China Itinerary Guide: 5-14 Days Itinerary & Trip Planner

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By Kyra

China itinerary planning

Struggling to plan your China trip? Tired of browsing endless guides? Let Trip.com’s Trip Planner simplify your journey! Below are top China itineraries (5 days to 2 weeks) to inspire your adventure—book flights, hotels, and attractions all in one place. Start exploring now!

📱 Download the Trip.com App to book cheap trains, flights, hotels and more with exclusive app deals.

How to Use Trip.com’s Trip Planner

Trip.com App Trip Planner

Step 1: Open the Trip.com app → Tap "Trip Planner" on the homepage.

Step 2: Set your trip details:

  • Starting from (e.g., London)
  • Heading to (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou)
  • Going for (select days, e.g., 7 days)

Step 3: Choose planning mode:

  • AI Recommendations: Auto-generates a smart itinerary.
  • Create Manually: Add destination/attractions/hotels yourself.

Step 4: Review and customize:

Trip Planner Benefits and How to Use It
  • Overview: Check the full itinerary.
  • Daily details: Edit/delete attractions or add notes (e.g., "Book tickets in advance").
  • Save: Tap "Add to My Itinerary" to finalize.

Step 5: Use Trip Planner’s perks:

  • Attractions: View photos, book tickets/tours.
  • Transport: Matches flights/trains; shows hotels near attractions.
  • Navigation: Displays transit options (taxi/public transport) → Clicks open your map app for directions.

Step 7: Book hotels, attractions and China train tickets now, new users can enjoy discounts. The app also offers exclusive discounts from time to time.

🎁 Get new user coupons to book China hotels, and enjoy attractions & tours in China.
🎁 Save up to 8% on hotels or up to £22 on homestays (B&Bs)!
👇Now you can refer to the itinerary below and open Trip.com App to start planning your trip!

China Itinerary 5 Days

This 5-day itinerary is perfect for those who are visiting China for the first time and want to experience Chinese history and culture but have limited time.

Route: Beijing (3 days) → Xi’an (2 days)

Day 1 – Beijing

  • Morning: Visit the Tiananmen Square (free, passport required) → Forbidden City (¥60, book tickets online in advance, closed on Mondays).
  • Afternoon: Climb Jingshan Park (¥2) for a stunning view of the Forbidden City.
  • Evening: Explore Wangfujing Street – try Peking duck, zhajiang noodles, hotpot, and candied hawthorns!

Day 2 – Beijing

  • Full Day: Hike the Great Wall (Mutianyu section is less crowded and beautiful, cable car ¥120).
  • Evening: Eat at Guijie Street – spicy crayfish + "Arctic Ocean" soda (be careful with the spice level!).

Day 3 – Beijing

  • Morning: Visit the Summer Palace (¥30, relaxing boat ride on Kunming Lake).
  • Afternoon: Wander through Nanluoguxiang (a traditional hutong with snacks and souvenirs).
  • Night Travel: Take a high-speed train (4.5 hrs, ¥577.5) or sleeper train (¥300+) to Xi’an.

Day 4 – Xi’an

  • Morning: See the Terracotta Warriors (¥120, must hire a tour guide, otherwise you will just see the clay figures).
  • Afternoon: Visit Huaqing Palace (¥120, where Emperor Xuanzong and Lady Yang bathed).
  • Evening: Eat at Muslim Quarter – try roujiamo (Chinese burger), yangrou paomo (lamb soup), and pomegranate juice.

Day 5 – Xi’an

  • Morning: Bike on the Ancient City Wall (¥54).
  • Afternoon: Visit Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (¥40) + Tang Paradise Night Show (free, amazing lights and performances!).

See Real Users' Trip Moments in Beijing

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#TravelBeijing 

📍Address: Hi Inn (Beijing Dongsi Metro Station): Great value accommodation in a prime location in the heart of Beijing!**

For those looking for a place to stay in Beijing that is **convenient to travel, saves money, and has a great location

🏖️Environment/Facilities:

* **Next to the subway:** Just a few minutes' walk from **Dongsi Station (Line 5 and 6)**, making it very easy to travel to important places such as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, or Wangfujing. No need to worry about traffic jams
* **Superb location:** Surrounded by local restaurants, convenience stores, and various shops, it's easy to find food without having to walk far
* **Friendly price:** Very good value for money compared to the location you get. Suitable for value-for-money travelers who want to save on accommodation costs

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### **Things to know**
* **Rooms:** May not be large or brand new, but clean, with all the basic amenities, perfect for relaxing after a hard day
* **Service:** The staff are helpful Even though some people may not be fluent in English

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### **Summary**
Hi Inn (Beijing Dongsi Metro Station) is a hotel that **focuses on location**. It meets the needs of travelers who want convenience in traveling by subway and are looking for **value for money** accommodation that is not too luxurious. If I have the chance to go to Beijing again, this place will still be one of my top choices.
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The water city of Gubei is located at the foot of the Great Wall of China. Gubei is a collective image of the water cities of China, which are historically located in the south of the country. In the north of China, there were no water cities, so Gubei is a new thing, but very high-quality. It is worth seeing if you visit Beijing: I think only China can create cities so skillfully based on historical motives. Picturesque streets, bridges, canals and temples, comfortable hotels - will impress anyone. 
We got to the city by taxi and stayed at the Watertown Hotel. The hotel is 5 *, good spacious rooms, there are 2 swimming pools, a luxurious buffet for breakfast. The booking price includes additional options: entrance to the city for each guest, tickets to the Chinese wall, visiting hot springs. 
I recommend both the city and the hotel! A nice place not far from Beijing #familytrip #thegreatwall
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The world's first POP MART theme park - POP LAND (Bubble Mart City Park) has opened in Beijing! 🎉
There are fairytale-filled Molly Castle and Labubu forest, as well as immersive exhibitions and cute bursts of performances, perfect for those who take pictures with Bestie, take the kids to unwind, or simply want to be healed. ✨
By the way, though, the park is not very large and the games tend to be relaxed and static. Is it worth the trip? 🤔
Let me break down the must-play highlights and pitfalls in the park, as well as hidden gameplay that most people may not know! 🔍

[In-park facilities experience]
🎡What is really worth playing in the park?
The "Wish Journey Exhibition" is definitely the first choice! MOLLY, DIMOO and LABUBU join forces to interpret the story, the animation projection is vivid and shocking, especially the ending is amazing! The overall rhythm is lively, and the exhibition area is air-conditioned, making it a good place to take pictures during the summer heat. In terms of performance, the bubble snow of the reunion event was extremely romantic. The performance of the Labubu dance group in the elf cheerleading was both cute and energetic. Both adults and children applauded! There are also friend meet-ups where you can interact with IP characters, healing beyond expectations!

🎡There are many Easter eggs in the park! Really not POP MART fans will be heart-warming!
Be sure to take the initiative to explore! Be sure to download the POPLAND AR app to play a free tour of AR games that connect the entire park (few people know!). After entering the park, go to the service desk to collect your free stamp collection passport. You can collect all 8 stamps in the park. The staff and cleaning lady will randomly distribute stickers, remember to pick up when you encounter - you can also exchange your voucher for a birthday badge and dessert on your birthday. Don't miss out on birthday benefits!

🎡It’s super convenient to take your kids to play!
No need to worry at all! The carousel can be ridden unlimited times, get off the car and give stickers, even adults grab to play; the unpowered park has sand pits, slides and swings, bring your own sand digging tools will have more fun. The park also has a special maternity and baby room and stroller barrier-free access, pushing strollers unimpeded, families with children can enjoy with confidence ~

🪄But some facilities in the park require secondary ticket purchase!
Some rides (such as the game house on Bubble Street) require the purchase of experience vouchers (¥30≈$33/time) after entry, the winning rate is very low, mostly only get keychains, and grand prize dolls/pillows are extremely rare. Performance-wise, the Warriors training camp characters and cheerleading are highly repetitive and lack freshness. The park itself is smaller, the games are static, the IP zoning is not obvious, there are stamped points once queued for 30 minutes; stalls located next to the main road is also easy to crowd, be careful when walking ~

[Catering and Consumption]
🪅Labubu-shaped meals are available for dining in the park! There are also park limited editions in the surroundings!
The restaurant’s IP-themed meals are exquisitely shaped and photogenic (such as Labubu-shaped desserts) and taste good, but the pricing is high and there are few choices. To save money, we recommend dining in the neighboring Blue Harbor business district for better value for money! In terms of peripherals, there are exclusive limited editions in the park (such as the park version of Labubu doll), which cannot be bought outside; however, other ordinary peripherals are also available in stores outside ~

[Location and Practical Tips]
📍 Transportation Guide
🔸MTR: Line 14, Chaoying Station Exit D directly access

🎫 Recent information
🔸Ticket price: from ¥88≈$96 (price reduction during maintenance)
🔸Opening hours: 10:00-22:00
✅ Recently cheaper prices, but some areas in the park due to maintenance upgrades, suspended service

[Summary Suggestions]
Recommended groups include parent-child families, IP enthusiasts and those who like to take pictures, while visitors seeking exciting facilities need to choose carefully. Best experience suggestions focus on Wish Journey exhibitions, performances and photo-taking areas!

Want to experience the fairytale world of Molly Castle and Labubu? Remember to book tickets on Trip.com for possible discounts! ✈️
Which park would you like to review next? Leave a comment and let me know! You Comment, I rush! 💬🚀

#Beijing #Beijing Attractions #Beijing Travel #BubbleMart #popmart #labubu
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🛍️ When you’re in Beijing, visit the Wanda Plaza in WuKeSong for the perfect indoors retail-related activity when you want to get out of the scorching sun outside! Not only are there hundreds of shops to explore, the decorations in the shopping centre are an attraction themself. 

🛗 Be sure to take a trip up the magical escalator in the middle of the shopping centre that takes you from the 1st floor right up to the 6th floor. If you’re looking for a dinner spot, check out the top few floors where there’s endless options. If you’re shopping for clothes, try looking along some of the lower floors. 

🚇 You can reach the Wanda Plaza by getting the subway to the WuKeSong stop. From here, walk through the underground shopping centre to reach the main Wanda Plaza.

🐿️ Check out the massive squirrel animatronic that was added to the shopping centre in September 2023! It stands more than 2 floors tall next to the long escalator and has become an iconic part of this Wanda Plaza.

China Itinerary 7 Days

The 7-day itinerary allows you to expand to 3-4 cities. This route is perfect for travellers who love history and natural scenery!

Route: Beijing (3 days) → Xi’an (2 days) → Guilin (2 days)

Days 1-3: Beijing *(Same as the 5-day itinerary in China above)*
Days 4-5: Xi’an *(Same as the 5-day itinerary in China above)*

Day 6: Guilin

  • Morning: Take the high-speed train to Guilin (10 hrs, ¥759, ~£79) or take a direct flight from Xi'an to Guilin, 2.5 hrs, from £58.
  • Afternoon: Visit Elephant Trunk Hill Park (¥55, Guilin’s famous landmark).
  • Evening: Walk along the Two Rivers & Four Lakes (free, or take a boat ride for ¥210).

Day 7: Yangshuo

  • Morning: Bamboo rafting on the Li River (¥160, Yangdi to Xingping is the most scenic part!).
  • Afternoon: Bike or ride an e-bike (¥50/day) through the Ten-Mile Gallery.
  • Evening: Explore West Street – try beer fish and enjoy the lively bars!
📝Plan and simplify your itinerary with Trip.com App's Trip Planner

China Itinerary 2 Weeks

We recommend two classic routes to start your two-week in-depth tour of China. Each route selects 5 cities, which can not only experience the essence of China, but also ensure the depth of the tour.

The first is the historical ancient capital + modern city route:
Beijing (4 days) → Xi'an (2 days) → Shanghai (2 days) → Shenzhen/Hong Kong (2 days)

The second is the history + natural wonders route:
Beijing (4 days) → Xi'an (2 days) → Zhangjiajie (3 days) → Guilin (3 days) → Shanghai (2 days)

Route 1: Historical Ancient Capital + Modern City Route

Beijing (4 Days)

  • D1: Arrival in Beijing
  • D2: Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City
  • D3: Great Wall, Summer Palace
  • D4: Fly to Xi'an | Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi'an (2 Days)

  • D5: Terracotta Army, Bell Tower, Muslim Quarter, City Wall
  • D6: Fly to Shanghai | The Bund

Shanghai (2 Days)

  • D7: Shanghai Disneyland
  • D8: Fly to Shenzhen | Shennan Avenue, Shenzhen Bay Park

Shenzhen/Hong Kong (2 Days)

  • D9: High-speed train to Hong Kong
  • D10: Hong Kong exploration | Depart from Shanghai

Route 2: OR Alternative Natural Wonders Route

Beijing (4 Days)

  • D1: Arrival
  • D2: Forbidden City, Roast Duck, Hutongs
  • D3: Great Wall, Temple of Heaven
  • D4: Summer Palace

Xi'an (2 Days)

  • D5: Terracotta Army, Cave Dwelling
  • D6: City Wall biking, Dumpling making, Muslim Quarter

Zhangjiajie (3 Days)

  • D7-8: National Forest Park, Tianzi Mountain, Glass Bridge

Guilin (3 Days)

  • D10-11: Rice Terraces, Li River Cruise, Yangshuo
  • D12: Yulong River SUP

Shanghai (2 Days)

  • D13: The Bund, Shanghai Tower, Yuyuan Garden
  • D14: Departure

South China Itinerary

Here’s a 14-day itinerary of must-see destinations in South China. You can add or subtract days based on your schedule.

Guangzhou (2 Days)

  • Day 1: Arrival, Shamian Island, Canton Tower night views
  • Day 2: Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Yuexiu Park, local dim sum tasting

Guilin & Yangshuo (4 Days)

  • Day 3: Flight to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave, Elephant Trunk Hill
  • Day 4: Li River cruise to Yangshuo
  • Day 5: Yangshuo countryside cycling (Yulong River area)
  • Day 6: Rice terrace hike in Longji

Zhangjiajie (3 Days)

  • Day 7: Flight to Zhangjiajie, Tianmen Mountain
  • Day 8: Zhangjiajie National Park (Avatar Mountains)
  • Day 9: Grand Canyon Glass Bridge

Fujian (3 Days)

  • Day 10: Flight to Xiamen, Gulangyu Island
  • Day 11: Hakka tulou day trip from Xiamen
  • Day 12: Xiamen coastal walk, Nanputuo Temple

Hong Kong (2 Days)

  • Day 13: High-speed train to HK, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry
  • Day 14: Lantau Island (Big Buddha), departure
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China Itinerary