China itineraries · living library
China itineraries, kept current.
A living library of day-by-day routes for first-time visitors. Every route is a full article, reviewed on a rolling schedule and updated in place — not a card that sends you to a destination.
10 days · 9 nightsFirst trip · history · rail
Classic China in 10 days
The strongest first route: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and an easy Shanghai finish, connected by high-speed rail and one short flight.
Latest updates
A living library, not a static list.
This is the 2026–27 edition. We review transport, ticket rules and seasonal conditions on a quarterly cycle, and log what changed here instead of launching a new page.
21 October 2026 · 2026–27
Classic China in 10 days
Rebuilt the 10-day timetable around open-jaw flights, Forbidden City booking and the Xi'an–Shanghai flight.
Open the updated route21 October 2026 · 2026–27
Beijing and Shanghai in 7 days
Tightened the one-week plan around the 4.5-hour rail leg and added a realistic Great Wall weather buffer.
Open the updated route21 October 2026 · 2026–27
Beijing, Xi'an and Chengdu in 10 days
Adjusted the Xi'an–Chengdu transfer and reworked the Chengdu food days around the panda-base morning.
Open the updated routeUpdated in place
The route article is the destination. You should not have to leave the plan to read the plan.
Reviewed quarterly
We recheck rail timings, ticket rules, closures and seasonal access before each edition. The next review is 15 January 2027.
Changes are visible
Each edition carries its update note and review date, so you can see whether the advice is current.
5–7 days: one or two bases
One or two bases, one long transfer and no attempt to see the whole country. These routes work with a one-week leave.
7 days · 6 nightsBeijing and Shanghai in 7 days
Beijing → Shanghai
A short first trip that still feels complete: three nights in each city, one high-speed rail leg and no internal flights.
Updated Oct 2026
6 days · 5 nightsChengdu and Chongqing in 6 days
Chengdu → Chongqing
Two food cities, one short rail link and a pace that leaves room for long lunches, teahouses and night views.
Updated Oct 2026
5 days · 4 nightsShanghai and Hangzhou in 5 days
Shanghai → Hangzhou
A short break that pairs Shanghai's riverfront and food with West Lake, temple paths and tea hills, using a one-hour train instead of a flight.
Updated Oct 2026
7 days · 6 nightsGuilin and Yangshuo in 7 days
Guilin → Yangshuo → Longji
A landscape-first week built around one river cruise, one countryside base and the Longji terraces, with enough buffer for rain.
Updated Oct 2026
8–10 days: the classic first trip
Enough time for three cities or a city-plus-landscape route, with a realistic transfer day between each base.
10 days · 9 nightsClassic China in 10 days
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
The strongest first route: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an and an easy Shanghai finish, connected by high-speed rail and one short flight.
Updated Oct 2026
10 days · 9 nightsBeijing, Xi'an and Chengdu in 10 days
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu
Imperial history, the Terracotta Army and the best food city on the classic circuit, with two strong rail legs and no wasted backtracking.
Updated Oct 2026
10 days · 9 nightsZhangjiajie and Guilin in 10 days
Zhangjiajie → Guilin → Yangshuo
Sandstone pillars, a glass bridge and the Li River, with bases chosen to keep transfer days short and weather buffers intact.
Updated Oct 2026
Two weeks: cities and landscapes
Add a landscape region without turning the trip into a checklist. One internal flight and a weather buffer are built in.
How to choose
Count nights, then check the map.
A 7-day trip usually means five usable days after arrival and departure. Pick the route that matches the number of full days, not the number in the title.
Nights, not days
A 10-day route has nine nights. If you land at 16:00 on Day 1 and leave at 10:00 on Day 10, you have eight usable days.
Entry and exit ports
Open-jaw flights save a backtrack. Beijing in, Shanghai out is usually better than a return ticket plus a 4.5-hour train.
One transfer per move
Book the long rail or flight first, then the hotel. A cheaper hotel far from the station rarely saves time or money.
Before you book
Four checks that prevent most itinerary mistakes
- Confirm visa-free or transit eligibility for your nationality and route.
- Book the hard-to-get attraction tickets before non-refundable hotels.
- Put the long rail or flight on the correct day, with a buffer.
- Choose the hotel area before the room type.