City guides organized by what you actually need: quick orientation, 3/5/7 day itineraries, top sights, and local food picks. Multi-city cross-country routes are in Trip Planning.
Beijing
China's capital for 800 years. The Forbidden City, Great Wall, hutongs, Peking duck, and some of the country's best museums.
Explore Beijing →Xi'an
Starting point of the Silk Road and ancient capital for 13 dynasties. Home to the Terracotta Army, intact city walls, and Muslim Quarter street food.
Explore Xi'an →Chengdu
Sichuan's laid-back capital. Giant pandas, fiery hot pot, teahouse culture, and the mind-blowing Sanxingdui bronze museum an hour away.
Explore Chengdu →Shanghai
China's most international city. Art Deco waterfront on the Bund, futuristic Pudong skyline, French Concession cafes, and xiaolongbao soup dumplings.
Explore Shanghai →Hangzhou
Marco Polo called it "the finest city in the world." Famous for West Lake, Longjing tea plantations, Lingyin Temple, and relaxed lakeside teahouses.
Explore Hangzhou →Suzhou
"Venice of the East" with UNESCO classical gardens, silk history, and canal-lined old town. 30 minutes by high-speed train from Shanghai.
Explore Suzhou →Nanjing
Former southern capital with massive city walls, Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, Xuanwu Lake, and a deeply layered 2,500 year history.
Explore Nanjing →Wuhan
Central China's sprawling Yangtze River metropolis. Hot dry noodles (reganmian), East Lake, Yellow Crane Tower, and Hubei Provincial Museum.
Explore Wuhan →Zhangjiajie
The "Avatar Mountains" — thousands of quartz-sandstone pillars rising from the mist, plus one of the world's longest glass bridges.
Explore Zhangjiajie →How to pick a city
- First visit: Start with Beijing (3-4 days) → Xi'an (2 days) → Shanghai (2-3 days). This is the classic first-timer triangle, connected by fast trains.
- Food focus: Add Chengdu (Sichuan cuisine is China's most famous) and Wuhan (breakfast street food capital).
- Nature/scenery: Zhangjiajie for surreal mountains; Hangzhou and Suzhou for classical Chinese gardens and lakes.
- 1-2 days from Shanghai: Suzhou (classical gardens), Hangzhou (West Lake), Nanjing (history).