Li River cruise route on a two-week first trip through China

Itinerary · 14 days · 7 cities

China First Trip: 14 Days with Guilin and Yangshuo

A two-week Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin, Yangshuo and Shanghai route with realistic high-speed train, flight, cruise and luggage handoffs.

BeijingXi'anChengduLeshanGuilinYangshuoShanghai

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  1. 1

    Day 1

    1 stop

    1. Forbidden City and Jingshan
      Use a separately booked Tian'anmen approach and the Palace Museum's timed passport ticket, walk south to north, then climb Jingshan only if visibility and energy remain. The reservation guide explains the seven-day release and original-passport check.

      4 Jingshan Front Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing

      Read guideAMapApple Maps
  2. 2

    Day 2

    1 stop

    1. One Great Wall Section
      Give the wall a full weather-flexible day. Choose Badaling for rail and accessibility infrastructure, Mutianyu for a managed cableway day, or Jinshanling for a longer hike; use the section chooser before fixing transport.

      Beijing outer districts; exact gate depends on the chosen section

      Read guideApple Maps
  3. 3

    Day 3

    1 stop

  4. 4

    Day 4

    1 stop · Travel day

    1. Beijing West → Xi'an North, direct G-series high-speed train

      about 4h 15m–5h 30m; verify the exact date

    2. Xi'an City Wall and Muslim Quarter Edge
      After the train and hotel drop, enter the wall from the gate that fits your accommodation and walk or cycle only the section your energy supports. Finish with one food cluster while respecting active religious spaces.

      27 Shuncheng Lane, Beilin District, Xi'an

      Read guideAMapApple Maps
  5. 5

    Day 5

    1 stop

    1. Terracotta Warriors
      Use a dated passport reservation and allow the full road transfer from central Xi'an. Start with the main pits, keep the mausoleum shuttle optional and do not add another remote attraction to the day.

      Qinling North Road, Lintong District, Xi'an

      Read guideAMapApple Maps
  6. 6

    Day 6

    1 stop · Travel day

    1. Xi'an North → Chengdu East, direct high-speed train

      about 3–4h; confirm station and train number

  7. 7

    Day 7

    1 stop

  8. 8

    Day 8

    1 stop

    1. Leshan Giant Buddha Day
      Take a morning intercity train to Leshan and choose the mountain walking route or river view according to water, weather and mobility. Keep enough time for the return train to the exact Chengdu station.

      2435 Lingyun Road, Shizhong District, Leshan

      Read guideAMapApple Maps

      Photo: 王计 · Source · CC BY 2.5

  9. 9

    Day 9

    1 stop · Travel day

    1. Chengdu Tianfu or Shuangliu → Guilin Liangjiang

      about 1h 40m–2h in air, plus airport transfers

    2. Guilin Lakes and Riverside Arrival
      Keep the flight day inside central Guilin: leave luggage, walk a lake-and-river segment and confirm the next morning's cruise pier or rail transfer. Do not promise a night cruise without live operation.

      Shanhu North Road, Xiufeng District, Guilin

      Read guideAMapApple Maps
  10. 10

    Day 10

    1 stop

    1. Li River Cruise to Yangshuo
      Use the pier assigned on the ticket; most full Guilin–Yangshuo cruises do not leave from the downtown river edge. Carry only manageable day luggage and read the route chooser before committing to cruise, rail or road.

      Assigned Guilin-area cruise pier to Yangshuo Longtou Wharf

      Read guideApple Maps
  11. 11

    Day 11

    1 stop

    1. Yangshuo Countryside
      Choose one weather-suitable Yulong River or countryside branch and keep West Street as a meal/return reference rather than the whole day. Raft section, passenger rules and road access must be checked live.

      Township Road Y090, Yangshuo County, Guilin

      Read guideAMapApple Maps

      Photo: Rod Waddington · Source · CC BY-SA 2.0

  12. 12

    Day 12

    1 stop · Travel day

    1. Yangshuo hotel → Guilin Liangjiang Airport by booked vehicle

      about 1h 15m–1h 45m before check-in margin

    2. Guilin Liangjiang → Shanghai Pudong or Hongqiao

      about 2h 15m–2h 45m in air, plus airport transfers

    3. The Bund and People's Square
      After arrival, use one bank of the Huangpu and one neighboring district. A free public viewpoint is enough; do not cross repeatedly between Bund and Lujiazui merely for photographs.

      Zhongshan East 1st Road, Huangpu District, Shanghai

      Read guideAMapApple Maps
  13. 13

    Day 13

    1 stop

  14. 14

    Day 14

    1 stop

    1. Pudong or North Bund, Then Departure
      Choose the side that fits the departure airport and live weather. Keep luggage at the hotel, use one final waterfront segment and leave for PVG or SHA with terminal and security margin.

      Shanghai waterfront; choose by airport and hotel

      Read guideApple Maps