medically and physically able to hike.

~ If the hiker presents difficulty in completing the day’s hike, we strongly discourage the hiker from continuing for the day with top priority on the safety of the hiker and team in mind. The hiker can fast-track the hike by using public transportation (where available) or booking a private transfer at the hiker’s own expense. There is no refund on this portion of the trip.

~ Hiker may choose to terminate the hike early during the planned hiking day where possible or make it a rest day and fast track to the next accommodation by making use of public transportation (where available) or booking a private transfer at the hiker’s own expense. Should the hiker wish to partake in other activities or sightseeing on the rest day, it will be at the hiker’s own expense. There is no refund on this portion of the trip.

~ There is no refund for uncompleted hiking distances or missed inclusions.

~ Purchasing comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. See HERE for details.

~ By making a payment to Travel Wander LLP, you (and on behalf of the rest of travelling companions) acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to Travel Wander’s Booking Conditions and Other Important Information: Cancellation and Amendment, Modes of Payment, Privacy Policy, Indemnity Policy, and Terms & Conditions.

Activity	Hiking
Hiking Grade	Grade 2 – Beginner, Grade 2+ – Beginner Plus
Season	01 – January, 02 – February, 03 – March, 04 – April, 11 – November, 12 – December
Country	China

On Foot in Fujian China, 8 days