3-Week China Tour Packages

Insider tips: Recommended 3-week China tour itineraries

Compiled by

NadineChina travel expert at TourRadar

• 21 Days in China, incl. Beijing and Shanghai

  A grand 21-day tour traverses 11 Chinese cities, from 3 days at Beijing's Forbidden City to Shanghai's Yu Garden. Takes in 20+ UNESCO sites, Li River cruise, and Zhangjiajie's Glass Bridge, while providing 4-star accommodations throughout.

  

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  • Days 1-3

    Beijing Region:

    Start in Beijing exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City complex. Visit the Great Wall at Mutianyu, getting there by 8:30 AM to avoid crowds. You can take a cable car up and try the fun toboggan ride down. Visit the Summer Palace gardens in the afternoon when the light is perfect for photos.

    
  • Days 4-5

    Xi'an:

    Take the high-speed train to Xi'an (4.5 hours). See the Terracotta Warriors in the early morning before 10 AM for the best light. Rent bikes at the South Gate to ride the ancient City Wall. The Muslim Quarter comes alive at dusk when food vendors start setting up.

    
  • Days 6-7

    Chengdu:

    Visit the Panda Breeding Center in the morning when the pandas eat and are most active. The best time to see baby pandas is September through November. Stop by People's Park to enjoy tea with locals.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Yunnan Province:

    Visit Lijiang's Old Town, then continue to Dali and Kunming. Get to the Stone Forest early before tour groups arrive. Use the high-speed trains between cities instead of regional flights.

    
  • Days 11-14

    Guilin & Yangshuo:

    Take the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (4 hours). Choose the right side of the boat for the best mountain views. Rent bikes in Yangshuo to explore. As one traveler noted: "The back roads around Moon Hill offered the most authentic glimpse of rural life - we saw water buffalo in the fields and farmers tending rice paddies."

    
  • Days 15-17

    Zhangjiajie:

    Plan three full days to explore the national park. Take the world's tallest outdoor elevator for great views. Book the glass bridge ahead of time and go early to avoid lines. Bring good hiking shoes since paths can get slippery.

    
  • Days 18-21

    Shanghai & Surrounds:

    Finish in Shanghai and take a day trip to Suzhou's gardens. See the Bund at dusk when the buildings light up. Take the maglev train to Pudong Airport when leaving - it beats sitting in rush hour traffic.

    

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• 21 Days in China, incl. Beijing and Shanghai

  A captivating 21-day tour links 10 major Chinese cities, from Beijing's Forbidden City to Shanghai's Bund. Highlights include 5 UNESCO sites like the Great Wall at Mutianyu and Terracotta Warriors, plus Zhangjiajie's Glass Bridge and Guilin's karst mountains.

  

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  • Days 1-3

    Beijing

    Start in Beijing with an early arrival to avoid the morning traffic near the Forbidden City. Visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City on your first full day. Get there by 8:30 AM before the tour groups arrive. Try traditional face painting in the afternoon and finish with Peking duck at Quanjude. On day three visit the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. It's less crowded than Badaling and has cable car access. Wear sturdy shoes the wall's steps are uneven and can get slippery.

    
  • Days 4-5

    Datong & Mount Wutai

    Take the 2.5-hour bullet train to Datong. Visit the UNESCO-listed Yungang Grottoes early for the best photo lighting of Buddhist sculptures. Next day see the Hanging Temple before 10 AM when crowds pick up. Then travel 3 hours to Mount Wutai one of China's sacred Buddhist mountains.

    
  • Days 6-7

    Pingyao & Xi'an

    Explore Pingyao's ancient city walls and Ming-Qing architecture. One traveler noted "Walking the quiet morning streets of Pingyao felt like stepping back 600 years. Get up early before the day-trippers arrive." Take the afternoon bullet train (3.5 hours) to Xi'an.

    
  • Days 8-9

    Xi'an

    Bike the ancient city walls in the cool morning hours. Visit the Terracotta Warriors after 2 PM when it's less busy. Join a local dumpling-making class which many families really enjoy.

    
  • Days 10-11

    Chengdu

    Take the morning high-speed train (4 hours) to Chengdu. Visit the Panda Base before 10 AM to see the pandas at their most active. Try Sichuan cooking at Chilli Cool Workshop which offers milder options for kids.

    
  • Days 12-15

    Guilin & Yangshuo

    Take the Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo (5 hours). Book upper deck seats for better views. In Yangshuo bike through the countryside before it gets too hot. A visitor shared: "The karst mountains in morning mist were magical. Worth the early wake-up call."

    
  • Days 16-18

    Zhangjiajie

    Visit the famous glass bridge at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park first thing to avoid lines. The bridge might close in bad weather so keep your schedule flexible. Cable cars to Tianzi Mountain give amazing views but expect 1-2 hour waits in peak season.

    
  • Days 19-21

    Shanghai

    Finish in Shanghai where traditional meets modern. Take the world's fastest elevator up Shanghai Tower for sunset. Try local street food in the French Concession with help from your guide. Visit the Bund at dusk when the city lights come alive.

    

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• 21 Day China Itinerary, incl. Beijing and Shanghai

  This 15-day route covers 7 major cities from Beijing to Shanghai. Highlights include 6 UNESCO sites including the Great Wall and Longmen Grottoes, plus unique experiences like panda viewing and Li River cruising. Features 14 nights in 4-star hotels and high-speed rail transfers.

  

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  • Days 1-3

    Beijing

    Start in Beijing and arrive early to avoid morning traffic. Spend day one getting used to the city and walking through the Hutongs, where you'll see local life in action. Visit the Forbidden City before 8:30 AM on day two to stay ahead of the crowds. Head to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall early on day three. Wear sturdy shoes for the uneven steps.

    
  • Days 4-5

    Datong & Mount Wutai

    Take the bullet train (2.5 hours) to Datong. Visit the Yungang Grottoes in the morning for the best light. When you go to the Hanging Temple, wear shoes with good grip and plan for about 40 minutes of climbing. Mount Wutai needs a full day to see all its temples.

    
  • Days 6-7

    Pingyao & Xi'an

    Get to Pingyao Ancient City early before the tour groups show up. Walk the city wall for great morning photos. Take the afternoon train to Xi'an. Visit the Terracotta Warriors right when they open at 8:30 AM. The morning sunlight through the hangar makes for better pictures.

    
  • Days 8-10

    Chengdu

    Visit the Giant Panda Base at 8 AM when the pandas eat breakfast. Take a Sichuan cooking class while you're here. One traveler said: "The market tour really helped me understand the ingredients. Our instructor showed us exactly how to get that numbing málà flavor right."

    
  • Days 11-14

    Guilin & Yangshuo

    The Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo takes 5 hours. Bring sunscreen since there's not much shade on the boat. Go cycling in Yangshuo early morning or late afternoon to avoid the heat. Walk along the Yulong River for photos. A recent visitor shared: "The morning mist over the karst mountains was magical."

    
  • Days 15-18

    Zhangjiajie

    Visit the glass bridge at Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon early or late to avoid crowds. The cable cars offer great views but might close in bad weather. Take a break from hiking with a peaceful boat ride on Baofeng Lake.

    
  • Days 19-21

    Shanghai

    Finish your trip in Shanghai. Watch sunset at the Bund. Visit the wet market in the morning for the freshest produce. Take the ferry across the Huangpu River to photograph the skyline. One traveler noted: "Getting up the Shanghai Tower just before sunset gave us amazing views of the city lighting up."

    

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