First Time to China? The Best Cities for Your First China Trip
Planning your first time to China can feel overwhelming. China is huge, the cities are incredibly different from one another, and there are simply too many places worth visiting.
If you want to experience a good mix of history, culture, food, nature, and modern city life, one of the best routes for a first trip is:
Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Guilin & Yangshuo → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai
This route takes you from imperial palaces and the Great Wall to ancient capitals, pandas, dramatic karst mountains, and finally the futuristic skyline of Shanghai.
For most travelers, we recommend around 14–18 days for the full journey. If you have more time, 3 weeks will make the trip much more relaxed.
1. Beijing – The Best Place to Start Your First Trip to China
Recommended stay: 3–4 days
If it is your first time to China, Beijing is one of the best places to begin.
As China’s capital, Beijing combines imperial history, traditional neighborhoods, local food, modern city life, and easy access to the Great Wall. It gives first-time visitors a very complete introduction to China.
What to See in Beijing
Start with the Forbidden City, the former imperial palace at the heart of Beijing. Nearby, you can visit Tiananmen Square and climb Jingshan Park for one of the best panoramic views over the palace complex.
The Great Wall is another essential stop. For first-time visitors, Mutianyu is a popular choice thanks to its beautiful scenery, cable car access, and optional toboggan ride. Travelers who prefer fewer crowds and more dramatic landscapes may enjoy Jinshanling instead.
Other highlights include:
Temple of Heaven
Summer Palace
Lama Temple
Beijing hutongs
Local food markets and traditional restaurants
If you prefer not to plan every detail yourself, our 4-Day Beijing Highlight Tour combines Beijing’s major landmarks into one private itinerary, with transportation and sightseeing arranged for you.
Add an Outdoor Experience
Beijing is not only about temples, palaces, and historic sites.
If you want to see a more adventurous side of the city, consider adding a Beijing Horseback Riding Experience to your itinerary.
You can leave the city center and spend a few hours riding through countryside and mountain landscapes around Beijing. It is a good option for travelers who want to balance traditional sightseeing with something more active and outdoorsy.
Getting Around Beijing
The metro is inexpensive and useful for attractions in central Beijing.
However, Beijing is extremely spread out. For the Great Wall, outdoor activities, airport transfers, or days when you want to visit several attractions efficiently, a private car or DiDi is much more convenient.
For most first-time visitors, the easiest combination is:
Metro + walking in central Beijing, and private car for the Great Wall, countryside, and longer day trips.
Beijing to Xi'an
Take the high-speed train.
Fast G-trains generally take around 4–6 hours, making rail much easier than flying once airport transfers and check-in time are considered.
2. Xi'an – Ancient China and the Terracotta Warriors
Recommended stay: 2 days
Xi'an was the capital of several major Chinese dynasties and the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road.
Today, it is one of the best places to understand just how long and complex Chinese history really is.
What to See in Xi'an
The biggest attraction is, of course, the Terracotta Army.
Thousands of life-sized soldiers, horses, and chariots were created more than 2,000 years ago to guard the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang.
Back in the city, don't miss the Xi'an City Wall. Renting a bicycle and riding along the top of the wall is one of the most enjoyable ways to see the historic city center.
You can also visit:
Muslim Quarter
Great Mosque
Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Bell Tower and Drum Tower
Xi'an is also worth visiting simply for the food—especially hand-pulled noodles, roujiamo and different styles of dumplings.
Getting Around Xi'an
Central Xi'an is relatively easy to explore using metro + walking + DiDi.
The Terracotta Warriors are outside the central city, so a private transfer or organized day tour is more convenient if you don't want to deal with local buses.
Xi'an to Chengdu
Again, choose the high-speed train.
This is one of the easiest transfers on the itinerary. Many trains connect the two cities, with journeys commonly taking around 3–4 hours.
3. Chengdu – Pandas, Sichuan Food and a Slower Pace
Recommended stay: 2–3 days
After Beijing and Xi'an, Chengdu feels noticeably more relaxed.
The capital of Sichuan is famous for three things: giant pandas, spicy food, and an unusually laid-back lifestyle.
What to See in Chengdu
The Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding is the city's best-known attraction. Go early in the morning, when the pandas tend to be more active.
But don't visit Chengdu only for pandas.
Spend some time simply experiencing the city:
People's Park
Traditional teahouses
Wenshu Monastery
Kuanzhai Alley
Jinli Street
Sichuan hotpot restaurants
If you have an extra day, you can also visit the Leshan Giant Buddha, around two hours from central Chengdu depending on your transportation.
And yes—you should absolutely eat as much Sichuan food as possible while you're here.
Getting Around Chengdu
The metro system covers most major areas and is easy to use.
DiDi is also affordable compared with many Western countries, so combining metro + DiDi is probably the easiest option.
For panda bases and day trips outside Chengdu, private transportation can save considerable time.
Chengdu to Guilin
High-speed rail is the easiest option if you don't mind a longer travel day.
Current services generally take around 5–8 hours, with multiple departures available.
If you find a convenient direct flight at a good time, flying is also worth comparing.
4. Guilin & Yangshuo – China's Classic Mountain Landscapes
Recommended stay: 2–3 days
You've probably seen photographs of Guilin before even if you didn't know where they were taken.
Sharp limestone mountains rise suddenly from green rice fields and winding rivers, creating some of the most recognizable scenery in China.
But for most travelers, Yangshuo is where you should spend more of your time.
What to See in Guilin and Yangshuo
One of the classic experiences is traveling along the Li River from Guilin toward Yangshuo, surrounded by dramatic karst peaks.
Once in Yangshuo, slow things down and spend more time outdoors.
Explore:
Yulong River
Countryside villages
Rice fields
Moon Hill
Xingping Ancient Town
Li River viewpoints
Cycling through the countryside is one of the best ways to enjoy Yangshuo, while a bamboo raft ride along the Yulong River offers a quieter way to take in the scenery.
For travelers who want something more adventurous, Yangshuo is also one of China's best destinations for rock climbing and cave exploration.
Its limestone cliffs have made the area especially popular with climbers, with routes suitable for both beginners and more experienced travelers. Guided climbing sessions are widely available, so even first-timers can give it a try.
You can also join a guided caving experience, exploring underground passages, limestone formations, and hidden chambers beneath the karst landscape.
These outdoor activities are a great way to experience a completely different side of Yangshuo beyond the usual sightseeing.
And if you prefer something more relaxed, simply spend an afternoon in a café overlooking the mountains.s.
Getting Around Guilin and Yangshuo
Inside Guilin, DiDi and taxis are usually the easiest options.
For the countryside around Yangshuo, bicycles, e-bikes, private cars and local taxis are often more practical than public transportation.
If you are traveling with luggage, we recommend arranging a car transfer between Guilin and Yangshuo rather than relying entirely on public transport.
A nice option is to travel from Guilin toward Yangshuo by Li River cruise, then continue your trip from Yangshuo.
5. Zhangjiajie – China's Most Surreal Mountains
Recommended stay: 2–3 days
Zhangjiajie looks almost unreal. Thousands of narrow sandstone pillars rise vertically from the forest, often disappearing into clouds and mist.
It is one of the most spectacular natural landscapes in China and creates a completely different experience from the cities earlier in this itinerary.
What to See in Zhangjiajie
The main attraction is Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, part of the wider Wulingyuan Scenic Area.
Popular areas include:
Yuanjiajie
Tianzi Mountain
Golden Whip Stream
Bailong Elevator
You can easily spend two full days exploring the national park.
Another famous attraction is Tianmen Mountain, reached by a dramatic cable car from near downtown Zhangjiajie.
Travelers with more time can also visit the Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon Glass Bridge.
Getting Around Zhangjiajie
Zhangjiajie is the one destination on this route where we would not rely heavily on metro-style public transportation.
Attractions are spread across different areas, and Zhangjiajie city, Wulingyuan and Tianmen Mountain are not all in the same place.
Use a combination of: hotel transfers + private car/taxi + scenic-area shuttle buses.
If you're traveling with children, older family members, or lots of luggage, hiring a driver makes the trip considerably easier.
Guilin to Zhangjiajie
There are direct high-speed trains between Guilin and Zhangjiajie, with journeys of roughly 7 hours, depending on the service.
It's a longer transfer day, but it allows you to keep this entire section of the trip overland.
6. Shanghai – Finish Your First China Trip in the Future
Recommended stay: 2–3 days
Shanghai is a perfect final stop because it shows another completely different side of China.
After imperial Beijing, ancient Xi'an, relaxed Chengdu and the mountains of southern China, suddenly you're surrounded by skyscrapers, cocktail bars, creative neighborhoods and one of Asia's largest cities.
What to See in Shanghai
Start with The Bund, where historic early-20th-century buildings face the futuristic skyline of Pudong across the Huangpu River.
Then explore:
Yu Garden
French Concession
Former French Concession streets and cafés
Nanjing Road
Lujiazui
Shanghai Tower
Xintiandi
Shanghai is also a great city to leave slightly unplanned. Give yourself time to walk around, find cafés, visit small bars and experience everyday neighborhoods rather than rushing between attractions.
Getting Around Shanghai
Shanghai has one of the easiest public transportation systems on this itinerary.
The metro works very well for most sightseeing, while DiDi is convenient late at night or when traveling with luggage.
For central Shanghai: Metro + walking is usually all you need.
Zhangjiajie to Shanghai
For this section, we'd recommend flying rather than spending most of the day on trains.
It saves valuable sightseeing time and makes Shanghai a natural final stop before your international flight home.
The Best Transportation for This China Route
For a first time to China trip, you don't need to choose between trains, flights and private cars. The easiest itinerary uses all three.
Route | Best Transport |
Beijing → Xi'an | 🚄 High-speed train |
Xi'an → Chengdu | 🚄 High-speed train |
Chengdu → Guilin | 🚄 High-speed train / flight |
Guilin → Yangshuo | 🚗 Private car or Li River cruise |
Guilin → Zhangjiajie | 🚄 High-speed train |
Zhangjiajie → Shanghai | ✈️ Flight |
China's high-speed rail network is especially useful for journeys of around 3–6 hours. For longer distances, domestic flights can save a lot of time.
Train schedules can change, so check your actual travel date before booking; for example, current 2026 schedules show Beijing–Xi'an G-trains taking roughly 4–6+ hours and Xi'an–Chengdu services around 3–4 hours.
How Many Days Do You Need for Your First Time in China?
For this entire route, we'd recommend:
Beijing: 3–4 daysXi'an: 2 daysChengdu: 2–3 daysGuilin & Yangshuo: 2–3 daysZhangjiajie: 2–3 daysShanghai: 2–3 days
That makes roughly 14–18 days.
If you only have around 10 days, don't try to squeeze all six destinations into one trip. China is much larger than it looks on a map, and constantly changing hotels can quickly become exhausting.
It is better to visit fewer places and actually enjoy them.
First Time to China: Final Tips
China can look complicated before you arrive, but traveling around the country is surprisingly convenient once you understand the system.
High-speed trains connect most major cities, DiDi makes city transportation much easier, and metro systems in cities such as Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai are extensive.
For your first time to China, don't try to see everything.
Instead, choose a route that shows you different sides of the country.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin & Yangshuo → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai does exactly that: imperial history, ancient culture, incredible food, countryside, mountains and modern China—all in one journey.
And after your first trip, you'll probably realize how much of China you still haven't seen.
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