Planning
China itinerary for first-timers: the classic 10-day and 14-day routes
Two tried-and-tested routes for a first trip to China, Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, and Shanghai, with train and flight times between each stop.
Most first trips to China follow the same backbone: Beijing for imperial history, Xi’an for the Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghai for the modern city, linked by high-speed train. With two weeks, add Chengdu’s pandas and the Guilin and Yangshuo karst scenery. Here are both versions, with how to get between each stop.
Book flights “open-jaw”: fly into Beijing and out of Shanghai (or the reverse). You save a long backtrack, and it costs about the same as a return ticket.
Check your entry option first
How long you can stay without a visa depends on your passport. See our visa-free entry guide.
- 30-day visa-free entry (most of Europe, the UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and others): both routes work.
- 240-hour visa-free transit (for example, US passports): you must fly on to a third country, and the limit is 10 days. The 10-day route fits; the 14-day route needs a visa.
The 10-day route: Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai
| Days | Where | Read |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, hutongs | Beijing in 4 days |
| 5–6 | Xi’an: Terracotta Warriors, city wall, Muslim Quarter | Xi’an in 2 days |
| 7–9 | Shanghai: the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession | Shanghai in 3 days |
| 10 | Day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou, then fly home | Suzhou · Hangzhou |
Getting between them:
- Beijing → Xi’an: high-speed train, about 4.5–6 hours. Take a morning train and you arrive for a late lunch.
- Xi’an → Shanghai: high-speed train, about 6 hours, or a flight of about 2.5 hours.
The 14-day route: add Chengdu and Guilin
| Days | Where | Read |
|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | Beijing | Beijing in 4 days |
| 5–6 | Xi’an | Xi’an in 2 days |
| 7–8 | Chengdu: the Panda Base, tea houses, hotpot | Chengdu in 2 days |
| 9–11 | Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River, bamboo rafts, cycling | Guilin and Yangshuo |
| 12–14 | Shanghai, with a day trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou | Shanghai in 3 days |
Getting between them:
- Beijing → Xi’an: high-speed train, about 4.5–6 hours.
- Xi’an → Chengdu: high-speed train, about 3.5 hours, through the Qinling mountains.
- Chengdu → Guilin: fly (about 1.5–2 hours). The train is much longer.
- Guilin → Shanghai: fly (about 2.5 hours).
Booking checklist
- Flights into Beijing and out of Shanghai.
- Trains: sales open about 15 days ahead. Book on 12306, Trip.com, or Klook. See how to book trains.
- Hotels near a metro station in each city: where to stay. Compare on Trip.com, Klook, or Agoda.
- Timed tickets a week ahead: the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors, and the Panda Base all need passport bookings. Agents such as Klook or GetYourGuide can book them in English.
- Before you fly: set up Alipay, get an eSIM, and install the essential apps.
When to go
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–November) are best for this route. Avoid the first week of October and Chinese New Year, when trains and sights are packed. See the best time to visit China.
What it costs
A mid-range two-week trip comes to roughly US$1,800–2,700 per person, excluding international flights. See our China travel budget for the breakdown.
