First-timer China — 10 days adding Chengdu and Guilin

Day by day

1. Day 1 · beijing

   Arrival, Forbidden City

   Arrive Beijing. Pre-booked Forbidden City tickets for the afternoon. Jingshan Park for the roofline view. Dinner at Qianmen.

   Attractions: forbidden-city, jingshan-park

   Stay in: Wangfujing or Dongcheng.

2. Day 2 · beijing

   Great Wall, Temple of Heaven

   Hired car to Mutianyu Wall early. Back by 3pm. Temple of Heaven in the late afternoon. Peking duck dinner.

   Attractions: great-wall-mutianyu, temple-of-heaven

3. Day 3 · xian

   HSR to Xi'an, City Wall

   Morning G-train (4h 30m). Afternoon bicycle ride on the City Wall circuit. Beiyuanmen Muslim Quarter for dinner.

   Attractions: xian-city-wall

   Stay in: Inside the old city walls.

   G-class HSR ¥515 second class, 4h 30m.

4. Day 4 · xian

   Terracotta Army, Shaanxi History Museum

   Full morning at the Terracotta Army (Pits 1–3, Bronze Chariots). Afternoon at the Shaanxi History Museum. Evening: Datang Everbright City food and performance street.

   Attractions: terracotta-army, shaanxi-history-museum

5. Day 5 · chengdu

   Fly to Chengdu, Jinli Old Street

   Morning flight Xi'an → Chengdu (1.5h, ¥300–500). Afternoon: check in and recover. Evening on Jinli Old Street — Sichuan street food and the sound of mahjong tiles.

   Attractions: wenshu-monastery

   Stay in: Jinli or Kuanzhai Xiangzi area — central and atmospheric.

   Domestic flight Xi'an → CTU, approx 1.5h.

6. Day 6 · chengdu

   Panda Base, Wenshu Monastery

   Early 8am visit to the Chengdu Giant Panda Base — arrive before 9am to see feeding. Back in town by noon. Afternoon at Wenshu Monastery (Tang-dynasty Buddhist complex). Hot-pot dinner in the evening.

   Attractions: panda-base-chengdu, wenshu-monastery

7. Day 7 · guilin

   Fly to Guilin, Reed Flute Cave

   Morning flight Chengdu → Guilin (1.5h). Afternoon at Reed Flute Cave — illuminated limestone formations. Evening walk along the Two Rivers and Four Lakes waterway in Guilin city.

   Attractions: reed-flute-cave

   Stay in: Guilin city centre, near Zhongshan Road.

   Domestic flight CTU → KWL, approx 1.5h.

8. Day 8 · yangshuo

   Li River cruise to Yangshuo

   Morning Li River cruise from Zhujiang Pier to Yangshuo (4.5h, ¥220–330 official ticket). The karst peaks alongside the river are the defining image of southern China. Arrive Yangshuo mid-afternoon; cycle the countryside lanes at dusk.

   Attractions: yulong-river-bamboo-rafting

   Stay in: Yangshuo town — West Street or quieter guesthouses on the edge.

   Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo, 4.5h, ¥220–330.

9. Day 9 · shanghai

   Bus to Guilin, fly to Shanghai, the Bund

   Morning bus back to Guilin (1.5h). Afternoon flight to Shanghai (2h). Check in and walk the Bund as the Pudong towers light up at dusk. Dinner in the French Concession.

   Attractions: the-bund

   Stay in: French Concession or near the Bund.

   Bus Yangshuo → Guilin 1.5h, then flight KWL → PVG/SHA approx 2h.

10. Day 10 · shanghai

    Yu Garden, Pudong, departure

    Morning: Yu Garden Old Town, then Tianzifang for independent shops and coffee. Afternoon: Shanghai Tower observation deck or a leisurely lunch in the French Concession. Transfer to PVG for departure.

    Attractions: yu-garden, tianzifang, shanghai-tower

Budget guide (CNY per day)

Per person total 10 days including domestic flights (approx ¥1,500) and HSR. International flights excluded.