China is large, and the most common planning mistake is trying to see too much. A comfortable route has fewer bases, realistic travel days and one main visit a day. These notes apply whether you are planning your own trip or a programme for your clients.
How many cities
- 7 days: two bases, for example Beijing and Shanghai, or Beijing and Harbin in winter.
- 10 days: three bases, such as Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.
- 14 days: four or five bases, adding Chengdu, Hangzhou or Zhangjiajie.
As a rule, stay at least two nights in each base, and three in Beijing or anywhere you want a day trip.
Count the travel days
Moving between cities usually takes half a day door to door, even when the train itself is short. Allow time for hotel check-out, the drive to the station or airport, passport checks and boarding. Keep the afternoon of a travel day light.
Train or plane
- High-speed train for journeys of up to about five or six hours. Shanghai to Hangzhou takes about one hour, and Beijing to Xi’an or Beijing to Shanghai about 4.5 to 6 hours. Stations are often outside the city centre, and every traveller needs their passport.
- Domestic flights for longer distances, such as Xi’an or Chengdu to Shanghai, or to Zhangjiajie, Harbin and Sanya.
A comfortable daily rhythm
- Plan one main visit a day and keep the rest of the day flexible.
- Keep the arrival day free. After a long-haul flight, a short walk and an early dinner are enough.
- Start early at popular sites such as the Palace Museum, the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army. The Palace Museum is closed on most Mondays and needs advance booking.
- Mix busy sightseeing days with slower ones: a teahouse afternoon in Chengdu, a lakeside walk in Hangzhou or a free day in Shanghai.
Avoid the busiest weeks
Domestic travel peaks around Chinese New Year, in the first days of May and from 1 to 7 October. If your dates are flexible, read the best time to visit China.
Walking and access
Many sites involve long walks, stairs and uneven paving, especially the Great Wall, the Forbidden City and Zhangjiajie. Tell us about walking limits, rest breaks and wheelchair needs, so we can choose sections, entrances, vehicles and hotels to suit.
Sample routes at a comfortable pace
- Beijing and Shanghai in 6 days
- Classic China in 10 days
- Pandas and heritage in 12 days
- Mountains and water in 14 days
Tell us your dates and interests and we will suggest a route at a pace that suits your group.