Traveling around China – three suggestions for a travel itinerary with everything you need to see from Shanghai to Chengdu and Hong Kong is written by The editorial staff in cooperation with China Cultural Center in Copenhagen.
What is the best travel route for me in China?
When you travel to China for the first time, it can be an overwhelming experience. It's a completely different reality you land in when you arrive in China, and it's good to have some firm points of reference ready in advance. We'd like to help with that.
One member of the editorial team has lived in China, and several of us have traveled to many parts of the beautiful country – as tour guides, as employees and, not least, as tourists.
Here are our three suggested travel routes through the enormous country. You get the classic highlights, the slightly faster city route and the more adventurous southern route.
China's capital Beijing is an obvious place to start your China adventure. This is where most airlines fly to, and it is often where you get your first impression of China. Beijing is therefore also the starting point for the first two route suggestions in this guide.
From Beijing, we take the classic round trip to some of the most iconic things China has to offer: historic capitals, pandas, futuristic future cities, the country's lifeblood and surreal landscapes. And finally, we end up in the modern megacity Shanghai, to which there are also direct flights from Denmark.
In the second proposal, we also start in Beijing and end in Shanghai. On this route, however, we stay in eastern China and experience both megacities, meditative nature experiences and impressive cultural history.
The third travel route is something completely different. This is where it starts we in Hong Kong and stay in southern China, which offers some fantastically memorable experiences, both in surreal landscapes and in big cities beyond the ordinary.
On all three routes you can get around by high-speed train, which now covers the whole of China and has taken over much of the air traffic.
There are also more traditional trains, which are both cheaper and where you can book a sleeper if you are travelling overnight. We generally recommend that you travel by train in China.
If your schedule is a bit tight, or if you end up staying longer in one place and experiencing even more, you can of course save some time by flying on one of the longer routes. China has plenty of domestic flight routes.
Fortunately, the itineraries can be combined and adjusted to your own wishes. China is an incredible travel country, and it is impossible to see it all. So let yourself be inspired and just start planning.
From Beijing to Shanghai with all the most iconic sights along the way
This is a classic travel route that includes all the best and most well-known things in China, and this route is perfect for a first-time traveler who wants to see a lot.
When you land in Beijing, it's all about getting started experiencing something. Right in the center you'll find the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the city's famous narrow alleys – the 'hutongs' – the Temple of Heaven and, in general, the historical heart of China.
On the outskirts of the city center lies the Imperial Summer Palace, which is definitely worth a visit. Especially on a hot day, it is a great place to spend a few hours strolling around and enjoying the surroundings, as emperors, empresses and servants did in the past.
And just an hour's drive from the city you'll find the Great Wall of China. Here you can truly feel the grandeur of history, and it's easy to lose your breath – both from the structure and the many steep stairs on the wall.
Beijing has not always been the capital of China. In fact, the city has Xi'an has been the capital for longer than Beijing has. Therefore, the tour now continues towards Xi'an and delves even deeper into the stories of China's emperors and dynasties.
When you arrive in Xi'an, just over 1.000 km from Beijing, you will quickly discover that the city center is protected by an impressive intact city wall. Take a walk or bike ride on the city wall and see it all from above.
Xi'an city center is also known for its Muslim quarter with mosque and lots of streetfood and for two pagodas from the Tang Dynasty around the year 700.
The real attraction is a little outside the city, however. Here you will find the tomb of China's first emperor Qin, who unified China 2200 years ago.
The highlight is the impressive terracotta warriors who guarded the emperor in his tomb. Since a local farmer discovered some interesting shards of fired clay 50 years ago, excavation work has been going on non-stop.
Today you can see approximately 8000 life-size figures, each with their own personal features, and you can see that archaeologists are still finding more almost daily. An incredible find and an incredible experience.
China is synonymous with pandas, and you can visit them in the big city of Chengdu in central China. You can also take the train from Xi'an, and the high-speed train takes the 600 km quite quickly.
The pandas live wild in the mountains near Chengdu, but to protect the animals, they are not allowed in the mountains.
You can, however, visit the pandas and their cubs in special panda centers in Chengdu, where they both look after the iconic animals and help them reproduce and keep the species alive.
Near Chengdu, you can visit the world's largest stone Buddha statue. The statue is 1300 years old, carved into a cliff overlooking the river, and measures more than 70 meters from top to toe.
A good hour on the high-speed train will take you 300 km to the megacity of Chongqing. Home to more than 30 million people, the city is located on the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, making Chongqing the center of trade and finance in central China.
The megacity is located on the slopes down to the river, and is therefore built in countless floors. It is easy to get lost, and that is part of the charm. At the same time, Chongqing is known for its futuristic appearance, especially at night, mixed with traditional China and a fantastic – and rather spicy – cuisine.
From Chongqing you can sail on the Yangtze eastwards towards Shanghai. It is a great experience to experience life from the river, and on the way you will pass through the enormous Three Gorges Dam.
You can also save the river cruise for another time and instead hop on a train or a plane and go directly to Shanghai, which is 1700 km away.
In the megacity of Shanghai, you will again encounter the mixture of futuristic urban landscapes and the traditional. The city has a more Western atmosphere, as the British and French in particular left their mark on the development for many decades. However, Shanghai also represents modern China to a large extent.
Enjoy a few days in the hustle and bustle of the big city or take a trip to, for example, historic Hangzhou, which is known for its beautiful lake. Or to the canal city of Suzhou, which with its historic appearance is truly the picture of the real China for many Chinese.
No matter what you choose on this route, you are constantly surrounded by World and world-famous attractions. It's hard to choose and especially hard to choose from – but whatever you choose, it's magnificent.
Big cities, beer and holy mountains – great experiences in the east
If you want to go from Beijing to Shanghai without having to go the long way around to Xi'an, Chengdu and the Yangtze, here is a suggested itinerary.
Once you've experienced Beijing's many highlights, you can take the high-speed train to the neighboring city of Tianjin in just half an hour. Many Chinese tourists come here, but few foreign travelers stop by.
Tianjin has played an important historical role, and it is an exciting city to visit, especially with a good local guide.
From Tianjin, it's a couple of hours by train to Tai'an, which is located right at the foot of the sacred mountain Taishan. In Chinese history, five mountains in particular play a crucial role, as the mountains were the home of the gods. And Taishan is one of the five mountains.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists make the pilgrimage to Taishan daily to experience the almost spiritual atmosphere in the mist between the peaks and to climb the sacred mountain.
It takes a good physique to get to the top. Most of the hike takes place on stairs – approximately 7000 steps each way. So take your time and stop at the ancient temples along the way. It is an experience that will stay in your mind, body and not least in your leg muscles long after.
From Taishan you can head south again, or you can take a short detour to the coast by the Yellow Sea. Here lies the large city of Qingdao, known for beer, beaches and German influence, and is only 350 km away. The city has been under both tysk og Japanese dominance in the twentieth century, and it can still be seen today.
The most famous beer in China is Tsingtao, and you can visit the brewery. In July and August, Qingdao hosts an international beer festival, also known as the 'China's Oktoberfest'. Enjoy the seaside life for a day or two before continuing south.
The next stop is one of China's historical capitals, Nanjing, just under 600 km to the south. The city is located on the Yangtze River and has played a major role in both ancient imperial China and modern China. Nanjing has an often turbulent history and is well worth exploring.
About halfway between Nanjing and Shanghai lies the beautiful city of Suzhou, which is definitely worth a visit. Hop off the train and explore the canal city of Suzhou before continuing on to Shanghai, the destination of this itinerary.
Sun holidays, exotic adventures and wild surroundings – the southern travel route in China
Have you already been to Beijing and Shanghai? Or do you just want to experience another part of the enormous travel country of China? Then here is a travel itinerary for you. It starts and ends in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a bustling city with life, people, traffic, neon signs, food, shopping and everything in between. And at the same time, Hong Kong is a peaceful place with hiking trails in the hills with views of both the city and the surrounding countryside. Buenos Aires and the beaches along the South China Sea.
Hong Kong is a meeting place for the whole world, and it's easy to spend days here. But we'll move on and experience much more in southern China. We'll start with neighboring Macau.
Macau a mix of China og Portugal a short boat trip from Hong Kong. The trip is by high-speed ferry, and a visit can easily be done in a single day. If you are not much of a boater, or if you just want to experience the world's longest bridge over water, take the trip across the impressive 55-kilometer bridge connecting Hong Kong and Macau.
Known as the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ for its many casinos, Macau is a city where many people visit to try their luck at a poker table, a one-armed bandit or a roulette wheel. But you can also immerse yourself in Macau’s unusual history or go on a culinary adventure in the city’s fusion cuisine.
Inland, north of both Hong Kong and Macau, lies the megacity of Guangzhou. It was formerly known as Canton and played a crucial role in the Opium Wars of the nineteenth century. The city is the center of southern China, and it is difficult to avoid Guangzhou when traveling to southern China.
Take the train into the country to Guilin, which is famous for its surreal and fairytale landscapes along the Li River, and is located 600 km from Hong Kong.
Both in Guilin and in the somewhat smaller neighboring town of Yangshuo, you can go sailing on the river surrounded by the characteristic small mountains that you find on all postcards from the area.
The landscape around Guilin and Yangshuo is hard to describe – it has to be experienced. And you can do that, for example, by cycling between rice terraces, mountains and idyllic nature, which seems to be frozen in time. Here you can really get your heart rate down and your zest for life up.
From Guilin, it takes 4-5 hours by high-speed train to Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. The city is located 1000 km from Guilin.
Kunming is known as a relaxed city and also as the gateway to the backpacker's favorite destinations Dali and Lijiang, Shangri La in Himalayas, the eastern end of Tibet and to the land of the minority peoples in southwestern China.
It's a great place to explore the many wild areas in this part of the country before heading back to Hong Kong. It's easy to fly between the two cities, or there are direct trains.
Do you need to relax for a few days in the traditional way with sun, beach, pool, cool drinks and pampering? Then you should head to China's very own holiday paradise. Sanya on Hainan IslandHere are tropical temperatures, lovely hotels and resorts and also plenty to explore on your own.
Hainan is easiest to reach by plane – either to Sanya or the capital city of Haikou – and there are plenty of charter travel agencies that arrange package tours there. You can also travel around on your own and reach the island by train via Nanning on the mainland.
Enjoy life to the fullest and recharge your batteries before heading back to the vibrant hustle and bustle of Hong Kong and back home to your everyday life.
Find your very own itinerary around China with everything that interests you. Feel free to be inspired by our itinerary suggestions and how about combining them?
It's entirely up to you. Have a great trip in China, no matter which route you choose!
What you need to see on your itinerary: 17 highlights and attractions in China
- Beijing – the capital with the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Great Wall of China
- Shanghai – modern and traditional at the same time
- Xi'an – the ancient capital with intact city walls and the terracotta figures
- Chengdu – the hometown of pandas
- Chongqing – megacity on the Yangtze with spicy cuisine
- Yangtze – China's largest river, the lifeblood of millions of people. Perfect for a river cruise
- Tianjin – Beijing’s port city with an important history
- Taishan – sacred mountain with hiking trails and lots of stairs
- Qingdao – home of Tsingtao beer and one of the most important coastal cities
- Nanjing – turbulent history in the former capital on the banks of the Yangtze
- Suzhou – the canal city reaches Shanghai
- Hong Kong – iconic city with many kilometers of walking trails, Disneyland and bridge connection to Macau
- Macau – the casino city with a Portuguese past
- Guilin – surreal mountain formations, rice fields and traditional fishing and farming along the Li River
- Yangshuo – Guilin's small neighboring town with a backpacker atmosphere, bike tours and a relaxed pace
- Kunming – the gateway to the wild southwest with indigenous people, rainforest, Himalayan peaks, Tibet, Shangri La and backpacker towns
- Hainan – China's own holiday paradise island in the South China Sea
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