2 Weeks in ChinaThe Perfect 2026 Itinerary
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai. The classic route, optimized day by day.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Beijing
Must-do highlights:
- Forbidden City (book 7 days ahead)
- Great Wall at Mutianyu
- Temple of Heaven at dawn
- Hutong food tour
- Summer Palace
Insider tip
Do the Great Wall on day 2 while jet lag wakes you early — you will beat the crowds
Xi'an
Must-do highlights:
- Terracotta Army (morning slot)
- City Wall bike ride
- Muslim Quarter street food
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda
Insider tip
Book Terracotta Army entry for 8:30 AM — tour buses arrive at 10
Chengdu
Must-do highlights:
- Giant Panda Base (arrive at 7:30 AM opening)
- People's Park teahouse
- Sichuan hotpot dinner
- Jinli Ancient Street
Insider tip
Pandas are active only in early morning — afternoon visits see sleeping lumps
Guilin & Yangshuo
Must-do highlights:
- Li River cruise to Yangshuo
- West Street evening
- Yulong River bamboo raft
- Xianggong Mountain sunrise
- Longji rice terraces day trip
Insider tip
Stay in Yangshuo, not Guilin city — the scenery is in Yangshuo
Shanghai
Must-do highlights:
- The Bund at sunset
- Yu Garden & old town
- French Concession walk
- Shanghai Tower observation deck
- Zhujiajiao water town half-day
Insider tip
See the Bund from both sides — Puxi promenade at dusk, then Pudong rooftop bar after dark
5 Rules for This Itinerary
Book the big three first
Forbidden City, Terracotta Army, and Panda Base all require advance online booking with timed entry. Reserve before booking hotels.
Trains over domestic flights
Beijing→Xi'an and Xi'an→Chengdu are perfect rail journeys. Only fly Chengdu→Guilin and Guilin→Shanghai.
Build in a buffer day
This itinerary has slack. If a day goes sideways (weather, closures), steal time from Shanghai, not Beijing.
Avoid Golden Week
Oct 1-7 and Chinese New Year make this route miserable. April-May and September-October (post-holiday) are ideal.
Visa-free check first
Many nationalities now get 30-day visa-free entry — verify your passport qualifies before paying for a visa.
Only Have 10 Days?
Cut Guilin/Yangshuo and fly Chengdu→Shanghai direct. You lose the karst landscapes but keep the essential Golden Triangle plus pandas. Alternatively, drop Chengdu and keep Guilin if scenery beats pandas for you.
Book Every Stop on This Route
Skip-the-line tickets and local guides for all five cities