Two weeks is the trip most people wish they had time for. It covers the must-see classics, the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Army, and still leaves room for the things that surprise first-timers most: giant pandas in Chengdu and the otherworldly karst peaks around Guilin and Yangshuo. You finish in Shanghai, the easiest city to fly home from.
This 14-day plan is paced for enjoyment, not endurance. It uses high-speed rail where trains are fast and flights only on the long legs, with at least two nights everywhere so you never pack-and-go two mornings in a row. Below is the route at a glance, a day-by-day breakdown, transit times, costs, and how a local guide ties it together.
Itinerary at a glance
- Days 1-3 - Beijing: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, hutongs.
- Days 4-5 - Xi'an: Terracotta Army, city wall, Muslim Quarter.
- Days 6-7 - Chengdu: giant panda base, Sichuan food, teahouses.
- Days 8-11 - Guilin & Yangshuo: Li River cruise, rice terraces, cycling, West Street.
- Days 12-14 - Shanghai: the Bund, French Concession, Yuyuan, water-town day trip.
Day-by-day breakdown
- Days 1-3 - Beijing: The Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and an unhurried hutong evening.
- Days 4-5 - Xi'an: The Terracotta Army early, then the city wall by bike and the Muslim Quarter for dinner.
- Days 6-7 - Chengdu: Pandas at dawn, hotpot at night, and a slow afternoon in a teahouse.
- Days 8-11 - Guilin & Yangshuo: Cruise the Li River, cycle through the karst countryside, see the Longji rice terraces, and base yourself in laid-back Yangshuo. A Guilin and Yangshuo guide knows the best viewpoints.
- Days 12-14 - Shanghai: The Bund, the French Concession, Yuyuan Garden, and a half-day in a canal town to finish.
Getting around between cities
This route mixes rail and air. Beijing-Xi'an (about 4.5-6 hours) and Xi'an-Chengdu (3-4 hours) are easy bullet trains. Chengdu to Guilin is best flown, around 1.5 hours, and Guilin to Shanghai is also a short flight of roughly 2 hours. Guilin and Yangshuo are about 1.5 hours apart by road or fast train. Book intercity tickets a few days ahead in peak season. Our transport guide explains rail tickets, airports, and city metros.
Best time to go & how long you need
Fourteen days is ideal for this five-stop route; trying to add more cities would undo the relaxed pace. Spring and autumn are best overall. Note the regional twist: the Li River and Yangshuo are most lush from late spring into summer when water levels are higher, while autumn brings clearer skies in the northern cities. Skip the early-October holiday week, when scenic spots like Guilin overflow. For seasonal detail, see our best time to visit China guide.
What it costs
Over two weeks a mid-range traveler can plan on roughly US$90-160 a day all-in, though prices change so confirm current details. Expect hotels around US$50-120 a night, trains US$30-90 per leg, and two short flights at perhaps US$60-150 each booked early. The Li River cruise is a notable extra, often US$30-80. Food and local transport stay cheap throughout. Our China budget guide breaks costs down by travel style.
Make it easy: book a local guide
Five cities, three flights, several train rides, and a river cruise add up to real coordination. A local guide books the tricky pieces, gets you to the pandas and the Great Wall ahead of the crowds, and finds the karst viewpoints that are not on the standard tour. On HeroGuide you post your trip once and verified guides in each region bid for it, so you compare real people and prices instead of a one-size package. Post your trip and get bids from local guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is two weeks enough time for China?
Two weeks is plenty for a deeply satisfying first trip covering the classic cities plus pandas and karst scenery. China is huge, so you still will not see everything, but 14 days gives you history, food, cities, and dramatic landscapes at a comfortable pace.
Should I add Guilin or Zhangjiajie for the nature leg?
Choose Guilin and Yangshuo for classic karst peaks, river cruises, and relaxed countryside cycling. Choose Zhangjiajie for the towering sandstone pillars that inspired the floating mountains in film. Guilin is easier to combine with this route; Zhangjiajie is more of a dedicated detour.
How many flights does this itinerary involve?
Typically two or three short flights, mainly on the longer legs such as Chengdu to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai. The rest is high-speed rail. Flying those legs saves a full day each compared with the train.
Do I need a visa for a 14-day China trip?
Yes, two weeks exceeds the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit window, so most travelers will need a tourist visa. Visa rules change, so check our visa overview and confirm the current requirements with an official Chinese source before booking.
Is this pace family-friendly?
Yes. With two or more nights in each base and short transit legs, this itinerary suits families and slower travelers. Chengdu's pandas and Yangshuo's countryside are especially popular with children, and guides can adjust the daily pace to your group.
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