9-Day Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Guilin-Shanghai Itinerary 2026
A 9-day grand tour covering Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin (Li River karst scenery), and Shanghai. Combines history, wildlife, and China's most well-known landscapes.
Quick Answer
What is this 9-day itinerary like?
This 9-day itinerary covers 6 UNESCO sites, involves 32 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $1,820.
Day by day
Book this trip →Nine days lets you add Guilin's Li River karst scenery to the Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Shanghai route. Day-by-day: Beijing (2), Xi'an (2), Chengdu (1.5), Guilin/Yangshuo (2), Shanghai (1.5). HSR and short flights connect cities.
Beijing arrival + Forbidden City
Tiananmen + Forbidden City (¥60) · Jingshan Park · Peking duck dinner
- 09:00Tiananmen + Forbidden City
¥60
- 11:00Jingshan Park
Jingshan Park
- 13:00Peking duck dinner
Peking duck dinner
Beijing Great Wall
Mutianyu Great Wall (¥45) · Hutong walk afternoon
- 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall
¥45
- 11:00Hutong walk afternoon
Hutong walk afternoon
Beijing to Xi'an
Temple of Heaven · HSR Beijing-Xi'an (4.5h) · Muslim Quarter walk
- 09:00Temple of Heaven
Temple of Heaven
- 11:00HSR Beijing
Xi'an 4.5h
- 13:00Muslim Quarter walk
Muslim Quarter walk
Xi'an Terracotta
Terracotta Army day (¥120) · City Wall bike · Tang show
- 09:00Terracotta Army day
¥120
- 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 (¥55) · People's Park tea house · Sichuan opera
- 09:00Panda Base morning
¥55
- 11:00People's Park tea house
People's Park tea house
- 13:00Sichuan opera
Sichuan opera
Chengdu to Guilin
Morning: Wuhou Shrine · Fly Chengdu-Guilin (2h, ¥600-1200) · Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
- 09:00Morning: Wuhou Shrine
Morning: Wuhou Shrine
- 11:00Fly Chengdu
Guilin 2h, ¥600 1200
- 13:00Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
Li River cruise to Yangshuo
Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (4h, ¥450) · Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside · Impression Liu Sanjie show
- 09:00Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo
4h, ¥450
- 11:00Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside
Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside
- 13:00Impression Liu Sanjie show
Impression Liu Sanjie show
Guilin to Shanghai
Morning: Reed Flute Cave (¥90) · Fly Guilin-Shanghai (2.5h) · Evening: The Bund
- 09:00Morning: Reed Flute Cave
¥90
- 11:00Fly Guilin
Shanghai 2.5h
- 13:00Evening: The Bund
Evening: The Bund
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 9 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.