Is two weeks enough for a first trip to China?

Two weeks is enough for five stops if you use high-speed rail and do not try to see the whole country. This route gives 13 nights across Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai, with one main sight a day.

Should I fly or take the train between these cities?

Train for Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Chengdu: the stations are central and the journeys are 3–4.5 hours. Fly Chengdu–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai, where the rail alternative is 9–10 hours and costs more time than the flight saves.

Can I do this itinerary in 10 days?

Yes. Drop Guilin and give Shanghai three nights: Beijing 4, Xi’an 2, Chengdu 2, Shanghai 2. You lose the karst landscape, but you keep the imperial, food and modern-city contrast without a rushed transfer day.

When should I book trains and attractions?

Rail normally opens 15 days before departure, though a few corridors run longer pilot windows, and popular G trains sell out in peak season. Headline attractions use timed, real-name slots that can sell out days ahead. Book those before you book hotels, because the dates are the hard constraint.

What does this route cost, excluding flights?

A mid-range estimate is ¥13,000–23,500 per person for 13 nights: ¥10,400–19,500 accommodation and food, ¥1,500–2,500 intercity transport and ¥1,000–1,500 in attraction tickets. Budget travellers can do the same route for roughly half.

中国行程 · Updated 21 October 2026 · 10 min read

China itinerary: two weeks for a first trip

One route that fits together: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai. Thirteen nights, five stops, and no wasted transfer days.

Check my visa route Open the checklist

The short version

13 nights, 5 stops: Beijing 4, Xi’an 2, Chengdu 2, Guilin 2, Shanghai 3.
Rail for the middle: Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Chengdu are 3–4.5 hours by high-speed train.
Fly the long legs: Chengdu–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai are 9–10 hours by rail, 2–2.5 by air.
Book in this order: visa route → flights → rail → timed attractions → hotels.
Time it for April–May or September–October and avoid 1–7 October.

The route, stop by stop

This is a first-trip route, not a greatest-hits list. Each stop has a different job: imperial capital, Silk Road, food and pandas, landscape, then the modern city you fly home from.

Two-week China itinerary by stop
Stop	Nights	Don’t miss	Next leg
Beijing	4	Forbidden City, the Great Wall at Mutianyu, Temple of Heaven	4h30 G train to Xi’an
Xi'an	2	Terracotta Army, cycling the Ming city wall, the Muslim Quarter	3h high-speed train to Chengdu
Chengdu	2	Pandas at opening time, People’s Park teahouse, Sichuan hotpot	2h flight to Guilin (rail is 10h+)
Guilin	2	Li River cruise to Yangshuo, Yulong River, Longji rice terraces	2h30 flight to Shanghai (rail is 9h+)
Shanghai	3	The Bund at dawn, former French Concession, Suzhou day trip	Depart from Pudong or Hongqiao

Total: 13 nights plus one departure day. If you have 10 days, drop Guilin and give Shanghai three nights — the route still works without a rushed connection.

Why this order works

Beijing first: the time-zone change is easier when the first days are structured, and the imperial sights set the context for everything after.
Xi’an second: a 4h30 train connects the two capitals, and the Terracotta Army is the single strongest half-day in the country.
Chengdu third: the pace drops, the food changes completely, and the pandas are a morning, not a day.
Guilin fourth: the landscape is the contrast the trip needs before a big city finish.
Shanghai last: the easiest departure airport, the most walkable final days and a soft landing back into a global city.

When to go

April–May and September–October are the comfortable windows for this route. Winter is colder in Beijing and Xi’an but perfectly workable; summer is hot and humid in Chengdu and Guilin.

Season fit for this itinerary
Season	Fit for this route
Spring (Apr–May)	Best overall. Mild in the north, green in Guilin. Avoid 1–5 May.
Summer (Jun–Aug)	Hot and humid in Chengdu and Guilin; book hotels early for the August holiday.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)	The most reliable weather. Avoid 1–7 October, then it is superb.
Winter (Nov–Mar)	Cold but clear in Beijing and Xi’an; Guilin is quiet and cheap. Pack layers.

The month-by-month guide covers the two holiday windows to avoid and the city-by-city temperature spread.

What this itinerary costs

Per person, excluding international flights. The range is wide because hotels decide the tier; food and metro fares stay cheap at every level.

Daily budget tiers for China
Tier	Per day	13-night estimate
Budget	¥300–500	≈¥4,000–6,500
Mid-range	¥800–1,500	≈¥10,400–19,500
Comfort	¥2,500+	≈¥32,500+

Add ¥1,500–2,500 for intercity transport and ¥1,000–1,500 for attraction tickets. A mid-range total is roughly ¥13,000–23,500 per person. These are planning estimates, not quotes.

Book in this order

Check your entry route. Visa-free eligibility and the 240-hour transit rule decide how long you can stay.
Book international flights. Arrive in Beijing, depart from Shanghai; an open-jaw ticket saves a day.
Book rail when your date opens. Normally 15 days out; Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Chengdu on 12306, and your passport is the ticket.
Book timed attractions. Forbidden City, Terracotta Army and any Guilin river cruise slot.
Book hotels last. Choose within a 10-minute walk of a metro station in Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.

On the ground

Use Alipay for payments and the metro QR; keep ¥500–1,000 in cash for the first day. Use DiDi at night and for anywhere the metro does not reach. Your passport is the train ticket, and gates close five minutes before departure.

You do not need Mandarin, but you do need Chinese text on your phone: the hotel address, the dish you want and the station exit. A camera translation app handles menus; a screenshot handles taxi drivers.

Plan each stop

Beijing guide — The imperial capital — Forbidden City, Great Wall, and the country’s best subway.
Xi'an guide — The eastern end of the Silk Road and the Terracotta Army.
Chengdu guide — Pandas, teahouses and the food capital of the southwest.
Guilin guide — Karst peaks and the Li River — the landscape on the ¥20 note.
Shanghai guide — Art deco riverfront, 1930s plane trees, and the world’s largest metro network.

Or browse all 60 city guides and the practical topics.

The step-by-step guides

Itinerary questions

Is two weeks enough for a first trip to China?: Two weeks is enough for five stops if you use high-speed rail and do not try to see the whole country. This route gives 13 nights across Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai, with one main sight a day.
Should I fly or take the train between these cities?: Train for Beijing–Xi’an and Xi’an–Chengdu: the stations are central and the journeys are 3–4.5 hours. Fly Chengdu–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai, where the rail alternative is 9–10 hours and costs more time than the flight saves.
Can I do this itinerary in 10 days?: Yes. Drop Guilin and give Shanghai three nights: Beijing 4, Xi’an 2, Chengdu 2, Shanghai 2. You lose the karst landscape, but you keep the imperial, food and modern-city contrast without a rushed transfer day.
When should I book trains and attractions?: Rail normally opens 15 days before departure, though a few corridors run longer pilot windows, and popular G trains sell out in peak season. Headline attractions use timed, real-name slots that can sell out days ahead. Book those before you book hotels, because the dates are the hard constraint.
What does this route cost, excluding flights?: A mid-range estimate is ¥13,000–23,500 per person for 13 nights: ¥10,400–19,500 accommodation and food, ¥1,500–2,500 intercity transport and ¥1,000–1,500 in attraction tickets. Budget travellers can do the same route for roughly half.