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9-Day Beijing-Xi'an-Chengdu-Guilin-Shanghai Itinerary 2026 — China itinerary
★ Itinerary · 9 days · 6 UNESCO sites

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.

Visa-free entryAlipay setupHSR routesVPN guideSafety
total trip length · Apr–Oct best9 days
total walking (3.6 km/day avg)32 km
UNESCO World Heritage sites6
total per person (mid-range)$1,820

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.

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Day by day

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.

1
Day 1 · Mon

Beijing arrival + Forbidden City

Tiananmen + Forbidden City (¥60) · Jingshan Park · Peking duck dinner

  1. 09:00Tiananmen + Forbidden City

    ¥60

  2. 11:00Jingshan Park

    Jingshan Park

  3. 13:00Peking duck dinner

    Peking duck dinner

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

Beijing Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall (¥45) · Hutong walk afternoon

  1. 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall

    ¥45

  2. 11:00Hutong walk afternoon

    Hutong walk afternoon

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

Beijing to Xi'an

Temple of Heaven · HSR Beijing-Xi'an (4.5h) · Muslim Quarter walk

  1. 09:00Temple of Heaven

    Temple of Heaven

  2. 11:00HSR Beijing

    Xi'an 4.5h

  3. 13:00Muslim Quarter walk

    Muslim Quarter walk

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

Xi'an Terracotta

Terracotta Army day (¥120) · City Wall bike · Tang show

  1. 09:00Terracotta Army day

    ¥120

  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 (¥55) · People's Park tea house · Sichuan opera

  1. 09:00Panda Base morning

    ¥55

  2. 11:00People's Park tea house

    People's Park tea house

  3. 13:00Sichuan opera

    Sichuan opera

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

Chengdu to Guilin

Morning: Wuhou Shrine · Fly Chengdu-Guilin (2h, ¥600-1200) · Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk

  1. 09:00Morning: Wuhou Shrine

    Morning: Wuhou Shrine

  2. 11:00Fly Chengdu

    Guilin 2h, ¥600 1200

  3. 13:00Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk

    Evening: Two Rivers Four Lakes walk

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

Li River cruise to Yangshuo

Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (4h, ¥450) · Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside · Impression Liu Sanjie show

  1. 09:00Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo

    4h, ¥450

  2. 11:00Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside

    Bike ride in Yangshuo countryside

  3. 13:00Impression Liu Sanjie show

    Impression Liu Sanjie show

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

Guilin to Shanghai

Morning: Reed Flute Cave (¥90) · Fly Guilin-Shanghai (2.5h) · Evening: The Bund

  1. 09:00Morning: Reed Flute Cave

    ¥90

  2. 11:00Fly Guilin

    Shanghai 2.5h

  3. 13:00Evening: The Bund

    Evening: The Bund

✈️DepartureBund area· B: hotel · L: airport · D: Bund-view

If 9 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 9 days too long for a first trip?
No — 9 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.