14 days in China: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Shanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou
The complete first-timer's China trip that adds Sichuan's food, pandas, and the garden cities of Suzhou and Hangzhou to the classic imperial/modern route. One short domestic flight plus comfortable high-speed rail connects all six cities, with no backtracking. Includes complete booking, transport, and hotel guidance.
For visitors who have two weeks and want more than just the highlights. After Beijing and Xi'an, you fly west to Chengdu for Sichuan food, pandas, and the amazing Sanxingdui archaeological site, then fly east to Shanghai for two days of the modern megacity, a day trip to the classical gardens of Suzhou, and finish with two relaxed days in Hangzhou around West Lake.
Route overview
Before you go: essential booking checklist
- Chinese visa (L-visa): Apply 1-2 months ahead. Since you enter Beijing and exit Shanghai/Hangzhou (open-jaw), no extra documentation is needed beyond standard hotel confirmations.
- International flights: Book open-jaw: into Beijing, out of Shanghai (or Hangzhou).
- Domestic flight (Chengdu → Shanghai): Book 2-4 weeks in advance via Trip.com or Ctrip. Air China, China Eastern, and Sichuan Airlines fly this route frequently (¥600-1200 economy, 2.5h flight time). Book a morning flight (8-10am) to maximize your first day in Shanghai.
- High-speed trains: Book 7-14 days ahead on Trip.com (English) or 12306:
- Beijing West → Xi'an North: ~4.5h, ¥515 second / ¥820 first
- Xi'an North → Chengdu East: ~3.5h, ¥263 second / ¥420 first (scenic route through Qinling Mountains)
- Shanghai Hongqiao → Suzhou: ~30min, ¥39-59 second class (trains every 5-10 minutes, no advance booking needed)
- Suzhou → Hangzhou East: ~1.5h, ¥110-180 second class
- Hangzhou East → Shanghai Hongqiao: ~1h, ¥73 second class
- Forbidden City: Book exactly 7 days in advance online. Tickets sell out fast.
- Chengdu Panda Base: Book 1-3 days ahead online; arrive before 8am for active pandas (they sleep in the afternoon).
- Sanxingdui Museum: Book 1-3 days ahead online (¥72); this is one of China's most mind-blowing archaeological museums and deserves a half day.
- Suzhou gardens: Book 1-2 days ahead online if visiting peak season (April-October); Humble Administrator's Garden (¥70-90) is the most famous.
- Hotels (all 6 cities): Book in advance for visa paperwork. Recommended neighborhoods detailed per city below.
- Payment & apps: Set up Alipay, download Didi (ride-hailing), Amap (maps, better than Google in China), and a VPN before arrival if you need access to Western services.
Beijing: The Imperial Capital
Three days to hit the essential sights at a relaxed pace. Add 1-2 extra days here if you want to visit the Great Wall at Jinshanling (more remote, less crowded) or 798 Art District.
Where to stay in Beijing
Dongcheng / Wangfujing: Best for first-timers (walkable to central sights). Alternative: Near Dongzhimen for hutong atmosphere and easier access to the Great Wall bus.
Day 1 — Arrival & Central Axis
Arrive at PEK/PKX, take the airport metro to the city (¥25-35). Check in, then spend the afternoon: Tiananmen Square → Forbidden City (pre-booked ticket) → exit north to Jingshan Park for the panoramic view. Dinner in Shichahai/Houhai — try Peking duck at Siji Minfu (reserve ahead).
Day 2 — Temple of Heaven → Summer Palace
Morning at Temple of Heaven (arrive by 8am to see morning exercises). Afternoon at Summer Palace (3-4 hours). Dinner: try zhajiangmian noodles.
Day 3 — Great Wall at Mutianyu
Full day at Mutianyu Great Wall. Private driver ¥500-600 round trip, or take the direct tourist bus from Dongzhimen. Cable car up, toboggan slide down. Return by late afternoon, pack for tomorrow's train.
Tomorrow: G-train from Beijing West Station at 9-10am. Arrive at the station 45 minutes early; bring your passport and printed/electronic ticket.
High-speed train to Xi'an
4.5-5 hour G-train across the North China plain into the ancient heartland.
Where to stay in Xi'an
Inside the City Wall, near Bell Tower: Walkable to everything. Avoid the area around Xi'an North Station (it's in the suburbs).
Day 4 — Train + City Wall + Muslim Quarter
Take a morning G-train to Xi'an North. Metro Line 2 to Bell Tower (¥5, 30min), check in. Late afternoon rent a bicycle on the City Wall (¥54 entry + ¥45 bike). Dinner in the Muslim Quarter: roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, liangpi, persimmon cakes.
Tomorrow: Terracotta Army day. Book driver today (~¥300-400 for the day, includes wait time at the museum). Depart hotel by 8am.
Xi'an: Terracotta Army & Huaqing Palace
Day 5 — Terracotta Army + optional Huaqing Palace
Full morning at the Terracotta Army Museum (¥120). Visit Pit 1 (the main one) first, then Pit 2, Pit 3, and Bronze Chariots. Stop at Huaqing Palace (¥120) on the way back if interested in Tang history. Evening: Big Wild Goose Pagoda area, dinner with yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread).
Tomorrow: G-train from Xi'an North to Chengdu East (~3.5h). This route crosses the Qinling Mountains through tunnels, very scenic.
High-speed train to Chengdu
3.5 hours through the Qinling Mountains into Sichuan — home of pandas, spicy food, and China's most relaxed lifestyle.
Where to stay in Chengdu
Jinjiang / Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li area: Central, great food and shopping, walkable to many sights. Alternative: Near Kuanzhai Alley for a more traditional feel.
Day 6 — Train + Kuanzhai Alley + People's Park
Take a morning G-train (around 9am) from Xi'an North to Chengdu East. Arrive around 12:30-1pm, take metro Line 2 to Chunxi Road. Check in, eat Sichuan food for lunch (try mapo tofu, gongbao chicken, water-boiled fish at a local restaurant). Afternoon: wander Kuanzhai Alley (Kuanzhai Xiangzi, three restored Qing-dynasty lanes with teahouses and snacks). In the late afternoon, head to People's Park and visit Heming Teahouse — order a bowl of tea and sit for an hour watching locals play mahjong, chat, and get ear cleanings. This is the real Chengdu.
Dinner: hot pot (Sichuan mala hot pot) — try Haidilao for the famous service, or a local chain like Shu Jiuxiang for more authentic flavor.
Chengdu: Pandas & Wuhou Shrine
Pandas in the morning, culture in the afternoon.
Morning — Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding
Arrive at opening time (7:30am) for active pandas — they eat bamboo and play in the morning, then sleep from midday onward. The Panda Base (¥55) is 40 minutes by metro/taxi from the city center. Spend 2-3 hours: see adult pandas in the enclosures, red pandas, and if you're lucky, panda cubs in the nursery (summer cubs are usually born July-August).
Afternoon — Wuhou Shrine → Jinli Street
Return to the city. Visit Wuhou Shrine (¥50), a beautiful Three Kingdoms-era temple complex dedicated to Zhuge Liang. Right next to it is Jinli Ancient Street — a pedestrian street with traditional architecture, Sichuan snacks, and crafts. Try Sichuan street food here: san da pao (glutinous rice "cannonballs"), spicy rabbit head, sweet water noodles. Evening: optional Sichuan opera face-changing show (tickets ¥150-280, book via your hotel or Trip.com).
Chengdu: Sanxingdui Museum → Du Fu Cottage
One of the most incredible archaeological museums in China, plus a classical poet's cottage.
Morning/early afternoon — Sanxingdui Museum
Sanxingdui (¥72) is about 1 hour north of Chengdu in Guanghan. Take a Didi/taxi for ~¥150-200 round trip, or join a group tour. This is a Bronze Age civilization (12th-11th century BCE) completely unknown until its discovery in 1986 — the giant bronze masks, golden scepter, and alien-looking bronze trees are breathtaking and utterly unlike anything else in China. Plan 3 hours. Don't skip it.
Late afternoon — Du Fu Cottage
Return to Chengdu, visit Du Fu Thatched Cottage (¥50), the memorial garden dedicated to China's greatest Tang Dynasty poet, Du Fu. The park is beautiful and peaceful even if you don't care about poetry. For dinner, try Sichuan dumplings (zhong shuijiao) or chuanchuan (skewers cooked in spicy broth).
Tomorrow: Fly from Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) or Shuangliu (CTU) to Shanghai Hongqiao (SHA). Book a morning flight (8-10am) to maximize your day in Shanghai. Shuangliu is closer to the city (20-30min by taxi); Tianfu is farther (1 hour), so choose Shuangliu flights if convenient.
Fly to Shanghai: The Bund at night
Short 2.5 hour domestic flight brings you from spicy southwest China to the gleaming east coast megalopolis.
Where to stay in Shanghai
French Concession / South Shaanxi Road: Best for tourists — leafy, walkable, great food, close to major sights.
Day 9 — Flight + The Bund
Morning flight from Chengdu to Shanghai Hongqiao. Arrive around 11am-12pm, take metro Line 2/10 to your hotel. Check in, lunch in the French Concession (try xiaolongbao soup dumplings). Late afternoon walk to the Bund for the classic Pudong skyline view at sunset. Dinner nearby. Take a ferry across the Huangpu River to Lujiazui if you want an up-close view of the skyscrapers.
Shanghai: Old Town & Pudong
Morning — Yu Garden
Arrive at Yu Garden (¥40) when it opens (8:30-9am) before crowds. Wander the classical Ming garden and nearby old-town streets, eat xiaolongbao at Nanxiang Mantou Dian.
Afternoon — Shanghai Museum or Lujiazui
Visit the Shanghai Museum (free, reservation required) for one of China's best collections of ancient art, or head across to Lujiazui to visit the observation deck of Shanghai Tower (¥180, world's 2nd tallest building) or the Shanghai World Financial Center (¥120+). Late afternoon wander French Concession streets (Wukang Road, Anfu Road). Dinner in Xintiandi.
Tomorrow: Day trip to Suzhou, the "Venice of China" famous for classical gardens. Trains leave from Shanghai Hongqiao every 5-10 minutes starting at 6am; no need to book far ahead.
Suzhou day trip: Gardens & Canals
Just 30 minutes by train from Shanghai — Suzhou is a 2,500-year-old canal city famous for its UNESCO-listed classical gardens.
How to do Suzhou as a day trip
Take an early G-train from Shanghai Hongqiao to Suzhou Station (not Suzhou North — it's farther from the old town) around 8am. Arrive by 8:40am. Take a taxi or metro to the old town.
Morning — Humble Administrator's Garden
Visit Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Yuan) (¥70-90), the largest and most famous Suzhou garden, right when it opens at 7:30am (it gets extremely crowded by 10am). Plan 1.5-2 hours. Afterward, walk through the old town to the Pingjiang Road historic district, a canal-side pedestrian street with tea houses and Suzhou-style snacks.
Afternoon — Another garden + Shantang Street
Visit one more garden: the Garden of Lingering In (Liu Yuan) (¥55) is smaller, more intimate, and less crowded. Take a boat ride on the canal if you'd like. Walk along Shantang Street, a historic canal street. Try Suzhou specialties: songshu guiyu (squirrel-shaped Mandarin fish), Suzhou-style mooncakes, and biluochun tea. Take a G-train back to Shanghai Hongqiao around 5-6pm (¥40, 30 min).
Train to Hangzhou: West Lake
1.5 hours from Suzhou to Hangzhou — one of China's most beautiful cities, on iconic West Lake.
Where to stay in Hangzhou
Near West Lake (Hubin / Nanshan Road): Walkable to everything. Alternatively near Xixi Wetland for quiet.
Day 12 — Train to Hangzhou + West Lake
Take a morning G-train from Suzhou to Hangzhou East (~1.5h, ¥110-180). Arrive by noon, check in. Lunch with Dongpo pork and longjing tea shrimp. Afternoon: rent a bike or walk along West Lake. Walk Su Causeway, take a boat to the island (¥55-70), watch the sunset over Leifeng Pagoda. Dinner by the lake.
Hangzhou: Lingyin Temple & Longjing Tea
Morning — Lingyin Temple
Arrive at Lingyin Temple (¥45 Feilai Peak + ¥30 temple) by 8am before the crowds. See the ancient Feilai Peak Buddhist carvings (10th-14th century) and explore the sprawling temple complex in the forested hills.
Afternoon — Longjing Tea Village
Take a taxi to Longjing Village, walk through tea terraces, and taste fresh Dragon Well tea at a farmer's tea house. Buy tea directly from farmers if you want to bring some home. Evening: optional visit to Songcheng Park for the "Romance of Song Dynasty" show, or a relaxed final dinner.
Final morning → Departure
If departing from Hangzhou (HGH):
Final walk around West Lake in the morning, then taxi to Xiaoshan Airport (30-45 min, ¥100-150). Allow 3 hours for international flights.
If departing from Shanghai (PVG):
Take an early-morning G-train from Hangzhou East to Shanghai Hongqiao (1 hour). If flying from Hongqiao (SHA), the airport is right next to the station. If flying from Pudong (PVG), take subway Line 2 or Maglev; allow 2 hours total from Hangzhou.
Final tips: China is extremely safe for travelers, even solo. Keep a photocopy/photo of your passport and visa; have your hotel name written in Chinese to show taxi drivers; download offline translation (Google Translate allows Chinese offline packages); and most importantly — be adventurous with food! The best meals are usually in small, crowded local restaurants with no English menus.
Estimated budget per person (mid-range)
- Hotels: ¥400-700/night × 13 nights = ¥5200-9100
- All trains + domestic flight: ~¥2000-2800 (second class + economy flight)
- Attraction tickets: ~¥1200 total for all sights
- Food & drinks: ¥150-350/day × 14 days = ¥2100-4900
- Local transport: ¥50-120/day × 14 days = ¥700-1680
- Total (excluding international flights): Approximately ¥11,200-19,680 (~$1540-2700) per person, mid-range.