14-Day Grand China 2026: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai
Add Chengdu (pandas + Sichuan food) to the classic 10-day route. The most balanced 2-week China itinerary.
Quick Answer
What is this 14-day itinerary like?
This 14-day itinerary covers 8 UNESCO sites, involves 50 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $3,200.
Day by day
Book this trip →Two weeks covering China's five worth visiting regions. Days 1-3 Beijing, Day 4 HSR to Xi'an, Days 4-6 Xi'an (with Chengdu detour or skip), Days 5-7 Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food), Day 8 fly to Guilin, Days 8-9 Li River + Yangshuo, Day 10 fly to Shanghai, Days 10-13 Shanghai (with day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou), Day 14 depart. Includes a panda visit, China's most well-known food region (Sichuan), and the karst scenery. Best for travelers who want a complete China experience in one trip.
Beijing arrival + Forbidden City
Tiananmen Square · Forbidden City (3-4h) · Peking duck dinner
- 09:00Tiananmen Square
Tiananmen Square
- 11:00Forbidden City
3 4h
- 13:00Peking duck dinner
Peking duck dinner
Great Wall at Mutianyu
Full day Mutianyu
- 09:00Full day Mutianyu
Full day Mutianyu
Temples + HSR to Xi'an
Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple · HSR to Xi'an
- 09:00Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple
Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple
- 11:00HSR to Xi'an
HSR to Xi'an
Terracotta Army + City Wall
Full-day Terracotta tour · City Wall bike ride
- 09:00Full
day Terracotta tour
- 11:00City Wall bike ride
City Wall bike ride
Xi'an → Chengdu
Morning Shaanxi History Museum · HSR to Chengdu (3.5h, $80) · Evening: Jinli Old Street
- 09:00Morning Shaanxi History Museum
Morning Shaanxi History Museum
- 11:00HSR to Chengdu
3.5h, $80
- 13:00Evening: Jinli Old Street
Evening: Jinli Old Street
Chengdu: pandas + Sichuan
Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (morning, ¥55) · Sichuan hotpot lunch (spicy!) · People's Park tea house · Sichuan opera face-changing show (¥200)
- 09:00Giant Panda Breeding Research Base
morning, ¥55
- 11:00Sichuan hotpot lunch
spicy!
- 13:00People's Park tea house
People's Park tea house
- 15:00Sichuan opera face
changing show ¥200
Chengdu: Leshan Buddha day trip
Day trip: Leshan Giant Buddha (1.5h, ¥80) · Return Chengdu by 5pm · Evening: Kuanzhai Alley
- 09:00Day trip: Leshan Giant Buddha
1.5h, ¥80
- 11:00Return Chengdu by 5pm
Return Chengdu by 5pm
- 13:00Evening: Kuanzhai Alley
Evening: Kuanzhai Alley
Chengdu → Guilin
Fly to Guilin (2h, $130) · Evening: Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
- 09:00Fly to Guilin
2h, $130
- 11:00Evening: Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Evening: Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Li River cruise to Yangshuo
Li River cruise 4-5h · Yangshuo bike ride · Impression Liu Sanjie show
- 09:00Li River cruise 4
5h
- 11:00Yangshuo bike ride
Yangshuo bike ride
- 13:00Impression Liu Sanjie show
Impression Liu Sanjie show
Yangshuo → Shanghai
Xianggong Hill viewpoint · Fly to Shanghai (2.5h) · Evening Bund walk
- 09:00Xianggong Hill viewpoint
Xianggong Hill viewpoint
- 11:00Fly to Shanghai
2.5h
- 13:00Evening Bund walk
Evening Bund walk
Shanghai: classic
Yu Garden, Old City · Nanjing Road, People's Square · Pudong skyline at night
- 09:00Yu Garden, Old City
Yu Garden, Old City
- 11:00Nanjing Road, People's Square
Nanjing Road, People's Square
- 13:00Pudong skyline at night
Pudong skyline at night
Shanghai: Hangzhou day trip
HSR to Hangzhou (1h, $20) · West Lake cruise + walking · Lingyin Temple · Return Shanghai by 7pm
- 09:00HSR to Hangzhou
1h, $20
- 11:00West Lake cruise + walking
West Lake cruise + walking
- 13:00Lingyin Temple
Lingyin Temple
- 15:00Return Shanghai by 7pm
Return Shanghai by 7pm
Shanghai: free day
French Concession walk, Tianzifang arts · Acrobatic show (optional)
- 09:00French Concession walk, Tianzifang arts
French Concession walk, Tianzifang arts
- 11:00Acrobatic show
optional
Depart Shanghai
Morning at leisure · Depart from Pudong
- 09:00Morning at leisure
Morning at leisure
- 11:00Depart from Pudong
Depart from Pudong
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 14 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.