10 days itinerary

Question

I will be in China mid September for 10 days flying into Beijing and out of Hong Kong . Trying to build my itinerary around several cities and using the high speed train . What cities would you recommend I include and which ones to leave out ?

Beijing 2-3 days

Shanghai 2 days

Last night to spend in Shenzen as I will be flying out of Hong Kong the following day ( Been to HK before so not spending any time there . Will be flying to Taiwan for another 10 days )

Here are potential cities to stop by on the way :

Nanjing

Suzhou

Hangzhou

Huangshan ( mountains ?)

Guangzhou

Shenzen ( last stop )

I could possibly spend one or two days in any of those cities , whichever is easier logistically without wasting much time . Not sure how the train route between those cities is . Or any other recommendations for places to see on the way ?

Also I will be planning another trip to China at a different time to explore a different religion . Obviously not possibly to see more that one part of the country for such a short visit .

Thank you for any suggestions and recommendations

Answer

For a 10-day China itinerary flying into Beijing and out of Hong Kong, focusing on convenience and minimizing transit time while still experiencing the highlights, here’s a suggested approach:

Given your plan:

Beijing: 2-3 days – Covers the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and maybe a Hutong tour. Early September is ideal for weather before it gets cooler.
Shanghai: 2 days – Explore the Bund, Nanjing Road, Yu Garden, and optionally a short evening in Xintiandi. Two days are sufficient to get a feel of the city without rushing.
Shenzhen: 1 night – Good as your last stop before flying to Hong Kong, primarily for logistical convenience.

For the cities you mentioned in between:

Suzhou: Highly recommended if you like classical gardens and canals. Can be done as a half-day to full-day trip from Shanghai via high-speed train (about 30-45 minutes).
Hangzhou: Also very worthwhile, especially for West Lake and tea plantations. 1 day is enough. High-speed train from Shanghai takes about 1 hour.
Nanjing: If interested in historical sites like the Ming Tombs, Confucius Temple, and the Yangtze River, 1 day can be sufficient. High-speed train from Shanghai is ~1.5 hours. You could include either Nanjing or Suzhou depending on interest.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountains): Beautiful, but visiting requires at least 2 full days due to travel time and hiking. Not ideal if you want to minimize travel stress. Only consider if you prefer nature over city stops.
Guangzhou: Could be skipped for this trip. While the city has interesting sites (Canton Tower, Chen Clan Academy), your short itinerary plus ending in Shenzhen makes it logistically less convenient.

Suggested itinerary flow using high-speed trains:

Day 1-3: Beijing
Day 4: Beijing → Shanghai (High-speed train 4.5-6 hours or flight ~2 hours)
Day 5-6: Shanghai with possible day trips to Suzhou or Hangzhou
Day 7: Shanghai → Hangzhou or Suzhou day trip if not done yet
Day 8: Travel south to Shenzhen (via Guangzhou if needed, high-speed train ~8-10 hours or flight ~2 hours)
Day 9: Shenzhen exploration
Day 10: Fly out to Hong Kong

Recommendations:

Focus on either Suzhou or Hangzhou to maximize sightseeing without spending excessive time on trains.
Skip Huangshan unless you can dedicate 2-3 days; otherwise, save it for a future trip.
Guangzhou is optional and may not fit well with this plan unless you take a short flight to save time.
Book all high-speed train tickets in advance, especially in September when domestic travel is busy.
Flights between Shanghai and Shenzhen may save time versus the long train ride.

Overall, for a 10-day trip, a Beijing → Shanghai (with Suzhou or Hangzhou day trip) → Shenzhen → Hong Kong sequence is efficient and allows a mix of historical, scenic, and urban experiences.

10 days itinerary

More China Travel Questions

The attractions mentioned in this question

Popular Destinations

Popular Travel Questions