Twelve places we build trips around, with an honest answer on how many days each one deserves.
China is roughly the size of the United States, with five time zones' worth of landscape and 3,000 years of recorded history. The hardest part of planning is not choosing what to see — it's accepting how few places fit comfortably into two weeks.
Below are the twelve destinations we build trips around most often, with an honest answer on how long each one needs. Open any city for what to see, when to go, and which trips include it.
How long to stay, when to go, what it's known for, and which airport you'd fly into. The same table we use internally when we plan a route.
| Destination | Ideal stay | Best months | Known for | Airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beijing | 3–4 days | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | Great Wall, Forbidden City, hutongs | PEK / PKX |
| Xi'an | 2 days | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | Terracotta Army, Ming city wall, Muslim Quarter | XIY |
| Shanghai | 3 days | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | The Bund, Yu Garden, French Concession | PVG / SHA |
| Chengdu | 2–3 days | Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov | Giant pandas, teahouses, Sichuan food | CTU / TFU |
| Guilin & Yangshuo | 3 days | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | Li River, karst peaks, rice terraces | KWL |
| Zhangjiajie | 3 days | Apr–May, Sep–Oct | Sandstone pillar forest, glass bridge | DYG |
| Hangzhou | 2 days | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | West Lake, Longjing tea hills, Lingyin Temple | HGH |
| Huangshan | 2 days | Apr–May, Oct–Nov | Sunrise above the cloud sea, Hongcun village | TXN |
| Dunhuang | 2 days | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct | Mogao caves, Singing Sand Dunes | DNH |
| Lhasa | 3–4 days | May–Oct | Potala Palace, Jokhang, Barkhor kora | LXA |
| Chongqing | 2 days | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Hongya Cave, hotpot, Yangtze cable car | CKG |
| The Yangtze | 3–4 nights | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Three Gorges, Shennong Stream, the dam | via CKG |
Airport codes are indicative — we'll advise the most convenient arrival city for your dates and route, and domestic flights and high-speed rail are booked by us. Ideal stay means "to see it properly", not "the minimum we can squeeze in".
Every city page covers what to see, how long you need, the best months to visit and which of our itineraries include it.
Send us your dates and the three places you most want to see. We'll tell you honestly what fits, and what to save for next time.
Email us and a real trip designer in China replies within 24 hours with a revised day-by-day itinerary and a clear price. No deposit, no obligation.
hello@joyotour.comCopy this into your message and fill in what you know. Missing pieces are fine — we'll ask the right questions.