Ten days gives you time to extend the Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai backbone with two genuinely different environments: Chengdu in the southwest (pandas, hot-pot, the laid-back Sichuan pace) and Guilin in Guangxi (the Li River karst, Yangshuo's rural lanes). The Chengdu insert sits naturally after Xi'an before flying to Guilin; Shanghai closes the loop.

Day by day

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Backpacker	¥1800
Mid-range	¥4500
Comfortable	¥10000

First-timer China — 10 days adding Chengdu and Guilin