18-day route template

China Essentials — 18 Days

A broad first trip with strong rail and flight logic.

ShanghaiHangzhouChengduChongqingXi’anBeijing

Route logic

Shanghai · 3 nights

China’s easiest international gateway and the best place to learn how the country works before moving on.

Hangzhou · 2 nights

A softer, greener counterpoint to Shanghai with excellent rail access.

Chengdu · 3 nights

One of China’s easiest places to slow down and still have strong signature experiences.

Chongqing · 2 nights

A visually dramatic city that performs especially well with younger travelers and short-form content.

Xi’an · 2 nights

The strongest history bridge between eastern China and the west.

Beijing · 6 nights

China’s strongest historical finale and one of the two must-see gateway cities.

Customize instead of copy-paste.

Arrival times, weather, reservation rules and traveler pace can change the correct number of nights.