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10-Day China Grand Loop Itinerary 2026: Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Guilin-Shanghai — China itinerary
★ Itinerary · 10 days · 7 UNESCO sites

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.

Visa-free entryAlipay setupHSR routesVPN guideSafety
total trip length · Apr–Oct best10 days
total walking (3.6 km/day avg)36 km
UNESCO World Heritage sites7
total per person (mid-range)$1,980

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.

具Plan smarter:Check HSR routes and train times·Build your custom China itinerary

Day by day

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).

1
Day 1 · Mon

Beijing: Forbidden City

Tiananmen + Forbidden City · Jingshan Park · Peking duck

  1. 09:00Tiananmen + Forbidden City

    Tiananmen + Forbidden City

  2. 11:00Jingshan Park

    Jingshan Park

  3. 13:00Peking duck

    Peking duck

🏨Stay tonightWangfujing· D: Peking duck
2
Day 2 · Tue

Beijing: Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall · Hutong walk

  1. 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall

    Mutianyu Great Wall

  2. 11:00Hutong walk

    Hutong walk

🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: wall · D: hutong
3
Day 3 · Wed

Beijing to Xi'an

Temple of Heaven · HSR to Xi'an (4.5h) · Muslim Quarter

  1. 09:00Temple of Heaven

    Temple of Heaven

  2. 11:00HSR to Xi'an

    4.5h

  3. 13:00Muslim Quarter

    Muslim Quarter

🏨Stay tonightBell Tower· B: hotel · L: train · D: Muslim Quarter
4
Day 4 · Thu

Xi'an Terracotta Army

Terracotta Army day trip · City Wall bike · Tang show

  1. 09:00Terracotta Army day trip

    Terracotta Army day trip

  2. 11:00City Wall bike

    City Wall bike

  3. 13:00Tang show

    Tang show

🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: museum · D: Tang show
5
Day 5 · Fri

Xi'an to Chengdu

Morning: Shaanxi History Museum · HSR Xi'an-Chengdu (3.5h) · Jinli Old Street

  1. 09:00Morning: Shaanxi History Museum

    Morning: Shaanxi History Museum

  2. 11:00HSR Xi'an

    Chengdu 3.5h

  3. 13:00Jinli Old Street

    Jinli Old Street

🏨Stay tonightChunxi Road· B: hotel · L: train · D: Sichuan hotpot
6
Day 6 · Sat

Chengdu pandas

Panda Base morning · Wuhou Shrine · Sichuan opera

  1. 09:00Panda Base morning

    Panda Base morning

  2. 11:00Wuhou Shrine

    Wuhou Shrine

  3. 13:00Sichuan opera

    Sichuan opera

🏨Stay tonightSame hotel· B: hotel · L: Sichuan · D: hotpot
7
Day 7 · Sun

Chengdu to Guilin

Fly Chengdu-Guilin (2h) · Two Rivers Four Lakes walk · Reed Flute Cave

  1. 09:00Fly Chengdu

    Guilin 2h

  2. 11:00Two Rivers Four Lakes walk

    Two Rivers Four Lakes walk

  3. 13:00Reed Flute Cave

    Reed Flute Cave

🏨Stay tonightGuilin· B: hotel · L: airport · D: Guilin rice noodles
8
Day 8 · Mon

Li River to Yangshuo

Li River cruise to Yangshuo (4h) · West Street evening · Impression Liu Sanjie show

  1. 09:00Li River cruise to Yangshuo

    4h

  2. 11:00West Street evening

    West Street evening

  3. 13:00Impression Liu Sanjie show

    Impression Liu Sanjie show

🏨Stay tonightYangshuo· B: hotel · L: cruise · D: beer fish
9
Day 9 · Tue

Guilin to Shanghai

Morning: Yulong River bike · Fly Guilin-Shanghai (2.5h) · Evening: Bund

  1. 09:00Morning: Yulong River bike

    Morning: Yulong River bike

  2. 11:00Fly Guilin

    Shanghai 2.5h

  3. 13:00Evening: Bund

    Evening: Bund

🏨Stay tonightBund area· B: hotel · L: airport · D: Bund-view
10
Day 10 · Wed

Shanghai and departure

Yu Garden · French Concession walk · Departure

  1. 09:00Yu Garden

    Yu Garden

  2. 11:00French Concession walk

    French Concession walk

  3. 13:00Departure

    Departure

✈️DepartureHotel· B: hotel · L: xiao long bao

If 10 days isn’t quite right

All routes →
Beijing essentials
3 DAYS · BEIJING ONLY

Beijing essentials

Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.

Shanghai Pudong skyline
10 DAYS · GRAND LOOP

Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai

Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.

Panda at Chengdu base
14 DAYS · 5 CITIES

Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai

Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.

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 10 days too long for a first trip?
No — 10 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.