Home / Itineraries
The Classic 10-Day China Itinerary: Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu
The short answer: Ten days is the sweet spot for a first China trip: 3 days Beijing (Forbidden City, Great Wall), 2 days Xi'an (Terracotta Army), 3 days Chengdu (pandas, hotpot), with high-speed rail between cities. Budget roughly $1,200–2,000 per person excluding flights. UK, EU, Canadian, and Australian passport holders travel visa-free for 30 days; US citizens can use the 240-hour transit via Hong Kong or get a 10-year visa.
Day-by-Day Plan
| Day | City | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Beijing | Arrive; Tiananmen Square | Forbidden City (book ahead) | Wangfujing snack street |
| 2 | Beijing | Great Wall at Mutianyu | Return; hutongs (Nanluoguxiang) | Peking duck dinner |
| 3 | Beijing | Temple of Heaven | Summer Palace | Overnight: rest before early train |
| 4 | Xi'an | Rail to Xi'an (~4.5h) | City wall bike loop | Muslim Quarter food street |
| 5 | Xi'an | Terracotta Army (half day) | Big Wild Goose Pagoda | Tang dynasty show (optional) |
| 6 | Chengdu | Rail to Chengdu (~3.5h) | People's Park teahouse | Sichuan hotpot |
| 7 | Chengdu | Panda base (arrive 8am) | Wenshu Monastery | Sichuan opera (face-changing) |
| 8 | Chengdu | Day trip: Leshan Giant Buddha or Dujiangyan | — | Local food crawl |
| 9 | Chengdu | Free morning / shopping | Jinli street | Farewell hotpot |
| 10 | — | Depart from Chengdu |
What to Book in Advance
- Forbidden City tickets — limited daily entry, book ~7 days ahead on the official site;
- Panda base morning slots — pandas nap by noon; go at opening;
- High-speed rail tickets — release ~15 days out; book when the window opens (see our rail guide);
- Hotels with foreigner registration — Trip.com filters these reliably;
- Great Wall section choice — Mutianyu for comfort, Jinshanling for photography. Badaling only if you want the Qinghe high-speed train.
Budget Breakdown (per person, excluding flights)
| Item | Budget range |
|---|---|
| Hotels (9 nights, 3–4 star) | $500–900 |
| Rail (3 legs) | $120–180 |
| Food | $250–450 |
| Tickets & activities | $150–250 |
| Local transport | $60–120 |
| Total | ~$1,200–2,000 |
Route Variations
- With kids: swap a Chengdu day for the panda volunteer experience; add Shanghai Disney at the end (fly from Chengdu);
- From India / shorter time: Beijing–Xi'an 7 days (drop Chengdu, fly home from Xi'an);
- Add Chongqing: Chengdu–Chongqing is 1.5h by rail — cyberpunk skylines and river hotpot;
- Photography edition: Beijing → Pingyao → Xi'an (add 2 days, all rail).
FAQ
Is 10 days enough?
Yes for the classic three cities; add 3-4 days for Shanghai or Guilin.
Which direction is better?
Beijing first, Chengdu last - hardest logistics first, relaxed ending.
Do I need a guide?
Doable self-guided with translation apps; a local guide adds depth on history days.
When is the best month?
April-May and September-October; avoid Chinese New Year and October Golden Week.
Can I pay for everything with my phone?
Yes - set up Alipay before you land.
Planning tools we recommend
We may earn a commission if you book through these links - disclosure.
Book trains & hotels on Trip.com →