China itinerary for your first trip

The routes people search for and choose most

10, 12 and 15 days, each with a variant. Pick one, see it day by day and load it into your trip to adjust it.

15 daysChina itinerary 15 days, the Avatar mountains and the Li RiverZhangjiajie and the Li River in one tripBeijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Zhangjiajie 3 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,300 to €2,350 per person10 daysChina itinerary 10 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiThe classic first-trip routeBeijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €900 to €1,550 per person12 daysChina itinerary 12 days, with Guilin and the Li RiverThe route Chinalia travellers ask for mostBeijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €1,050 to €1,950 per person

Routes by type of trip

Honeymoon

12 daysChina itinerary 12 days, with Guilin and the Li RiverThree nights in Yangshuo, in a hotel by the water like the old sugar mill Sugar House or the Banyan Tree villas on the Li River. One day cruising the river and another cycling along the Yulong, with no early starts. You finish with four nights in Shanghai and dinners facing the Bund.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €1,050 to €1,950 per person15 daysChina itinerary 15 days, the Avatar mountains and the Li RiverTwo landscapes in one trip, the Zhangjiajie pillars and the Li River peaks. In Zhangjiajie you can stay at Stone Haven, with cave-style suites and an infinity pool, and in Yangshuo by the river. April, September and October are the best months.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Zhangjiajie 3 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,300 to €2,350 per person10 daysChina itinerary 10 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiThe classic route at an easy pace. Four nights in Beijing and four in Shanghai leave room for a special hotel in each, like The PuXuan, facing the Forbidden City, or the 1929 Peace Hotel on the Bund. Only two bullet trains and no domestic flights.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €900 to €1,550 per person

Honeymoon in China

With kids

12 daysA 12-day family itinerary with the Chengdu pandasThe Chengdu pandas first thing in the morning, when they are awake. The base opens at 7.30 from March to October, and children up to age 6 or under 1.3 m get in free. There are two bullet trains and just one flight, and the hotels in Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai have family rooms.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Chengdu 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,000 to €1,850 per person10 daysChina itinerary 10 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiThree hotels and two bullet trains, nothing more. Children under 6 ride the train for free, one per adult and without their own seat. In Xi'an you can ride a bike around the city wall.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €900 to €1,550 per person12 daysChina itinerary 12 days, with Guilin and the Li RiverAn easy pace in Yangshuo, with bikes along the Yulong and hotels with a pool like Yuyuan Resort. It is nature without long hikes. Note it has two domestic flights, Xi'an-Guilin and Guilin-Shanghai.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €1,050 to €1,950 per person

China with kids

First trip

10 daysChina itinerary 10 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiThe Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army and the Bund, with two bullet trains. Fly into Beijing and out of Shanghai, so you never go back the same way. It is the base of most first trips.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €900 to €1,550 per person8 daysChina itinerary 8 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiThe same as the 10-day route, with one day less in Beijing and one less in Shanghai. Three nights in Beijing, two in Xi'an and three in Shanghai. It works if you have just over a week.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €700 to €1,250 per person12 daysChina itinerary 12 days, with Guilin and the Li RiverThe three classic cities plus the Li River scenery, the one on the 20-yuan note. Beijing and Xi'an by train, then a flight of about 2 hours from Xi'an to Guilin. Best from September to November or in April.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €1,050 to €1,950 per person

First trip to China, tips and what to know

Nature and adventure

15 daysBeijing, Chengdu, Chongqing and Zhangjiajie by train, 15 daysSix cities by bullet train, from the Chengdu pandas to the Zhangjiajie peaks, through Chongqing. Three days in the Zhangjiajie park, with the Bailong lift, Yuanjiajie and the glass bridge. There is only one flight, at the end, from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Chengdu 2 · Chongqing 2 · Zhangjiajie 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,250 to €2,250 per person15 daysChina itinerary 15 days, the Avatar mountains and the Li RiverHikes among the Zhangjiajie pillars, then bikes and boats on the Li River. A train of about 7 hours links the two. Avoid July and August, when Zhangjiajie is packed and hot.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Zhangjiajie 3 · Guilin 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,300 to €2,350 per person12 daysBeijing, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie and Shanghai in 12 daysThe classic triangle plus three days in the Avatar mountains. The park pass lasts 4 days, so there is no need to rush. April, September and October are the best months, with a direct flight from Xi'an.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Zhangjiajie 3 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €1,050 to €1,950 per person

Short on time

8 daysChina itinerary 8 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiBeijing, Xi'an and Shanghai in eight days, with two bullet trains and no domestic flights. Three nights in Beijing, two in Xi'an and three in Shanghai. Book the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army before you go, tickets open 7 days ahead.Beijing 3 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 3Comfortable, €700 to €1,250 per person10 daysChina itinerary 10 days, Beijing, Xi'an and ShanghaiWith two more days, Beijing and Shanghai feel relaxed. Four nights in each leave time for the Summer Palace or a water town near Shanghai.Beijing 4 · Xi'an 2 · Shanghai 4Comfortable, €900 to €1,550 per person

Which airport to fly into and out of

Book an open-jaw ticket, into Beijing and home from Shanghai. You avoid backtracking and save most of a day. Beijing has two airports, Capital and Daxing, so check which one is on your booking. Flights to China

The route for the month you travel

Tap your month. We take you to the route that fits best, based on the weather in each city and seasonal flights.

1. Jan10 daysThe golden triangle
2. Feb10 daysThe golden triangle
3. Mar15 daysChina by train
4. Apr15 daysMountains and river
5. May10 daysThe golden triangle
6. Jun12 daysWith Guilin and the Li River
7. Jul12 daysWith kids and pandas
8. Aug12 daysWith kids and pandas
9. Sep15 daysMountains and river
10. Oct12 daysZhangjiajie's Avatar peaks
11. Nov12 daysWith Guilin and the Li River
12. Dec10 daysThe golden triangle

Avoid Golden Week, 1 to 7 October, and Chinese New Year, 6 February 2027. Best time to visit China, month by month