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  3. John's US trip: 14 days in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu & Shanghai
Meridian Gate of the Forbidden City, Beijing

John's US trip: 14 days in Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu & Shanghai

A 14-day mid-range trip through Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Shanghai, budgeted at $1,700 (≈ $121/day).

real-trip-budgets2026-10-27
Panda base enclosure in ChengduThe Bund at dusk in Shanghai

At a glance

Traveler
John
Nationality
United States
Travel style
mid-range
Month of travel
October 2025
Total cost
$1,700
Per day
$121
Days
14

Visa note

US citizens still need a tourist (L) visa in 2026. Applied at the Chinese consulate in San Francisco, 5 business days, $185 fee.

Paying your way

Alipay Tour Card linked to a Chase Sapphire Visa worked at ~90% of merchants. Only the rural tea-house stop near Chengdu wanted cash.

Highlights

  • Walked the full Forbidden City in one morning
  • Overnight on the Great Wall at Mutianyu (avoiding the day-tripper crush)
  • Took the Chengdu panda base at 7:30am for the morning feeding
  • Hotpot lunch in Chongqing between two HSR legs

Cost breakdown

Flights$540
Accommodation$560
Meals$280
Transit$180
Attractions$90
Misc$50

Day by day

  1. Day 1 — Beijing

    ≈ $121
    • Arrived in Beijing
    • Walked the full Forbidden City in one morning

  2. Day 2 — Beijing

    ≈ $121
    • Overnight on the Great Wall at Mutianyu (avoiding the day-tripper crush)

  3. Day 3 — Beijing

    ≈ $121
    • Temple of Heaven morning visit

  4. Day 4 — Beijing

    ≈ $121
    • Summer Palace afternoon walk

  5. Day 5 — Xi'an

    ≈ $121
    • HSR/transit from Beijing to Xi'an
    • Muslim Quarter evening walk

  6. Day 6 — Xi'an

    ≈ $121
    • City Wall cycling (morning)

  7. Day 7 — Xi'an

    ≈ $121
    • Big Wild Goose Pagoda (morning)

  8. Day 8 — Xi'an

    ≈ $121
    • Shaanxi History Museum (afternoon)

  9. Day 9 — Chengdu

    ≈ $121
    • HSR/transit from Xi'an to Chengdu
    • Jinli Street afternoon walk

  10. Day 10 — Chengdu

    ≈ $121
    • People's Park tea house afternoon

  11. Day 11 — Chengdu

    ≈ $121
    • Took the Chengdu panda base at 7:30am for the morning feeding

  12. Day 12 — Chengdu

    ≈ $121
    • Sichuan hotpot lunch

  13. Day 13 — Shanghai

    ≈ $121
    • HSR/transit from Chengdu to Shanghai
    • The Bund evening walk

  14. Day 14 — Shanghai

    ≈ $121
    • Yu Garden morning visit
    • Departed Shanghai