Guangzhou–Zhongshan–Shenzhen: 14-Day China Itinerary & Cost for a Family of 3 (September)

Budget$5,000·Duration14 days·TierComfort·InSeptember·Travelers2 adults · 1 child <6

Chimelong Resort and Canton Tower in Guangzhou, then Zhongshan Film and Television City and Sun Yat-sen's Hometown Tourist Area in Zhongshan, then Shenzhen Safari Park and Window of the World in Shenzhen — 14 days for $5,160.

This 14-day Comfort trip covers Guangzhou (4 nights), Zhongshan (3 nights), Shenzhen (3 nights), Guangzhou (3 nights) — connected by high-speed rail.

Guangzhou: Chimelong Safari Park, Chimelong Resort, Canton Tower; high-speed rail to Zhongshan (1h 15m, $6). Zhongshan: Zhongshan Zhan Garden, Zhongshan Film and Television City, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence Memorial Museum; high-speed rail to Shenzhen (1h 51m, $17). Shenzhen: Window of the World, Splendid China Folk Village (Shenzhen), Ping An Finance Center Observation Deck (Shenzhen); high-speed rail to Guangzhou (1h 44m, $11). Guangzhou: Chimelong Safari Park, Chimelong Resort, Canton Tower.

Estimated total: $5,160 for one traveler on a Comfort budget — hotels average $84/night, with meals, inter-city transport, and attraction tickets included.

Cost breakdown (1 traveler, Comfort)

CategoryCNY
Stay¥7,431
Food¥14,694
Transit¥456
City transit¥2,688
Attractions¥3,824
Total¥34,912

What to eat

Guangzhou
  • Morning dim sum
    早茶点心 · Zǎochá diǎnxīn
  • Roast goose
    烧鹅 · Shāo'é
  • Poached sliced chicken
    白切鸡 · Báiqiē jī
Shenzhen
  • Chaoshan beef hotpot
    潮汕牛肉火锅 · Cháoshàn niúròu huǒguō
  • Hong Kong-style diner fare
    港式茶餐厅 · Gǎngshì chácāntīng
  • Hakka salt-baked chicken
    客家盐焗鸡 · Kèjiā yánjú jī
Guangzhou
  • Morning dim sum
    早茶点心 · Zǎochá diǎnxīn
  • Roast goose
    烧鹅 · Shāo'é
  • Poached sliced chicken
    白切鸡 · Báiqiē jī

Guangzhou itinerary

4 nights in Guangzhou on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.

Full Guangzhou travel guide →

Next leg: Guangzhou to ZhongshanHigh-speed rail · 1h 15m · $6

Zhongshan itinerary

3 nights in Zhongshan on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.

Full Zhongshan travel guide →

Next leg: Zhongshan to ShenzhenHigh-speed rail · 1h 51m · $17

Shenzhen itinerary

3 nights in Shenzhen on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.

Full Shenzhen travel guide →

Next leg: Shenzhen to GuangzhouHigh-speed rail · 1h 44m · $11

Guangzhou itinerary

3 nights in Guangzhou on this route — the attractions below are priced into the estimate.

Full Guangzhou travel guide →
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BeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangQinhuangdaoYantaiQuanzhouYichangZhangyeBeihaiZhuhaiWeihaiYangzhouChangzhouXuzhouShaoxingWenzhouJingdezhenGanzhouZhongshanChaozhouZhanjiangKaifengYueyangBaotouLeshanDujiangyanXishuangbannaTengchongAnshunXingyiJiayuguanTianshuiTurpanYiningYanjiManzhouliHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichungBeijingShanghaiGuangzhouShenzhenChengduHangzhouChongqingWuhanXi'anSuzhouNanjingTianjinZhengzhouChangshaQingdaoDongguanNingboHefeiShenyangXiamenKunmingFuzhouDalianHarbinJinanChangchunTaiyuanNanchangNanningGuiyangLanzhouHaikouXiningYinchuanHohhotShijiazhuangWuxiUrumqiLhasaGuilinSanyaPingyaoLijiangDaliZhangjiajieHuangshanFenghuangShangri-LaDunhuangKashgarYangshuoWuyishanXitangWuzhenJiuzhaigouEmeishanWudangshanTai'anQufuChengdeDatongLuoyangQinhuangdaoYantaiQuanzhouYichangZhangyeBeihaiZhuhaiWeihaiYangzhouChangzhouXuzhouShaoxingWenzhouJingdezhenGanzhouZhongshanChaozhouZhanjiangKaifengYueyangBaotouLeshanDujiangyanXishuangbannaTengchongAnshunXingyiJiayuguanTianshuiTurpanYiningYanjiManzhouliHong KongMacauTaipeiKaohsiungTaichung
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CHINA TRAVEL ITINERARY
中国之旅
September · Comfort · 3 people · 13 nights
Guangzhou
Guangzhou
4 nights
Highlights
Chimelong Resort¥300Mount Baiyun¥5Chimelong Safari Park¥300Canton Tower¥149Chen Clan Ancestral Hall¥10Guangdong Science Center¥60Grandview Mall Tourist Area (Guangzhou)Free
🏨 $95.18 (CN¥644)/night🍜 $10.64 (CN¥72)/meal🚇 $17.74 (CN¥120)/day🎫 $121.79 (CN¥824) admission
🚄 High-speed rail
1h 15m · $5.91 (CN¥40)
Zhongshan
Zhongshan
Zhongshan
3 nights
Highlights
Zhongshan Film and Television City¥15Sun Yat-sen's Hometown Tourist AreaFreeZhongshan Zhan Garden¥50Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Former Residence Memorial MuseumFreeZhongshan Quanyan Hot Spring¥67
🏨 $49.66 (CN¥336)/night🍜 $9.05 (CN¥61)/meal🚇 $17.74 (CN¥120)/day🎫 $19.51 (CN¥132) admission
🚄 High-speed rail
1h 51m · $16.85 (CN¥114)
Shenzhen
Shenzhen
Shenzhen
3 nights
Highlights
Shenzhen Safari Park¥119OCT East¥180Window of the World¥100Splendid China Folk Village (Shenzhen)¥99Ping An Finance Center Observation Deck (Shenzhen)¥180
🏨 $94.30 (CN¥638)/night🍜 $11.38 (CN¥77)/meal🚇 $17.74 (CN¥120)/day🎫 $100.21 (CN¥678) admission
🚄 High-speed rail
1h 44m · $10.94 (CN¥74)
Guangzhou
Guangzhou
Guangzhou
3 nights
Highlights
Yuexiu Park (Guangzhou)FreeGuangzhou Zoo¥20Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Guangzhou)¥8Beijing Road Pedestrian StreetFreeChimelong Happy World¥250
🏨 $95.18 (CN¥644)/night🍜 $10.64 (CN¥72)/meal🚇 $17.74 (CN¥120)/day🎫 $41.09 (CN¥278) admission
I have
$5,000.00 (CN¥33,829)
Estimated Total
$5,159.99 (CN¥34,912)
Over budget
$159.99
Estimated Total
$5,159.99 (CN¥34,912)
Stay $1,098.30 (CN¥7,431) · Food $2,171.77 (CN¥14,694) · Transit $67.40 (CN¥456) · City transit $397.29 (CN¥2,688) · Attractions $565.19 (CN¥3,824) · Misc $860.05 (CN¥5,819)
Estimates only. Actual costs may vary. · 1000usdinchina.com
Use this route as my trip template →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is $5,160 enough for a 14-day Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Shenzhen-Guangzhou trip?

Yes, $5,160 is a realistic budget for 14 days on a Comfort tier. This covers accommodation, food, inter-city transport, and major attractions.

What is the best time to visit Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Shenzhen-Guangzhou?

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.

How many days do I need for this Guangzhou-Zhongshan-Shenzhen-Guangzhou route?

This route is designed for 14 days: Guangzhou (4 nights), Zhongshan (3 nights), Shenzhen (3 nights), Guangzhou (3 nights).

Is September a good time for this route?

September is a recommended time for this route. Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) generally offer the best conditions across China.

What visa do I need for this trip?

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.

How does this route compare to a longer version?

Adding 3 more days typically adds about $2,000–$3,000 for extra nights and one more high-speed rail leg.

CompareThis 14-day trip ($5,000) versus a 17-day extension (~$7,500) — the longer version adds another city and one more HSR leg.
Hong Kong → Shenzhen → Zhuhai · 14 DaysShanghai → Hangzhou · 14 Days

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