Table of Contents
1. 3-Day Beijing Classic
Perfect for first-time visitors. Covers must-see attractions without exhausting yourself.
Day 1: Forbidden City + Hutongs
- Morning: Tiananmen Square + Forbidden City (3-4 hours)
- Afternoon: Jingshan Park (panoramic views) + Hutong walking tour
- Evening: Local dinner in hutong area
Book Forbidden City tickets 7 days in advance via WeChat. No walk-in tickets available!
Day 2: Great Wall + Olympic Area
- Morning: Mutianyu Great Wall (cable car up, toboggan down)
- Afternoon: Bird's Nest + Water Cube (exterior)
- Evening: Sanlitun area
Day 3: Temple of Heaven + Summer Palace
- Morning: Temple of Heaven (watch locals doing tai chi)
- Afternoon: Summer Palace (3+ hours, Kunming Lake)
- Evening: Farewell dinner
2. 5-Day Shanghai + Hangzhou
Combine China's financial capital with "Heaven on Earth." Perfect balance of modern and classical.
Days 1-2: Shanghai
- The Bund at sunset
- Nanjing Road + Yu Garden
- French Concession stroll
- Shanghai Tower observation deck
Days 3-5: Hangzhou
- West Lake cycling and walking
- Longjing tea plantation visit
- Leifeng Pagoda sunset
- Impression West Lake evening show
Stay near West Lake and rent a bike. Best way to explore!
3. 7-Day Chengdu Adventure
Pandas, spicy food, and the most relaxed city in China. Optional Leshan or Jiuzhaigou day trips.
Days 1-2: Pandas + City
- Chengdu Panda Base (arrive early!)
- People's Park (tea + people watching)
- Spicy hotpot dinner
- Wide and Narrow Alley
Days 3-7: Extensions
- Option A: Day trip to Leshan Giant Buddha
- Option B: 2-3 days at Jiuzhaigou (stunning lakes)
4. 10-Day China Overview
The ultimate introduction. Beijing, Shanghai, and Xian's Terracotta Army.
Days 1-3: Beijing
- Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace
Days 4-6: Shanghai
- The Bund, French Concession, day trip to Hangzhou
Days 7-10: Xian
- Terracotta Army, City Wall cycling, Muslim Quarter
5. 15-Day Grand Tour
The complete China experience. Add Guilin karst scenery and optional Tibet extension.
Days 1-10
Follow the 10-Day China Overview itinerary
Days 11-13: Guilin
- Li River cruise
- Yangshuo cycling
- Longji Rice Terraces
Days 14-15: Tibet Extension
- Lhasa via train or flight
- Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple
6. 3-Day Guangzhou Food Tour
Cantonese food capital. Dim sum, roasted goose, and late-night street eats — a paradise for foodies.
Day 1: Dim Sum & Downtown
- Morning: Morning tea at a local dim sum house (虾饺, 烧卖, 叉烧包)
- Afternoon: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall (traditional Cantonese architecture)
- Evening: Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street (street food: 牛杂, 双皮奶)
Real Cantonese go for morning tea before 9 AM. Avoid the tourist traps near Beijing Road!
Day 2: Roasted Goose & Kaiping Diaolou
- Morning: Day trip to Kaiping Diaolou (UNESCO World Heritage, 1.5h from GZ)
- Afternoon: Return to GZ — roasted goose lunch in Liwan District
- Evening: Pearl River Night Cruise (灯光秀)
Day 3: Temples & Modern Skyline
- Morning: Temple of the Six Banyan Trees (光孝寺) + Bright Filial Temple (光孝寺)
- Afternoon: Canton Tower + Zhujiang New Town skyline walk
- Evening: Late-night food stall tour (大排档 culture)
7. 2-Day Suzhou Garden Tour
The "Venice of the East." Classical gardens, stone bridges, and silk — perfect add-on to your Shanghai trip.
Day 1: The Great Gardens
- Morning: Humble Administrator's Garden (拙政园) — the most famous
- Lunch: Su-style noodles (苏式汤面) near Pingjiang Road
- Afternoon: Lion Grove Garden (狮子林) + Suzhou Museum (designed by I.M. Pei)
- Evening: Pingjiang Road night walk (lanterns, tea houses)
Suzhou is 25 minutes from Shanghai by high-speed train. Perfect day trip or overnight stay!
Day 2: Water Towns & Silk
- Morning: Suzhou Silk Museum + silk shopping
- Afternoon: Option A — Zhouzhuang Water Town (1h bus)
- Afternoon: Option B — Master of Nets Garden (网师园) sunset
- Evening: Return to Shanghai OR stay another night for the gardens by moonlight
Ready to Plan Your Trip?
Check our destination guides for detailed city information.
Explore DestinationsRelated Pages
Beijing Travel Guide
Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven.
Shanghai Travel Guide
The Bund, French Concession, Yu Garden.
Chengdu Travel Guide
Panda Base, spicy hotpot, relaxed vibes.
Xi'an Travel Guide
Terracotta Army, City Wall, Muslim Quarter.
Guilin Travel Guide
Li River, karst peaks, Yangshuo.
Hangzhou Travel Guide
West Lake, Longjing tea, silk markets.
Guangzhou Travel Guide
Dim sum, roasted goose, Cantonese food capital.
Suzhou Travel Guide
Classical gardens, Venice of the East.