Itinerary · 14 days · balanced
Train-only China — 14 days using HSR exclusively, no flights
Fourteen days across eastern and central China using only high-speed rail — no domestic flights. A lower-carbon alternative that also provides a closer view of the country at ground level.
China's high-speed rail network (HSR) is the world's largest at over 42,000km and covers almost every major city in the east and centre of the country. A train-only itinerary is entirely viable for the eastern seaboard: Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Xi'an, Chengdu, and Guilin are all connected. Journey times are longer than flying but the trade-offs include city-centre to city-centre travel, no airport security queues, comfortable seats, dining cars, and the landscape passing at close range. Book HSR tickets on the 12306 app (requires Chinese phone number) or through Trip.com from abroad.
Day by day
Day 1 · beijing
Arrive Beijing (international), Forbidden City
Arrive Beijing via international train or direct flight to start the train-only domestic section. Forbidden City in the afternoon (pre-booked). Jingshan rooftop view.
Attractions: forbidden-city, jingshan-park
Stay in: Wangfujing or Dongcheng.
Day 2 · beijing
Great Wall and Lama Temple
Hired car to Mutianyu Wall — not HSR-connected, but a local hire is short. Three hours on the wall. Lama Temple in the afternoon.
Attractions: great-wall-mutianyu, lama-temple
Day 3 · tianjin
HSR to Tianjin, Italian Quarter and food street
Short HSR hop to Tianjin (30 min, ¥54). The Italian Concession neighbourhood (Yi Feng District) is an overlooked stretch of 1900s European architecture. Tianjin gou buli pork buns (a 150-year-old institution). Return to Beijing in the evening by HSR or stay overnight.
Stay in: Tianjin or return to Beijing.
HSR Beijing → Tianjin, 30 min, ¥54.
Day 4 · xian
HSR to Xi'an, Muslim Quarter
Morning G-class HSR Beijing West → Xi'an North (4h 30m). Arrive lunchtime. Bicycle the City Wall in the afternoon. Muslim Quarter food street for dinner.
Attractions: xian-city-wall
Stay in: Inside the City Wall.
G-class HSR ¥515 second class.
Day 5 · xian
Terracotta Army, Shaanxi History Museum
Full morning Terracotta Army site. Afternoon Shaanxi History Museum.
Attractions: terracotta-army, shaanxi-history-museum
Day 6 · chengdu
HSR to Chengdu, Wenshu Monastery
Morning G-train Xi'an → Chengdu (3h 30m). Wenshu Monastery in the afternoon. Hot-pot dinner.
Attractions: wenshu-monastery
Stay in: Jinli or Kuanzhai Xiangzi area.
HSR Xi'an → Chengdu East, 3h 30m, ¥465.
Day 7 · chengdu
Panda Base, Sanxingdui
Early Panda Base visit. Afternoon Sanxingdui Museum (40km north, worth the journey).
Attractions: panda-base-chengdu, sanxingdui-museum
Day 8 · guilin
HSR to Guilin, karst landscape
Morning HSR Chengdu → Guilin (5h 30m, ¥400). Arrive early afternoon. Reed Flute Cave. Evening Two Rivers and Four Lakes waterway walk.
Attractions: reed-flute-cave
Stay in: Guilin city.
HSR Chengdu East → Guilin North, 5h 30m, ¥400.
Day 9 · yangshuo
Bus to Yangshuo, Li River and Yulong
Bus to Yangshuo (1.5h). Bamboo raft on the Yulong River. Bicycle the countryside at dusk.
Attractions: yulong-river-bamboo-rafting
Stay in: Yangshuo.
Bus Guilin → Yangshuo, 1.5h, ¥25.
Day 10 · guangzhou
Bus to Guilin, HSR to Guangzhou, Shamian Island
Morning bus to Guilin (1.5h). HSR to Guangzhou South (3h, ¥340). Shamian Island afternoon walk. Roast duck dinner in the Liwan area.
Attractions: shamian-island
Stay in: Liwan district, Guangzhou.
Bus to Guilin 1.5h then HSR Guilin → Guangzhou South 3h ¥340.
Day 11 · guangzhou
Chen Clan Academy, Canton Tower, dim sum
Morning dim sum. Chen Clan Academy afternoon. Canton Tower at dusk.
Attractions: canton-tower
Day 12 · hangzhou
HSR to Hangzhou, West Lake
Morning HSR Guangzhou → Hangzhou (5h, ¥530). Arrive afternoon. West Lake boat trip. Longjing tea village for a late-afternoon tea tasting.
Attractions: west-lake-hangzhou
Stay in: West Lake area.
HSR Guangzhou South → Hangzhou, 5h, ¥530.
Day 13 · hangzhou
Lingyin Temple, Leifeng Pagoda
Morning Lingyin Temple in the forested hills west of the lake. Lei Feng Pagoda in the afternoon overlooking the southern lake. Wuzhen water town is reachable (1h by bus) if departing Shanghai tomorrow.
Attractions: lingyin-temple, lei-feng-pagoda, wuzhen-water-town
Day 14 · shanghai
HSR to Shanghai, the Bund, departure
Morning HSR Hangzhou → Shanghai Hongqiao (45 min, ¥73). Bund walk in the afternoon. Tianzifang or French Concession for a final lunch. Depart from PVG or SHA.
Attractions: the-bund, tianzifang
HSR Hangzhou → Shanghai Hongqiao, 45 min, ¥73.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥2200 |
| Mid-range | ¥5500 |
| Comfortable | ¥13000 |
Per person total 14 days. HSR fares approximate total ¥2,500 for the full route. No domestic flight costs. International flights excluded.
Attractions covered
- Forbidden City (Palace Museum)故宫
UNESCO
- Jingshan Park景山公园
- Great Wall — Mutianyu慕田峪长城
UNESCO
- Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong)雍和宫
- Xi'an City Wall西安城墙
- Terracotta Army兵马俑
UNESCO
- Shaanxi History Museum陕西历史博物馆
- Wenshu Monastery文殊院
- Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding成都大熊猫繁育研究基地
- Sanxingdui Museum三星堆博物馆
- Reed Flute Cave芦笛岩
- Yulong River bamboo rafting遇龙河竹筏