Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an, Chengdu Panda Base, Wulong Three Natural Bridges in Chongqing, The Bund and Shanghai Disney — 20 days for $3,175.
This 20-day Standard trip covers Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (4 nights), Chengdu (4 nights), Chongqing (4 nights), Shanghai (3 nights) — connected by a mix of high-speed rail and flights.
Beijing: Forbidden City, Great Wall (Badaling), Prince Gong's Mansion; flight to Xi'an (1h 54m, $133). Xi'an: Terracotta Warriors Museum, Huaqing Hot Springs, Song of Everlasting Regret (Show); high-speed rail to Chengdu (4h 20m, $39). Chengdu: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Dujiangyan Irrigation System, Du Fu Thatched Cottage; high-speed rail to Chongqing (3h 13m, $25). Chongqing: Wulong Three Natural Bridges, Wulong Karst, Yangtze River Cableway; flight to Shanghai (2h 45m, $79). Shanghai: The Bund, Shanghai Disney Resort, Oriental Pearl Tower.
Estimated total: $3,175 for one traveler on a Standard budget — hotels average $56/night, with meals, inter-city transport, and attraction tickets included.
| Category | CNY |
|---|---|
| Stay | ¥7,241 |
| Food | ¥4,512 |
| Transit | ¥1,863 |
| City transit | ¥1,200 |
| Attractions | ¥3,086 |
| Total | ¥21,482 |
4 nights in Beijing on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.
Full Beijing travel guide →Next leg: Beijing to Xi'an — Flight · 1h 54m · $133
4 nights in Xi'an on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.
Full Xi'an travel guide →Next leg: Xi'an to Chengdu — High-speed rail · 4h 20m · $39
4 nights in Chengdu on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.
Full Chengdu travel guide →Next leg: Chengdu to Chongqing — High-speed rail · 3h 13m · $25
4 nights in Chongqing on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.
Full Chongqing travel guide →Next leg: Chongqing to Shanghai — Flight · 2h 45m · $79
3 nights in Shanghai on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.
Full Shanghai travel guide →Yes, $3,175 is a realistic budget for 20 days on a Standard tier. This covers accommodation, food, inter-city transport, and major attractions.
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) are the best times to visit. Avoid Chinese national holidays (Golden Week in October and May) as crowds and prices surge.
This route is designed for 20 days: Beijing (4 nights), Xi'an (4 nights), Chengdu (4 nights), Chongqing (4 nights), Shanghai (3 nights).
October is a recommended time for this route. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) generally offer the best conditions across China.
Most visitors need a Chinese tourist (L) visa. Many nationalities qualify for 72/144-hour visa-free transit through major hubs — check your passport's eligibility.
Adding 3 more days typically adds about $2,000–$3,000 for extra nights and one more high-speed rail leg.
Forbidden City and Great Wall in Beijing, Terracotta Warriors Museum and City Wall in Xi'an, Chimelong Resort and Canton Tower in Guangzhou — 15 days for $6,403.
Great Wall and Forbidden City in Beijing, The Bund and Yu Garden in Shanghai, Chimelong Resort and Canton Tower in Guangzhou — 15 days for $2,752.
Forbidden City, Great Wall (Badaling and Mutianyu), and Summer Palace — 7 days for $2,414.