Trip Summary
The definitive first journey: imperial Beijing and the Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, pandas and Sichuan fire in Chengdu, the Li River's karst dream, and Shanghai's neon finish. Four flights-or-trains, ten days, zero regrets — the trip that hooks visitors on China.
Trip Highlights
- Great Wall sunrise crowd-beating at Badaling
- Terracotta Army + Xi'an wall cycling in one imperial dash
- Panda cub breakfast and Dujiangyan's ancient weirs
- Li River four-star cruise to Yangshuo's karst cathedrals
- The Bund finale with rooftop drinks
Day by Day
Day 1 — Beijing
Arrive; Wangfujing evening.
Flight in · Beijinginternational flights, destination pre-filledBook → Stay · Qianmenaxis-side base, Line 8 to the WallBook → Car rental · Beijingpick up at Beijing Capital International Airport on arrivalBook → 
Day 2 — Forbidden City & temples
Palace axis, Jingshan, Temple of Heaven.
Stay · Qianmenaxis-side base, Line 8 to the WallBook → Tickets · The Palace Museumskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 3 — Great Wall
Badaling + Ming Tombs; duck dinner.
Stay · Qianmenaxis-side base, Line 8 to the WallBook → Tickets · Badaling-Mutianyu Great Wallskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 4 — To Xi'an
Morning HSR; wall bikes; Muslim Quarter.
Beijing → Xi'an trainHSR ~4.5 hBook → Stay · Xi'an Bell Towerthe crossroads of the old cityBook → Car rental · Xi'anpick up at Xi'an North Railway Station on arrivalBook → 
Day 5 — Terracotta Army
Pits + Huaqing Palace.
Stay · Xi'an Bell Towerthe crossroads of the old cityBook → Tickets · Terracotta Army of Emperor Qinshihuangskip-the-line entryBook → Day 6 — To Chengdu
Morning HSR/flight; pandas-adjacent evening, hotpot.
Xi'an → Chengdu trainHSR ~3.5–4.5 hBook → Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's ParkBook → Car rental · Chengdupick up at Chengdu East Railway Station on arrivalBook → 
Day 7 — Pandas & Dujiangyan
Panda base 07:30, Dujiangyan weirs and Qingcheng in one loop.
Stay · Kuanzhai Alleyold lanes by People's ParkBook → Tickets · Mount Qingcheng & Dujiangyanskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 8 — To Guilin, Li River
Flight to Guilin; next-morning cruise or afternoon raft at Xingping.
Chengdu → Guilin flightDirect ~1.5 hBook → Stay · West Street Yangshuoafter the Li River cruise — the bike-and-café quarterBook → Car rental · Guilinpick up at Guilin Liangjiang International Airport on arrivalBook → Tickets · Li Riverskip-the-line entryBook → Day 9 — Yangshuo
Yulong River e-bike day; evening Impression show.
Stay · West Street Yangshuoafter the Li River cruise — the bike-and-café quarterBook → Tickets · Li Riverskip-the-line entryBook → 
Day 10 — Shanghai finale
Morning flight; the Bund at dusk, then PVG red-eye or +1 day.
Guilin → Shanghai flightDirect ~2.5 hBook → Stay · The Bundfinal night on the riverfrontBook → Car rental · Shanghaipick up at Shanghai Pudong International Airport on arrivalBook → Flight out · Shanghaideparture flights from Shanghai, destination openBook → 
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