China itineraries by city and trip length
Pick the city and the number of days. Each plan gives one headline sight a day, a food stop and a realistic budget, rather than a list that assumes you can teleport.
By Charlie Simmon, Founder and editor · Reviewed 22 October 2026
Beijing
The imperial capital — Forbidden City, Great Wall, and the country’s best subway.
Shanghai
Art deco riverfront, 1930s plane trees, and the world’s largest metro network.
Xi'an
The eastern end of the Silk Road and the Terracotta Army.
Chengdu
Pandas, teahouses and the food capital of the southwest.
Chongqing
A vertical city of 32 million where the metro runs through apartment blocks.
Guilin
Karst peaks and the Li River — the landscape on the ¥20 note.
Hangzhou
West Lake, tea terraces and the headquarters of Alipay.
Zhangjiajie
The sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar’s floating mountains.
Lijiang
Naxi old town, Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, and the gateway to Shangri-La.
Suzhou
Classical gardens and canals, 25 minutes from Shanghai.
Need a multi-city route? Start with the two-week China itinerary, then adjust each stop with these city plans.