10-Day China Grand Loop Itinerary 2026: Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Guilin-Shanghai
A 10-day circular grand tour of China's five worth visiting cities: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai. HSR and one flight connect them all.
Quick Answer
What is this 10-day itinerary like?
This 10-day itinerary covers 7 UNESCO sites, involves 36 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $1,980.
Day by day
Book this trip →Ten days covers all five classic cities comfortably: 2 days Beijing, 2 Xi'an, 2 Chengdu, 1.5 Guilin, 2.5 Shanghai. Most visa-free for 30 days. Fly into Beijing, out of Shanghai (or reverse).
Beijing: Forbidden City
Tiananmen + Forbidden City · Jingshan Park · Peking duck
- 09:00Tiananmen + Forbidden City
Tiananmen + Forbidden City
- 11:00Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park
- 13:00Peking duck
Peking duck
Beijing: Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall · Hutong walk
- 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall
- 11:00Hutong walk
Hutong walk
Beijing to Xi'an
Temple of Heaven · HSR to Xi'an (4.5h) · Muslim Quarter
- 09:00Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven
- 11:00HSR to Xi'an
4.5h
- 13:00Muslim Quarter
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an Terracotta Army
Terracotta Army day trip · City Wall bike · Tang show
- 09:00Terracotta Army day trip
Terracotta Army day trip
- 11:00City Wall bike
City Wall bike
- 13:00Tang show
Tang show
Xi'an to Chengdu
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum · HSR Xi'an-Chengdu (3.5h) · Jinli Old Street
- 09:00Morning: Shaanxi History Museum
Morning: Shaanxi History Museum
- 11:00HSR Xi'an
Chengdu 3.5h
- 13:00Jinli Old Street
Jinli Old Street
Chengdu pandas
Panda Base morning · Wuhou Shrine · Sichuan opera
- 09:00Panda Base morning
Panda Base morning
- 11:00Wuhou Shrine
Wuhou Shrine
- 13:00Sichuan opera
Sichuan opera
Chengdu to Guilin
Fly Chengdu-Guilin (2h) · Two Rivers Four Lakes walk · Reed Flute Cave
- 09:00Fly Chengdu
Guilin 2h
- 11:00Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
- 13:00Reed Flute Cave
Reed Flute Cave
Li River to Yangshuo
Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4h) · West Street evening · Impression Liu Sanjie show
- 09:00Li River cruise to Yangshuo
4h
- 11:00West Street evening
West Street evening
- 13:00Impression Liu Sanjie show
Impression Liu Sanjie show
Guilin to Shanghai
Morning: Yulong River bike · Fly Guilin-Shanghai (2.5h) · Evening: Bund
- 09:00Morning: Yulong River bike
Morning: Yulong River bike
- 11:00Fly Guilin
Shanghai 2.5h
- 13:00Evening: Bund
Evening: Bund
Shanghai and departure
Yu Garden · French Concession walk · Departure
- 09:00Yu Garden
Yu Garden
- 11:00French Concession walk
French Concession walk
- 13:00Departure
Departure
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 10 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
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Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 5 days too long for a first trip?
No — {n} days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.