From the Great Wall's ridgelines to Shanghai's neon-lit skyline.
China's scale means most first trips focus on a single region; Beijing and Xi'an together cover the imperial capital, the Great Wall, and the Terracotta Army in one efficient loop.
Peking duck
Crispy roasted duck served with thin pancakes, scallions, and sweet bean sauce.
Xiaolongbao
Delicate soup dumplings from Shanghai, filled with pork and a burst of hot broth.
Hotpot
A simmering communal pot of broth for cooking meat, vegetables, and noodles at the table.
Dim sum
An array of small steamed and fried dishes, traditionally served with tea.
The Great Wall of China
This defensive wall stretches thousands of kilometers across northern China, built and rebuilt over centuries by successive dynasties. The Mutianyu and Jinshanling sections near Beijing offer dramatic mountain scenery with far fewer crowds than the more famous Badaling stretch. Walking even a short restored section gives a real sense of its scale.
The Forbidden City
The imperial palace complex at the heart of Beijing housed Chinese emperors for nearly 500 years and remains the best-preserved cluster of ancient wooden architecture in the world. Nearly a thousand buildings and courtyards sit inside its walls, arranged with strict symbolic symmetry. A full visit easily takes half a day.
Terracotta Army, Xi'an
Thousands of life-sized clay soldiers, each with individually sculpted faces, were buried to guard the tomb of China's first emperor over 2,200 years ago. Discovered by farmers in 1974, the excavation site is now covered by museum hangars that let visitors look down on the ranks as archaeologists still work. It's one of the most significant archaeological finds of the 20th century.
The Bund, Shanghai
A riverside promenade lined with colonial-era European buildings on one side and Shanghai's futuristic skyline, including the Oriental Pearl Tower, directly across the water. The contrast between old and new is most striking at night, when both banks light up. It's the natural starting point for exploring the city.
Li River & Guilin's karst hills
Limestone karst peaks rise dramatically along the Li River between Guilin and Yangshuo, a landscape that has appeared on Chinese ink paintings for centuries. A slow river cruise or bamboo raft trip is the classic way to see it, with cycling around Yangshuo's countryside as a popular add-on. It's considered one of the most scenic river journeys in the country.
Zhangjiajie National Forest Park
Thousands of narrow sandstone pillars rise out of dense forest, an otherworldly landscape that inspired the floating mountains in the film Avatar. A glass-bottomed skywalk and a spectacular glass bridge span some of the deepest gorges. It's more remote than China's other major sites, requiring a flight to reach comfortably.
12 days covers Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin/Yangshuo, and Shanghai without rushing, given China's size. 7–8 works if you drop one region; 15+ lets you slow the pace or add Chengdu for pandas.
1. Days 1–4
Beijing
The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, and a day trip to the Great Wall at Mutianyu.
2. Days 5–6
Xi'an
The Terracotta Army and the ancient city walls.
~2h by high-speed train from Beijing
3. Days 7–9
Guilin & Yangshuo
A river cruise through the karst hills and cycling through the countryside.
~2h flight from Xi'an
4. Days 10–12
Shanghai
The Bund, the former French Concession, and departure.
~2h flight from Guilin
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for China?
Most European passport holders, along with the UK, Canada, and Australia, can now enter visa-free for up to 30 days, a policy extended through the end of 2026. US citizens are a notable exception and still need a standard visa arranged in advance.
Which airport should I fly into?
Beijing Capital (PEK) or Beijing Daxing (PKX) for this route; Shanghai Pudong (PVG) if starting in the east instead.
Do I need a VPN in China?
Yes, if you want access to Western apps and sites like Google, WhatsApp, or Instagram — set this up before you arrive, since VPN provider websites themselves are often blocked once you're there.
Do I need cash in China?
Less than you'd think — mobile payment apps (Alipay, WeChat Pay) dominate almost everywhere, and setting one up with a foreign card before your trip makes daily life much easier.