Itinerary: Chengdu, chongqing, xian and Zhangjiaje

Question

Hi all

I am planning a solo itinerary to chengdu chongqing xian zhangjiaje plus juizhaigou sometime from late September to October. I would appreciate help in regards to transportation, accommodation in each places and the number of days required for each of the place of visit. I would also require information on money whether in hard currency, credit card or using app for payment and the necessary apps to download to ensure a smooth stay in China. I have planned to suscribe to my service provider data roaming to save me the headache to buy sim card. That being said do I still need to download WeChat or is it a must in China?

Roughly I have worked out:

Xian - 3 days (Terra Cotta and surroundings, Mount Huashang and other recommended must see)

Chongqing - 3 days (Three Gorges, Dazu Rock Carvings, Ciqikou Ancient Town, Hongya Cave, Yangtze River and other recommended must see and do)

Zhangjiaje - 3 days (national forest park, tianmen moutain,glass bridge and other recommended must see)

Chengdu - 3 days + 1 day trip to Juizhaiguo (Pandas and more pandas, Leshan,mount qingcheng, traditional opera and others)

1. Are the number of days sufficient for each of the places? I am flexible on the number of days as long as it does not exceed 15 days.

2. I have read that I can travel within the places stated using the High Speed Rail. I have tried going into China Rail website but the system is always busy for me to retrieve information. Is there any other alternatives?

3. Best way to travel for sightseeing within the places mentioned above, by bus, train or taxi and the cost

4. Sigh! or should I sign up for the local group tours and save me the headache of figuring out, the how, where and what? Any recommended reliable and reasonable agency (ies)?

Thanks for your help

Answer

Planning a multi-city China itinerary covering Chengdu, Chongqing, Xi’an, Zhangjiajie, and Jiuzhaigou is ambitious but doable within 14–15 days. Here’s a detailed guide for your questions:

1. Recommended Number of Days per Location:

Xi’an – 3 days: This is generally sufficient. Day 1: Terracotta Warriors and Museum; Day 2: Mount Huashan; Day 3: Xi’an city wall, Muslim Quarter, Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Chongqing – 3 days: Adequate for the main highlights. Day 1: Ciqikou Ancient Town and Hongya Cave; Day 2: Dazu Rock Carvings; Day 3: Yangtze River cruise or Three Gorges (shorter trips may be needed due to distance).
Zhangjiajie – 3 days: Enough for Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Mountain, and Glass Bridge.
Chengdu – 3 days + 1 day for Jiuzhaigou: Day 1: Giant Pandas and Wuhou Temple; Day 2: Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Qingcheng; Day 3: Jinli Ancient Street, Sichuan Opera; Day 4: Jiuzhaigou (flight or early tour).

This itinerary totals 13–14 days, which fits within your 15-day limit, leaving a buffer for travel and rest.

2. High-Speed Rail and Booking Alternatives:

High-Speed Rail is efficient between Xi’an, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Zhangjiajie. Jiuzhaigou is not connected by high-speed rail; flights or long-distance bus are needed.
If China Rail’s official site is busy, alternatives include:
- TravelChinaGuide.com – reliable for train schedules and booking.
- Ctrip (Trip.com) – widely used, English interface, allows booking and seat selection.
- Rail China app – convenient for checking schedules.

3. Sightseeing Transport Within Cities:

Buses & Metro: Cheap and efficient in cities like Chengdu, Xi’an, and Chongqing, but may be crowded and confusing for first-time visitors.
Taxis/Didi: Didi app (Chinese Uber) is highly recommended; reliable, safe, and easy for sightseeing with luggage. Expect about ¥15–40 ($2–6 USD) for short city rides.
Private car hire: Useful for remote spots like Tianmen Mountain, Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, or Leshan Buddha; slightly higher cost but more flexible.

4. Apps and Payments:

Payment: Cash (RMB) is accepted, but Alipay or WeChat Pay is widely used. Credit cards are accepted only in major hotels, airports, and some restaurants.
Apps: Even with data roaming, downloading WeChat is highly recommended. Many services, taxis (Didi), and hotels use WeChat for communication and payment.
You may also download Trip.com, Ctrip, and Google Maps (download offline maps in advance) for navigation and bookings.

5. Consider Group Tours?

If you prefer convenience, group tours can save time, particularly in Zhangjiajie, Jiuzhaigou, and Leshan, where transport and guided entry logistics are trickier.
Recommended local agencies with English services: TravelChinaGuide, CITS, China Highlights. They offer customizable small-group tours.

Summary:

Your proposed days per city are sufficient.
High-speed trains and flights are best for intercity travel; apps like Trip.com, Ctrip, and TravelChinaGuide are more reliable than China Rail’s site.
Within cities, taxis/Didi or private hires are easiest, though buses/metro are cheap alternatives.
Cash is useful, but WeChat/Alipay greatly simplifies payment.
Group tours are optional, useful for complex locations or remote sights.

Following this plan, you should be able to cover all destinations comfortably within 14–15 days.