Itinerary check for two weeks in May

Question

Hello,

We're putting together an itinerary for a trip to China arriving late on May 3 of next year. We're relatively fit in our early 30s and enjoy nature, history, art, architecture, and food. Also aware that the first couple days of our trip will coincide with the May holiday, so want to work around that as best we can. The itinerary below is mainly focused on daytime activities, but also interested in evening performances, concerts etc. - I gather Xi'An has some fun touristy performances, and we're also interested in classical music concerts. The itinerary also covers four major locations in 13 days along with short stopovers and day trips; we tend to pack a lot in to our trips and spend a lot of time on the move, but we'd also be open to cutting out Chengdu and adding a day to Xi'An (to visit Huashan), Pingyao (to see more Shanxi historic sites), or Zhangjiajie (if 3ish full days isn't enough given that it's at the end of the holiday). Any insight is appreciated.

------ Zhangjiajie ------

[Day 0: Land in Beijing in the evening]

Day 1: 9:20 high speed train to Zhangjiajie for 11 hours. Maybe this is insane and obviously a flight would be much faster, but if every sight is going to be packed like tinned fish because it's the holiday I figured we might as well take the cheaper (more comfortable?) transit option and see some of China out the window.

Day 2: Try to see some of Yangjiajie or Huangshi Village, whatever part of the park tends to be the least crowded

Day 3: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain

Day 4: Tianmen Mountain or other parts of Wulingyuan we didn't get to, 4pm train to Chengdu

------ Chengdu ------

Day 5: Panda base, Sanxingdui Museum

Day 6: People's Park, Du Fu Thatched Cottage, Kuan Zhai Alley, New Century Global Center? Honestly don't feel too strongly about any of these options, but if we go to Chengdu it feels like we should spend more than one day

------ Xi'An ------

Day 7: Morning train to Xi'An, get there around 9 or 10. Thinking tour of sites around the main city including the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter, City Wall, etc.

Day 8: Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi History Museum

Day 9: Luoyang day trip to see Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple. Is it doable to do any hiking on Mt Songshan as well, or is that too rushed? Any other recommendations for a day in Luoyang?

------ Pingyao ------

Day 10: Train to Pingyao, arriving around 10. City wall, couple banks, couple temples, not exactly sure yet; are Shuanglin Temple or the Qiao or Wang family compounds worth taking a taxi out to visit if we're only staying one day?

------ Beijing ------

Day 11: Another long train ride to Beijing, getting there at 11. Time for both Forbidden CIty and Yonghe Lamasery this day?

Day 12: Great Wall, thinking Jinshanling

Day 13: Would love to see the Temple of Heaven, Dongyue Temple, and Summer Palace, but maybe that's too much to squeeze in?

Day 14: Depart in morning

Answer

Your itinerary is ambitious but feasible, though a few adjustments could make it smoother and less exhausting. Traveling during early May coincides with the May Day holiday (May 1–5), meaning the first few days at popular destinations like Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, and Xi’an will be crowded. Expect packed trains, parks, and major attractions. It’s wise to plan alternative options in case crowds are overwhelming.

Here is a detailed assessment and suggestions by location:

Zhangjiajie: Taking a 11-hour high-speed train from Beijing is possible, but a flight is strongly recommended to save time and energy. Trains can be scenic but exhausting right after arrival from an international flight. For sightseeing:

Day 2: Yangjiajie or Huangshi Village – early morning entry is best to avoid crowds.
Day 3: Yuanjiajie, Tianzi Mountain – stick to these popular areas but start very early.
Day 4: Tianmen Mountain – consider taking the cable car for efficiency. Evening train to Chengdu is doable if you’re energetic, but a late afternoon or evening flight may be less stressful.

Chengdu:

Day 5: Panda Base – go early morning for best viewing; Sanxingdui Museum is outside the city, so factor in travel time.
Day 6: Kuan Zhai Alley, People’s Park, Du Fu Thatched Cottage – doable in a day. New Century Global Center is mostly shopping and entertainment; skip if time is limited.

Xi’an:

Day 7: City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Muslim Quarter – manageable if you focus on 2–3 sites.
Day 8: Terracotta Warriors, Shaanxi History Museum – the Warriors take at least half a day; the museum is near the city, so timing is fine.
Day 9: Luoyang day trip – feasible but tight. Visiting Longmen Grottoes and Shaolin Temple in a single day is possible but adding Mt Songshan hiking is too rushed unless you dedicate a full day. Alternative: focus on grottoes and temple only, or plan a second night in Luoyang.

Pingyao:

Day 10: One full day is enough to explore the Ancient City, City Wall, and main temples. For Shuanglin Temple, Qiao, or Wang Family Compounds – these require taxi or tour and are only worth it if you’re very interested in architecture and have extra time.

Beijing:

Day 11: Forbidden City and Yonghe Lamasery – possible, but plan your route to avoid backtracking. You may need to prioritize the main halls in Forbidden City.
Day 12: Great Wall at Jinshanling – full day; plan early start. The Jinshanling section is less crowded than Badaling, but transport can take time.
Day 13: Temple of Heaven, Dongyue Temple, Summer Palace – likely too much in one day. Consider picking either Temple of Heaven + Dongyue Temple or just the Summer Palace to avoid rushing.

General suggestions:

Consider skipping Chengdu if you want more time in Xi’an (Huashan hike) or Zhangjiajie (more relaxed pace at the end of the holiday).
Flights for long transfers (Beijing-Zhangjiajie, Zhangjiajie-Chengdu) will save time and energy versus trains.
Early morning starts are essential to beat crowds, especially for parks and monuments.
Evening performances (Tang Dynasty Show in Xi’an, Sichuan Opera in Chengdu) are feasible if you finish daytime sightseeing early.

In conclusion, your plan is doable with careful time management and early starts, but be prepared for fatigue. Consider flights for long legs, and be flexible with optional sites to account for crowding during the May holiday.