Beijing
The imperial capital: palatial scale, hutong alleys where people still live, and the Great Wall within a morning's drive.
Three days here
- Day 1 Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City — book a timed ticket online in advance. Climb Jingshan Park opposite for the classic roofline view, then walk the hutongs around Houhai in the evening.
- Day 2 The Great Wall at Mutianyu or Badaling. Leave early; tour buses arrive mid-morning and the cable car queue doubles. Peking duck for dinner.
- Day 3 Temple of Heaven in the morning to watch locals practising tai chi, the Summer Palace in the afternoon, or 798 Art District if you want a modern counterpoint.
Getting around
The metro is dense, cheap and signposted in English; an airport express rail links the terminals to the city. Taxis are metered and honest, but traffic is heavy enough that the metro usually wins.
Eat
Peking duck carved at the table, jianbing — a savoury breakfast crepe — and zhajiangmian, thick noodles with fermented bean sauce.
Best time: April–May, September–October
Allow: 3–5 days
Great Wall: 1.5–2 hours by road
Shanghai
China's most walkable skyline: art-deco riverfront on one bank, science-fiction towers on the other, and plane-tree lanes in between.
Three days here
- Day 1 The Bund at dawn before the crowds, then the former French Concession on foot — the Wukang Road area is the most rewarding kilometre in the city. Cross to Pudong for the skyline at night.
- Day 2 Shanghai Museum and the Yuyuan Garden old town in the morning; a lane-house café in the afternoon; a river cruise or the acrobatics show after dark.
- Day 3 Day trip to Suzhou's classical gardens — around 25 minutes by high-speed rail — or the canal town of Zhujiajiao if you want to stay closer.
Getting around
The metro is the easiest in China to navigate for a visitor, with English signs and numbered lines. Pudong airport is served by the metro and by the maglev.
Eat
Xiaolongbao soup dumplings, shengjianbao pan-fried pork buns, and red-braised pork. Breakfast is taken seriously here.
Best time: March–May, October–November
Allow: 2–4 days
Suzhou: 25 min by high-speed rail
Xi'an
The eastern terminus of the Silk Road, and home to the Terracotta Army — one of the great archaeological discoveries anywhere.
Three days here
- Day 1 Rent a bike on the Ming city wall and ride the full 14 km loop — the best orientation you can get. The Muslim Quarter for street food in the evening.
- Day 2 The Terracotta Army, early. It is about an hour's drive out of town and the pits fill up by late morning. Big Wild Goose Pagoda square in the evening.
- Day 3 Shaanxi History Museum, then the Great Mosque and the Bell and Drum Towers at the centre of the old grid.
Getting around
The metro reaches the main sights and the railway stations. For the Terracotta Army, take the dedicated tourist bus or a taxi; the site is well outside the city.
Eat
Roujiamo — shredded braised pork in a flatbread bun — biangbiang hand-pulled belt noodles, and yangrou paomo, mutton soup with torn bread.
Best time: April–May, September–October
Allow: 2–3 days
Terracotta Army: 1 hour from the centre
Chengdu
Giant pandas, bamboo teahouses and the most relaxed food culture in the country. A city that rewards doing less.
Three days here
- Day 1 The panda research base at opening time — pandas are genuinely active only in the early morning. Then a teahouse afternoon in People's Park, watching the ear-cleaners work.
- Day 2 Jinli Street and the Wuhou Shrine, then the Tibetan quarter around Wenshu Monastery. Sichuan hotpot for dinner — order the half-and-half pot (mild on one side) and be honest about your tolerance.
- Day 3 Day trip to the Leshan Giant Buddha or Mount Qingcheng; the Sanxingdui museum if you prefer archaeology to scenery.
Getting around
An extensive, cheap metro. The panda base and Leshan need a taxi or a coach; everything central is easy by metro.
Eat
Sichuan hotpot, dan dan noodles, mapo tofu, and chuanchuan skewers cooked at the table. The best meals are rarely the smartest rooms.
Best time: March–June, September–November
Allow: 2–4 days
Panda base: 40 min from the centre
Shenzhen
From fishing village to megacity in forty years. China's fastest-growing city, with a land border to Hong Kong, China.
Three days here
- Day 1 The Civic Center museum cluster for the story of the reform era, then OCT Loft for contemporary art and coffee in converted factories.
- Day 2 Dapeng Fortress and the eastern coast, or Lianhuashan Park and the Window of the World if you want a compact tour of the whole country in one afternoon.
- Day 3 Cross into Hong Kong, China for the day — the land border crossings take about 30 minutes — or take the ferry out to one of the islands.
Getting around
A modern metro with fully bilingual signage; ride-hailing is the default for short hops. Crossing to Hong Kong, China needs your passport and, depending on nationality, a separate entry arrangement.
Eat
Cantonese dim sum, seafood around Shekou, and regional cooking from every province — most of the population moved here from somewhere else.
Best time: October–April
Allow: 2–3 days
Hong Kong, China: ~30 min to the border
Guilin
The karst peaks printed on the twenty-yuan note, and the river town of Yangshuo downstream. The landscape half of the trip.
Three days here
- Day 1 Reed Flute Cave, then the Two Rivers and Four Lakes area lit up after dark — a gentle first day.
- Day 2 The Li River cruise to Yangshuo, about four hours of the scenery you came for. Stay the night in Yangshuo rather than returning.
- Day 3 Cycle the Yulong River valley between the peaks; the Longji rice terraces are worth an extra day if you have one.
Getting around
The airport is about 30 km outside the city, with buses and taxis to the centre. Between Guilin and Yangshuo the river cruise or a bus both work; the cruise is the reason to come.
Eat
Guilin rice noodles — eaten at breakfast, not lunch — beer fish, and stuffed river snails.
Best time: April–October
Allow: 2–3 days
Yangshuo: 1.5 hours by road
Pairing cities: Beijing–Xi'an is the classic first route, joined by fast rail. Shanghai–Suzhou–Hangzhou makes a compact eastern loop, all within an hour of each other. Chengdu–Chongqing is 90 minutes by high-speed rail and works as one trip. Guilin pairs with Guangzhou or Shenzhen if you want to end near Hong Kong, China.