The tree-covered sandstone pillars of Zhangjiajie in the morning light
All itineraries

China

Beijing, Xi'an, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie, Furong, Fenghuang, Shanghai

Sixteen days from the Great Wall to the Avatar mountains. The imperial capitals, the country's most futuristic city, two villages on the water and a grand finale in Shanghai. Tested on the ground, with the real trains and hotels.

Length
16 days
Recommended time
Spring and autumn, avoiding Golden Week (1–7 October)
Budget
About €2,700 all in, flight included
Pace
Brisk, all by high-speed train

The stops

Beijing北京Xi'an西安Chongqing重庆ZhangjiajieFurong · FenghuangShanghai上海
  1. 01北京

    Beijing

    The imperial capital: the Great Wall at its finest, the Forbidden City, Peking duck and the nights of Gongti.

    Beijing's Temple of Heaven under a blue sky
  2. 02西安

    Xi'an

    The ancient capital where the Silk Road began. The Terracotta Army, the Ming walls and the street food of the Muslim Quarter.

    Terracotta Army warriors lined up in the pit
  3. 03重庆

    Chongqing

    The vertical city of hills and rivers, China's most cyberpunk: lit-up towers, drones over the river, hot pot and nightlife.

    Hongyadong lit up at night on the Chongqing riverside
  4. 04张家界

    Zhangjiajie

    The sandstone pillars that inspired Avatar, Heaven's Gate and a glass bridge hanging over a canyon.

    A tree-covered sandstone pillar in Zhangjiajie
  5. 05芙蓉镇 · 凤凰

    Furong and Fenghuang

    Two historic villages on the water: one built on the edge of a waterfall, the other with stilt houses along the river. Best seen at night.

    Fenghuang houses and pagoda lit up, reflected in the river
  6. 06上海

    Shanghai

    The grand finale: the Bund, the Pudong skyscrapers, the best view of the city and China's most famous club.

    The Pudong skyscrapers seen from below at night

What you'll see

The Bund and the Oriental Pearl Tower lit up, seen from the Flair rooftop in Shanghai
The Great Wall running along green ridges north of Beijing
The glass bridge hanging over the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon
The rock pillars of Zhangjiajie rising out of the haze
Xi'an's Drum Tower lit up in the evening
The staircase climbing to Heaven's Gate on Tianmen Mountain
Chongqing's stilt houses lit up among the trees
A table with Peking duck, steamed dumplings and Chinese dishes
Fenghuang's covered bridge lit in blue over the Tuo river
A monkey sitting in the shade in Zhangjiajie National Park
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang buildings lit up in the rain in Xi'an
A pavilion on the water in Shanghai's Yu Garden

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