Itinerary advice for March/April

Question

Hi everyone.

I’ll be travelling to China from mid-March to early April (around 3 weeks) and have put together a rough itinerary below. I’d love some advice on whether this route looks doable.

Itinerary:

Beijing: Mar 16–22 → 6 nights

Extra nights to adjust to the time difference and allow relaxed sightseeing.

Fly to Chengdu

Chengdu: Mar 22–26 → 4 nights

Train to Chongqing

Chongqing: Mar 26–29 → 3 nights

Train to Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie: Mar 29–Apr 1 → 3 nights

Fly to Shanghai

Shanghai: Apr 1–7 → 6 nights

Extra nights to relax, shop, and explore at a comfortable pace before the early flight home; optional day trips to Suzhou or Hangzhou.

Total nights: 22

Does this seem like a realistic pace? I can drop cities if needed if its too much. I’m mainly interested in a history, art/culture, food and natural scenery. Any feedback or suggestions would be much appreciated.

Answer

Your proposed 3-week China itinerary from mid-March to early April is ambitious but generally doable, especially since you have allowed extra nights in Beijing and Shanghai for relaxed sightseeing. Here’s a detailed assessment of each leg:

1. Beijing (6 nights):

Six nights is a comfortable amount of time to adjust to the time difference and explore major attractions such as the Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Great Wall (Mutianyu or Badaling), and the hutongs.
This also leaves room for museums, art galleries, and culinary experiences like Peking duck dinners.

2. Chengdu (4 nights):

Four nights is sufficient to see the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, sample Sichuan cuisine, and explore cultural sites like Wuhou Shrine and Jinli Ancient Street.
If you are interested in natural scenery, you could include a day trip to nearby Leshan Giant Buddha or Mount Qingcheng.

3. Chongqing (3 nights):

Three nights is adequate for a city-focused visit. Highlights include the Dazu Rock Carvings (a half-day trip), Hongya Cave, Jiefangbei shopping area, and sampling local hotpot.
Consider travel fatigue: the train from Chengdu to Chongqing takes around 2–3 hours, which is manageable.

4. Zhangjiajie (3 nights):

Three nights allows you to explore Zhangjiajie National Forest Park and the famous Avatar Mountains. Allocate full days for Tianzi Mountain, Yuanjiajie, and Golden Whip Stream.
Travel between Chongqing and Zhangjiajie can be by high-speed train (6–7 hours) or flight (about 1 hour), so plan accordingly to maximize park time.

5. Shanghai (6 nights):

Six nights in Shanghai gives you time to explore the Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession, museums, and enjoy shopping and food experiences.
Optional day trips to Suzhou or Hangzhou are realistic; each requires a full day (roughly 30–60 min by high-speed train each way).
Extra days allow you to relax before your international flight home.

Overall pace and suggestions:

The pace is moderate and well-balanced, combining city sightseeing, culture, and natural scenery.
If you want a slower pace, you could drop Chongqing or reduce Shanghai by a night, but your current plan is doable.
Consider internal flights for longer distances (e.g., Zhangjiajie to Shanghai) to save time, and book in advance for high-speed trains during spring, which is a busy travel season.
Plan your travel days carefully, as some connections involve early departures or late arrivals; leaving buffer time for unexpected delays is recommended.

In conclusion, your itinerary is realistic for your interests in history, art/culture, food, and natural scenery. You have allowed enough flexibility for a comfortable and enjoyable 3-week trip in China.

Itinerary advice for March/April

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