Itinerary for Jan 2026

Question

I am planning our first trip to China. I know it will be cold so trying factor that in.

So far my itinerary looks like this:

Day 1 Arrive at Beijing

Day 2 Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, JingShan Park, Hutongs and Nanluoguxiang

Day 3 Mutianyu Great Wall

Day 4 Temple of Heaven and Summer Palace

Day 5 ????

Day 6 Travel to Xian, Muslim Street Nightmarket

Day 7 Terracotta Warriors Tang Dynasty Tombs

Day 8 Ancient City Wall Big Wild Goose Pagoda

Day 9 ??

Day 10 ??

Day 11 Travel to Shanghai

Day 12 The Bund Yu Garden

Day 13 Suzhou Day trip

Day 14 ??

Any suggestions for where to go for the gaps in my itinerary? Day 9 and 10 can be allocated to one of the existing cities or a new city as we haven't booked anything yet. Initially I had wanted to do Zhangjiajie but it's hard to get there during winter so can't do it anymore. Would also appreciate any criticism and suggestions for the other parts of my itinerary. Thanks!

Answer

Your itinerary for January 2026 is well-structured, covering the major highlights of Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai with a Suzhou day trip. Since winter in China can be quite cold, especially in Beijing and Xi’an, it’s good to plan indoor activities or sites with indoor components for some flexibility.

Here are suggestions for the gaps and overall improvements:

Day 5 in Beijing: Since you already covered Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and Mutianyu Great Wall, consider:
- National Museum of China: Excellent for history and culture, mostly indoor.
- 798 Art District: Modern art galleries, cafes, and shops; mostly indoor and a good break from historical sites.
- Beijing Olympic Park & Bird’s Nest/National Aquatics Center: Can be visited in a few hours, some areas indoor.
Day 9 & 10 (after Xi’an): Options include:
- Return to Beijing: If you enjoy Beijing, you could explore sites missed earlier, e.g., Lama Temple, Confucius Temple, or a Beijing hutong food tour.
- Hangzhou: Short flight or high-speed train from Xi’an. Visit West Lake, Lingyin Temple, tea plantations. Relaxed pace and scenic in winter.
- Guilin/Yangshuo: Scenic but January is colder, and some boat trips may be less pleasant. Could skip if cold weather is a concern.
- Nanjing: High-speed train from Xi’an to Nanjing (~5h). Visit Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, Confucius Temple, Qinhuai River area.
Day 14 in Shanghai: If you have a free day:
- Shanghai Museum & People’s Square: Excellent indoor cultural visit.
- Tianzifang or Xintiandi: Art, shopping, and food streets, good for strolling.
- Pudong area: Shanghai Tower, Oriental Pearl Tower observation decks (indoor) with skyline views.

Other overall suggestions:

Consider the cold and possible rain in January. Carry warm layers and plan indoor options in each city.
Booking trains or flights in advance is recommended, especially for Xi’an to Shanghai or any additional cities for Day 9-10.
Be mindful of museum or attraction closures during winter or maintenance, check in advance.
If you want to minimize travel fatigue, selecting one additional city for Days 9-10 is better than multiple short trips.

With this plan, your itinerary balances cultural immersion, scenic sites, and comfortable winter travel while avoiding overly rushed days. Hangzhou is a particularly good fit for Days 9-10 for a relaxed pace and iconic sights in winter.