China is an expansive destination with colorful culture, rich history, diverse landscapes, cute giant pandas, and exquisite cuisine… You might be wondering how to arrange an itinerary to suit your needs and make the most of your holiday in China: How many days do I need in China? Etc.
Here are some suggestions for designing your China itinerary based on our extensive trip planning experience.
Content Preview
How Many Days Do You Need in China?
![How Long to Spend in China](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
A classic China itinerary for first-timers is about 10–14 days, covering Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai with one more city: usually Guilin (for more varied and relaxing activity options), Zhangjiajie (exciting mountain experiences), or Chengdu (for pandas).
If you want to try some off-the-beaten-path routes, you may need 3 or 4 weeks. You could explore remote areas like Tibet (5–8 days), Yunnan (6–9 days), and the Silk Road (5–10 days).
If you have limited time, you could go with an essential itinerary of 7 to 9 days. You would just visit the "golden triangle cities" - Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai.
If you would like our help when planning your China trip, feel free to contact us. Our travel consultant will listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and promptly and make the best tour plan for you.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
![Trip Advisor certificate of 2024](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
![Tour Review](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
![]() ![]() |
A Trip with a very personal touch
![]() My guide was Lily Liu. On the first day we visited the Great Wall, a China Family and the Bell Tower. Lily was very informative and very flexible. She chose the right restaurant to satisfy all my wishes. She told me also about her family which gave the trip a very personal touch. I can only warmly recommend Lily as guide. more
Jun 2024, Nedko N
|
Chinahighlights .Excellent tour operator
![]() In Beijing Selinda in X'ian Lin and Ryan in Shanghai, all knowledgeable and committed that made our experience in China so much enjoyable in this private tour. more
Jun 2024, Mar L
|
Excellent visit to Beijing
![]() We had Selinda as our tour guide over our three day tour of Beijing. She was an excellent guide - you’ll have a great trip in Beijing if you are with Selinda. She was so friendly, had so much knowledge about each of the sites, Chinese history and Chinese life in general, which she happily shared with us all.She was very caring and accomodating of the different fitness levels in our group of four so we all really enjoyed each of the sites, especially with the weather being a little hot in Beijing during our stay.The restaurants she took us to were also excellent, and she was really helpful with my dietary intolerance. She also gave us some great suggestions for around Beijing on some additional days we had there. more
Jun 2024, Rhiannon E
|
1-Week China Itineraries
If you have one week to explore China, you are recommended to consider the golden triangle route: Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai.
Or you could consider exploring one area in depth, such as Shanghai and its surrounding area (Hangzhou, Suzhou, and/or Huangshan).
Option 1: Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai (The Golden Triangle)
- Days 1–4: Beijing sightseeing, including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
- Days 5–6: Xi'an with the Terracotta Warriors and a hands-on experience, museum visiting, and a food tour
- Day 7: Shanghai with the Bund and free time to explore
![A Sample 1-Week Itinerary: Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
The golden triangle route is a time-smart way for first-timers to see the most iconic landmarks and quickly learn about China's culture and history.
Beijing, being the capital city, is usually the starting point for a China trip. There you could see the top attractions of China, including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. You could also have some cultural interactive experiences like visiting a local family in Beijing's hutongs.
In Xi'an, the Terracotta Warriors is a must. The hands-on experience of making your own clay warrior would make the visit more interesting. We can arrange it for you.
The Bund is the most famous attraction in Shanghai, where you can see its past and present. Most Shanghai tour plans leave some free time to explore by yourself.
Option 2: Shanghai, Suzhou, and Hangzhou (Visa-Free)
- Days 1–2: Shanghai exploration with the Bund and Yu Garden
- Day 3: Hangzhou (West Lake and tea experience)
- Day 4: Suzhou (classical gardens and water towns)
- Day 5: Back to Shanghai (free-time exploration)
![1 week itinerary in Yangtze River Delta](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
With this itinerary, you would explore the famous Yangtze River Delta (Shanghai and its surrounding area).
You would see and learn about some of the top Chinese cultural elements like classical Chinese gardens, water towns, and tea culture:
- Walk around the ancient water towns and visit the most famous classic garden in Suzhou.
- Enjoy magnificent mountain views and enjoy some quiet moments in a quaint village in Huangshan.
- Learn about Chinese tea culture in Hangzhou. You can see how farmers pick tea leaves, learn the process for making tea, and talk to the local tea growers.
You can also take advantage of the convenience of the area - its 6-day visa-free policy permits visiting Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou.
If you are interested in Huangshan for its mountain views and quaint villages, you can check out this combination: 2-Day Shanghai Old-and-New Collision + 5-Day Dynamic Huangshan Tour.
10–12-Day China Itineraries
An itinerary ranging from 10 to 12 days allows you to add one city to the golden triangle route (Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai).
If you like natural beauty, we recommend Guilin (for varied and relaxing countryside activity options) or Zhangjiajie (for exciting mountain experiences). If you or your kids love pandas, Chengdu is recommended.
A Classic 10-Day Itinerary: Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin–Shanghai
- Days 1–3: Beijing exploration, with must-sees including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
- Days 4–5: Xi'an sightseeing, with a visit to the Terracotta Army and clay-warrior-making experience
- Day 6–8: Guilin, with a Li River cruise and outdoor activities like biking
- Days 9–10: Shanghai exploration, with a visit to the Bund and some free time
![A Sample 10-Day Itinerary: Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin–Shanghai](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
Our top recommendation for a 10–12-day itinerary covers Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and Guilin - the most-chosen route for first timers. Guilin features picturesque rural scenery and leisurely countryside activities.
It's a great place for outdoor pursuits with children, like kayaking and biking, as well as for couples to enjoy nature and create romantic memories, such as a walk around the karst-cradled paddy fields and a candlelit dinner by a rustic river.
If you have your own preferred destinations, you can also contact us. We would like to help you arrange a tour plan you'll love based on your interests and needs.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
![Trip Advisor certificate of 2024](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
![Tour Review](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
![]() ![]() |
Enjoyed seeing rural China
![]() Lele was are guide in Guilin and Yangshua which we wanted to do at a slower pace. He took us to a couple villages and to meet an older gentleman in one village and an older couple in another.He knew just where to stand to get the best photos on our boat ride to Yangshua.He also was flexible and accommodating when I wanted to see the Bayan tree Park and took us there and to see Moon hill from the road.He was our guide for 6 days and It was so nice to get to know him and learn about the similarities between our countries. more
Jun 2024, lightpacker
|
Guilin, Yangshou travel 2024
![]() We had a very good experience with this travel company. Our guide, Frank spoke excellent English, was friendly, pleasant and could efficiently accommodate all our requests to alter our itinerary on the fly. We had a lovely time in Guilin/ Yangshou. more
Jun 2024, Chong pun N
|
Yangshuo best guide
![]() Frank He Xiao is the best guide for us! He is very accommodating. He catered to our needs. We enjoyed Yangshuo very much! more
Jun 2024, May
|
2-Week China Itineraries
If you want a richer experience for your China tour, including culture, nature, pandas, and some outdoor activities, 2 weeks is an ideal duration.
A Popular 2-Week Itinerary: Golden Triangle, Chengdu, Yangtze Cruise
- Days 1–4: Beijing arrival and exploration, with must-sees including the Great Wall and the Forbidden City
- Days 5–6: Xi'an sightseeing, with a visit to the Terracotta Army and a clay-warrior-making experience
- Days 7–8: Chengdu panda tour with a keeper program - make panda cakes, see pandas being fed at close quarters, and clean the glass of their enclosures.
- Days 9–11: Yangtze River cruise with excursions
- Days 12–14: Shanghai exploration, with a visit to the Bund and some free time
![2-Week China Itinerary route map](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
With a 2-week trip in China, we recommend Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, and a Yangtze cruise.
Few people would say no to cute pandas, especially kids. We can arrange a panda keeper program for you to observe and learn about pandas up close.
A leisurely cruise would allow you to enjoy magnificent views of the Three Gorges and really relax, which is especially welcomed for multi-generation family trips and senior couple trips.
For more options for a 2-week itinerary in China, see:
- 2-Week Beijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Guilin, and Shanghai Tour
- 2-Week Beijing, Xi'an, Lhasa, and Shanghai Tour
- 2-Week Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, and Hong Kong
3-Week China Itineraries
With a 3-week trip in China, you would have the chance to go to some off-the-beaten-path destinations like Tibet or Yunnan besides the top tourist cities.
Tibet is a destination on many people's bucket lists. Its mysterious Tibetan culture, pure plateau scenery, and unique festival experiences are all incredibly enticing.
Yunnan is a colorful land with many things to do, whether you're with your kids or your partner. There are beautifully-scenic mountains and lakes, old towns, diverse ethnic cultures, and adventure activities like hiking in one of the world's deepest canyons.
Or, if you prefer a laid-back option, you could consider exploring deeper into a certain area like Shanghai's environs (the Yangtze Delta), Chengdu's vicinity (Western Sichuan), etc.
Option 1: A 3-Week Itinerary including Tibet
- Days 1–4: Beijing (The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven)
- Days 5–6: Xi'an (the Terracotta Warriors with a related hands-on experience, food tour, City Wall)
- Days 7–11: Tibet (the Potala Palace, monasteries, local-life experience)
- Days 12–13: Chengdu, with a panda volunteer program
- Days 14–17: Guilin, with nearby towns (river cruise, biking, bamboo rafting)
- Days 18–19: Shanghai sightseeing
![A 3-Week Itinerary with Tibet](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
On a 3-week six-city trip, the number of days spent in Tibet would be about four or five. You would be able to go to Lhasa to see the iconic Potala Palace, watch devout Buddhists praying in Barkhor Street, and enjoy a picnic on the shore of a holy lake. Contact us if you are interested in this itinerary.
If you want to explore Tibet further, for example including Everest Base Camp, you would need more than 3 weeks or fewer cities.
If you are interested in visiting Yunnan during a 3-week trip, you can find an itinerary suggestion on our How to Plan a 3-Week Itinerary in China (Best 3 Options & Costs).
Option 2: A 3-Week In-Depth Shanghai Area Exploration
- Days 1–4: Beijing exploration (the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, hutongs, Peking duck)
- Days 5–6: Xi'an sightseeing, with the Terracotta Warriors
- Days 7–8: Chengdu panda tour with a keeper program
- Days 9–11: Guilin, with nearby towns (river cruise, biking, bamboo rafting)
- Days 12–13: Hangzhou (West Lake and tea experience)
- Days 14–16: Suzhou (classical gardens and water towns)
- Days 17–19: Huangshan (the Yellow Mountains and villages)
- Days 20–21: Shanghai (the Bund and free time)
![A 3-Week Itinerary](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
With this 3-week itinerary, you would visit Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Huangshan together with Shanghai and plus Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Guilin. This option has a greater focus on South China, particularly the Yangtze Delta.
1-Month+ China Itineraries
![Zhangye Danxia landform](https://cdn.statically.io/img/data.chinahighlights.com/grey.gif)
With 1 month or a longer holiday to spend in China, you could explore further still into some off-the-beaten-track destinations.
For example, in Tibet, besides the usual visit to its capital Lhasa, you could explore more remote destinations like Everest Base Camp, Mt. Kailash, and Shigatse. Get inspired with our 8-Day Lhasa to Everest Base Camp Private Tour or 14-Day Tibet Tour with Mt. Kailash and Lake Manasarovar
You could also visit Yunnan and Tibet in one trip, which would enable you to know more about the minority cultures of China and see a variety of natural landscapes.
The Silk Road is also a good choice for a longer trip, where you could see vast deserts, ancient grottoes, Uygur culture, and much more. See our 12-Day Tour from Xi'an to Kashgar.
You can contact us for a more detailed and personalized itinerary arrangement if you are planning a one-month or longer China trip.
Tour China with Us!
We offer a personalized tour service. We would create a unique itinerary according to your flight times, interests, and any other requirements you have.
Just contact us, and we'll create your ideal China trip. Our consultants will listen to and answer your inquiries carefully and promptly and prepare the best tour plan for you.
Here are some popular options that you could base your trip on:
- 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour - the classic Golden Triangle trip
- 11-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Guilin–Shanghai - our top itinerary for families
- 2-Week Beijing–Xi'an–Zhangjiajie–Guilin–Shanghai Tour - a top choice for nature lovers
- 2-Week Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu – Yangtze Cruise – Shanghai Tour - the choice for panda fans and cruise fans