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.

Per person total 14 days. HSR fares approximate total ¥2,500 for the full route. No domestic flight costs. International flights excluded.

Backpacker	¥2200
Mid-range	¥5500
Comfortable	¥13000

Train-only China — 14 days using HSR exclusively, no flights