Ten days are a very short period of time for a journey to China. While thanks to the vast and capillary high-speed railway network covering large distances is no longer a major obstacle, careful planning is still required.
Major destinations for a ten-day journey to China are typically Beijing, Xi’An and Shanghai. If you enjoy slow travelling you may opt for a less tight schedule.
In this page we briefly outline a selection of ten-day itineraries in China. For each programme we give suggestions on how to organise the transfers.
Ten days in China: choice of the itinerary
Beijing, Xi’An and Shanghai are the firm options on the schedule of most 10-day China itineraries. This is the typical route and even if you want to consider other options, it is best to do so by starting from this itinerary and applying modifications. This is due to the fact that the three cities mentioned above, particularly Beijing and Shanghai, are typically the most convenient ports of entry into the country.
If you choose to travel by train you can easily add a few destinations along the Beijing-Xi’An-Shanghai route. Another option is to organise day trips from the three major cities.
All of the itineraries outlined below can easily be organised independently. Resorting to the support of a travel agency can make things easier and smoother and is often a necessity when it comes to organising the side trips.
Ten days in China: recommended itineraries
Day time transfers between the three major cities that you might want to consider for a 10-day journey (Beijing, Xi’An, Shanghai) require roughly a half day in all cases, regardless of whether you choose to travel by plane (taking into account also the transfers between the city centre and the airport) or by train (high-speed railway). If you want to save time you may opt for night time transfers, which is feasible by train or in equivalent way through late evening flights. If you consider doing so, take into account how well you can cope with the discomfort such a choice would bring about.
Assuming you opt for only one night time transfer, two half days’ time is absorbed by long-distance transfers. You effectively have to choose how to allocate 9 full days.
We suggest you focus your journey on three main destinations, devoting an entire week, 7 days to them. The two remaining days can be used for side-trips.
If you are on a budget and you are comfortable with such a tough way of travelling, you can opt for night transfers by train (less advisable travelling by bus).
Here are the itineraries we recommend for a 10-day journey in China:
Itinerary 1: Beijing, Xi’An, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou;
Itinerary 2: Beijing, PingYao, Xi’An, HuaShan, Shanghai;
Itinerary 3: Beijing, Taishan, QuFu, Nanjing, Shanghai;
Itinerary 4: Shanghai, Huangshan, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing;
Itinerary 5: Beijing, Chengde, Hengshan;
Itinerary 6: Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai and their surroundings;
We assume that the point of arrival and departure is an airport in either Beijing or Shanghai.
Especially if you come from another Asian country, you may also consider other points of entry such as the airports of Nanjing, Hangzhou, Xi’An, Shenzhen or Guangzhou.
Itinerary 1: Beijing, Xi’An, Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou
The itinerary briefly outlined below is a classic tour, a great introduction to China’s ancient culture.
A well-balanced schedule is as follows:
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Day 1: Beijing
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Day 2: Beijing (excursion to the Great Wall)
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Day 3: Beijing transfer to Xi’An
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Day 4: Xi’An
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Day 5: Xi’An; transfer to Shanghai
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Day 6: Shanghai
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Day 7: Shanghai
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Day 8: Hangzhou
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Day 9: Suzhou
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Day 10: Suzhou; return to Beijing; end of journey
The programme requires three long-distance transfers (two if you find a convenient multi-leg flight itinerary).
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically in Beijing), you have to include a transfer from Shanghai to Beijing:
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Beijing-Xi’An (by plane or by train)
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Xi’An-Shanghai (by plane or by train)
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Shanghai-Hangzhou-Suzhou (by train)
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Shanghai-Beijing (by plane or by train)
You can opt for night trains or day time high-speed trains. The first option is generally cheaper.
Itinerary 2: Beijing, Ping’Yao, Xi’An, HuaShan, Shanghai
This itinerary focuses on destinations in central China, along the Beijing-Xi’An route. Compared to the previous one, this programme is much slower and cheaper.
A well-balanced schedule is as follows:
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Day 1: Beijing
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Day 2: Beijing (excursion to the Great Wall)
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Day 3: Beijing
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Day 4: Beijing; transfer to PingYao
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Day 5: PingYao
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Day 6: Xi’An
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Day 7: Xi’An
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Day 8: Day trip to HuaShan
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Day 9: Shanghai
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Day 10: Shanghai; return to Beijing; end of journey
The programme requires three long-distance transfers (two if you find a convenient multi-leg flight itinerary).
How to organise the transfers
If you choose a round trip flight itinerary (entry and exit through the same airport, typically in Beijing), you have to include a transfer from Shanghai to Beijing:
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Beijing-PingYao (by train)
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PingYao-Xi’An (by train)
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Xi’An-HuaShan (by train)
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HuaShan-Shanghai (by plane or by train)
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Shanghai-Beijing (by plane or by train)
A good choice is to opt for night train for the transfer between Beijing, PingYao and Xi’An. Transfers between Xi’An, HuaShan and Shanghai are best made by high-speed trains.
Itinerary 3: Beijing, TaiShan, QuFu, Shanghai
This is another interesting programme, which offers a unique insight into China’s vast cultural heritage. All destinations are conveniently served by high-speed railway lines.
A well-balanced schedule is as follows:
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Day 1: Beijing
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Day 2: Beijing (excursion to the Great Wall)
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Day 3: Beijing
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Day 4: Beijing; transfer to Taishan
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Day 5: Ascent to Mount Taishan
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Day 6: QuFu; transfer to Shanghai
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Day 7: Shanghai
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Day 8: Day trip to Suzhou or Hangzhou
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Day 9: Shanghai
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Day 10: Shanghai; return to Beijing; end of journey
The programme requires two long-distance transfers (one if you find a convenient multi-leg flight itinerary). When you are based in Shanghai you can opt for one or two side trips. Possible destinations are Suzhou, Hangzhou, Nanjing or a water town.
How to organise the transfers
All transfers for this itinerary can be made by high-speed train.
Related articles:
Itineraries in China (general article)
First journey to China: classic two-week itinerary
