Advice on China Itinerary

Question

I have a trip to China planned for October, starting in Shanghai and ending in Beijing. My current itinerary is as follows:

October 24–27 – Shanghai

October 27–29 – Chongqing

October 29–31 – Zhangjiajie

October 31 – November 1 – Furong Zhen

November 1–3 – Xi’an

November 3–8 – Beijing

Do you have any suggestions regarding the order of the cities?

Your insight and experience with transportation in China would be greatly appreciated.

Answer

Your planned itinerary covers a lot of ground in China in a relatively short time, and it’s doable, but there are some practical considerations regarding transportation, travel fatigue, and city connections that might help optimize your route.

Here is a breakdown of your itinerary with some observations:

Shanghai (Oct 24–27) – Starting in Shanghai is ideal if you’re flying in from abroad. Three full days is a good amount of time to explore the city’s highlights like the Bund, Yu Garden, and nearby water towns.
Chongqing (Oct 27–29) – Moving from Shanghai to Chongqing will likely require a flight, as the high-speed train takes around 12–14 hours. Two days can cover some city highlights and maybe a short cruise on the Yangtze, but it’s a very fast pace.
Zhangjiajie (Oct 29–31) – From Chongqing, a 4–5 hour high-speed train or 1-hour flight will take you to Zhangjiajie. Two days here is enough to see the main scenic areas like Tianzi Mountain, Avatar Hallelujah Mountain, and the Glass Bridge.
Furong Zhen (Oct 31 – Nov 1) – Visiting Furong Zhen, a traditional water town, is nice but it may require backtracking south to Hunan province from Zhangjiajie. Consider whether you’re comfortable with an additional 3–4 hour drive/train. One night here is fine.
Xi’an (Nov 1–3) – From Furong Zhen, Xi’an is reachable via flight from Zhangjiajie or nearby Changsha. Two days is sufficient for the Terracotta Warriors, city walls, and local food.
Beijing (Nov 3–8) – Finally, Xi’an to Beijing is an easy 5–6 hour high-speed train or 2-hour flight. Five days in Beijing gives you plenty of time to visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Summer Palace, the Great Wall, and explore local neighborhoods.

Suggestions to optimize travel:

Consider whether Chongqing is essential; you could save travel time by flying directly from Shanghai to Zhangjiajie. This would reduce backtracking and allow more relaxation or exploration in scenic areas.
Furong Zhen might be more convenient to combine with Zhangjiajie before heading north to Xi’an, as it lies along a southern route. Alternatively, skip it if time is tight, as it’s a small town and may not justify the travel time.
Use flights for long distances (Shanghai → Chongqing/Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie → Xi’an) to maximize sightseeing time, and use high-speed trains for shorter legs (Xi’an → Beijing).
Keep an eye on arrival/departure times; some flights are early or late and may impact your sightseeing schedule.

Overall, your itinerary is feasible but quite packed. Prioritizing the must-see sites and considering flights for long legs will help reduce stress and travel fatigue.

Advice on China Itinerary

More China Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions