BEST Genshin Impact Real-Life China Itinerary To Do In 2026
Introduction
I started playing Genshin Impact shortly after its launch and have accumulated well over 1000 hours. Don’t know exactly how much. But I do know the game very well.
I am Chinese so I played using the Chinese voiceover.
If you are a Genshin player, you must check out this itinerary!
What This Itinerary Covers
This itinerary focuses on the Liyue region only, drawing inspiration from real life locations in China.
I have not created itineraries for other regions, because this website focuses on helping people with China travel.
It is intended to help you experience similar locations to the in-game locations in Liyue. Covers most of the key locations in the original Liyue map.
As with any game, no locations are an exact like-for-like match, so don’t get your expectations way too high.
📅 You can cut and rearrange this itinerary to suit the amount of days you are planning to spend in China.
Key Stops:
Datong ➡️ Huanglong + Jiuzhaigou ➡️ Zhangjiajie ➡️ Fenghuang ➡️ Guilin + Yangshuo ➡️ Huangshan
Minimum days needed for full itinerary: 12-14 days
Best City To Land In China
To get to the first stop in this itinerary, I suggest flying into Beijing, where you can take the train from Beijing North to Datong.
Up to you whether you want to explore Beijing this time, but it is not part of this itinerary.
👉 Start looking at flight prices to China HERE
👉 Check out hotel rates in China HERE
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Day 1 - Wangshu Inn ➡️ Xuankong Temple (Hanging Temple) of Hengshan, Datong│悬空寺，大同市
How to get there: Datong Nan station 大同南站 ➡️ hail a taxi
➡️ On your way back, consider spending at least 1 day exploring the city of Datong, especially the Yungang Grottoes.
⬇️ EITHER flight to Jiuzhai Huanglong Airport 👉 Check out prices and times HERE
OR train to Chengdu -> transfer -> train to Huanglongjiuzhai station (this is a long journey. Consider stopping off at Pingyao and Xi’an on the way if you have time.)
Day 2-3 - Luhua Pool ➡️ Huanglong Five-Color Pond, Sichuan + Jiuzhaigou National Park, Sichuan│ 黄龙五彩池 + 九寨沟
How to get there: Jiuzhai Huanglong airport / Huanglongjiuzhai station 黄龙九寨站 ➡️ take the dedicated bus or hail a taxi
⬇️ train to Chengdu -> transfer -> train to Zhangjiajie 👉 Check out prices and times HERE
(ps. I do think there are some elements of Chongqing in Liyue, especially Hongyadong and the multi-layered aspects of the city.
You can consider stopping off here for a couple of days before Zhangjiajie if you have time! It’s totally worth it!)
Day 4-5 - Huaguang Stone Forest + Mt Aozang + Mt Hulao + Qingyun Peak + Jueyun Karst ➡️ Zhangjiajie National Forest Park│ 张家界国家森林公园
How to get there: Zhangjiajiexi station 张家界西站 ➡️ take the dedicated bus or hail a taxi
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Day 6 - Mt Tianheng + Staircase to Liyue Harbor ➡️ Tianmen Mountain│天门山
How to get there: Tianmen Mountain is on the south side of Zhangjiajie. Take the dedicated bus or hail a taxi
⬇️ train from Zhangjiajiexi -> Fenghuanggucheng 👉 Check out prices and times HERE
Day 7-8 - Liyue Harbour ➡️ Fenghuang ancient town, Hunan│凤凰古城
How to get there: Fenghuanggucheng station 凤凰古城站 ➡️ take maglev line to the 2nd to last station
⬇️ train from Fenghuanggucheng to … (see below for 2 options) - you will likely need transfers at a station along the way
Day 9 - Qingce Village ➡️ Honghe Hani rice terraces, Yunnan│红河哈尼梯田 OR Longji Mountain Rice Terraces, Guangxi│龙脊梯田
(Honghe is much bigger but is in far southern Yunnan so can be quite a hassle to get to.
Longji is a smaller version but basically 2 hours from Guilin, which you’re visiting next anyway.
Choose Longji if you don’t want to spend an extra day getting to Honghe.)
How to get to Honghe: Kunming South station 昆明南站 ➡️ metro to Kunming station 昆明站 ➡️ Jianshui station 建水站 ➡️ take the dedicated bus or hire a private car
How to get to Longji: Guilin North station 桂林北站 ➡️ take the dedicated bus or hire a private car
⬇️ If you choose Honghe, take the train back from Jianshui to Kunming station/Kunming South station -> take train to Guilin.
If you choose Longji, just head back to Guilin using the same transport.
Day 10-12 - Dihua Marsh + Guili Plains = The karst mountains and rivers of Guilin + Yangshuo│ 桂林 + 阳朔
How to get there: Guilin North station 桂林北站 or Guilin station 桂林站 ➡️ take taxi
⬇️ there is no direct train to Huangshan. You should search for trains or flights from Guilin 👉 Check out prices and times HERE
Day 13-14 - Qiaoying Village = Huangshan + Hongcun│黄山 + 宏村
How to get there: Huangshan Xi station 黄山西站 ➡️ take the dedicated bus or hail a taxi
Wishing you the greatest Liyue journey! 😝
I spent a lot of time crafting this itinerary. If you like this itinerary, consider supporting using my links or my support page:
Note 1: this itinerary is subjective and is not related to the creators of Genshin Impact in any way. It’s aimed to give you an experience of Liyue and perhaps bring you some nostalgia.
There are other Genshin Impact itineraries available and every itinerary has some differences. Only the creators can verify the exact locations of their inspiration.
Note 2: there are other transport options available. These are my suggestions for the fastest way to the destination.
