Feedback on my itinerary please?

Question

Hi all, I'd really value your expert opinions and room for efficiencies on my itinerary. I know its busy, but I'm thinking this is a once in a lifetime trip so want to maximise every day (also trying to balance teenagers with their own ideas of fun!!). Here's where I'm at:

Day 1: arrive in shanghai

Day 2: day in shanghai and then late night flight to zhangjiajie.

Day 3: tianmen mountain

Day 4: glass bridge/canyon

Day 5: train to guilin via changde

Day 6: cruise guilin to yangshuo

Day 7: rafting or rice fields then late train to chengdu

Day 8: chengdu pandas

Day 9: morning train to xian, see warriors and then overnight sleeper at 10pm to zhangye

Day 10: danxia

Day 11: travel to Beijing [train/flight]

Day 12: Beijing sites

Day 13: great wall

Day 14: Beijing sites again

Day 15: fly home for a rest!!!

I know its fully action packed, but we've been on a few adventures before so I think we're okay with the fast pace, and there's time on train to rest too. Is there a better way of travelling to each of these places that would be more efficient? For example, I've got a whole day really going from zhangjiajie to guilin so maybe it's not best to put these 2 together on the agenda? Same from zhangye to Beijing... any improvements would be welcomed. Thanks for reading!

Answer

Your itinerary is ambitious but exciting, covering many of China’s top sights. Here’s a detailed breakdown with suggestions for improving efficiency and reducing travel fatigue while still keeping the pace adventurous.

Day 1–2: Shanghai

Day 1 arrival in Shanghai is fine. You may want to keep activities light on arrival due to jet lag.
Day 2 in Shanghai is doable. For a late-night flight to Zhangjiajie, ensure your hotel allows late checkout or luggage storage. Domestic flights to Zhangjiajie are limited, so check schedules in advance.

Day 3–4: Zhangjiajie

Tianmen Mountain on Day 3 works well as a full-day trip. Consider taking the cable car for efficiency.
Day 4 for Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge and Canyon is feasible. Check for morning tickets and allow extra time for travel from the hotel to the park, as it can take 1–2 hours.

Day 5–6: Guilin/Yangshuo

Travel from Zhangjiajie to Guilin via Changde is long (~6–8 hours by train). Consider taking a direct flight from Zhangjiajie to Guilin to save time and energy, leaving more for sightseeing.
Guilin to Yangshuo cruise is perfect for Day 6. Book tickets in advance, especially in peak season.

Day 7: Yangshuo/Chengdu

Morning activities like rafting or visiting rice fields are doable, but traveling to Chengdu the same day by train is tight. Flights may be more time-efficient. Check afternoon flights to Chengdu to avoid rushing.

Day 8: Chengdu

Panda Base visit works well. Consider early morning to avoid crowds.

Day 9–10: Xi’an → Zhangye

Morning train to Xi’an is fine; Warriors visit is possible in a half-day.
Overnight sleeper to Zhangye is ambitious but workable. Just ensure you have enough rest to enjoy Danxia on Day 10.
Danxia Day 10 is fine, but remember sunset viewing requires afternoon arrival, so plan transport carefully from Zhangye West station to the park.

Day 11–15: Beijing

Travel from Zhangye to Beijing: high-speed trains are time-consuming (~12–14 hours). A flight may save a full day. If taking the train, you could adjust Day 11 to be light on sightseeing.
Beijing sightseeing (Days 12–14) is well planned. Group attractions geographically to reduce travel time: Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace on another day, Great Wall separately.

Overall suggestions:

Consider flights instead of trains for long legs: Zhangjiajie → Guilin, Yangshuo → Chengdu, Zhangye → Beijing. This reduces travel fatigue and frees up full sightseeing days.
Overnight sleepers are efficient but can be tiring, especially for consecutive nights. Balance with hotel stays to recover.
Group activities geographically to minimize back-and-forth travel, especially in Beijing and Guilin/Yangshuo.
Book major park tickets and transport in advance (Zhangjiajie, Danxia, Guilin cruise) to avoid queues and ensure time efficiency.

Overall, your itinerary is doable for experienced travelers who can manage a fast pace, but swapping some train legs for flights could make it more manageable and less stressful, especially with teenagers.

Feedback on my itinerary please?

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