3 Week Trip to China

Question

Hi All,

I am planning to take a trip to China next June and would like some recommendations on the best ways to travel between cities, places to visit, food, cultural things to see, nature worth visiting, etc.

We will land in Beijing on June 5th at 9 am and leave Shanghai on June 25th at 7 pm.

We would like to see Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Zhangjiajie (including Furong ancient town), and Shanghai (possibly some places near Shanghai like Hangzhou and Suzhou).

I was thinking maybe something like the below-using trains except for the final trip to Shanghai:

5 days in Beijing.

2 days in Xi'an

3 days in Chongqing

3 days in Chengdu

3 days in Zhangjiajie

Fly to Shanghai and spend 5 days there, 1 day at Disney.

Any thoughts or recommendations on this plan?

Thanks :)

Answer

Your planned 3-week trip to China next June is ambitious but definitely doable, covering major cultural, historical, and natural highlights. Here’s a detailed overview with suggestions for transportation, sightseeing, food, and pacing.

Beijing (5 days)

Transport: Use the Beijing Subway and taxis for efficient travel. For airport transfers, consider Daxing Airport Express or a taxi.
Must-see: Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Lama Temple. Spend a day visiting the Great Wall (Mutianyu or Badaling sections for convenience and cable cars).
Food: Peking duck (Quanjude or Dadong), jianbing (street crepes), dumplings, and local noodles.
Cultural experiences: Hutong tours, tea houses, evening acrobatics show.

Xi’an (2 days)

Transport: Take a high-speed train (~4.5–5 hours) from Beijing to Xi’an.
Must-see: Terracotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall (bike ride recommended), Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter for local snacks and shopping.
Food: Biangbiang noodles, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), dumplings, yangrou paomo (mutton stew with bread).

Chongqing (3 days)

Transport: High-speed train or flight from Xi’an (~6–7 hours by train, 1.5 hours by flight).
Must-see: Ciqikou Ancient Town, Jiefangbei central business district, Yangtze River cruise for night views.
Food: Hotpot (must-try local specialty), spicy noodles, small street snacks.

Chengdu (3 days)

Transport: Train or 2-hour flight from Chongqing.
Must-see: Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Jinli Ancient Street, Wuhou Shrine, Sichuan Opera (face-changing show).
Food: Mapo tofu, Sichuan hotpot, spicy street snacks, dumplings, tea houses for relaxing afternoons.

Zhangjiajie (3 days)

Transport: Flight from Chengdu to Zhangjiajie (~2 hours).
Must-see: Zhangjiajie National Forest Park (Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie), Baofeng Lake, glass bridge, and a visit to Furong Ancient Town for scenic riverside charm.
Tips: Book park tickets and cable cars in advance; start early to avoid crowds.

Shanghai (5 days, including Disney)

Transport: Fly from Zhangjiajie to Shanghai (~3 hours). Use the metro, taxis, and buses within Shanghai.
Must-see: The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Tower or Oriental Pearl Tower, French Concession, Nanjing Road shopping street.
Nearby day trips: Suzhou (classical gardens, canals) and Hangzhou (West Lake, tea plantations), both accessible by high-speed train (~1 hour for Suzhou, ~1.5 hours for Hangzhou).
Disney: Allocate a full day if you plan to visit Shanghai Disney Resort.
Food: Xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Shanghai-style noodles, street snacks, local seafood.

Travel tips:

Book high-speed train tickets and flights in advance for convenience, especially in June (peak season for travel).
Consider overnight trains for some legs if you want to save daytime sightseeing hours, but flights are faster for longer distances like Zhangjiajie to Shanghai.
Use apps like DiDi for taxis, and have a translation app ready for more remote areas.
Pack light and prepare for hot and humid weather in southern China (Chongqing, Chengdu, Zhangjiajie) in June.

Your itinerary is well-balanced, giving enough time in each city to see key sights without rushing, while allowing flexibility for food, cultural experiences, and nature. Adjustments can be made based on your preferred pace, but this plan is quite realistic and enjoyable.