Feedback required for 3 week itinerary starting next week

Question

Hello,

I have spontaneously booked a trip to China starting next week and after reading blogs/posts I have come up with the itinerary below. Could you please give your feedback and let me know if it's realistic?

Besides my days in Beijing and the night train to Xi'An, I am pretty flexible! I am an experienced female solo traveler and would like a mix between, nature, culture and cities.

If you think I should use my Chongqing days elsewhere, please let me know.

Many thanks!

Thu, 22 May Arrive in Beijing AM

Fri, 23 May Beijing – Forbidden City & Summer Palace

Sat, 24 May Beijing – Great Wall (Mutianyu)

Sun, 25 May Temple of Heaven + Night Train to Xi'an

Mon, 26 May Arrive in Xi’an

Tue, 27 May Xi’an – Terracotta Warriors

Wed, 28 May Travel to Chengdu

Thu, 29 May Chengdu – Pandas & Culture

Fri, 30 May Leshan Day Trip

Sat, 31 May Travel to Chongqing

Sun, 1 Jun Chongqing – Cable Car & Old Town

Mon, 2 Jun Travel to Zhangjiajie

Tue, 3 Jun Zhangjiajie National Forest Park

Wed, 4 Jun Zhangjiajie – Hiking Day

Thu, 5 Jun Tianmen Mountain

Mon, 9 Jun Zhangjiajie – Relaxed or Extra Exploration

Fri, 6 Jun Travel to Shanghai (either train or flight)

Sat, 7 Jun Huangshan (can this be visited in 1 day?)

Sun, 8 Jun Wuzhen (spend the night to see what it is like without the crowds?)

Tue, 10 Jun Shanghai – Classic Sites

Wed, 11 Jun Depart Shanghai in the evening

Answer

Your itinerary is ambitious but doable for an experienced solo traveler who is comfortable with fast-paced travel and multiple modes of transport. Here is a detailed feedback considering travel time, sightseeing, and realistic pacing.

Beijing (22–25 May):

Arriving early on 22 May gives you some time to adjust. Your planned days covering the Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall are realistic and well-paced.
Consider starting early for the Great Wall (Mutianyu) to avoid crowds and allow for a relaxed return.
The night train to Xi’an on 25 May is a good use of travel time, just ensure you book a soft sleeper for comfort.

Xi’an (26–27 May):

Arriving 26 May gives you a full day to explore the city walls, Muslim Quarter, and other local attractions.
Terracotta Warriors on 27 May works well; consider booking tickets in advance and leaving early morning to avoid peak crowds.

Chengdu (28–30 May):

Traveling 28 May is straightforward; flights or high-speed trains are convenient from Xi’an.
Visits to the Panda Base and cultural sites on 29 May are realistic.
Leshan Day Trip on 30 May is feasible, though it will be a long day. Consider an early start and a guided tour to maximize efficiency.

Chongqing (31 May – 1 Jun):

Traveling from Chengdu to Chongqing is short by train (around 2 hours).
Cable car, Old Town, and city exploration on 1 June are doable in one day. If you are not a fan of very urban sightseeing, you might consider skipping Chongqing and allocating more time to Zhangjiajie.

Zhangjiajie (2–6 Jun):

National Forest Park, hiking, and Tianmen Mountain are spread out realistically over 3–4 days. Keep in mind that hiking can be physically demanding, so plan some flexibility for rest.
Extra exploration or relaxed day on 6 Jun is smart, especially if previous days are tiring.

Shanghai & Surroundings (6–11 Jun):

Traveling to Shanghai on 6 Jun gives you time to recover from Zhangjiajie.
Huangshan in 1 day (7 Jun) is possible but very tight. The journey from Shanghai to Huangshan takes 3–4 hours by high-speed train each way. Consider staying overnight in Huangshan to fully enjoy it without rushing.
Wuzhen overnight stay (8 Jun) is a good idea to experience the water town without crowds. Train or bus from Shanghai takes around 1.5–2 hours.
Shanghai on 10 Jun allows for sightseeing of classic sites such as The Bund, Yu Garden, and museums. Evening departure on 11 Jun is convenient.

Overall Assessment:

The trip is feasible but very fast-paced. You will have limited downtime, and some locations like Huangshan will be rushed unless you add a night.
Chongqing could be skipped or shortened if you prefer more nature and hiking instead of urban sightseeing.
Consider buffer time for travel delays, especially for trains and flights in Zhangjiajie and Huangshan.
Book tickets for trains, night trains, and key attractions in advance to avoid last-minute issues.

In summary, your itinerary offers a good mix of cities, culture, and nature. With minor adjustments—like potentially adding a night in Huangshan and reconsidering the necessity of Chongqing—it is achievable for a well-prepared solo traveler.

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