3 week itinerary opinion

Question

We have just finalized what we think is a do-able itinerary for a 3 week visit to China. This trip will be done with a guide/driver for most of the trip (not Hong Kong). We are looking for help to see if we missed something important (as a first time visitor) or if have packed to much into a day. We will be about 55 years old and in average shape when we do this trip, thanks!

Day 1 - arrive early a.m. in Beijing from USA (on a Sunday) driver/guide

drop bags off at hotel

snack and coffee!

Lama Temple

Confucius Temple

National Museum of China

(due to jetlag we are saving Forbidden City and the Great Wall for a few days later)

early dinner

Day 2 (still jetlagged) driver/guide for Beijing

798 art area

Sanlitun Market (lunch?)

Hutong Neighborhood w/rickshaw ride

Early dinner (Peking Duck)

Day 3 - driver/guide for Beijing

Matianyu Great Wall (shuttle to cable car/cable car up and back)

drive to see Changling Ming Tomb

Day 4 - driver/guide for Beijing

Imperial Ancestral Temple

Tiananmen Square

Forbidden City w/clock museum

Jiangshan Park (but might drop if to exhausted)

Day 5 - driver/guide for Beijing

Temple of Heaven w/ tai chi lesson

summer palace with boat ride

Peking opera in evening

Day 6 - driver to train station (Beijing to Luoyang)

high speed train to Luoyang

picked up by driver/guide to see Longmen Grottoes and White Horse

Sleep in Luoyang

Day 7 - Luoyang to Xi'an

driver to take us to station

high speed train to Xi'an

driver/guide pick up from station

visit bell/drum tower

goose pagoda

ancient city xi'an wall w/bike ride

Day 8 - Xi'An

driver/guide takes us to see Terracotta Warriors

go to cave dwelling and learn how to make mini warriors

drive back to xi'an and see the Stele forest

Day 9 - Fly xi'an to Shanghai

afternoon in shanghai see

Yuyuan Gardens

Nanjing Road

the Bund (dinner here?)

Day 10 Shanghai with guide/driver

jade buddha temple

m50 art district

former French concessions (lunch here?)

peoples park

Day 11 - driver/guide

Jewish Quarter w/ refugee museum and synagogue

Jing 'an Temple

Shanghai museum

Day 12 - driver/guide

Tongli visit with boat ride

master of nets garden

pinjiang Road

shantang road (eat dinner here)

Day 13 - driver/guide

driver to train station - heading to Hangzhou

lingyin temple

West Lake (walk and cruise)

Mejiawu Tea Village (and participate in a tea ceremony)

sleep in Hangzhou

Day 14 - fly Hangzhou to Hong Kong (now solo)

afternoon in Hong Kong

museum of history

Tsim Sha Tsui Promenade

clock tower

Victoria harbor at night

Day 15 -solo

sik sik yuen wong tai sin temple

kowloon walled city park

temple street at night

Day 16 - local guide joining us

Ngong Ping Village (taking 360 cable car)

see monastery (have lunch there)

tian tan buddha

wisdom path

get taxi to Tai-O

visit Tai-O

Taxi back down to bottom of cable cars

Day 17 - solo (last full day)

man mo temple

tai kwun

Central Market

pack!

Answer

Your 3-week China itinerary is very thorough and well-planned, especially with a private guide/driver for most of the trip. You are hitting major highlights in Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Hong Kong, and your pacing seems reasonable for average fitness levels. Here’s a detailed analysis and suggestions:

Beijing (Days 1–5):

Day 1 is packed but manageable since Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, and National Museum are all relatively close. Consider keeping the visit to the National Museum light to avoid fatigue from jetlag.
Day 2: 798 Art Zone and Hutong neighborhoods are spread out. Ensure enough breaks between locations. Sanlitun Market for lunch is convenient.
Day 3: Mutianyu Great Wall is about 1.5–2 hours each way by car from central Beijing, plus cable car rides. Adding Ming Tombs afterward is feasible but may be slightly rushed—plan for at least 6–7 hours total.
Day 4: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, and Imperial Ancestral Temple are close together; pace is reasonable. Jiangshan Park can be optional if tired.
Day 5: Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace with boat ride may be a long day, but manageable. Peking Opera in the evening is a good way to end the Beijing segment.

Luoyang & Xi’an (Days 6–8):

Day 6: High-speed train to Luoyang, visit Longmen Grottoes and White Horse Temple. Travel plus sightseeing may be tiring but is doable.
Day 7–8: Xi’an highlights are well-structured. Terracotta Warriors and ancient city wall biking are major activities; allow adequate rest between them.

Shanghai & Hangzhou (Days 9–13):

Shanghai: Yuyuan Gardens, Bund, French Concession, M50 Art District, and museums are well-paced. Ensure you allow time for lunch breaks and traffic delays with your driver.
Tongli day trip is realistic. Boat rides are scenic and not physically demanding.
Hangzhou: West Lake, Lingyin Temple, and tea village are very manageable in one day. Cruise and tea ceremony add cultural depth.

Hong Kong (Days 14–17):

Days 14–15: Museums, Victoria Harbour, Wong Tai Sin Temple, and Kowloon Walled City are all accessible. Pace is good for walking and sightseeing.
Day 16: Ngong Ping Village, Tian Tan Buddha, Wisdom Path, and Tai-O are feasible but will require early start. Cable car ride plus Tai-O can make it a full day.
Day 17: Light sightseeing and packing. Museums and markets are easy to fit in a half-day.

General suggestions:

Consider buffer/rest periods, especially the first few days in Beijing due to jetlag.
In busy cities like Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai, traffic can affect travel times—factor this in with your guide/driver.
For physically demanding activities like hiking the Great Wall or biking Xi’an city walls, ensure everyone is comfortable and hydrated.
Optional: If you feel certain days may be too packed, drop a secondary museum or temple rather than rushing through everything.

Overall, your itinerary is well-balanced with cultural, historical, and scenic highlights. You have allowed time for guided tours, transportation, and leisure, making it achievable for first-time visitors in average shape. Minor adjustments for pacing and jetlag will enhance the experience without removing any major sights.