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  3. Liam's New Zealand grand tour: 14 days, Beijing to Shanghai
Beijing skyline with the Forbidden City in the foreground

Liam's New Zealand grand tour: 14 days, Beijing to Shanghai

A 14-day mid-range trip through Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai, budgeted at $2,400 (≈ $171/day).

real-trip-budgets2026-10-27
Ranks of the Terracotta Army in their excavation pit, Xi'anKarst peaks lining the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo

At a glance

Traveler
Liam
Nationality
New Zealand
Travel style
mid-range
Month of travel
September 2026
Total cost
$2,400
Per day
$171
Days
14

Visa note

New Zealand citizens are 30-day visa-free. Liam entered without prior application, passport scanned at PEK immigration.

Paying your way

ANZ Visa linked to Alipay covered most. Some rural Yangshuo shops wanted WeChat Pay; co-pay with Alipay was the workaround.

Highlights

  • 5-city loop: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
  • Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (¥215, 4 hours)
  • Terracotta Warriors morning tour to avoid crowds
  • Panda base Chengdu at 7am — pandas most active

Cost breakdown

Flights$700
Accommodation$700
Meals$400
Transit$320
Attractions$200
Misc$80

Day by day

  1. Day 1 — Beijing

    ≈ $171
    • Arrived in Beijing
    • 5-city loop: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai

  2. Day 2 — Beijing

    ≈ $171
    • Forbidden City complex visit

  3. Day 3 — Beijing

    ≈ $171
    • Hutong walk (afternoon)

  4. Day 4 — Xi’an

    ≈ $171
    • HSR/transit from Beijing to Xi’an
    • City Wall cycling (afternoon)

  5. Day 5 — Xi’an

    ≈ $171
    • 5-city loop: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai

  6. Day 6 — Xi’an

    ≈ $171
    • Terracotta Warriors morning tour to avoid crowds

  7. Day 7 — Chengdu

    ≈ $171
    • HSR/transit from Xi’an to Chengdu
    • Jinli Street evening walk

  8. Day 8 — Chengdu

    ≈ $171
    • Panda base Chengdu at 7am — pandas most active

  9. Day 9 — Chengdu

    ≈ $171
    • 5-city loop: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai

  10. Day 10 — Guilin

    ≈ $171
    • HSR/transit from Chengdu to Guilin
    • Li River cruise Guilin → Yangshuo (¥215, 4 hours)

  11. Day 11 — Guilin

    ≈ $171
    • Elephant Trunk Hill (morning)

  12. Day 12 — Guilin

    ≈ $171
    • Reed Flute Cave (afternoon)

  13. Day 13 — Shanghai

    ≈ $171
    • HSR/transit from Guilin to Shanghai
    • 5-city loop: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai

  14. Day 14 — Shanghai

    ≈ $171
    • The Bund morning walk
    • Departed Shanghai