China 2-Week Itinerary 2026
🇨🇳 China 2-Week Itinerary
Two weeks gives you enough time to experience China's incredible diversity — from imperial palaces to cyberpunk cities, ancient warriors to giant pandas, and the best food you'll ever eat.
The Route
Beijing (3 nights) → Xi'an (3 nights) → Chengdu (2 nights) → Chongqing (2 nights) → Shanghai (2 nights) → Depart
Why this route: You move west-to-east, hitting every major highlight. Each city is connected by high-speed rail (no flights needed). You end in Shanghai, which has the most international flights for easy departure.
Day 1-3: Beijing
Day 1: Imperial Beijing
- Forbidden City (故宫) — 3-4 hours, book tickets online
- Jingshan Park — sunset view over the Forbidden City
- Wangfujing night food street
Day 2: Great Wall
- Mutianyu Great Wall — cable car up, walk, toboggan down
- Peking duck dinner at Da Dong or Quanjude
Day 3: Culture & Hutongs
- Temple of Heaven — watch locals doing tai chi
- Hutong neighborhoods — rickshaw tour or walk
- 798 Art District — contemporary art in converted factory buildings
- Evening: High-speed train to Xi'an (~4.5 hours)
Day 4-6: Xi'an
Day 4: Arrive & Muslim Quarter
- Arrive by train, check in
- Muslim Quarter food walk — roujiamo, biangbiang noodles, lamb skewers
- Bell Tower at night
Day 5: Terracotta Warriors
- Terracotta Warriors — full morning, arrive by 8:30 AM
- Ancient City Wall — bike the 14km loop in the afternoon
- Big Wild Goose Pagoda fountain show (8:00 PM)
Day 6: Mount Huashan (Day Trip)
- Mount Huashan — high-speed train (30 min), cable car up, walk peaks, optional Plank Walk
- Return to Xi'an evening
- Shaanxi History Museum if time permits (free, book ahead)
Day 7-8: Chengdu
Day 7: Pandas & Hotpot
- Morning: High-speed train Xi'an → Chengdu (~3 hours)
- Afternoon: Giant Panda Base — arrive 7:30 AM if possible, or afternoon
- Evening: Sichuan hotpot — the essential Chengdu experience
Day 8: City & Food
- Morning: Kuanzhai Alley — tea houses, Sichuan opera
- Afternoon: Jinli Ancient Street + Wuhou Temple
- Evening: Yulin Road street food crawl — where locals eat
- Night: Train to Chongqing (~1.5 hours)
Day 9-10: Chongqing
Day 9: The 8D City
- Liziba Station — metro through a building
- Ciqikou Ancient Town — street food and back alleys
- Yangtze Cable Car at sunset
- Hongya Cave at night — the iconic light show
- Chongqing hotpot — oilier and spicier than Chengdu
Day 10: Wulong Karst (Day Trip)
- Wulong Karst — Three Natural Bridges, UNESCO World Heritage
- High-speed train ~2 hours each way
- Transformers 4 filming location
- Return to Chongqing, evening train to Shanghai (~8 hours) or fly (~2.5 hours)
Day 11-12: Shanghai
Day 11: Modern China
- The Bund — colonial-era buildings facing the futuristic Pudong skyline
- Pudong — Shanghai Tower observation deck (632m, world's 2nd tallest building)
- Nanjing Road — China's most famous shopping street
- Yu Garden — classical Chinese gardens in the old city
Day 12: Culture & Departure Prep
- French Concession — tree-lined streets, cafes, boutiques
- Tianzifang — artsy alleyways with shops and galleries
- Shanghai Museum — free, world-class collection of Chinese art
- Evening: Huangpu River cruise for the full skyline view
Budget Breakdown (14 Days)
| Item | Cost (CNY) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (13 nights) | ¥5,200-10,400 | Mid-range hotels |
| Food (14 days) | ¥2,100-4,200 | Mix of street food + restaurants |
| Trains (4 legs) | ¥1,500-2,500 | Beijing→Xi'an→Chengdu→Chongqing |
| Transport to Shanghai | ¥500-800 | Train or budget flight |
| Attractions | ¥800-1,200 | All major sites |
| Local transport | ¥600-1,000 | Metro + Didi across all cities |
| Total | ¥10,700-20,100 | ~$1,500-2,820 USD |
Day-by-Day Summary
| Day | City | Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Forbidden City, Jingshan Park |
| 2 | Beijing | Mutianyu Great Wall, Peking duck |
| 3 | Beijing | Temple of Heaven, Hutongs → train to Xi'an |
| 4 | Xi'an | Muslim Quarter, Bell Tower |
| 5 | Xi'an | Terracotta Warriors, City Wall |
| 6 | Xi'an | Mount Huashan day trip |
| 7 | Chengdu | Panda Base, hotpot |
| 8 | Chengdu | Kuanzhai Alley, Jinli → train to Chongqing |
| 9 | Chongqing | 8D city, Ciqikou, Hongya Cave |
| 10 | Chongqing | Wulong Karst → travel to Shanghai |
| 11 | Shanghai | The Bund, Pudong, Nanjing Road |
| 12 | Shanghai | French Concession, museums, departure |
Tips
- Book trains early — popular routes sell out, especially Beijing→Xi'an and Xi'an→Chengdu
- Travel light — you're moving cities every 2-3 days. One suitcase + one daypack.
- Use Alipay everywhere — it works in all five cities
- Eat local — every city has completely different food. Don't eat at chains.
- Rest when needed — 14 days of China is intense. Take a lazy afternoon if you need it.
Shorter or Longer?
| Duration | What to Skip | What to Keep |
|---|---|---|
| 10 days | Skip Chongqing and Shanghai | Beijing + Xi'an + Chengdu |
| 14 days | This itinerary | All five cities |
| 21 days | Add Guilin, Hangzhou, or Tibet | 14-day + side trips |
See our 10-Day China Itinerary for the shorter version.
Last updated: 2026-06-05 · Written by Bobby, living in Chengdu since 2023
