If you are planning a two week route for China for your first visit to this country, keep reading. Here we detail an ideal plan for your 15 day China itinerary. And if you want to know when it is the best time to travel to China check our guide here.
Where do I start?
We know that planning a trip to China can be overwhelming due to the large size of the country and the number of destinations it offers. But the first thing we want to do from Asiahop is to simplify your life and help you with your itinerary for China to make your experience perfect. This is an example of a simple itinerary for someone traveling to China for the first time. In this itinerary we take you through cities and towns with good infrastructure for the traveler and where everything will be easier than in other more remote areas.
That said, let us remind you that in Asiahop we design custom trips so take what we tell you here as a reference. If you want to travel to China let’s chat to customize the itinerary to your way of traveling.
Where to fly in China?
Most international flights land in large capitals such as Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong. Both are a great beginning for your trip since they have direct flights to a good part of the country and except Hong Kong there are many fast -train journeys to connect with other cities.
15 -day itinerary by China
To start your 15 -day trip through China we recommend you fly to Beijing. Beijing has many attractions and visits to make your landing in the country a stimulating and entertaining experience during the first days. Very different from the rest of the country in character, architecture and meals is an ideal first step in your Chinese discovery staircase.
Beijing 3 to 4 days
In Beijing you will visit The Forbidden City, which is the largest palatial complex in the world, the old gray brick neighborhoods with their alleys called Hutongs, the Puerta de Qianmen and the Tiannamen Square that is right next. The abundant parks of the city such as Beihai or the parks of the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of the Earth. You can also reach some of the visitable points of the Great Wall of China from Beijing, Mutianyu and Badaling are the most popular.
We recommend a minimum stay of three to four days in Beijing if you also want to visit the impressive summer palace.
Xi’an about 3 days
From Beijing you can take a train to Xi’an, historical city of the Silk Route, a mixture of cultures and gastronomy. A three -day stay is enough to visit the Drum and Bell Towers, the Terracota Warriors, the Huimin Street market in the so called Muslim neighborhood and the city wall with almost 700 years old. You can extend your stay one more day if you feel like visiting Mount Huashan, one of the five sacred mountains of China.
Guilin and Yangshuo about 3 days
From Xi’an you can fly to Guilin, much further south, in the province of Guanxi. From there you will take a ship for a half day excursion with food included that will take you to the impressive town of Yangshuo along the Li river. The views of this cruise are of spectacular karst landscapes. They are so beautiful that they appear in one of the Chinese yuan bills.
Yangshuo is a small, tourist town and surrounded by nature activities. We recommend you make a bike excursion, another in bamboo boat and visit the Moon mountain with its impressive views. For the latter, take some breath before, you have to climb 800 stone steps! For one of the nights it is essential to go to the night show on the river called Liu Sanjie impression, the work of the acclaimed Chinese filmmaker of international fame Zhang Yimou.
LongSheng rice terraces, 1 day
Also called Longji rice terraces, it is only 90 minutes north of Guilin. Located between carada mountains you will visit one of the most beautiful landscapes offered by China. You will not be much time or there is much to do there, but we guarantee that the horizon views will last in your memory forever. Ped on the roads surrounding villages such as Ping’an.
Shanghai, 2 days
Fly to Shanghai from Guilin to explore this fascinating city. Cultural Union Bridge between the West and China. Key city in China’s international relations with the world, counts beautiful western style neighborhoods such as the French concession, vestige of the past that today prints a unique character to the city. In Shanghai, The Yuyuan Garden, the Jingan Temple, the sunset from the Bund and why not its numerous commercial areas. Some of which with classic style are fantastic to walk and take a break on a terrace.
Shanghai also has several of the highest buildings in the country. Leading the ranking is the Shanghai tower with 632 meters high, the highest in China and the third highest in the world. It also has the fastest elevator in a building of this type as of 2025. Shanghai’s views from the viewpoint in the top of the tower well deserve a visit.
Suzhou, 1 day
Make a one day excursion from Shanghai to the city of Suzhou. You can take a fast train that will take you in just 30 minutes and take it back at the afternoon. Suzhou is one of the most beautiful cities in the country, with numerous water channels and impressive gardens such as The Garden of the Humble Administrator dating from the year 1513.
Beijing, 1 or 2 days
Finally take a fast train from Shanghai to Beijing, or a plane if you prefer to take the flight back. In your return to Beijing we recommend you buy, take the opportunity to cross out of your list some mandatory dishes that have missed you to try from the delicious Chinese gastronomy, you can learn more here, and if you have time and energy to make an excursion to the art and design neighborhood of 798. Just on the margin of the city on the road to the airport and full of art galleries, coffees and design teterías.
Do you want to travel to China for the first time and need a 15 day itinerary in China? Contact us and detail the ideal travel plan, adding if you want more special and less tourist places, visits with activities related to your hobbies and interests or more green areas such as natural parks.