Ten days lets you do the Golden Triangle and add a wow factor — pandas in Chengdu, karst in Guilin, or the water towns near Shanghai — without rushing.
Two proven shapes
A. History + nature: Beijing (3) → Xi’an (2) → Guilin/Yangshuo (3) → Shanghai (2).
B. Cities + pandas: Beijing (3) → Xi’an (2) → Chengdu (2) → Shanghai (3).
Sample: Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Shanghai
- D1–3 Beijing: Forbidden City, hutongs, Great Wall day trip (private car recommended).
- D4–5 Xi’an: rail from Beijing; Terracotta Warriors, city wall, Muslim Quarter.
- D6–7 Chengdu: fly from Xi’an; Giant Panda Base, teahouses, spicy food, day trip to Dujiangyan.
- D8–10 Shanghai: rail/flight; the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, a water town (Zhujiajiao/Suzhou), depart.
Transport logic
High-speed rail for Beijing–Xi’an and short hops; flights for the longer Xi’an–Chengdu / Chengdu–Shanghai legs; private car for Great Wall, panda-day and rural segments. We plot door-to-door times so you don’t lose an afternoon.
Typical budget (per person, excl. intl. flights)
A mid-range 10-day trip commonly lands around $1,100–$2,000 for hotels, domestic transport, tickets and meals — estimate; confirm at booking. Private-car legs and 4–5★ raise it; hostels + trains lower it.
FAQ
Is 10 days enough to see “a lot” of China?
It’s enough for 3–4 bases. China is huge — resist cramming; depth beats checklist.
Best time of year?
Spring (Apr–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) are most comfortable; avoid national-holiday weeks.
Do I need to pre-book trains?
Yes for peak days — foreign passports need advance booking; we help arrange.
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