← Travel essentialsPlanning · 12 min

China 14 Day Travel Route

A balanced two-week route through Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Shanghai with sensible travel days.

Two weeks allows a first-time visitor to connect China’s imperial north, Silk Road history, Sichuan food culture and modern coast without changing hotels every night. This route uses four bases and treats travel days as part of the trip.

Good to know

Rules, fees and app features can change. Recheck official sources shortly before departure.

01

Days 1–4: Beijing

Recover from arrival, explore the imperial axis and hutongs, and reserve one day for the Great Wall. Four nights create room for weather changes and advance-ticket attractions.

02

Days 5–7: Xi’an

Travel by high-speed rail, then use two full days for the Terracotta Army, city wall, Great Mosque and food neighborhoods. Stay inside or near the wall for easy evenings.

03

Days 8–10: Chengdu

Continue to Chengdu for an early Panda Base visit, teahouse time, Sichuan food and either Leshan or a slower neighborhood day. Balance famous sights with the city’s relaxed pace.

04

Days 11–14: Shanghai

Fly or take a longer train to Shanghai. Use three nights for the Bund, former French Concession, design districts and a calm final day close to your departure airport.

05

Book the route in layers

Secure international flights and key hotels first, then monitor domestic train or flight availability. Confirm every full station and airport name, and avoid scheduling a fragile connection on the final day.

Try our free China travel tools

Estimate your budget, build a packing checklist, then turn the plan into a route.

Open Travel Toolkit
Turn reading into a route

Ready to map it out?

Plan my trip