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14-Day Grand China 2026: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai

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

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14-Day Grand China 2026: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Shanghai cover photo

TL;DR

Two weeks covering China's five must-visit regions. Days 1-3 Beijing, Day 4 HSR to Xi'an, Days 4-6 Xi'an (with Chengdu detour or skip), Days 5-7 Chengdu (pandas, Sichuan food), Day 8 fly to Guilin, Days 8-9 Li River + Yangshuo, Day 10 fly to Shanghai, Days 10-13 Shanghai (with day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou), Day 14 depart. Includes a panda visit, China's most iconic food region (Sichuan), and the karst scenery. Best for travelers who want a complete China experience in one trip.
Duration14 days
Best forFirst-timers, Foodies, Nature
Pricing$1500 (backpacker) / $3200 (mid-range) / $8000+ (luxury) per person

Day-by-day breakdown

  1. DAY 1

    Beijing arrival + Forbidden City

    • Tiananmen Square
    • Forbidden City (3-4h)
    • Peking duck dinner
    Stay
    Wangfujing
    Meals
    D
  2. DAY 2

    Great Wall at Mutianyu

    • Full day Mutianyu
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B
  3. DAY 3

    Temples + HSR to Xi'an

    • Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple
    • HSR to Xi'an
    Stay
    Muslim Quarter, Xi'an
    Meals
    B, D
  4. DAY 4

    Terracotta Army + City Wall

    • Full-day Terracotta tour
    • City Wall bike ride
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B, L
  5. DAY 5

    Xi'an → Chengdu

    • Morning Shaanxi History Museum
    • HSR to Chengdu (3.5h, $80)
    • Evening: Jinli Old Street
    Stay
    Chunxi Road, Chengdu
    Meals
    B, D
  6. DAY 6

    Chengdu: pandas + Sichuan

    • Giant Panda Breeding Research Base (morning, ¥55)
    • Sichuan hotpot lunch (spicy!)
    • People's Park tea house
    • Sichuan opera face-changing show (¥200)
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B, L, D
  7. DAY 7

    Chengdu: Leshan Buddha day trip

    • Day trip: Leshan Giant Buddha (1.5h, ¥80)
    • Return Chengdu by 5pm
    • Evening: Kuanzhai Alley
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B
  8. DAY 8

    Chengdu → Guilin

    • Fly to Guilin (2h, $130)
    • Evening: Elephant Trunk Hill, Two Rivers Four Lakes walk
    Stay
    Guilin central
    Meals
    B
  9. DAY 9

    Li River cruise to Yangshuo

    • Li River cruise 4-5h
    • Yangshuo bike ride
    • Impression Liu Sanjie show
    Stay
    Yangshuo
    Meals
    B, L
  10. DAY 10

    Yangshuo → Shanghai

    • Xianggong Hill viewpoint
    • Fly to Shanghai (2.5h)
    • Evening Bund walk
    Stay
    The Bund, Shanghai
    Meals
    B
  11. DAY 11

    Shanghai: classic

    • Yu Garden, Old City
    • Nanjing Road, People's Square
    • Pudong skyline at night
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B, D
  12. DAY 12

    Shanghai: Hangzhou day trip

    • HSR to Hangzhou (1h, $20)
    • West Lake cruise + walking
    • Lingyin Temple
    • Return Shanghai by 7pm
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B
  13. DAY 13

    Shanghai: free day

    • French Concession walk, Tianzifang arts
    • Acrobatic show (optional)
    Stay
    same
    Meals
    B
  14. DAY 14

    Depart Shanghai

    • Morning at leisure
    • Depart from Pudong
    Stay
    —
    Meals
    B

What is included

Included

  • Hotels (13 nights)
  • All HSR tickets
  • All domestic flights
  • Daily breakfast
  • Li River cruise
  • Panda base + Leshan + Terracotta entrances

Not included

  • International flights
  • Visa
  • Most lunches and dinners
  • Shows and performances

Frequently asked questions

Is 14 days the right length for China?
Yes for most travelers. It is the upper end of a single vacation but you cover five iconic regions: history (Beijing, Xi'an), nature (Guilin), wildlife (Chengdu pandas), modern (Shanghai). Two weeks is the recommended length for a first-timer who wants to do it well.
Can I skip Chengdu to save time?
Yes — drop the Chengdu 3-day block and you have an 11-day trip (close to the 10-day Classic itinerary). But Chengdu is worth it: pandas, Sichuan food, and Leshan Buddha are unique to China.
How fit do I need to be for the pandas?
Light. The panda base is mostly flat walking. Arrive by 7:30am to see pandas active (they sleep through the afternoon).
Is Sichuan hotpot too spicy for first-timers?
Yes for most Western palates. Order a 鸳鸯锅 (yuanyang, half-and-half) with one mild side. Even the "mild" side is spicy. Local Chengdu restaurants are very spicy — tourist-area places have toned-down options.

References

  1. Chengdu Panda Base official
  2. Leshan Buddha official
  3. Trip.com — China package tours

Written by

NihaoVisit Editorial Team

Travel research team · Regular policy and price audits

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