China itineraries by trip length

The classic first-timer's Beijing in three days. Forbidden City + Tiananmen, one Great Wall section, hutong walk, and Peking duck.

Best for

First-timers, History

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$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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Beijing for 3 days, fast HSR to Xi'an (4.5h, $80 second class), 2 days in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and city wall. The classic China first-timer route.

Best for

First-timers, History

From

$480 (backpacker) / $950 (mid-range)

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China's most popular one-week route. Beijing (3 days) → Xi'an (2 days) → Shanghai (2 days), all connected by fast HSR.

Best for

First-timers, History

From

$700 (backpacker) / $1500 (mid-range)

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The four-city China classic. Beijing + Xi'an for history, Guilin for karst scenery, Shanghai for modern China.

Best for

First-timers, Nature, History

From

$1100 (backpacker) / $2400 (mid-range)

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Add Chengdu (pandas + Sichuan food) to the classic 10-day route. The most balanced 2-week China itinerary.

Best for

First-timers, Foodies, Nature

From

$1500 (backpacker) / $3200 (mid-range)

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The full three-week China deep-dive. Six regions including Yunnan and Hong Kong. For travelers who want to see everything.

Best for

First-timers, Adventure, Nature, History

From

$2200 (backpacker) / $4800 (mid-range)

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Three Yunnan icons in 5 days. Kunming (Stone Forest), Dali (Erhai Lake + Old Town), Lijiang (Naxi culture + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain).

Best for

Nature, Off the beaten path

From

$600 (backpacker) / $1200 (mid-range)

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Follow the ancient Silk Road across northwest China. Xi'an, then fly to Dunhuang (Mogao Caves) and Turpan (Uighur culture + Flaming Mountains).

Best for

History, Off the beaten path, Foodies

From

$900 (backpacker) / $1800 (mid-range)

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China's Hawaii. Sanya on the south coast has year-round 25-28°C water, 5-star beach resorts, and visa-free entry for 38+ countries.

Best for

Beach, Families

From

$700 (backpacker) / $1500 (mid-range)

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A 7-day kid-friendly China route. Beijing (Forbidden City, pandas, water park) + Shanghai (Disney, aquarium, science museum). Optimized for ages 5-12.

Best for

Families

From

$1200 (backpacker) / $2800 (mid-range)

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Seven days through Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze): Shanghai's skyline and Bund, Hangzhou's West Lake, and Suzhou's classical gardens.

Best for

First-timers, Foodies, History

From

$600 (backpacker) / $1400 (mid-range)

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Five days in and around Chengdu: the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Sichuan cuisine, Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Qingcheng.

Best for

Foodies, Families, Nature

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1100 (mid-range)

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Five days through Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River cruise, Reed Flute Cave, Longji Rice Terraces, and the karst mountain bike loop.

Best for

Nature, Adventure, Families

From

$450 (backpacker) / $1000 (mid-range)

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A compact Shanghai plan covering the Bund, Yu Garden, Pudong skyscrapers, the French Concession, and a half-day water town side trip.

Best for

First-timers, city-break, photographers

From

$240 (backpacker) / $520 (mid-range)

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A focused 3-day plan for Chengdu covering the Giant Panda Base, Jinli Old Street, People's Park tea house, Wuhou Shrine, and Sichuan cuisine.

Best for

First-timers, food, wildlife

From

$200 (backpacker) / $440 (mid-range)

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A focused 3-day Xi'an itinerary covering the Terracotta Army, the 14th-century City Wall, the Muslim Quarter food street, and Tang Dynasty historical sites.

Best for

History, First-timers, food

From

$200 (backpacker) / $420 (mid-range)

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A 3-day Hangzhou itinerary covering West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea, and the Hefang Ancient Street. Visa-free for most Western travelers.

Best for

First-timers, gardens, tea

From

$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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A 3-day itinerary covering Guilin (Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill) and Yangshuo (Li River cruise, countryside, West Street).

Best for

First-timers, photographers, landscapes

From

$240 (backpacker) / $520 (mid-range)

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A focused 3-day Hong Kong itinerary covering Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, Temple Street Market, and Lantau Island (Big Buddha).

Best for

city-break, First-timers, food

From

$280 (backpacker) / $620 (mid-range)

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A 3-day Tianjin itinerary covering the Italian Quarter, Five Great Avenues mansion district, Tianjin Eye, and Goubuli baozi.

Best for

History, architecture, food

From

$180 (backpacker) / $380 (mid-range)

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A 3-day Xiamen itinerary covering Gulangyu Island (car-free, piano museum, colonial architecture), Nanputuo Temple, and Xiamen University.

Best for

First-timers, Beach, food

From

$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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A 3-day Harbin itinerary covering the Ice and Snow World, Saint Sophia Cathedral, Central Street, and Siberian Tiger Park.

Best for

winter, photographers, culture

From

$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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A 3-day Shenzhen itinerary covering Window of the World, Splendid China, Shenzhen Bay, and the OCT Loft creative district.

Best for

family, city-break, First-timers

From

$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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A focused 4-day plan covering Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall, hutongs) and Xi'an (Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter). HSR connects the two cities in 4.5 hours.

Best for

History, First-timers, short-trip

From

$380 (backpacker) / $820 (mid-range)

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A focused 4-day plan split between Shanghai (3 days) and the UNESCO gardens of Suzhou (1 day). 25-minute HSR connects the two cities.

Best for

First-timers, gardens, culture

From

$320 (backpacker) / $720 (mid-range)

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A 4-day deep Beijing itinerary adding the Summer Palace, Ming Tombs, and a Beijing opera show to the 3-day essentials.

Best for

First-timers, History, culture

From

$280 (backpacker) / $580 (mid-range)

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A 4-day Shanghai itinerary adding a Tongli water town day trip and a deeper museum experience to the classic 3-day plan.

Best for

First-timers, city-break, photographers

From

$300 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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A 4-day itinerary combining Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food) with Mt. Emei (UNESCO Buddhist mountain with Golden Summit sunrise).

Best for

Nature, wildlife, buddhist-culture

From

$320 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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A 4-day Jiangnan itinerary focusing on two UNESCO-listed garden cities: Suzhou (classical gardens) and Hangzhou (West Lake cultural landscape).

Best for

gardens, unesco, culture

From

$320 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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A 4-day itinerary covering Xi'an (Tang capital) and Luoyang (Eastern Han/Tang/Song capital), with the UNESCO Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple.

Best for

History, unesco, culture

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$320 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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A 4-day Chongqing itinerary covering the mountain-city skyline, the Three Gorges cruise start, Ciqikou Old Town, and Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot.

Best for

city-break, food, culture

From

$280 (backpacker) / $580 (mid-range)

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A 4-day northwestern Yunnan itinerary combining Lijiang Old Town (UNESCO) with Shangri-La's Tibetan Songzanlin Monastery.

Best for

Nature, culture, minority-villages

From

$380 (backpacker) / $820 (mid-range)

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A focused 4-day hiking itinerary covering the most scenic Great Wall sections: Mutianyu (full day), Gubeikou-Jinshanling trek, and Jinshanling-Simatai wild wall trek.

Best for

hiking, Adventure, photographers

From

$320 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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A 4-day Beijing itinerary with three day trip options: Tianjin Italian Quarter (30 min), Chengde Mountain Resort (1h 20m), or Huanghuacheng Great Wall.

Best for

History, unesco, architecture

From

$280 (backpacker) / $580 (mid-range)

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A 4-day itinerary combining Suzhou (UNESCO classical gardens) with two of China's most atmospheric water towns: Wuzhen and Xitang.

Best for

gardens, unesco, photographers

From

$300 (backpacker) / $680 (mid-range)

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Five days split between Shanghai (3 days) and Hangzhou (2 days) via 45-minute HSR. Covers the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, West Lake, and a water town side trip.

Best for

First-timers, city-and-nature, couples

From

$420 (backpacker) / $880 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Beijing itinerary adding 798 Art District, Olympic Park, and a Chengde (Ming-era Mountain Resort) day trip to the 4-day deep visit.

Best for

deep-exploration, art, History

From

$360 (backpacker) / $740 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Jiangnan itinerary covering Hangzhou's West Lake, Lingyin Temple, Longjing tea, and an overnight Wuzhen water town stay.

Best for

couples, gardens, photographers

From

$360 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary through Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (inspiration for Avatar's Pandora), Tianmen Mountain, and the ancient Miao minority town of Fenghuang.

Best for

Nature, photographers, Adventure

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$380 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Lhasa itinerary covering the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Barkhor circuit, Drepung Monastery, and Sera Monastery. Tibet permits required.

Best for

culture, buddhism, Adventure

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1180 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Hainan itinerary covering Sanya (China's Hawaii), Yalong Bay, Wuzhizhou Island, and the Yanoda rainforest.

Best for

Beach, family, relaxation

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1280 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary combining Beijing (imperial core) with Chengde (Qing summer capital, UNESCO Mountain Resort). 1h 20m HSR connects them.

Best for

History, unesco, culture

From

$360 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day coastal itinerary covering Dalian (Russian/Japanese colonial port, beaches) and Qingdao (German colonial port, Tsingtao beer).

Best for

Beach, History, food

From

$360 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary combining Wuhan (Yellow Crane Tower, Hubei Provincial Museum) with a 4-day Yangtze Three Gorges cruise to Yichang.

Best for

river-cruise, History, scenic

From

$580 (backpacker) / $1280 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary covering Xi'an (capital) and Shaanxi province sites: Hua Shan mountain, Famen Temple, Hukou Waterfall.

Best for

History, hiking, unesco

From

$360 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary combining Zhangjiajie (inspiration for Avatar's Pandora mountains) with Chongqing (mountain city, hotpot).

Best for

Nature, photographers, food

From

$420 (backpacker) / $920 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Jiangnan itinerary combining Shanghai (2 days), Wuzhen water town (1 day), and Hangzhou (2 days).

Best for

First-timers, city-and-nature, photographers

From

$420 (backpacker) / $920 (mid-range)

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A 5-day itinerary combining Xi'an (Tang capital, Terracotta Army) with Chongqing (mountain city, hotpot, Yangtze Three Gorges start).

Best for

History, food, culture

From

$360 (backpacker) / $780 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Jiangnan + Anhui itinerary combining Hangzhou's West Lake (UNESCO) with the legendary Yellow Mountain (Huangshan, UNESCO).

Best for

Nature, unesco, photographers

From

$380 (backpacker) / $820 (mid-range)

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A 5-day Beijing itinerary designed for families with kids and teens. Includes Great Wall toboggan, Beijing Aquarium, Olympic Park, and Peking duck.

Best for

family, kids, First-timers

From

$380 (backpacker) / $920 (mid-range)

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The classic first-timer's 6-day route covering China's three most-visited cities: Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall), Xi'an (Terracotta Army), Shanghai (Bund, Yu Garden).

Best for

First-timers, History, classic-China

From

$580 (backpacker) / $1280 (mid-range)

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A 6-day itinerary through Guilin's karst landscape: Li River cruise, Yangshuo countryside, Longji (Dragon's Backbone) rice terraces, and Reed Flute Cave.

Best for

landscapes, photographers, hiking

From

$420 (backpacker) / $880 (mid-range)

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A 6-day Silk Road route from Xi'an (Tang capital) to Dunhuang (Mogao Caves), with stops in Lanzhou and Jiayuguan (western terminus of the Great Wall).

Best for

History, silk-road, photographers

From

$520 (backpacker) / $1120 (mid-range)

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A 6-day itinerary covering Beijing (3 days), Chengde Mountain Resort (1.5 days), and Tianjin Italian Quarter (1.5 days).

Best for

History, unesco, architecture

From

$420 (backpacker) / $920 (mid-range)

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A 6-day itinerary combining Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food) with the UNESCO Jiuzhaigou Valley (turquoise lakes and Tibetan villages).

Best for

Nature, unesco, photographers

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1080 (mid-range)

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A 6-day itinerary pairing Shanghai (modern China, 3 days) with Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar mountains, 3 days).

Best for

First-timers, Nature, photographers

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1080 (mid-range)

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A 7-day Greater Bay Area itinerary covering Hong Kong (4 days), Macau (2 days), and Shenzhen (1 day). Combines colonial heritage, Chinese modernity, and Portuguese-influenced culture.

Best for

city-break, food, First-timers

From

$620 (backpacker) / $1380 (mid-range)

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A 7-day southwestern itinerary combining Chongqing (mountain city, hot pot, Three Gorges cruise start) with Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food).

Best for

city-break, food, culture

From

$540 (backpacker) / $1180 (mid-range)

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A 7-day deep Yunnan itinerary covering Dali Bai villages, Lijiang Naxi culture, and the off-the-beaten-path Shaxi Ancient Town (Bai minority).

Best for

culture, minority-villages, photographers

From

$580 (backpacker) / $1280 (mid-range)

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A romantic 7-day honeymoon itinerary combining imperial Beijing, the karst landscapes of Guilin/Yangshuo, and the tropical beaches of Sanya.

Best for

couples, honeymoon, romance

From

$720 (backpacker) / $1880 (mid-range)

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A 7-day Jiangnan + Anhui itinerary covering Shanghai, Suzhou (UNESCO gardens), Hangzhou (West Lake), and Huangshan (UNESCO Yellow Mountain).

Best for

unesco, gardens, photographers

From

$580 (backpacker) / $1280 (mid-range)

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An 8-day grand tour adding Chengdu (pandas) to the classic Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai route. Includes the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base and Sichuan cuisine.

Best for

First-timers, wildlife, food

From

$720 (backpacker) / $1620 (mid-range)

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A comprehensive 8-day Yunnan itinerary covering Kunming (Stone Forest), Dali (Erhai Lake, Cangshan Mountain), Lijiang (Old Town), and Shangri-La (Songzanlin Monastery).

Best for

Nature, culture, minority-villages

From

$680 (backpacker) / $1480 (mid-range)

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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.

Best for

First-timers, landscapes, photographers

From

$820 (backpacker) / $1820 (mid-range)

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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.

Best for

First-timers, classic-China, History

From

$880 (backpacker) / $1980 (mid-range)

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