14 days in China: the grand tour without the death march

Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first China trip: enough time to see the big cities, eat properly and spend a few days in the landscape that makes the trip memorable. This route adds Guilin and Yangshuo without turning the last week into a series of airport transfers.

Route at a glance

Beijing (3 nights) → Xi’an (2) → Chengdu (2) → Guilin/Yangshuo (3) → Shanghai (3)

• Beijing–Xi’an: 4.5–5.5 hours by train.
• Xi’an–Chengdu: 3–4 hours by train.
• Chengdu–Guilin: about 2 hours by flight, or a long train.
• Guilin–Shanghai: about 2.5 hours by flight.
• Shanghai–Suzhou/Hangzhou: 25–60 minutes by train for day trips.

Days 1–3 — Beijing

• Day 1: Arrive, settle in Dongcheng or Gulou, easy dinner.
• Day 2: Forbidden City, Jingshan, hutong lunch, Temple of Heaven.
• Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall; back by mid-afternoon; Peking duck.

Days 4–5 — Xi’an

• Day 4: Morning train; Muslim Quarter; city wall at sunset.
• Day 5: Terracotta Army; Shaanxi History Museum or Big Wild Goose Pagoda.

Days 6–7 — Chengdu

• Day 6: Morning train; People’s Park teahouse; hotpot.
• Day 7: Panda Base at opening; Wuhou Shrine; Kuanzhai Alley or Sichuan opera.

Days 8–10 — Guilin and Yangshuo

• Day 8: Fly to Guilin; transfer to Yangshuo; evening walk.
• Day 9: Li River cruise or Yulong River rafting; countryside cycling.
• Day 10: Xianggong Hill sunrise or Longji rice terraces; return to Guilin.

Days 11–13 — Shanghai

• Day 11: Fly to Shanghai; French Concession walk; Bund at dusk.
• Day 12: Shanghai Museum or West Bund; Yu Garden; skyline.
• Day 13: Day trip to Suzhou (gardens and canals) or Hangzhou (West Lake).

Day 14 — Departure

Last coffee, airport transfer, flight home.

Why this route works

• The long legs are broken up by cities where you stay two or three nights.
• Guilin/Yangshuo is the only nature block; it gives the trip a different rhythm.
• Shanghai is the soft landing at the end: good food, easy transport, and a direct airport.

Where to stay

• Beijing: Dongcheng hutong area.
• Xi’an: inside the wall.
• Chengdu: Chunxi Road or Wuhou.
• Yangshuo: riverside outside the loudest bar street.
• Shanghai: French Concession or Jing’an.

What to book ahead

• Forbidden City, Mutianyu transfer, Terracotta Army, Panda Base.
• Beijing–Xi’an, Xi’an–Chengdu trains.
• Chengdu–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai flights.
• Li River cruise or Yulong raft.
• Shanghai Museum and Suzhou/Hangzhou train tickets.

Pace notes

• Do not add Zhangjiajie to this route; it needs three days and a separate flight.
• If you have less tolerance for moving, cut Xi’an and add a day to Chengdu and Shanghai.
• If you have more time, add two days in Yunnan after Guilin, but fly.

Budget guide

Mid-range, excluding international flights: $120–180 per person per day. Internal flights and the Li River cruise are the main extras. Lean travelers can bring it closer to $80–110 with hostels, second-class trains and local food.