How many days in China? What fits in 7, 10 and 14 days

For a first trip, 10 days is the sweet spot: enough for Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai without rushing. A week works if you stick to one region. Two weeks lets you add pandas in Chengdu or the karst peaks of Guilin.

First, check your visa limit

• 30 days if your passport is on China’s visa-free list, which covers most of Europe, the UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea.
• 10 days if you use the 240-hour transit rule, which is the usual route for US citizens. You must also fly on to a third country and stay within the allowed areas.

Check yours in our visa checker and read how 240-hour transit works.

Rules of thumb

• Give each city at least two nights. Three is better for Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
• Every move costs about half a day, even on a fast train: getting to the station, security, the ride and checking in.
• Plan your first day light. Long-haul flights land tired, and you still need to set up payments and internet.
• High-speed trains are best up to about five hours. Beyond that, fly: Xi’an to Shanghai or Chengdu to Guilin is quicker by air.

Our city pages suggest how many days each place needs: Beijing 4–5, Shanghai 3–4, Xi’an 2–3, Chengdu 3–4, Guilin and Yangshuo 3–4, Hangzhou and Suzhou 1–2 each.

5 to 7 days: one region

Pick one base and one or two short hops.

• Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou in 7 days: the easiest first trip, with trains of under an hour between the cities.
• Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Guilin in 7 days: good if you are already in Hong Kong.
• Chengdu and Chongqing in 6 days: pandas, the Leshan Giant Buddha and Sichuan food.
• Beijing alone fills 5 days, including a day on the Great Wall.

Beijing plus Xi’an in a week is possible (4.5 to 6 hours by train) but tight.

10 days: the classic first trip

• Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai in 10 days: the Forbidden City and Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, then modern Shanghai. It fits within the 240-hour transit rule if you fly in and out through different countries.
• Ancient China in 10 days: Beijing, Datong, Pingyao and Xi’an for temples and walled towns. Note that Pingyao is outside the 240-hour transit area.
• Guilin, Yangshuo and Zhangjiajie in 8 days or Yunnan in 8 days, with two days to spare.

14 days: the highlights

• China highlights in 12 days: Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Guilin and Shanghai, with two flights. With 14 days, add a rest day and a day trip.
• Or combine the 10-day classic with 4 days in Chengdu for the pandas.
• For more landscape and fewer cities, pair Shanghai with the Silk Road route through Dunhuang.

Three weeks or more

With 20 to 30 days you can join two regions, for example the Beijing–Xi’an–Shanghai classic plus Guilin and Yunnan, or add Harbin in winter. Keep the 30-day limit in mind: the count starts at 00:00 on the day after you arrive.

Browse all our routes with day-by-day plans and bookings. When you have your dates, check the best time to visit.