China 2 Week Itinerary: The Ultimate 14-Day Travel Plan (2025)

Two weeks in China. Enough time to scratch the surface of this vast country, experience its extremes of ancient and modern, and leave wanting more.

This itinerary covers the "Golden Triangle"—Beijing, Xi'an, and Shanghai—the route most first-timers take, and for good reason. These three cities offer the best introduction to China's history, culture, and contemporary life.

The Overview

Days	City	Highlights
1-4	Beijing	Forbidden City, Great Wall, Hutongs
5	Travel	High-speed train to Xi'an
6-8	Xi'an	Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter
9	Travel	Flight to Shanghai
10-14	Shanghai	The Bund, French Concession, Modern China

Total estimated cost: $1,500-3,000 per person (excluding international flights)

• Budget: $100-150/day
• Mid-range: $150-250/day
• Comfortable: $250-400/day

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Days 1-4: Beijing

Day 1: Arrival and Orientation

Morning/Afternoon:

• Arrive at Beijing Capital (PEK) or Daxing (PKX) airport
• Take Airport Express or taxi to hotel
• Check into hotel near Tiananmen (for sightseeing convenience)

Evening:

• Walk around Wangfujing Street
• First taste of Beijing street food
• Early sleep to beat jet lag

Stay: Dongcheng District (near Forbidden City)

Day 2: Imperial Beijing

Morning:

• Tiananmen Square at sunrise (less crowded)
• Forbidden City (故宫) — Budget 3-4 hours
• Book tickets online in advance!

Afternoon:

• Jingshan Park for Forbidden City overview
• Lunch at a hutong restaurant

Evening:

• Explore Nanluoguxiang hutong
• Dinner at a Peking duck restaurant

Tips:

• Forbidden City tickets sell out—book days ahead
• Enter from south (Tiananmen), exit north
• Wear comfortable shoes

Day 3: The Great Wall

Full Day:

• Mutianyu section recommended (less crowded than Badaling)
• Depart early (7-8 AM)
• Take cable car up, toboggan down (fun!)
• Spend 3-4 hours on the Wall
• Return by late afternoon

Getting there:

• Organized tour (~$50-80)
• Or DIY: Bus 916 from Dongzhimen + local bus

Evening:

• Recover at hotel
• Light dinner nearby

Tips:

• Bring water and snacks
• Start walking away from the crowds
• Weather can differ from the city—layer up

Day 4: Temple of Heaven and Hutongs

Morning:

• Temple of Heaven (天坛) — Morning tai chi in the park
• Watch locals exercising, dancing, playing cards

Afternoon:

• Rickshaw tour through hutongs
• Visit a traditional courtyard home (siheyuan)
• 798 Art District if time allows

Evening:

• Ghost Street (簋街) for crayfish and late-night eats
• Or Beijing opera performance

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Day 5: Beijing to Xi'an

Morning:

• Pack and check out
• Last-minute Beijing shopping

Afternoon:

• High-speed train Beijing West → Xi'an North
• Journey time: ~4.5 hours
• Second class: ~¥525 ($75)

Book on Trip.com or 12306.

Evening:

• Arrive Xi'an, check into hotel near Bell Tower
• Walk the city walls at sunset (open late)
• Dinner in Muslim Quarter

Stay: Near Bell Tower or Muslim Quarter

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Days 6-8: Xi'an

Day 6: Terracotta Warriors

Full Day:

• Terracotta Army (秦始皇兵马俑)
• Located 1 hour outside city
• Take tourist bus from train station
• Or book organized tour

At the site:

• Start with Pit 1 (main hall)
• Visit Pits 2 and 3
• Bronze chariots museum
• Budget 3-4 hours

Evening:

• Return to Xi'an
• Night market dinner
• Tang Dynasty music show (optional)

Tips:

• Go early to avoid tour groups
• Hire an English guide on-site (~¥150)
• The museum is excellent—don't rush

Day 7: Xi'an City

Morning:

• Rent bikes and ride the City Wall (城墙)
• Complete loop is 14km, takes 1-2 hours
• Alternatively, walk a section

Afternoon:

• Muslim Quarter (回民街) for street food
• Try: lamb skewers, roujiamo (Chinese burger), biangbiang noodles
• Great Mosque (one of China's oldest)

Evening:

• Big Wild Goose Pagoda
• Evening fountain show (largest in Asia)

Day 8: Day Trip or Relaxation

Option A: Mount Huashan

• One of China's five sacred mountains
• Very challenging hike or cable car
• Full day commitment (depart 6 AM)
• Not for the faint of heart

Option B: Hanyangling Museum

• Lesser-known Han Dynasty tombs
• Walk on glass floors over excavations
• Less crowded than Terracotta Warriors

Option C: Relax in Xi'an

• Shaanxi History Museum
• More Muslim Quarter exploration
• Calligraphy lessons
• Dumpling banquet dinner

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Day 9: Xi'an to Shanghai

Morning:

• Flight Xi'an → Shanghai
• Flight time: ~2.5 hours
• Book in advance for best prices

Afternoon:

• Arrive Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao
• Transfer to hotel
• Check in, freshen up

Evening:

• The Bund at night
• Walk the riverside promenade
• See the Pudong skyline illuminated

Stay: French Concession or near The Bund

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Days 10-14: Shanghai

Day 10: Classic Shanghai

Morning:

• The Bund in daylight
• Nanjing Road shopping street
• Yu Garden and Old Town

Afternoon:

• Jade Buddha Temple
• Xintiandi for lunch

Evening:

• French Concession bar hopping
• Rooftop cocktails with skyline views

Day 11: Modern Shanghai

Morning:

• Pudong side: Oriental Pearl Tower or Shanghai Tower
• Lujiazui financial district walk

Afternoon:

• Shanghai Museum (free, excellent)
• People's Square area

Evening:

• Acrobatics show
• Or explore Tianzifang artsy alley

Day 12: Day Trip Option

Option A: Zhujiajiao Water Town

• "Venice of Shanghai"
• 1 hour from city center
• Canals, bridges, traditional architecture
• Half or full day

Option B: Suzhou

• Classical gardens (UNESCO)
• 30 minutes by train
• Full day recommended

Option C: Hangzhou

• West Lake (UNESCO)
• 1 hour by train
• Full day or overnight

Day 13: Shanghai Your Way

Use this day to:

• Revisit favorite spots
• Shopping at Nanjing Road or Tianzifang
• Explore neighborhoods you missed
• Try restaurants on your list

Evening:

• Fancy dinner as trip finale
• Lost Heaven (Yunnan cuisine)
• Or M on The Bund (views + Western food)

Day 14: Departure

Morning:

• Last-minute shopping
• Pack souvenirs
• Check out

Afternoon/Evening:

• Transfer to airport
• Pudong (PVG) for international flights
• Allow 3 hours before departure

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Budget Breakdown

Transportation

Route	Method	Cost
Beijing airport → city	Metro/Express	¥25-35
Beijing → Xi'an	Train	¥525
Xi'an → Shanghai	Flight	¥500-1,200
Shanghai airport → city	Maglev + Metro	¥50-60
Local transit (14 days)	Metro/bus	¥300-400

Accommodation (per night)

Level	Cost	Example
Budget	¥150-300	Hostels, basic hotels
Mid-range	¥400-800	3-4 star hotels
Comfort	¥800-1,500	4-5 star hotels

Major Attractions

Site	Cost
Forbidden City	¥60
Great Wall (Mutianyu)	¥45 + cable car ¥120
Temple of Heaven	¥35
Terracotta Warriors	¥150
Xi'an City Wall	¥54
Shanghai Tower	¥180

Food (per day)

Style	Cost
Street food/local	¥50-100
Mid-range restaurants	¥100-200
Nice dinners	¥200-400

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Practical Tips

Book in Advance

• Forbidden City tickets (required)
• Great Wall tours or transport
• Terracotta Warriors tours
• High-speed train tickets
• Popular restaurants

Don't Over-Schedule

This itinerary is already full. Build in:

• Rest time
• Spontaneous exploration
• Meals without rushing

Weather Considerations

Best times:

• April-May: Spring, comfortable
• September-October: Autumn, ideal
• Avoid: July-August (hot, crowded), February (Chinese New Year)

Pack Smart

• Comfortable walking shoes (essential!)
• Layers for air conditioning
• Power adapter
• VPN (download before arrival)

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Alternative Routes

If you have more time or different interests:

Nature focus: Replace Xi'an with Zhangjiajie or Guilin

Southern route: Hong Kong → Guangzhou → Guilin → Shanghai

Silk Road: Beijing → Xi'an → Dunhuang → Kashgar

Pandas: Add Chengdu for 2-3 days

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Need detailed guides for each city? The China Survival Kit includes offline maps, transportation guides, and local tips for Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, and beyond.