BEST Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing Itinerary: 3, 7, 10 Days (2026)
Hi! This itinerary is based on my personal experiences.
I’m a native Chinese and the creator of this website, Yenkid In China.
With my all-in-one guide, you will find it much easier to plan your trip!
My take 🐼
In this itinerary, you will discover three of China’s ancient cities + home of the Panda Research Base + one of the most mind-bending cities in the world.
I have personally visited all of them. They really form a major foundation of China’s diversity.
A great balance of palaces, monuments, temples, city life, skyscrapers, nature.
And of course some of the most delicious food in the world!
I have provided a detailed day-by-day breakdown, my secret tips, and recommended links for you to book your trip.
You can organise this trip entirely by yourself. You do not have to book with a travel agency to organise this.
I’m not an agency. I’ve shared this itinerary to help you organise it independently like I did.
That’s part of the fun!
You can still book tours for individual attractions + activities like food tours separately.
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🛏️ I book hotels on Trip because it gives me the best prices ($26 cheaper for one booking!) + has way more hotels for China. What made it even cheaper was getting exclusive discounts as a new user. Register here!
🚅 I recommend booking trains on Trip as it offers the best English language interface + you can reserve tickets further in advance.
Quick Summary
Beijing (3 days) ➡️ Luoyang (2 days) ➡️ Xi’an (3 days) ➡️ Chengdu (3 days) ➡️ Chongqing (2 days)
Popular add-on: Zhangjiajie (3 days)
SEE FULL ITINERARY BELOW
💡You don’t have to visit all cities. This is a flexible itinerary.
You’ll see the itinerary is split into separate 3-day, 7-day, 10-day sections.
Use this as your template + modify + delete to suit your length of stay & preferences
My suggested 3-DAY itinerary 👣
3 days is good for visiting Beijing.
In one line: Beijing is truly one of the world’s grandest cities, with so many historic landmarks and unique neighbourhoods to admire.
Day 1 - BEIJING
Why I find this day special: taking in the gigantic scale of Beijing’s landmarks
AM - Tiananmen Square ➡️ Forbidden City ➡️ Jingshan Park 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
PM - Nanluoguxiang ➡️ Shichahai ➡️ Drum Tower + Bell Tower ➡️ Wangfujing Pedestrian Street
🛏️Sleep in Beijing (3 nights)
👉🏻 I recommend New World Beijing for its central location, which is one of the best I’ve ever stayed in.
+ Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing Beijing for its skyline views
➡️ For further details about best districts, check out my Ultimate Beijing Travel Guide
Activities to consider
👉🏻 Food tour with a local guide
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Day 2 - BEIJING
Why I find this day special: the most famous wall in the world + one of the most majestic temples
AM - Great Wall 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
PM - Temple of Heaven
🛏️Sleep in Beijing
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Day 3 - BEIJING
Why I find this day special: beautiful gardens + magnificent lakes + modern architecture
AM - Summer Palace ➡️ Old Summer Palace ➡️ 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
PM - Bird’s Nest Stadium ➡️ Water Cube ➡️ 798 Art Zone ➡️ CCTV Headquarters ➡️ Sanlitun
🛏️Sleep in Beijing
🍜My suggested meals: Peking duck 北京烤鸭, zhajiangmian 炸酱面, pan fried crepe 煎饼
🥢My suggested eating districts: Wangfujing 王府井, Qianmen 前门大街, Guijie 簋街
❗For more details, check out my Ultimate Beijing Travel Guide for a detailed breakdown
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My suggested 7-DAY itinerary 👣
7 days is great for visiting 2-3 places.
This itinerary follows on from the previous section:
In one line: Luoyang was China’s capital for over 13 dynasties, older than Xi’an! Many incredible historical sites to see.
Day 4 - BEIJING ➡️ LUOYANG
Why I find this day special: visiting the cradle of Buddhism in China + seeing one of the best ancient skylines
🚅Early morning - I recommend taking the train from Beijing West station to Luoyang Longmen station
⌚Travel Time - Around 3-4 hrs
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PM - White Horse Temple ➡️ Luoyi Ancient Town ➡️ Shizi Night Market ➡️ Mingtang Tiantang ➡️ Yingtianmen
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🛏️Sleep in Luoyang (2 nights)
👉🏻 I recommend staying in Xigong district or Laocheng district which are on either side of Yingtianmen.
I stayed in this hotel which is close to the centre of the city and has great night views.
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Day 5 - LUOYANG
Why I find this day special: seeing the mind-blowing grottoes + visiting one of China’s most famous temples
AM - Longmen Grottoes 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
PM - Shaolin Temple 👉🏻 you can combine a tour with the Longmen Grottoes here
🛏️Sleep in Luoyang
🍜My suggested meals: Luoyang beef soup 洛阳牛肉汤, pan fried dumpling 锅贴, braised mutton noodles 烩面🥢My suggested eating districts: Luoyi Ancient Town 洛邑古城, Shizi Night Market 十字街夜市
❗For more details, check out my Ultimate Luoyang Travel Guide for a detailed breakdown
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In one line: Xi’an is one of the world’s most famous ancient capitals, with many historical sites.
Day 6 - LUOYANG ➡️ XI’AN
Why I find this day special: visiting the heart of the ancient capital + tasting some of Xi’an best cuisine
🚅Morning - Take the train from Luoyang Longmen station to Xi’an North station
⌚Travel Time - Around 1-2 hrs
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PM - Bell Tower ➡️ Drum Tower ➡️ Huimin Jie
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🛏️Sleep in Xi’an (3 nights)
👉🏻 I recommend staying inside the city walls. Areas around the Bell and Drum Towers are a great choice.
Elegant Hotel Xi'an Bell Tower for Tang dynasty themed rooms
Sofitel Legend People’s Grand Hotel for superb service and interiors
Activities to consider
👉🏻 Food tour with a local guide
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Day 7 - XI’AN
Why I find this day special: Qin Shi Huang’s most famous army + gardens + theatre
AM - Terracotta Warriors ➡️ Lishanyuan 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
PM - Huaqing Palace ➡️ Romantic Show of Xi’an or The Great Qin
🛏️Sleep in Xi’an
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Day 8 - XI’AN
Why I find this day special: some of China’s most precious relics + ancient architecture
AM - Shaanxi History Museum
PM - Xi’an City Wall ➡️ Giant Wild Goose Pagoda ➡️ Grand Everbright City ➡️ Tang Paradise 👉🏻 buy your tickets here
🛏️Sleep in Xi’an
🍜My suggested meals: ròu jiā mó 肉夹馍, biáng biáng miàn 𰻞𰻞面/油泼面, yáng ròu pào mó 羊肉泡馍
🥢My suggested eating districts: huí mín jiē (Muslim Quarter) 回民街, yǒng xīng fāng 永兴坊, sǎ jīn qiáo 洒金桥
❗For more details, check out my Ultimate Xi’an Travel Guide
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My suggested 11-DAY itinerary 👣
11 days is perfect for visiting at least 4-5 places.
This itinerary follows on from the previous section:
In one line: Chengdu is the heart of Sichuan cuisine and the panda capital! I find it so heartwarming!
Day 9 - XI’AN ➡️ CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: relaxing in one of China’s most laid-back cities + tasting the best of Sichuan cuisine
🚅Morning - Take the train from Xian North station to Chengdu East station
⌚Travel Time - Around 2.5hrs
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PM - Wuhou Shrine ➡️ Tianfu Square ➡️ People’s Park ➡️ Jinli Ancient Street
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🛏️Sleep in Chengdu (3 nights)
👉🏻 Consider staying in a panda themed hotel (an example is this one)
➡️ For further details about best districts, check out my Ultimate Chengdu Travel Guide
Activities to consider
👉🏻 Food tour with a local guide
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Day 10 - CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: getting close up to so many pandas + visiting one of China’s most underrated museums
AM - Panda Base 👉🏻 book your ticket here
PM - Sanxingdui Museum ➡️ Chunxi Lu ➡️ Anshun Bridge 👉🏻 buy your ticket here
🛏️Sleep in Chengdu
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Day 11 - CHENGDU
Why I find this day special: lots of relaxing vibes + seeing futuristic architecture
AM - Wenshu Monastery
PM - Dufu Thatched Cottage ➡️ New Century Global Center ➡️ Towers of Vitality ➡️ Panda Twin Towers
🛏️Sleep in Chengdu
🍜My suggested meals: kung pao chicken 宫保鸡丁, mapo tofu 麻婆豆腐, Sichuan hotpot 四川火锅
🥢My suggested eating districts: Chunxi Lu + Taikoo Li (春熙路 + 太古里), Jinli Ancient Street 锦里古街
❗For more details, check out my Ultimate Chengdu Travel Guide
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My suggested 13-DAY itinerary 👣
This itinerary follows on from the previous section:
In one line: Chongqing is known as 8D city. The most unique city I’ve ever been to!
Day 12 - CHENGDU ➡️ CHONGQING
Why I find this day special: The most mind-blowing night-time views I’ve ever seen + some brain twisters!
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🚅Late afternoon - Take the train from Chengdu East station to Chongqing West/North station
⌚Travel Time - Around 1-1.5 hrs
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AM - Liziba ➡️ Kuixinglou ➡️ Chaotianmen Square
PM - Hongyadong ➡️ Jialing River Beach ➡️ Daijiaxiang Cliff Path ➡️ Jiefangbei ➡️ Deyi Shijie
🛏️Sleep in Chongqing (2 nights)
⬇️Day 13 - CHONGQING
Why I find this day special: Serious history stuff + lots of fancy staircase districts!
AM - Three Gorges Museum ➡️ Chongqing People’s Auditorium
PM - Shibati ➡️ Huguang Guild Hall ➡️ Longmenhao Old Street ➡️ Xiahaoli ➡️ Nanbin Road Promenade
🛏️Sleep in Chongqing + depart for next destination/home in the morning
🍜My suggested meals: Chongqing hotpot, Chongqing noodles (xiaomian), spicy chili chicken
🥢My suggested eating districts: Go to Bayilu Food Street + Xiahaoli
❗For more details or expanded Chongqing itinerary, check out my Ultimate Chongqing Travel Guide
SUMMARY NOTES📝
You don’t have to do the full itinerary. Cut and swap depending on what interests you the most!
LENGTH OF STAY 📅
If you’re mainly here for ancient historical sites in Beijing, Xi’an, Luoyang, I recommend at least 8 days.
If you want to explore all five cities, I recommend at least 13-14 days.
If you want a more full-on experience covering day trips away from the cities, I recommend at least 16-18 days.
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MY ADVICE FOR ARRIVAL CITY 🛬
I recommend you fly directly into Beijing for this itinerary.
Note that Beijing has two airports.
Check out my article The 9 Best Airports To Fly Into China
If you want an even longer trip in this part of China, consider adding the following destinations:
➡️ Wulong Karst
➡️ Jiuzhaigou + Huanglong National Parks in Sichuan province
➡️ Zhangjiajie + Furong village + Fenghuang village
➡️ Zhaoxing Dong Village + Xijiang Qianhu Miao Village in Guizhou Province
➡️ Guiyang
For ticket prices, see ultimate guide for each city!
These articles are particularly relevant for planning your trip:
By the way, check if you can save money on your China trip by:
For more itinerary ideas, see:
My selected China itineraries for 2026
Best Chengdu and Sichuan Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
Best Shanghai + East China Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
Best Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Guilin Itineraries: 3 Days, 7 Days, 10 Days
To work out how much time to spend in China, check out:
How Long Should I Spend In China On My First Trip? Example Itineraries
