China honeymoon in 10 days

Day by day

1. Day 1 · shanghai

   Arrive Shanghai

   Check into a hotel in the French Concession — the neighbourhood's plane trees, 1930s townhouses, and dense café scene make it a better base than the Bund hotels for a relaxed stay. Evening walk along Wukang Road and dinner at a Shanghainese restaurant.

2. Day 2 · shanghai

   Shanghai — Bund morning, afternoon free

   Early morning on the Bund before crowds. Mid-morning at Yu Garden then the surrounding tea houses. Afternoon is deliberately free — the French Concession has enough cafés, bookshops, and boutique concept stores to fill several hours without a plan.

   Attractions: the-bund, yu-garden, french-concession, wukang-mansion

3. Day 3 · hangzhou

   Travel to Hangzhou — West Lake

   High-speed rail Shanghai to Hangzhou: 1 hour. Check into a lakeside hotel — the northwestern shore near Yuquan is quieter than the Broken Bridge end. Afternoon boat circuit of West Lake, which takes roughly 1.5 hours. Sunset from Lei Feng Pagoda viewing platform.

   Attractions: west-lake-hangzhou, lei-feng-pagoda

4. Day 4 · hangzhou

   Hangzhou — tea and temples

   Early morning at the China National Tea Museum (free entry) followed by a walk through Meijiawu Tea Village if the timing is right. Afternoon at Lingyin Temple — the temple itself is busy, but the Feilai Feng grottos alongside it are quieter and more interesting.

   Attractions: china-national-tea-museum, lingyin-temple

5. Day 5 · yangshuo

   Fly to Guilin, transfer to Yangshuo

   Morning flight Hangzhou to Guilin (approximately 2 hours). Bus or private transfer from Guilin to Yangshuo: 1.5 hours. Alternatively, the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (4.5 hours) is a gentler arrival if time and budget allow — book in advance. Check into a boutique guesthouse in the old quarter or on the countryside edge.

   Attractions: li-river-cruise

6. Day 6 · yangshuo

   Yangshuo — cycling the karst countryside

   Hire bicycles for the day — the back road loop through Baisha, Yangdi, and the Moon Hill area takes 4–5 hours at a comfortable pace. The Yulong River section is less crowded than the main Li River route and passes through working villages. Return for sunset from the West Street rooftop.

   Attractions: yulong-river-bamboo-rafting

7. Day 7 · lijiang

   Fly to Lijiang — old town evening

   Flight Guilin to Lijiang (approximately 2 hours). Check in. Lijiang Old Town is at 2,400 metres — allow the afternoon to acclimatise rather than rushing up stairs. Evening walk through the old town canals; the crowd in the Sifang Square area ebbs after 9 pm.

   Attractions: lijiang-old-town

8. Day 8 · lijiang

   Jade Dragon Snow Mountain

   Cable car to Blue Moon Valley and the glacier viewing platform on Jade Dragon Snow Mountain. The altitude at the top station exceeds 4,500 metres — oxygen canisters are sold at the base and are worth having. Afternoon rest back in the old town. Sunset from the Wanggu Tower.

   Attractions: jade-dragon-snow-mountain

9. Day 9 · lijiang

   Shuhe old town and Lashi Lake

   Half-day in Shuhe, Lijiang's quieter satellite old town (3 km north, free entry). Afternoon at Lashi Lake if water levels are sufficient — the lake has migratory birds and basic boating. The Dongba Cultural Research Institute holds morning ceremonies on weekdays.

   Attractions: shuhe-old-town

10. Day 10 · lijiang

    Lijiang — depart

    Morning free — Black Dragon Pool Park across from the old town reflects Jade Dragon Snow Mountain in good conditions. Depart from Lijiang Three Parallel Rivers Airport. Connections to Kunming, Chengdu, and beyond.

    Attractions: black-dragon-pool-lijiang

Budget guide (CNY per day)

Boutique accommodation in Yangshuo and Lijiang ranges CNY 400–1800/night; two domestic flights add approximately CNY 1200–2400 per person.