China
China itineraries: 1 week, 2 weeks and 3 weeks
For 7 days, do Beijing (4 nights) then Shanghai (3 nights) by high-speed rail, with the Great Wall and Suzhou as day trips. Two weeks adds Xi'an and Chengdu or Guilin. Three weeks adds Yunnan or Zhangjiajie. Fewer than 7 days: stay in Beijing only.
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Key facts
- 7 days
- Beijing 4 nights + Shanghai 3 nights, high-speed rail between them
- 10 days
- Beijing 4 + Xi'an 2 + Shanghai 3; all legs by train (4.5 h and 6 h)
- 14 days
- Beijing 4 + Xi'an 2 + Chengdu 3 + Yangshuo 2 + Shanghai 2
- 21 days
- 14-day route plus Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang) or Zhangjiajie, 4–5 nights
- Minimum useful trip
- 5–6 nights, one bed in Beijing
- Book trains
- High-speed seats sell out on holidays; book days ahead
- Entry
- Visa or 240-hour transit rule; check your passport before booking
- Payments
- Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay before you fly; cards work unevenly
Routes by trip length
Nights are the minimum that does each stop justice. The high-speed network links Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai and Guangzhou; fly the long diagonals, such as Chengdu to Guilin or Guilin to Shanghai.
If you have 5–6 nights, do not split them. One bed in Beijing beats two cities in a week once you count transfer time.
| Trip length | Route | Nights per stop |
|---|---|---|
| 7 days | Beijing → Shanghai | Beijing 4, Shanghai 3 |
| 10 days | Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai | Beijing 4, Xi'an 2, Shanghai 3 |
| 14 days | Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin/Yangshuo → Shanghai or Hong Kong | Beijing 4, Xi'an 2, Chengdu 3, Yangshuo 2, Shanghai 2 |
| 21 days | 14-day route plus Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang) or Zhangjiajie | Add 4–5 nights |
| 5–6 days | Beijing only | Beijing 5–6 |
Rail times: Beijing–Xi'an about 4.5 h, Xi'an–Shanghai about 6 h.
One week: Beijing and Shanghai
Four nights in Beijing gives you the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and hutongs, plus one full day for the Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling. Three nights in Shanghai covers the Bund, Pudong and the French Concession lanes, with Suzhou or Hangzhou as a day trip.
Take the high-speed train between the two cities rather than flying: city centre to city centre it is usually faster and cheaper once you count airport transfers. If you arrive and leave through different countries, this shape fits the 240-hour transit rule; confirm your eligibility before booking.
- Day 1: arrive Beijing, hutongs and an early night
- Day 2: Forbidden City and Jingshan
- Day 3: Great Wall day trip
- Day 4: Temple of Heaven, train to Shanghai in the evening
- Day 5: The Bund and Pudong
- Day 6: Suzhou or Hangzhou day trip
- Day 7: French Concession, depart
Two weeks: add Xi'an and one more region
The classic triangle is Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai: 4, 2 and 3 nights, all by train. Xi'an earns its two nights for the Terracotta Army, the city walls and the Muslim Quarter food.
With the remaining nights, choose one: Chengdu for pandas and Sichuan cooking, or Guilin and Yangshuo for the Li River karst. Do not attempt both in a fortnight; you will spend the trip in stations. Fly the long legs, such as Chengdu to Guilin, and end in Shanghai or Hong Kong for an open-jaw ticket.
Three weeks: one long diagonal
Three weeks lets you run the 14-day route and add a region that needs its own travel days. Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, 4–5 nights) suits October to May. Zhangjiajie (2 nights) suits April to June and September to October. Tibet needs a permit and an organised tour, so treat it as a separate trip.
Keep one buffer day before your flight home. Delays on long-distance rail and domestic flights are common in holiday periods, and a missed international connection is expensive.
When to go and what to book first
April to May and September to October are the best windows almost everywhere. Avoid the first week of October and the Lunar New Year period: trains, hotels and major sites fill up and prices rise.
Book in this order: international flights, then high-speed rail seats for the fixed legs, then hotels. Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay and an eSIM or VPN before you fly, because none of them can be fixed at the airport.
- Book high-speed rail as soon as your dates are fixed
- Reserve Forbidden City tickets in advance; daily numbers are capped
- Reserve panda base and Terracotta Army tickets ahead in peak season
- Keep a printed hotel address in Chinese for taxi drivers
Notes and common mistakes
The most common mistake is too many cities. Every move costs half a day even on fast trains. The second is treating China as one climate: Harbin in January and Sanya in January are different trips.
Cash is rarely needed but keep a small amount. Tipping is not expected. Check your visa or transit eligibility and your passport validity well before booking.
Questions people ask
What is a good 7-day itinerary for China?
Beijing for 4 nights, then Shanghai for 3, connected by high-speed rail. Use one Beijing day for the Great Wall and one Shanghai day for Suzhou or Hangzhou. If you have only 5–6 days, stay in Beijing and skip the second city.
How many weeks should I spend in China?
One week covers Beijing and Shanghai. Two weeks adds Xi'an and either Chengdu or Guilin. Three weeks adds Yunnan or Zhangjiajie. Anything under a week is best spent in a single city.
What is the best route through China?
For a first trip, Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai by train, extending to Chengdu or Guilin with more time. Fly the long diagonals and keep the rail legs for the 4–6 hour connections.
Should I take the train or fly between cities?
Take high-speed rail for Beijing–Xi'an (about 4.5 h) and Xi'an–Shanghai (about 6 h); city centre to city centre it usually wins. Fly long legs such as Chengdu–Guilin or Guilin–Shanghai.
When is the worst time to travel in China?
The Lunar New Year period and the first week of October, when domestic travel peaks and trains and hotels sell out. April–May and September–October are the best windows.
Do I need a visa for a 7-day trip?
It depends on your passport and route. Some nationalities can use the 240-hour transit rule if they arrive and leave through different countries; others need a visa. Check the current rules before booking.
Deep dive
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