Classic China by High-Speed Rail: 12 Days
Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai with no domestic flights — the essential first trip, connected entirely by bullet train.
Photo: ·˙·ChinaUli2010·.· · CC BY 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
- Route
- Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin/Yangshuo → Shanghai
- Best for
- First-time visitors who want variety and prefer trains to flights
- Pace
- Moderate — four train days, each with free time at the end
About this route
This is the route we suggest most often for a first two weeks in China. It takes in the imperial capital, the Terracotta Army, pandas and Sichuan food, the karst scenery of Guilin and Yangshuo, and modern Shanghai.
Every leg is by high-speed train, so you skip airport transfers and see the country change through the window. The longest leg (Chengdu → Guilin) can be swapped for a two-hour flight if you prefer.
The itinerary
- Day 1
Arrive in Beijing
Land at Capital or Daxing and transfer to a hotel in Dongcheng. If you arrive early, walk the hutongs around Shichahai and the Drum Tower, then have an early Peking duck dinner.
- Day 2
Forbidden City and Jingshan
Enter the Forbidden City at opening through the Meridian Gate and walk the central axis, then the quieter eastern side galleries. Climb Jingshan Park for the view back over the roofs. Late afternoon at the Lama Temple.
Field note: Tickets are released online with your passport, usually 7 days ahead, and the palace closes on most Mondays.
- Day 3
The Great Wall at Mutianyu
Leave by 7:30 to reach Mutianyu before the crowds. Cable car up, walk west towards the steeper towers, toboggan or cable car down. Back in the city by mid-afternoon.
- Day 4
Temple of Heaven, train to Xi’an
Early morning in the Temple of Heaven park watching tai chi and choirs, then an afternoon train to Xi’an. Evening walk in the Muslim Quarter.
- Day 5
Terracotta Army
Morning at the Terracotta Army with a licensed guide. Afternoon cycling on the Ming city wall, sunset at the South Gate.
- Day 6
Shaanxi History Museum, train to Chengdu
Morning at the Shaanxi History Museum (book the free tickets early), lunch of biangbiang noodles, and an afternoon train through the Qinling Mountains to Chengdu.
- Day 7
Pandas and teahouses
Arrive at the Chengdu panda base at opening, when the pandas are fed. Afternoon in People’s Park teahouse and Kuanzhai Alley; hotpot for dinner.
- Day 8
Train to Guilin, on to Yangshuo
The longest leg of the trip — the scenery through Guizhou is spectacular. Continue to a countryside guesthouse in Yangshuo.
Field note: If you would rather not spend the day on a train, fly Chengdu → Guilin and use the morning for Wenshu Monastery.
- Day 9
Li River and Xingping
Bamboo raft on the Li River around Xingping and the 20-yuan viewpoint; climb Laozhai Hill for sunset if you have the legs.
- Day 10
Yulong River by bike, fly or train to Shanghai
Morning cycling through the Yulong River valley, then an afternoon flight to Shanghai. Evening on the Bund.
- Day 11
Shanghai
Yu Garden at opening, the Shanghai Museum, an afternoon walk through the former French Concession, and views from Lujiazui at dusk.
- Day 12
Depart
Maglev or metro to Pudong for your flight home.
Before you book
- Book each train on 12306 as soon as sales open, typically 15 days ahead.
- Fly into Beijing and out of Shanghai on an open-jaw ticket.
- If your passport is not on the 30-day visa-free list, check whether a visa or the 240-hour transit rules fit this route.
Regions on this route: Golden Triangle, Sichuan & Chongqing, Guangxi, Yangtze Delta. See also how to book trains and the visa checker.
Cities on this route
Beijing
Six UNESCO World Heritage sites, the best-preserved imperial architecture in China and the most accessible sections of the Great Wall.
Xi’an
Capital of 13 dynasties and the eastern end of the Silk Road: the Terracotta Army, a complete Ming city wall and the Muslim Quarter’s night food.
Chengdu
Pandas, teahouses and some of the best food in China, in a city famous for taking life slowly.
Guilin & Yangshuo
The karst peaks and rivers of northern Guangxi — the gateway to the Li River cruise, Yangshuo’s countryside and the Longji terraces.
Shanghai
China’s most international city: the Bund, art deco neighbourhoods, world-class museums and an hour by train to classical Suzhou and Hangzhou.
FAQ
Can I shorten this to 10 days?
Yes — drop Guilin and go Chengdu → Shanghai directly (fly, or about 7–8 hours by train), or cut Beijing to three days.
Want this itinerary adapted to you built around your dates, pace and interests? Tell us what you have in mind and our desk will reply within 24 hours.
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