China 14-Day Itinerary: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin & Shanghai (2026)

Two weeks is the sweet spot for a first deep trip to China — enough to pair the must-see classics with pandas and dreamlike karst scenery without ever feeling rushed. This 14-day itinerary loops through five regions: imperial Beijing, ancient Xi'an, laid-back Chengdu, the river landscapes of Guilin & Yangshuo, and dazzling Shanghai. High-speed trains link the eastern cities; two short flights handle the longer hops. Spring and autumn are ideal; this route works year-round with seasonal tweaks.

Who This Itinerary Is For

This is the trip for travelers who want China's greatest hits plus its softer, scenic side — the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army, but also a teahouse afternoon in Chengdu and a bamboo raft beneath karst peaks. The pace is steady, not punishing: two to four nights per city. For a shorter version, see the China 7-day itinerary or the China 10-day itinerary.

Days 1–4: Beijing

Begin in the capital. Tour the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, the peaceful Temple of Heaven, and the lakeside Summer Palace. Give the Great Wall at Mutianyu a full day, and spend an evening in the Nanluoguxiang hutong. Our Beijing 4-day itinerary maps it hour by hour. See the Beijing destination guide for context.

Days 5–7: Xi'an

Take a morning high-speed train to Xi'an (about 4.5–6 hours). The headline is the Terracotta Army; pair it with the floodlit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a sunset cycle on the Xi'an City Wall, and street food in the Muslim Quarter. Three nights leaves room for the superb Shaanxi History Museum. More in the Xi'an 3-day itinerary.

Days 8–10: Chengdu

A high-speed train (about 3–4 hours) or a short flight brings you to Chengdu, the relaxed capital of Sichuan. Spend a morning with the pandas at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — arrive at opening for peak activity. Slow down over tea at People's Park, wander Jinli Ancient Street and the Kuanzhai Alley, and brave a Sichuan hotpot. Detailed plan: Chengdu 3-day itinerary.

Days 11–12: Guilin & Yangshuo

Fly to Guilin (about 1.5 hours) for China's most painterly landscape. The centerpiece is the Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, drifting past karst peaks straight off a banknote. In Yangshuo, cycle the countryside, raft the Yulong River, and catch the open-air light show. Add the Reed Flute Cave or the Longji Rice Terraces if time allows. See the Guilin 3-day itinerary.

Days 13–14: Shanghai

Fly to Shanghai (about 2 hours) to end on a modern high. Walk The Bund at night, ride a Pudong skyscraper, and tour the classical Yu Garden. With a spare half-day, slip out to the canals of Zhujiajiao. The Shanghai 3-day itinerary has more if you can extend.

Getting Around This Route

• Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu: high-speed rail; book via our China train booking guide.
• Chengdu → Guilin and Guilin → Shanghai: short domestic flights save a full day each versus the train.
• Reserve trains and flights a week ahead in peak season.

Where to Stay & Practical Tips

• Base centrally in each city near a metro line — see where to stay in China.
• Go cashless with Alipay or WeChat Pay; details in paying in China.
• Get connected with an eSIM or VPN and the essential apps before you fly.
• Pack layers — two weeks across five regions means real climate swings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 14 days too long for a first trip to China? Not at all. Two weeks lets you combine the classic Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai circuit with Chengdu's pandas and Guilin's scenery at a comfortable pace, with two to four nights per city.

Should I take trains or fly on this route? Use high-speed trains for Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu, then fly Chengdu–Guilin and Guilin–Shanghai. The flights each save the better part of a day over rail.

When is the best time for this 14-day itinerary? April–May and September–October are ideal everywhere on the route. Guilin is lush in summer but hot; winter is quiet and cheap but cooler in the north.

How much does a 14-day China trip cost? Mid-range travelers budget roughly US$90–170 per day including hotels, domestic transport, entries and meals, excluding international flights. Flights between Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai are the main add-on.

Can I do this itinerary in reverse? Yes. Starting in Shanghai and ending in Beijing works equally well and can be cheaper depending on your international flights.

Plan It in My Trip

Turn this two-week loop into your own plan: open the My Trip planner to save it as a drag-and-drop, day-by-day itinerary, reorder the five cities, and pin every attraction above before you go.