China itineraries by trip length

The classic first-timer's Beijing in three days. Forbidden City + Tiananmen, one Great Wall section, hutong walk, and Peking duck.

Best for

First-timers, History

From

$220 (backpacker) / $480 (mid-range)

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Beijing for 3 days, fast HSR to Xi'an (4.5h, $80 second class), 2 days in Xi'an for the Terracotta Army and city wall. The classic China first-timer route.

Best for

First-timers, History

From

$480 (backpacker) / $950 (mid-range)

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China's most popular one-week route. Beijing (3 days) → Xi'an (2 days) → Shanghai (2 days), all connected by fast HSR.

Best for

First-timers, History

From

$700 (backpacker) / $1500 (mid-range)

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The four-city China classic. Beijing + Xi'an for history, Guilin for karst scenery, Shanghai for modern China.

Best for

First-timers, Nature, History

From

$1100 (backpacker) / $2400 (mid-range)

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Add Chengdu (pandas + Sichuan food) to the classic 10-day route. The most balanced 2-week China itinerary.

Best for

First-timers, Foodies, Nature

From

$1500 (backpacker) / $3200 (mid-range)

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The full three-week China deep-dive. Six regions including Yunnan and Hong Kong. For travelers who want to see everything.

Best for

First-timers, Adventure, Nature, History

From

$2200 (backpacker) / $4800 (mid-range)

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Three Yunnan icons in 5 days. Kunming (Stone Forest), Dali (Erhai Lake + Old Town), Lijiang (Naxi culture + Jade Dragon Snow Mountain).

Best for

Nature, Off the beaten path

From

$600 (backpacker) / $1200 (mid-range)

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Follow the ancient Silk Road across northwest China. Xi'an, then fly to Dunhuang (Mogao Caves) and Turpan (Uighur culture + Flaming Mountains).

Best for

History, Off the beaten path, Foodies

From

$900 (backpacker) / $1800 (mid-range)

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China's Hawaii. Sanya on the south coast has year-round 25-28°C water, 5-star beach resorts, and visa-free entry for 38+ countries.

Best for

Beach, Families

From

$700 (backpacker) / $1500 (mid-range)

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A 7-day kid-friendly China route. Beijing (Forbidden City, pandas, water park) + Shanghai (Disney, aquarium, science museum). Optimized for ages 5-12.

Best for

Families

From

$1200 (backpacker) / $2800 (mid-range)

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Seven days through Jiangnan (south of the Yangtze): Shanghai's skyline and Bund, Hangzhou's West Lake, and Suzhou's classical gardens.

Best for

First-timers, Foodies, History

From

$600 (backpacker) / $1400 (mid-range)

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Five days in and around Chengdu: the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, Sichuan cuisine, Leshan Giant Buddha, and Mount Qingcheng.

Best for

Foodies, Families, Nature

From

$480 (backpacker) / $1100 (mid-range)

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Five days through Guilin and Yangshuo: Li River cruise, Reed Flute Cave, Longji Rice Terraces, and the karst mountain bike loop.

Best for

Nature, Adventure, Families

From

$450 (backpacker) / $1000 (mid-range)

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