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China itinerary in 15 days | Detailed itinerary + Map
Organize a a 15-day China itinerary It's not an easy task, so we're going to use our personal experience to help you discover some of the best places in this great country and sea.carMake the most of your vacation. You'll also find links to other very interesting articles where we explain in more detail what to do in some of the cities along the route.
We propose this 15-day itinerary through China where we share all the necessary information to organize a trip like ours, for example how to get from one city to another, the best areas to stay in and of course what to see.
- Route through China in 15 days
- Preparations before traveling to China
- Our detailed day-by-day itinerary through China
- Day 1 and 2 – Arrival in China, get to know Shanghai
- Day 3 – Zhujiajiao
- Day 4 – Shanghai
- Day 5 and 6 – Touring Beijing
- Day 7 – Great Wall of China, the great wonder of this 15-day route through China
- Day 8 and 9 – Visit Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors
- Day 10 and 11 – Tour Zhangjiajie, the Avatar Mountains
- Day 12 – Fenghuang, the most beautiful town on the 15-day China route
- Day 13 and 14 – Yangshuo Karst Mountains
- Last day of the 15-day China route, Guilin and back home
- Frequently asked questions for a 15-day trip to China
Route through China in 15 days
We've included a map we prepared for our trip through the Asian Giant and a summary of our 15-day itinerary through China, so you can get a quick overview of the proposed route.
A trip like this carcharacteristics implies a lot of internal transport in high speed trains or flights due to the large distances between cities; if you prefer not to move around as much as we do, we recommend focusing on a smaller area and dedicatingcarI'll spend more days at each stop.
- Day 1, 2: Shanghai
- Day 3: Visit Zhujiajiao
- Alternative Day 3: Hangzhou or Suzhou
- Day 4: Shanghai
- Day 5 and 6: Peking
- Day 7: Visiting Gran Muralla China and Beijing
- Day 8 and 9: Xi'an
- Day 10 and 11: zhangjiajie
- Day 12: fenghuang
- Day 13 and 14: Yangshuo
- Day 15: Guilin and back home
ᐈ Before starting you can take a look at our list of tips for traveling to ChinaIt will surely help you plan.car your itinerary to China.
Preparations before traveling to China
Before we start talking in detail about the stops on this 15-day route through China, we want to share some simple but very useful tips that we believe everyone should know before traveling to China.
Internet – Restrictions and VPNs
One of the main drawbacks when traveling to China is that many applications and websites are banned by the government. Fortunately, you can avoid these restrictions and use your mobile phone normally. The best way is to Hiring an eSIM card with VPN included to have internet in China. For us the best is the eSIM of HolaflyWe used it throughout the trip and it was great. Another good option is to hire a VPN , the NordVPN and install it on your devices, so you can use any WiFi or SIM from Chinese companies to browse normally.
China travel insurance
In a country with a culture and a health system so different It is vital to have good insurance with 24-hour care and that includes the option of an interpreter to translate Medical advice. For a 15-day trip through China, the insurance company Heymondo We think it's the best option, specifically their policy.Tranquility Trip" or "Top Trip'.
If you need more information about this we have an article analyzing the best insurance for china comparing different insurers, prices and their coverage.
How to pay in China
We were very surprised that in China paying with cash is almost a thing of the past and paying by card is not common either, at least not directly. All payments are made through two applications, Alipay and WeChat. In short, you have to enter your card details in the App (preferably a commission-free card when paying in yuan , the TradeRepublic) and pay using a QR that appears in the application. We have a guide explaining step by step How to use Alipay.
How to book trains in China
The Chinese railway network is one of the best ways to travel around China, and taking a train journey is almost unavoidable for most tourist routes. Unfortunately, we didn't find the ticketing system for foreigners very efficient. We personally tried both available options. buy directly at the box office and through Trip.com. We have written a guide explaining in detail How to buy train tickets in China.
Our route through China detailed day by day
Day 1 and 2 – Arrival in China, get to know Shanghai
In China there are two main entrance doors For international flights, the airports are Beijing and Shanghai. Our 15-day China itinerary starts in Shanghai, but if flights to the capital are cheaper, you can make a few adjustments and begin in Beijing.
lease note that passing through immigration control and traveling from Shanghai Airport to your hotel will take 1 to 2 hours.
After leaving your luggage at your hotel you could start your first day in China by visiting the famous BundWe visited it both during the day and at night and We believe it is essentialAt both times, the views from this spot are breathtaking. After spending a pleasant while enjoying and photographing the Bund views, you can cross to the other side of the river and see the financial district from below; at night, we were amazed by all the illuminated skyscrapers.
For your second day in Shanghai you will have much more time and you will be able to explore it calmly and be surprised and adapt to the Chinese culture. The second day of this 15 days China itinerary we recommend focus on the historical areas of the city. Although it may not seem like it, Shanghai has a very traditional past and in the city you can discover many ancient temples, traditional gardens and historic neighborhoods.
We recommend the following places:
- Yuyuan Gardens
- Gucheng Park
- Jade Buddha Temple
- French Concession
- Tian Zi Fang Alleys
- Longhua Temple
- Jing'an Temple
In China, entrance fees to most of the gardens and temples we visited were charged, but quite low. We recommend you take a look at our guide to How much does it cost to travel to China? to find out the prices you'll encounter during your trip and our actual budget.
To complete the route through China in 15 days… What to see in Shanghai in 2 or 3 days, detailed day-by-day itinerary
Day 3 – Zhujiajiao
On the third day you could take a trip to one of the popular water towns on the outskirts of Shanghai. We visited Zhujiajiao, one of the most picturesque, best preserved and easier to access from Shanghai. With more than 1.700 years of history had offered us, this quiet city of cobbled alleys, ancient bridges and canals will transport you to ancient China.
✹ For your next adventure Don't forget a good Travel Insurance, we recommend you Heymondo, what's wrong with it The best quality, price. ⭐Here you have a discount on Heymondo of a minimum of 5% on any policy and 15% if you travel as a family.
Alternatives for day 3: Travel to Hangzhou or Suzhou
If you prefer a different experience in the surroundings of Shanghai, two good alternatives are Hangzhou and Suzhou. This second city is also known for being one of the ancient water towns.
Hangzhou is a little-known city that surprised us greatly, standing out for its impressive West LakeThe surroundings of the lake are full of beautiful gardens, famous temples such as that of Lingyin and pagodas like the Leifeng PagodaDedicar one day a Hangzhou It's a great option if you want to explore a relaxed city surrounded by nature and filled with traditional buildings. It was a complete surprise for us, and we loved it. That day you could stay in Hangzhou or return to Shanghai.
Day 4 – Shanghai
This will be your last day to visit Shanghai and we recommend you visit the most modern and commercial areas of the city center. You can also take advantage of visiting the Bund again during the day or at night, depending on how you saw it on the first day. Other very interesting places to visit are the People's Square park, famous for its weekend singles market that blew our minds, or nanjing road which is the largest shopping street in the city.
If you like museums, you can also visit several very important and completely free ones; most are located around People's Square.
Day 5 and 6 – Touring Beijing
We recommend that you spend days 5 and 6 of this 15-day China itinerary in Beijing, the capital of China and a city with great historical importance. Go from Shanghai to Beijing You can go by slow train, fast train or by plane. For a trip like this The best option is the fast train and you can catch it in the afternoon of the 4th or early in the morning on the 5th.
Spend your first day in Beijing visiting the city's main temples, it will be a great first contact with the historic Chinese capital. the temple of heaven It is one of the temples that we liked the most and that you should not miss. It is located in the center of a huge park where we also recommend taking a quiet walk and watching the locals practicing sports such as tai chi.
Other temples we visited and recommend you visit are the Lama Temple and Confucius Temple, they are very close to each other.
One of the places The most spectacular in all of Beijing is the Summer PalaceAlthough it's a bit far from the center and you'll have to go by taxi or DiDi, you also need buy the ticket in advance. When night falls, you can go for a stroll along Qianmen Street, one of the oldest and liveliest streets in the capital.
On your second day in Beijing you could dedicatecarI have it get to know the city center where some of the most important monuments in the whole country are concentrated. For example, you can start by visiting the enormous Tiananmen square and then the world wide famous Forbidden City It's right next to the square. We couldn't get in because we couldn't get tickets, so don't forget to book them in advance.
The parks in the center are also beautiful and you should not miss them, next to the Forbidden City you will find the Jingshan and Beihai parks. We loved both parks; you should definitely visit at least one of them. Near the parks, you can see the Drum Tower and Clock Tower; these historic towers were used to...car The time is like that of the citizens of old Beijing. You also can't miss the hutongs, traditional neighborhoods full of small houses and alleyways.
To complete the route… What to see in Beijing in 3 days, Detailed itinerary and map
Day 7 – Great Wall of China, the great wonder of this 15-day route through China
To end the first week of this 15-day route through China on a high note, you will visit the Great Wall of China. It is one of the 7 wonders of the world And when you meet her in person and reflect on the dimensions of this construction, you understand why.
It's estimated that at its peak it measured around 21.000 km, and today, about 6.000 km remain standing. We're also fortunate that some sections pass very close to Beijing, making it possible to visit it in a single day.
The closest and easiest points to visit from Beijing are Badaling and Muntianyu. Of these two I would opt for Muntianyu Since it's not too far from downtown Beijing, the mountainous setting is spectacular and it's not too crowded. If you're adventurous and you like the mountains, mountain routes I recommend you go to jiankou, was our choice. (the photo below speaks for itself!)
We tell you in detail the prices, recommended tours and transportation you need to take to go in the guide ▶How to visit the Great Wall of China.
If you have gotten up early in the afternoon you will already be back in Beijing and you can take advantage of your last day in the capital to see some more corners or to fly to Xi'an or go in fast train.
Day 8 and 9 – Visit Xi'an and the Terracotta Warriors
The two best options to get from Beijing to Xi'an are the plane and the fast train, both have very similar prices. The advantage of flying is that the journey is faster but the airports are on the outskirts, whereas the train stations are quite central and you don't need to arrive so far in advance.
Xi'an is an essential stop on a 15-day itinerary through China thanks to its historical importance and its interesting cultural mix. best area to stay in Xi'an It's inside the city walls. You can start by visiting the Terracotta Army, one of the most impressive archaeological finds in the world. Don't forget Book your tickets online to this immense collection of figures that represents The Army of the First Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang.
A visit to the museum will take you through several pits where the original statues are displayed, with their unique details on faces and armor. Spend the afternoon exploring the Xi'an Wall, one of the best preserved in the country, from where you can walk or rent a bicycle to travel its 14 kilometers in length and enjoy the views of the city.
On the second day you could get to know the cultural heart of Xi'an. Visit the Muslim Quarter where you will find a vibrant market where you will find everything from crafts to delicious street food. Nearby is the Grand mosque, a beautiful complex that combines Islamic architecture with Chinese style.
Also worth visiting is the Drum Tower and Bell tower, like the towers with the same name in Beijing, are two iconic emblems of the city. If you have time, end the day at the Great Wild Goose Pagoda, an impressive Buddhist temple where you can enjoy a fountain show at night.
Day 10 and 11 – Tour Zhangjiajie, the Avatar Mountains
Zhangjiajie National Park looks unreal, packed with some of the strangest formations we've ever seen. To visit it you have to go to the town of Wulingyuan, which is well connected by train from the city of Zhangjiajie itself. To make this journey it is best to take a direct flight to Zhangjiajie early in the morning and you will be able to visit part of the park on the same day, for example the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon where the glass suspension bridge is located.
The dimensions of the park are enormous although the most beautiful areas are quite close to each other. You can start the route by going up by cable car to Tianzi Mountain, its viewpoints are not the prettiest but it is not at all crowded and from there you can reach the rest of the points on the park's free buses. Continue the route by taking a bus to Yangjiajie area, another area that is not too crowded but has cool viewpoints.
The Yuanjiajie area is the most famous because it is where the Hallelujah Mountain and the whole landscape is spectacular, they say it served as inspiration for the movie Avatar.
The National Park is large and the names are confusing, we recommend you read our article where we explain in detail what to see in Zhangjiajie.
We followed the route along the Golden Whip, a trail that runs parallel to the river and it allows you to have a different perspective of the mountains. There are actually a variety of paths, cable cars and even a glass elevator throughout the park so you can improvise a bit.
It may interest you… Where to stay in Zhangjiajie to visit the National Park, best areas and hotels.
Day 12 – Fenghuang, the most beautiful town on the 15-day China route
Our 15-day China itinerary is drawing to a close, but there's still so much to discover. One of the most famous traditional villages in this Asian giant is Fenghuang, a small town built practically on top of a river. Thanks to its new train station, we found it very easy to get there from Zhangjiajie in under an hour. Fenghuang is actually quite small, so in a single day you'll be able to stroll along the river and see all the main attractions.
To get to the next stop after Fenghuang, there are only daytime trains, so you have to spend the night here, but that's not a problem, it's an advantage. Despite being a small town, it has two carThe atmosphere is quite different, especially at dusk when all the buildings begin to light up; it becomes an even more beautiful place. The main thing you can do here is stroll around and be captivated by it all. Rainbow Bridge and Fenghuang Bridge. Also surprising are the houses built on the river thanks to wooden posts that come out of the water or the old wall from Fenghuang.
You can read more at… What to see in Fenghuang
Day 13 and 14 – Yangshuo Karst Mountains
We went from one of the most beautiful villages for its traditional architecture to one of the most beautiful villages for its natural surroundings. To get from Fenghuang to Yangshuo you have to take several trains and you will spend almost the whole day on the journey looking at the beautiful landscapes from the window, it is the price to pay to get to these beautiful rural areas.
The first step is Go by train from Fenghuang to Guilin North, the largest city in the area. You can buy tickets for the journey but be aware that there is a train change at an intermediate station which is usually Changsha. Once in Guilin North you have to take a train to Yangshuo or take the bus, the journey takes less than half an hour. Note that Yangshuo train station is 1 hour by bus from the centre or a little less by taxi.
An alternative for these last days in China it would be Visit Chongqing Instead of Yangshuo, it is the Chinese city that has grown the most and is becoming very popular and where the hotels of luxury They are very cheapPlus, it has affordable international flights to get you back home.
After the long journey you will finally be in Yangshuo, take advantage the first night to walk down West Street, the main street of the town, full of cafes, craft shops and food stalls. The next morning the day begins with a Bike ride along the paths along the Yulong River, enjoying the rice fields and the spectacular green peaks. Then you could climb up to the impressive Xianggong Hill viewing platform from where you will get an unforgettable panoramic view. It is also quite typical to cruise down the river on a traditional bamboo raft.
Last day of the 15-day China route, Guilin and back home
The end of this intense and surprising 15-day tour of China has arrived. Depending on the time of your flight, you can still do something before you leave. If you fly in the afternoon, you can spend the morning in the centre of Guilin and try one last delicious traditional Chinese dish.
If 15 days in China is not enough for you, you can take advantage of the new 30-day visa to extend your trip.
FAQ for a trip to China in 15 days
Many European passports, such as the Spanish one, offer a 30-day visa exemption, meaning you don't need a visa. Check the requirements carefully on the embassy website for your nationality.
The best way to get around China is by bullet trainThey are fast, punctual, and very comfortable. You can buy tickets online in advanceDomestic flights within China can be useful for long distances, but they are usually more expensive. carthe.
Yes. In China, you'll be asked for your passport for almost everything: checking into hotels, entering train stations, buying tickets, or even accessing some tourist attractions. Always carry the original with you.
Cash is rarely used in China, so we don't recommend bringing cash to exchange. It's best to link your credit/debit card to payment apps like Alipay or WeChat and pay through their QR system.
Not quite. Many Western websites and apps like Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube are blocked. To browse smoothly, you'll need a eSIM with VPN reliable installed before arriving.
I hope our 15-day China itinerary helps you plan your next trip to wonderful China. If you have any questions about the proposed 15-day itinerary, leave a comment and we'll try to help.
To read more about each specific place and many other tips for traveling to China you can access all articles that we have or see our featured stories from Instagram. Thanks for reading us!
Hi!
We're trying to buy tickets through WeChat, but when we enter the number of tickets we want, it asks for user information. There, it asks for an ID number and a mobile phone number. It does let me enter the country for the phone number, but for the ID number, it doesn't let me enter my passport or ID. Do you know how I should fill that out?
Thank you very much in advance
Hi! Congratulations on the blog, it's incredibly helpful for those of us going to the Asian giant for the first time, hehe. We're going in September, flying from Madrid to Beijing (round trip). How can we modifycarCould you suggest an itinerary? We're not sure how to optimize our time as much as possible since we'll be there for 15 days, and traveling to and from the same city would make transfers easier. We want to visit the places you mentioned, and we could subtract a day from Shanghai or Beijing if you suggest any other alternatives, such as Furong in Hunan province or Chongqing (we're not sure if including them is too much!). Thank you so much in advance.
Hi RicarYes, thank you☺️
This itinerary is already quite short on time because the journeys are not short. To add more places you would have to remove the Yanshuo/Guilin section because it is also quite remote. You could replace those days with stops on the way to Xi'an (on the route to China in 21 days you have the detail). Also, being in Fenghuan You can go to Furong to spend an evening by taxi (it's an hour away).
To finish from Fennghuan I would go by train to Chongqing and from there I would fly to Beijing on the same day you have your return flight.
The itinerary combinations in China are endless! Hahaha
Hello,
I'm trying to go to Trip.com to check train schedules and I always get a message that there are no results. I've changed the destination and dates, the ones that say you can book now and nothing. If it's only one way, should the return date be left blank? Because I don't see a one-way option either.
I'm putting Zhangjiajie to Fenghuan first and I've also tried from Fenghuan to Xian and nothing. Do you know what I could be doing wrong?
Hello Eva,
Thank you for leaving a comment. For the route you mentioned from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuan, we have a link within day 12 of the itinerary that takes you directly to the bus.car that journey (https://www.trip.com/trains/china/list/?DepartureStation=%E5%BC%A0%E5%AE%B6%E7%95%8C&ArrivalStation=%E5%87%A4%E5%87%B0%E5%8F%A4%E5%9F%8E&Allianceid=4132073&SID=36998977&trip_sub1=&trip_sub3=D638213)
Yes, the return date is left blank. Please note that Chinese station names are a bit confusing, so you should double-check.car It's good that you're entering the correct destination. You should also know that you can only buy tickets 3 months in advance, so if your trip is in May, for example, you won't see any results yet, but you can use the March schedules and prices as a guide.
I hope I have helped you, if you have any questions, let us know.
All the best
Hello, we are organizing our trip to China, and on the way from Xian to Zhangjiajie, we couldn't find the direct flight that you mentioned in the blog. Do you know if this flight still exists? Thank you very much.
Hello Cristina!
First of all, thank you for leaving us a comment and for using our articles to organize your trip 😊
Regarding the flight between Xi'an and Zhangjiajie, the article contains a link to Trip's flight search engine with information on both airports. The airlines that fly the route are Sichuan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines. It seems that during the low season they don't fly every day, so if you can't find a flight for your travel dates, the best alternative is to fly to Changde or Changsha and take a bullet train to Zhangjiajie (that's what we did).
I hope this has helped you, if you have any further questions please let us know.
A hug