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

Five cities, one coherent loop, fourteen days: that is the shape of the classic China first trip. Beijing for imperial grandeur, Xi'an for the buried army, Chengdu for pandas and Sichuan heat, Guilin for karst scenery that looks like a painting, Shanghai for the skyline send-off. High-speed trains carry you across the first three legs; two short domestic flights bridge the longer hops to Guilin and Shanghai.

Two to four nights per city keeps the pace comfortable. April through May and September through October are the sweet spots for weather across all five destinations, though this route works year-round with seasonal adjustments.

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, with 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 from Beijing West to Xi'an North. Around 23 G-train services run this corridor daily; the fastest complete the journey in about 4 hours 20 minutes, with many departures in the 4.5-hour range. Tickets typically go on sale 15 days before departure, and popular morning trains on peak dates fill quickly, so book ahead. The headline sight 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 also leaves room for the superb Shaanxi History Museum. More in the Xi'an 3-day itinerary.

Days 8–10: Chengdu

A G-train from Xi'an North to Chengdu East takes roughly 3 hours 7 minutes on the fastest services, with most departures in the 3 to 4.5-hour range. This is Chengdu, the relaxed capital of Sichuan. Arrive at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding right at opening: pandas are most active in the early morning and are far more likely to be moving around and eating than sleeping. By midday activity drops significantly. 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. The classic Guilin to Yangshuo section offers the best scenery; spring and autumn generally bring the clearest visibility, though the cruise runs year-round. 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 to Xi'an: G-train from Beijing West to Xi'an North. About 23 daily services; fastest around 4h20m. Book 15 days ahead for morning trains on peak dates.
• Xi'an to Chengdu: G-train from Xi'an North to Chengdu East. Fastest around 3h7m; typical journey 3 to 4.5 hours.
• Chengdu to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai: short domestic flights, each saving the better part of a day versus the train.
• 12306 now has an English interface at 12306.cn/en where foreigners can register with a passport and pay with Visa or Mastercard. Trip.com is also foreign-friendly and combines trains and flights in one search.

Reserve trains about a week ahead in peak season; morning departures on busy dates sell out.

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 daily spend varies significantly by city and travel style; check current rates when planning. Beijing and Shanghai tend to run higher than Xi'an or Chengdu. The main variable add-ons are the two domestic flights (Chengdu-Guilin and Guilin-Shanghai).

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.

Common Mistakes

• Booking high-speed trains too late. On Beijing-Xi'an and Xi'an-Chengdu, popular morning departures sell out in peak season. Tickets open about 15 days ahead; reserve about a week before departure to be safe.
• Skipping the Chengdu-Guilin and Guilin-Shanghai flights. Taking the train on these two legs burns the better part of a day each; the short flights are what keep this route to 14 days.
• Arriving at the Chengdu panda base midday. Pandas are most active right at opening. Come late and you'll mostly see them sleeping.
• Cramming a single night per city. This loop is built on two to four nights each. One-night stops mean you spend the trip in transit, not in the cities.
• Not setting up cashless payment before you arrive. Link Alipay or WeChat Pay in advance; many vendors no longer take cash.

Who This Is For

This 14-day plan suits first-time visitors who want China's headline sights and its scenic, slower side, and who are comfortable with a moving itinerary across five cities by train and plane. It's ideal if you have a full two weeks and want pandas and Guilin's karst alongside the Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai classics.

Skip it if you have fewer than 12 days (use the 7-day or 10-day routes instead), prefer to settle deeply into one or two places, or are traveling with very young children who'd find five back-to-back city changes tiring.

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.