Multi-city routes built around real geography and China's high-speed rail network. No random backtracking, no flying between cities that are 4 hours apart by train. Single-city itineraries (3/5/7 days for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, etc.) are listed in the left sidebar under Trip Planning.
Classic China: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
The perfect first trip: imperial Beijing, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, and modern Shanghai. Connected entirely by high-speed rail with zero backtracking. All booking, transport, and hotel guidance included.
Classic + West Lake: Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai → Hangzhou
Extend the classic route with two days in Hangzhou — China's garden city on iconic West Lake, famous for Longjing tea and Lingyin Temple. Just one hour by train from Shanghai.
Deep Dive: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou
The full two-week route: add spicy Sichuan food, pandas, and the incredible Sanxingdui bronze museum in Chengdu, plus a garden day trip to Suzhou, before finishing relaxed in Hangzhou.
How to use these itineraries
- Book trains in advance: High-speed rail tickets between Beijing-Xi'an and Xi'an-Shanghai sell out 1-2 weeks ahead during peak season.
- Fly into one city, out of another: For the 7-day classic, arrive in Beijing (PEK/PKX) and depart from Shanghai (PVG/SHA) — this avoids backtracking.
- Book major tickets first: The Forbidden City and Terracotta Army require advance reservations; everything else can be booked closer to your date.
- Use hotels near train stations: On travel days, staying 10 minutes from the station saves an hour of traffic stress.