Short answer
Fourteen days is the shortest trip that covers both halves of China: the imperial north, the dynastic heartland, the teahouse city of Chengdu, the karst river country around Guilin and Yangshuo, and a modern finish in Shanghai.
The split is Beijing 4 nights, Xi'an 2, Chengdu 3, Guilin and Yangshuo 3, Shanghai 2: 14 nights and a flight home the morning after night 14. Only four legs need planning, two by rail (Beijing to Xi'an, about 4.5 to 6 hours; Xi'an to Chengdu, about 3 to 4 hours) and two by air (Chengdu to Guilin, and Guilin to Shanghai, where the train eats a full day).
Book three things early: the Forbidden City (released seven days ahead, closed Mondays), the Terracotta Army (passport-linked, no windows on site) and your rail tickets on 12306. See booking Chinese attractions and buying train tickets as a foreigner.
The route at a glance
Five cities, four internal legs, 14 nights. Each long leg sits in the morning.
| Days | City | Nights | Intercity transport |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 4 | Beijing | 4 | Arrive by air. Day 5, high-speed rail Beijing West to Xi'an North, about 4.5 to 6 hours. |
| 5 to 6 | Xi'an | 2 | Out by rail, Xi'an North to Chengdu East, about 3 to 4 hours. |
| 7 to 9 | Chengdu | 3 | Out by air (about 2 hours) or on the long through rail route (roughly 5 to 7 hours). |
| 10 to 12 | Guilin and Yangshuo | 3 | Guilin to Yangshuo by rail, road or the Li River cruise. One night in Guilin, two in Yangshuo. |
| 13 to 14 | Shanghai | 2 | Fly from Guilin Liangjiang, about 2.5 hours; rail takes most of a day. |
Book the rail legs on Beijing to Xi'an and Xi'an to Chengdu, and the hop south on the Guilin to Yangshuo guide. Fares float with the train and the date.
Day by day
Days 1 to 4: Beijing
Day 1. Land, then the imperial axis. The Forbidden City is real-name, releases tickets seven days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time and closes Mondays except public-holiday Mondays. Enter at the Meridian Gate, leave by the north gate, then Jingshan Park for the view back over the roofs. Metro Line 1.
Day 2. The Great Wall at Mutianyu, 73 km northeast, cable car up and toboggan down. Go with a driver or a small tour: the public bus is slow and poorly signed. Dinner in the hutongs.
Day 3. Temple of Heaven at opening time, while locals do tai chi in the park, then the Summer Palace.
Day 4. Beijing at street level: the Bell and Drum Towers, the Shichahai lakes and a hutong walk. Eat early: tomorrow starts with a train.
Days 5 and 6: Xi'an
Day 5. Morning train to Xi'an North, then the metro into the walled centre (30 to 45 minutes to your hotel). Late afternoon suits the City Wall by bike, then dinner in the Muslim Quarter.
Day 6. The Terracotta Army is 40 km east at Lintong, not in Xi'an. Tourist bus 5 from the station's east square takes about 70 minutes, or metro Line 1 then Line 9. Tickets are passport-linked, with no ticket windows on site.
Days 7 to 9: Chengdu
Day 7. Morning train to Chengdu East, then tea in a People's Park teahouse, Jinli Street and hotpot. See Chengdu teahouse culture and the hotpot guide.
Day 8. Day trip east to the Leshan Giant Buddha by direct high-speed train from Chengdu East, back for a face-changing Sichuan opera show. See Chengdu day trips.
Day 9. Wenshu Monastery and its teahouses, the Chengdu Museum or a cooking class, Tianfu Square in the evening. To see pandas instead, swap this day: the Panda Base needs a real-name booking.
Days 10 to 12: Guilin and Yangshuo
Day 10. Fly (about 2 hours) or take the long through train (roughly 5 to 7 hours) to Guilin, then one afternoon downtown: Zhengyang Pedestrian Street, the Twin Pagodas, and the Two Rivers and Four Lakes lights at night.
Day 11. The Li River cruise downstream to Yangshuo, about 4 hours depending on the water level, morning departures only, from Zhujiang Wharf, a 30-minute drive from downtown Guilin, which is why night 10 belongs in Guilin. Sleep two nights in Yangshuo; the cruise pier is a short walk from West Street.
Day 12. The Yulong River by bamboo raft or bicycle, with the karst bike routes starting in town, then West Street and the night market. More in the Guilin attractions guide.
Days 13 and 14: Shanghai
Day 13. Fly from Guilin Liangjiang, about 2.5 hours, allowing two hours for the transfer from Yangshuo. Evening on the Bund: free, open at all hours, best after dark when Pudong lights up.
Day 14. Yu Garden early, before the bazaar lanes fill, then one afternoon: a Pudong observation deck (timed tickets, buy ahead) or the plane-tree streets around Tianzifang. Fly home the next morning.
Where the days go
The split is about travel days, not city rankings.
- Beijing, 4 nights. Forbidden City, the Wall, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the hutongs. Three nights means dropping one.
- Xi'an, 2 nights. Enough for the City Wall afternoon and a full Terracotta Army day.
- Chengdu, 3 nights. The city needs two days once arrival and a teahouse afternoon are counted, and it is the hub for western Sichuan, so a day trip east to Leshan fits with no hotel change.
- Guilin and Yangshuo, 3 nights. The Li River cruise is a morning-only, four-hour hop between two towns: a night in Guilin before it, two in Yangshuo after. As a Guilin day trip it means three to four hours on a bus each way.
- Shanghai, 2 nights. International flights, an easy metro, and no travel day on the last full day.
What to book before you fly
Three attraction bookings, two rail legs, two flights. The rest can wait a day or two.
| Book | When | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Forbidden City | 7 days ahead, 20:00 Beijing time | Daily cap, no same-day tickets, closed Mondays |
| Terracotta Army | A few days ahead | Passport-linked, no ticket windows on site |
| Panda Base (optional swap) | As early as the window opens | Morning slots sell out first |
| Rail: Beijing to Xi'an, Xi'an to Chengdu | As soon as dates are fixed | Morning departures sell first |
| Flights: Chengdu to Guilin, Guilin to Shanghai | After the rail dates lock | Each flight saves a full day |
Read how to book Chinese attractions for the real-name mechanics and buying train tickets as a foreigner for the 12306 passport setup. Refunds there are free more than 8 days out. For hotels, see hotels that accept foreign guests.
Who this route is wrong for
It suits a first visit with two weeks to spare. It is wrong if any of these fits.
- You have seven to ten days. Five cities in that time is a coach tour: take the 7-day itinerary or the 10-day itinerary.
- You want cities, not landscapes. Four of the five blocks are urban; if the skyline is the point, cut Chengdu and Guilin and add Hangzhou.
- You are travelling with small children. Four internal legs and a four-hour cruise is a lot of packing: read travelling in China with kids first.
- You want one region done properly. Two weeks in Sichuan or Yunnan beats two weeks over five cities.
Frequently asked questions
Is 14 days too long for a first trip to China?
No. Seven days forces you to move every other day; fourteen covers the north and the south with two nights in most places, and fits the 30-day visa-free entry.
Should I fly or take the train between these cities?
Train for Beijing to Xi'an (about 4.5 to 6 hours) and Xi'an to Chengdu (about 3 to 4 hours), both city centre to city centre. Fly for Chengdu to Guilin and Guilin to Shanghai, where rail takes most of a day.
Do I need to book the Forbidden City and the Terracotta Army in advance?
Yes, both. The Forbidden City is capped daily, releases tickets seven days ahead at 20:00 Beijing time and closes Mondays except public-holiday Mondays. The Terracotta Army is passport-linked with no ticket windows on site.
Where should I stay in each city?
Beijing: near Line 1 or Line 2 inside the second ring. Xi'an: inside the wall near the Bell Tower. Chengdu: Tianfu Square or Chunxi Road. Guilin: one night downtown, then West Street in Yangshuo. Shanghai: People's Square.
Can I do this route on the visa-free entry?
If your nationality is on the 30-day list, yes: 14 days is well inside it. The 240-hour transit waiver also fits if you fly on to a third country. US citizens need a visa either way.
Is Chengdu worth three nights?
Yes. Two days covers the teahouse and hotpot side of the city, and the third adds a day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha with no hotel change.
What is the best time of year for this route?
April to May and September to October. Avoid Chinese New Year and the first week of October, when attractions are full and train seats disappear. See Chinese holidays and crowds.
Can I do this trip without speaking Chinese?
Yes, with two apps installed before you fly: an offline translation app and a payment app. Stations have English signage; taxis often do not. See essential apps for China and how to pay in China.
Related reading
Rail timings follow the route pages linked above plus timetable data from TravelChinaGuide, Trip.com and China Discovery: confirm each leg on 12306 for your date. Forbidden City rules follow the Palace Museum's visitor notice; Terracotta Army ticketing follows the Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum. Cross-checked 28 September 2026.