Itinerary ideas
China: Cities & Mountains
A 14-day China itinerary combining Beijing and Xi’an’s historic sites, Zhangjiajie’s forest park and a Shanghai city stay.
Beijing → Xi’an → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai
Plan this tripSee the day-by-day plan
The route
Where you’ll go
- 01Beijing北京Days 1–4
- 02Xi’an西安Days 5–7
- 03Zhangjiajie张家界Days 8–10
- 04Shanghai上海Days 11–14
Route schematic, not a geographical map. The sample day ranges include arrival or transfer time; connections and schedules need confirmation.
Daily plan
Your 14-day China itinerary
Four destinations make this an active two-week route. Days 5, 8 and 11 are transfer days. Zhangjiajie gets two full sightseeing days, so choose a focused forest park visit or discuss a shorter visit to the park plus Tianmen Mountain. The Zhangjiajie guide explains why these are separate outings.
The notes below flag walking, steps and travel days. Ask for exact walking distances and access details if these affect your plans.
Arrival, the historic centre, a Great Wall day and a neighbourhood experience, with time to recover from travel.
Spread the city and Great Wall outings across these days.
Proposed rail connection and a relaxed arrival evening.
Allow room for rail travel and hotel check-in.
The Terracotta Army, City Wall and a food-focused neighbourhood visit.
Discuss time on foot and breaks between major visits.
Reserve a transfer day for Zhangjiajie. Actual routing may involve connections and must be checked.
Check the connection before planning any additional activity.
Use two days for selected National Forest Park areas, with routes matched to the weather and your walking pace. If Tianmen Mountain is a priority, discuss replacing one park day or extending the stay; it cannot simply be added to the same sightseeing day.
Steps, queues and mountain weather can change the day’s rhythm.
Allow for a flight connection if needed; avoid promising a full sightseeing day.
Allow for a connection and a light arrival evening.
Riverfront architecture, garden traditions and space for your own interests.
Balance city visits with independent time.
Departure planning follows your flight schedule.
Final arrangements depend on your flight.
Before booking
Check your quote
Ask for an itemised quote for all four stops. Check the routing into and out of Zhangjiajie before fixing hotel nights, then confirm each included attraction and its internal transport.
| Item | Specify in the quote | Check separately |
|---|---|---|
| Hotels | Property, location, room type, nights and breakfast. | Room upgrades, extra beds and early check-in. |
| Guides | Language, sightseeing days and hours of service. | Guide support during station and airport transfers. |
| Transport | Rail or flight sectors, class, luggage and local transfers. | International flights and changes to booked tickets. |
| Attractions | Named entry tickets and reservation arrangements. | Cable cars, lifts, shuttles and optional activities. |
| Meals | Which meals, drinks and dietary arrangements are specified. | Meals at your own choice and additional orders. |
| Price & terms | Currency, group total, per-person basis, room sharing and validity. | Payment schedule, cancellation, changes and any insurance cover. |
Use the final written quote to check what is included and what costs extra.