Is this route right for you?
Culture, cuisine and a little countryside This route is a starting point for travelers who want a manageable mix of sightseeing and time to explore. Tell us if food, hiking, museums or family time should lead the plan.
Your journey, day by day
Days 1–4 · Beijing with room to breathe
Settle into Beijing, then separate the Forbidden City area, Great Wall and Summer Palace across different days. The extra night gives you space for jet lag and a slower hutong walk.
Days 5–7 · Xi’an and its ancient stories
Allow time to transfer into Xi’an, visit the Terracotta Warriors and explore the city wall area. Keep one evening focused on local food and leave optional museum time around your reservations.
Days 8–10 · Chengdu, pandas and teahouses
Travel to Chengdu, then plan a panda visit and an afternoon in a park or teahouse. Use another day for neighborhoods and Sichuan food. Long day trips are optional, not assumed.
Days 11–14 · Shanghai and departure
Continue to Shanghai and finish with riverfront views, gardens and a neighborhood day. Keep the last day light for departure and use any spare time for a personal interest such as design, food or museums.
How the route fits together
The proposed order is Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Shanghai. Compare rail and air options by door-to-door travel time, not just time on board. Avoid a demanding activity immediately after a long international flight.
Help you can add
You book hotels and most tickets yourself, and your personal travel concierge is on WhatsApp for questions along the way. If some days feel harder than others, have us arrange help just there:
- Arrival in Beijing: airport transfer, so you are met at arrivals instead of working out taxis and apps after a long flight.
- Forbidden City: attraction tickets, because entry needs a passport-based reservation that often sells out.
- Great Wall day: private driver, to reach Mutianyu or Jinshanling on your own schedule, without a tour bus.
- Beijing to Xi’an: train tickets, if you would rather not book through a Chinese app.
- Terracotta Warriors day: local guide for a day, who explains the pits and handles the transport out of the city.
- Xi’an to Chengdu: train tickets, if you would rather not book through a Chinese app.
- Chengdu panda day: private driver, for the early start the panda base needs.
- The whole trip: personal travel concierge, $9 a day: a real person to message when an app, a menu or a plan stops working.
Each add-on is quoted and booked on its own. Nothing here is a package.
Make it yours
Add rest days, shorten walks, change hotel style or focus on a special interest. Your concierge can adapt the route to your dates and pace with you.
Planning to follow this route? Get a free quick check of your version, or travel it with a personal concierge on WhatsApp for $9 a day.