First Trip to China: Which Cities Should You Choose?

China has more must-see places than any single trip can hold, and the distances are big. The best first trips focus on two to four destinations, chosen around what excites you most. Here is how to pick.

Start with the classic trio

For most first-time visitors, the heart of the trip is three cities linked by fast trains and short flights:

• Beijing: the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and Peking duck. Most travellers spend 3–4 days.
• Xi'an: the Terracotta Army, the ancient city wall and the Muslim Quarter food street. 2 days is usually enough.
• Shanghai: the Bund, futuristic skylines, old water towns and some of the best shopping in Asia. 2–3 days.

Beijing to Xi'an takes about 4.5 hours by high-speed train. Xi'an to Shanghai is easiest by a two-hour flight.

Then add what you love

Nature and landscapes - Guilin and Yangshuo: the Li River cruise and karst peaks from Chinese paintings. - Zhangjiajie: sandstone pillars rising out of the clouds, glass bridges and cable cars. - Yunnan: old towns, snow mountains and a mild climate all year.

Food and city life - Chengdu: giant pandas, teahouses and Sichuan food. - Chongqing: a vertical mountain city of lights and the best hotpot in China. - Guangzhou and Shenzhen: Cantonese dim sum, modern China and easy links to Hong Kong.

Slow travel - Hangzhou: West Lake, tea villages and gardens, just one hour from Shanghai by train.

How many cities for how many days?

• 7–8 days: two cities, for example Beijing and Shanghai, or Beijing and Xi'an.
• 10–12 days: the classic trio, or two of them plus one nature or food destination.
• 14 days or more: the classic trio plus one or two add-ons, with time to relax.

A good rule: no more than one new city every two to three days. Every move costs half a day, and the best moments usually come when you slow down.

Combinations that work well

• Classic and comfortable: Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai.
• Classic plus scenery: Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, Shanghai.
• Pandas and mountains: Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie.
• Gardens and skylines: Shanghai, Hangzhou, with Beijing if time allows.
• Mild climate and culture: Yunnan's old towns and mountains, any time of year.

Check our best time to visit guide to match your route to the season.

How we help

Every trip we design is private and built around you, not a fixed package. Tell us how many days you have, who's travelling and what you're excited about, and we'll suggest the cities, the order and the pace that fit you, for free, on WhatsApp.

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