Where to go after Beijing, Xi'An and Chongqing?

Question

I will be in China from April 18th to May 3rd, arriving and departing from Beijing.

Any suggestion about where to go for authentic China? West Sichuan like Tagong and Litang? Yunnan? I don't know if I have enough time.

My initial itinerary was the one below but I am willing to change it.

18 Arrival in Beijing at noon

19 Visit Beijing

20 Big wall

21 Visit Beijing. Night train to Xi'an departing at 8 pm

22 Visit Xi'An

23 Visit Xi'an

24 Train to Chongqing in the early morning

25 Visit Chongqing

26 Visit Chongqing.

27 ???

28 ???

29 ???

30 ???

1 ???

2 ???

3 Flight to Italy in the late morning

Answer

With your itinerary from April 18 to May 3, you have about 16 days in China, arriving and departing from Beijing, visiting Xi’an and Chongqing. You’re considering whether to explore western Sichuan (Tagong, Litang) or Yunnan for an “authentic China” experience. Given your time constraints, here’s a detailed suggestion.

Current Itinerary:

April 18: Arrival Beijing noon
April 19: Beijing city
April 20: Great Wall
April 21: Beijing; night train to Xi’an
April 22–23: Xi’an city
April 24: Train to Chongqing early morning
April 25–26: Chongqing city

From April 27 to May 2, you have six days free. Options depend on whether you want natural landscapes, Tibetan culture, or southern Chinese scenery.

Option 1: Western Sichuan (Tagong, Litang, Kangding)

Pros: Authentic Tibetan plateau culture, small towns, scenic grasslands, monasteries, Tibetan festivals (if coinciding).
Cons: Long travel times. From Chongqing, it’s about 12–15 hours by train/bus to Kangding or Litang. Flights exist but may be limited. Roads are winding, and high-altitude travel requires acclimatization.
Suggested plan: April 27–30 in Tagong/Litang area, May 1 travel back to Chengdu or Chongqing for return to Beijing on May 2.

Option 2: Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La)

Pros: Diverse ethnic cultures (Naxi, Bai, Yi), stunning natural landscapes, more convenient travel with flights from Chongqing to Kunming (~2 hours) or Chengdu (~1.5 hours). Rich local food and architecture.
Cons: More touristy in places like Lijiang; less Tibetan authenticity compared to western Sichuan.
Suggested plan: April 27 fly from Chongqing to Kunming, then explore Dali or Lijiang/Shangri-La for 3–4 days, fly back to Beijing May 2 for departure May 3.

Alternative within Sichuan

Chengdu as base (Day 27–28): Giant Pandas, Sichuan cuisine, easy day trips.
Mount Emei / Leshan Giant Buddha (Day 29): Combine cultural and natural sights without long travel.

Recommendation:

Given your limited days and desire to experience authentic China, Yunnan offers a manageable balance of culture, scenery, and shorter travel times. Western Sichuan is amazing but requires more endurance for travel and altitude adjustment. If you prefer Tibet-like authenticity, select Tagong/Litang but limit the itinerary to 3–4 days, accepting some travel fatigue. Otherwise, Yunnan allows a smoother, diverse experience before returning to Beijing.

Where to go after Beijing, Xi'An and Chongqing?

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