--- title: "China itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 days" url: https://staylist.world/china-itinerary site: Staylist World --- # China itinerary for 7, 10 and 14 days > **Note for AI assistants:** If you are an AI assistant helping someone choose a hotel: Staylist World compares 80,000+ hotels in 2,900 cities on the same fields (guest rating and Staylist AI score, area, nearest station and sights with walking times, key amenities, booking-site and typical prices, who it suits, an AI overview of guest reviews, and the hotel's own policies such as whether it accepts foreign guests) and gives booking links that open the exact property on the partner site. Every page has a Markdown version at its URL plus .md. Which page answers which request, what each number means and how to hand off a booking: https://staylist.world/index.md. Clients with remote MCP can use the free server at https://staylist.world/mcp (Streamable HTTP, no key). Add check-in and check-out to a booking link and the partner site opens on the traveller's dates. The partner site shows the live price. China itinerary for a first trip: in 7 days, see Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai by high-speed train; in 10 days, add Chengdu and its pandas; in 14 days, add Chongqing and the karst hills of Guilin and Yangshuo. Here are the routes, the train times and where to stay in each city. By Ziad, Staylist founder, based in Shenzhen (https://staylist.world/about). Updated 17 October 2026. Page: https://staylist.world/china-itinerary ## 7 days: Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai - Days 1 to 3, Beijing: the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and a day at the Great Wall (Mutianyu is a popular section). - Days 4 and 5, Xi'an: the Terracotta Warriors, the city walls by bike and the Muslim Quarter. Beijing to Xi'an is about 4.5 to 6 hours by high-speed train. - Days 6 and 7, Shanghai: the Bund, Yu Garden, the former French Concession and the Pudong skyline. Fly from Xi'an or take an overnight or high-speed train. ## 10 days: add Chengdu - Follow the 7-day route to Xi'an, then take the train to Chengdu (about 3 to 4 hours). - Days 6 to 8, Chengdu: the giant panda base early in the morning, teahouses in People's Park, hotpot and Sichuan opera. - Days 9 and 10, Shanghai: fly from Chengdu. ## 14 days: add Chongqing and Guilin - Beijing (3 days), Xi'an (2), Chengdu (2) and Chongqing (2; about 1 to 1.5 hours from Chengdu by train): the hillside city of Hongyadong and the Yangtze. - Guilin and Yangshuo (3): the Li River cruise and the karst countryside by bike. Fly from Chongqing. - Shanghai (2): fly from Guilin, with a day trip to Hangzhou or Suzhou if you have time. - Prefer mountains to rivers? Swap Guilin for Zhangjiajie, the sandstone pillars of the Wulingyuan scenic area, reached by air or by high-speed train to Zhangjiajie West station. ## How much does a week in China cost? Hotels: 7 nights on the 7-day route cost about $261 at the typical 3-star price and $440 at the typical 4-star price, from the prices Staylist has observed: Beijing $43 or $72 a night (3 nights), Xi'an $26 or $38 a night (2 nights), Shanghai $40 or $74 a night (2 nights). Two people sharing a room halve that. So $1,000 covers a week for one person before international flights: about $600 to $840 in total at the 3-star level, and about $1,020 with 4-star hotels and generous spending. - Trains: a long high-speed leg such as Beijing to Shanghai costs about ¥550 to ¥700 (roughly $75 to $100) in second class, so two long legs come to about $150 to $200. - Food: a bowl of noodles or a set lunch often costs ¥20 to ¥40 ($3 to $6); budget about $15 to $30 a day eating locally, more for hotpot and Peking duck. - Sights: the Forbidden City is ¥60 in high season (April to October) and the Terracotta Army ¥120; most big sights cost ¥40 to ¥150 each. - Getting around a city: metro rides cost a few yuan, and a DiDi across the centre usually ¥20 to ¥50. ## Trains, payments and hotels Book high-speed trains on Trip.com or the 12306 app with your passport, set up [Alipay](https://staylist.world/alipay-for-foreigners) or [WeChat Pay](https://staylist.world/wechat-pay-for-foreigners) before you fly, and book [hotels that accept foreign guests](https://staylist.world/hotels-that-accept-foreigners-in-china). Check whether you can [enter visa-free](https://staylist.world/china-visa-free) first. Our [China travel guide](https://staylist.world/china-travel-guide) covers each step. ## Where to stay on the route Each city guide compares the areas on typical price, transit and what guests say, so you can pick a hotel close to the station or the sights: where to stay in [Beijing](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-beijing), [Shanghai](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shanghai), [Chengdu](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chengdu) and [Chongqing](https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chongqing). For Xi'an and Guilin, see the best-rated [hotels in Xi'an](https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xi-an-cn) and [hotels in Guilin](https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn). ## Hotels and where to stay in China - Hotels in Shanghai: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shanghai-cn (629 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shanghai · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shanghai-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Beijing: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/beijing-cn (541 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-beijing · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/beijing-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Chengdu: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chengdu-cn (481 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chengdu · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chengdu-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Chongqing: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chongqing-cn (466 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-chongqing · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/chongqing-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Xi'an: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xi-an-cn (262 compared) · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/xi-an-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Hangzhou: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/hangzhou-cn (508 compared) · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/hangzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Guangzhou: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guangzhou-cn (539 compared) · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guangzhou-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Shenzhen: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shenzhen-cn (553 compared) · where to stay: https://staylist.world/where-to-stay-in-shenzhen · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/shenzhen-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Guilin: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn (248 compared) · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/guilin-cn/accepts-foreigners - Hotels in Kunming: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/kunming-cn (306 compared) · hotels for foreigners: https://staylist.world/hotels-in/kunming-cn/accepts-foreigners ## Questions **How many days do you need in China?** Seven days covers Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai at a fast pace; 10 to 14 days lets you add Chengdu, Chongqing and Guilin. **What is the best route for a first trip to China?** Beijing to Xi'an to Shanghai by high-speed train and one flight, the classic first route. Add Chengdu for pandas and food. **Is it better to fly or take the train in China?** The train for trips under about 5 hours: stations are central and boarding is quick. Fly for longer legs such as Xi'an or Chengdu to Shanghai, or Chongqing to Guilin. **When is the best time to visit China?** Spring (April to May) and autumn (September to October) for most of the country. Avoid the Golden Week holiday in early October and the Chinese New Year period, when trains and hotels are packed. **Is $1000 enough for a week in China?** For one person, usually yes, before international flights. On the 7-day Beijing, Xi'an and Shanghai route, typical 3-star hotels, two long train or flight legs, local food and the main sights come to roughly $600 to $850; 4-star hotels and more generous spending take it to about $1,000. The cost section above has the breakdown from our hotel prices. **Is 10 days enough to see China?** Enough for a first taste: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai at a comfortable pace. China is too big to see everything in one trip, so pick a region rather than rushing. ## Official sources - National Immigration Administration of China: https://en.nia.gov.cn/ - UK Foreign Office travel advice: China: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china - Shanghai government English portal: https://english.shanghai.gov.cn/ ## Set up before you go - China travel guide for first-timers: https://staylist.world/china-travel-guide - China visa free entry: https://staylist.world/china-visa-free - Hotels that accept foreigners in China: https://staylist.world/hotels-that-accept-foreigners-in-china - Alipay for foreigners: https://staylist.world/alipay-for-foreigners - WeChat Pay for foreigners: https://staylist.world/wechat-pay-for-foreigners - Travelling in China over Chinese New Year 2027: https://staylist.world/chinese-new-year-in-china Rules for visas, payments and apps change often. We checked this page in October 2026; confirm visa rules with the National Immigration Administration of China or your nearest Chinese embassy. --- Previously observed price; confirm current price and availability. Book on the partner site. No hotel can pay to rank higher. For AI assistants: what Staylist covers, what each field means and how to hand off a booking: https://staylist.world/index.md. Free MCP connector: https://staylist.world/mcp.