China Itinerary: Sample Plans

Beijing · Shanghai

The two-tier-one short trip: Beijing's imperial icons and the Great Wall, then Shanghai's waterfront and lanes — one flagship high-speed-rail leg, no domestic flights.

Shanghai · Suzhou · Hangzhou

The Jiangnan classic: Shanghai's waterfront and lanes, Suzhou's UNESCO gardens and canals, and Hangzhou's West Lake — three cities on short, frequent high-speed-rail hops.

Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai

The tightest credible first trip — a highlight reel of the three icons with no slack. Take this only if a week is genuinely all you have; 10 days is a much better fit.

Chengdu · Chongqing

The Sichuan pair done properly: Chengdu's pandas and teahouse pace, then the editor's home city Chongqing — hotpot, the Liziba through-a-building monorail, and the cyberpunk river skyline. A first-hand week.

Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu

Icons plus pandas without the two-week commitment: the Great Wall and Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, and the Chengdu panda base — all by high-speed rail, ending in Sichuan.

Beijing · Xi'an · Shanghai

The default first-timer route: the Great Wall and Forbidden City, the Terracotta Army, and the Bund — three cities, all connected by high-speed rail, no domestic flights.

Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu · Shanghai

The classic route plus the Chengdu panda base — the most-requested 'add pandas to the icons' two-week plan, still all by high-speed rail until the long Chengdu→Shanghai hop.

Beijing · Xi'an · Chengdu · Chongqing · Yangtze River · Shanghai

The deep three weeks: the classic icons, then the moat — Chengdu pandas, the editor's home city Chongqing, and a downstream Yangtze cruise through the Three Gorges to Shanghai.