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Day 1 - say hello (they’ll be the ones wearing a Dragon Bus shirt!). If you can’t find them enquire with friendly Hostel staff, Starting your Dragon Bus Experience
Arrive any time during the first day of your pass as there no activities planned until a welcome briefing at 6pm, held at the hostel.  Your (western) trip leader will be at the Hostel from late afternoon, make sure you and if they’re busy take 5, maybe buy a drink or go for a walk around this area (luggage can be left at the Hostel).     

Beijing as the capital of China and host of the 2008 Olympic Games has shed some of its past to become a pretty modern City. There is much to explore, including Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City as two (2) of the better known and important sights, however there are many others. A great way to explore Beijing is by bike, either as a group or as an individual you can cruise the streets to get a real sense of the city.  If adventuring via bike is not your thing consider using the newly built metro. This will allow you to travel around much of the city very cheaply (around 50 US cents per trip). Taxis are also plentiful, cheap and safe, and if you’re part of a small group you can make trips to outer lying areas such as the Summer Palace (former Imperial residence used during the summer months) or the Silk Road Markets for bartering, clothes and bargain hunting.  All this and more will be covered in the introduction undertaken in the Hostel Bar at 6pm.  After this the hardest choice may be deciding where to eat (of course consider Peking or Beijing duck).

Day 2 - Traditional Hutongs
Today you can spend the morning visiting some of the many free museums in Beijing. Early risers should head to one of Beijing's parks to watch or take part in some Tai Qi with the locals. Before lunch your Trip Leader will meet the group at the hostel, where you’ll head off for lunch at a local restaurant. After lunch you’ll soak up the history of the laneways, back alleys and family compounds that are Beijing’s residential Hutongs. After returning to the hostel, you should have worked up an appetite for dinner and if so perhaps head off to one of Beijing’s many restaurants, bars or both!  Dine like Emperor while enjoying some of the many bars of this modern metropolis should not be missed. The Hostel also has a well stocked bar, where many have had a great night, perhaps ask your Trip Leader about heading out to an Acrobat show, and get them to secure your tickets.

Day 3 – Beijing to Great Wall.
The Great Wall awaits! Today we head to one of the more "as is" sections of the Wall.  Hike, climb, sit or just stare, but we’re share it will be a rewarding day! The 2011 schedule now means you'll now be staying in the shadows of the Wall itself, in a clean and well positioned little hotel.  Visiting this part of the wall will give you a greater understanding of the enormous presence of the Wall, and perhaps why it was built? Please note the Wall is quite steep in places and the surrounding area quite remote, so don’t venture off the track (or Wall as it is).  While trekking, all baggage will be safely kept in the bus.  You’ll have enough time to fully hike and explore the Wall before heading to the nearby Hotel where you can relax before dinner. This new overnight stop means not just fresh air, but also allows you to greet the morning sunrise creeping over the Wall as a new day arrives.  

Day 4 – Capital to the Sea
Returning to Beijing, with time permitting we’ll stop at the National Sports Stadium, otherwise known as the “Birds Nest” and site of the Beijing Olympics. After this we’ll return to the Hostel to pick up any additional clients before continuing onto Beijing south railway Station. Wave goodbye to Beijing as we speed through the countryside on the “bullet” train to Qingdao. On arrival in Qingdao we'll head straight to the hostel where you can take a break in the bar/cafe before beginning your adventure in this seaside city. Qingdao is home to the famous beer carrying the same name, and it’s also where you can buy beer in plastic bags to drink with a straw or pour into your glass! (really!) Beer Street is a must and with its numerous food stands can make for a great night.

Day 5: Qingdao & a German built brewery!
So with no package tour schedule to worry about, exploring Qingdao the way you want is what we offer!  There is much to see and do in Qingdao and no lack of options.  Your Trip Leader will have all of them on hand for you, so be sure to ask them any questions you have. One of the more enjoyable day trips is heading out to the famous and sacred Laoshan Mountain (about 45 minutes). The fresh water from the Mt Laoshan is exclusively used to make China's most famous beer (Qingdao) & it’s also a sacred Buddhist site renowned for its natural beauty. Maybe wander down to the beach for a lazy day with a book or hit the streets of the former German Concession section of the city for a glimpse days gone by, when it was administered by the Germans. 

Days 6 - Beaches, bars & sand
Qingdao is renewed for a few things, but two of its most important are the originally German built brewery and its beaches.  The City has an enormous amount of history just waiting to be uncovered, and most not far from the hostel. The Hostel also has a great café / bar area to relax in, perhaps before hitting the streets. You should also prepare yourself for the nightlife of the City, which has some very good bars & nightclubs. These nights can end up at karaoke, but hey its holidays and after a few beers everyone sounds better right?  Another option is to take a tour of China’s most famous brewery – Tsingtao (or Qingdao) Brewery, where the tour finishes with a fresh beer!  Qingdao is also a great city for walking and it’s the best way to explore the old German concession area or perhaps just walk to the beach.  We’re sure that your time will fly by as you kick back and enjoy this cosmopolitan seaside city.    

Day 7 – Qingdao to Qufu
After breakfast we’ll make the trip to Qufu, which will take around 5 hours.  The trip is undertaken by intercity direct Coach, which is both quicker and more effective then offering smaller bus transport.  Leaving Qingdao the bus joins the highway southward along the coast before heading inland through the mountains to the hometown of Confucius, Qufu.  After checking into the Hostel, hit the streets on foot, which again is the best way to explore this city. Easily navigated with only a few main roads, it’s also flat and pretty easily laid out. There are also plenty of 3 wheel human powered rickshaws to jump into for a small cost of only 5 RMB (.80 US cents) per trip. The options for dinner are everywhere and not far from the hostel.  Get together and share some great dishes at one of the many local restaurants. You also won’t find any modern bars or cafes in this historical city, so after dinner take a walk around the town as, like many Chinese cities, they come alive after sunset.  Another option is to stay in at the Hostel and catch a movie in the lounge, or test your skills on the in house Wii.  If you’re looking for some culture, consider heading out the Confucius temple where you can catch a show about life and times in ancient Qufu.

Day 8 – Qufu
Confucius is a well known part of Chinese history; however the City is not so well known. Qufu is a great place to get a sense of “real China.” Venture out to explore some of the beautiful Chinese style gardens and experience some of the local restaurants, but of course the main attraction of this stop is the Confucius family mansion & Temple.  They are situated within an easy walk from the hostel. You can purchase tickets to enter each site individually or the three (3) for a cost of 120 RMB.  If you continue onto the Confucius Forest, where you’ll find the tomb of the great man, you should take a rickshaw (5 RMB) or horse drawn carriage (10 RMB) for the 3 Km ride.  If you hire a rickshaw there is no need to keep it on hand on arrival as they are plentiful.  Tonight is another leisurely night, but most of our groups have previously made for one of the many outdoor Chinese (BBQ) restaurants, where a jug of cold local beer should set you back only around 10 RMB and the food is cheap and plentiful.  

Day 9 – Qufu to Zhengzhou
Mid morning we’ll transfer to the Railway station and take the train to Zhengzhou, as if done by bus would take us most of the day.  Arriving into Zhengzhou in the afternoon we transfer directly to the Hotel, which is always a pleasant surprise due to its great rooms!  Once checked in head out explore some of Zhengzhou’s attractions, which should include its Food Street for dinner. Zhengzhou also has several good bars, which are easily found and are considered both safe and fun.

Days 10 - Zhengzhou to Kung Fu Territory – Shaolin
Boarding the Dragon Bus in the morning we’ll make the 1 hr bus ride to nearby Shaolin. Shaolin is a magical Village, known the world over for its Monks & Monasteries, and the recent remake of Karate Kid. Today gives you a few choices, one of which is (requires min. of  4) is spending a half day with a Master of Kungfu in a nearby GongFu academy, where you can learn the basics of this martial Art (300 RMB).   

Those not wishing to undertake the Kungfu course have numerous options, one of which is to enter and explore the (working) Temples of Shaolin (100 RMB entry).  Entering the Shaolin Village itself will allow you to experience firsthand a real Kungfu exhibition given by students studying this ancient martial art, which generally take place every few hours.  Another amazing option is to climb the magical nearby Shaoshan Mountain (entry 40 RMB). As the afternoon concludes we rejoin the Bus and head for the nearby village of Luoyang.  Luoyang is a great option for Dragon Bus as it’s another “Real” City and around the Hostel we have found some great local restaurants for you to experience some local Henan specialities.  

Day 11 -  Luoyang & the Grottos
Staying in Luoyang means you have a full day to explore the City and also its nearby amazing UNESCO World Heritage site.  The Luoyang Grottos which easily found 20 minutes (12KM) from the City, you should spend at least half a day there before returning to the village to explore it. The Trip Leader will be on hand to assist with transfer to the site, and if several are travelling it’s an easy taxi with directions to ensure ease of transfer.  We have amended this day, as before it was a little rushed, with clients trying to see the site in the morning before we set off for Xian.  So now we’re sure that if you explore the site you will be duly impressed. Clients not wishing to explore the grottos have plenty of other options within the City itself, including some great walking paths along the river. Tonight you could return what we believe is a great little restaurant, or if not we’ll find a rival for dinner.  

Day 12 - Xian
In the morning you’ll leave the Hostel and transfer to the railway station. On arrival the Trip Leader will take you to the shops where you can stock up on supplies for the trip to Xian. This section is again undertaken by train. Xian was once the start of the eastern section of the Old Silk Road, and was one of China's Four Great Ancient Capitals.  We’re sure you’re aware of some of its historical and cultural importance.  On arrival in Xian we transfer to the Hostel, where after check in your should head to its well stocked outside or underground bar before venturing out to the food street, which sits just within the City Wall and an easy walk from the hostel.     

Day 13 - Xian & the amazing Terracotta Warriors
Today you explore the pavilions that house the 1000’s of (currently) earthed and unearthed Terracotta Warriors!   No trip to Xian or China is complete without it, like going to Beijing and not climbing the Great Wall! The day tour is done in a manner that allows each person to explore the site at their own pace. Today is about getting amongst it, on  joining the Trip Leader in the morning we’ll take local transport to the Warriors site, which means we’re on our own time that should ensure you have more than enough time to fully appreciate and enjoy this amazing site. Once in the site consider trying a local style buffet lunch that includes handmade Xian noodles. Once finished and back at the hostel a great option is heading out to a Tang Dynasty musical show (ask your Trip Leader), which can (and should) include the option of enjoying an amazing dumpling buffet dinner.  After this continue partying away your last night and head to one of the local bars. If not, and for those wishing to stay in, the hostel can also offer a great night at either it’s indoor or outdoor bar or just by watching a movie!  However, we always recommend that you hit the food street again, where sipping on a local beer and enjoy amazing BBQ’d foods is an all time favourite.  A City to remember, and its nightlife is pretty good as well

Day 14: Xian – And will good things have to come to an end
So this day had to come, it’s now over as there is much left to experience, so hit the streets and explore the City Wall, Bell and Drum towers or the city's old quarter including the Great Mosque. You can enquire with the Hostel or your trip leader as this could include hiring a bike.