12 Days in China: Beijing, Xi'an, Chengdu, Guilin & Shanghai

Ancient capitals and gleaming skylines, panda nurseries and karst peaks rising out of the mist, dumplings at dawn and night markets that never quite sleep — China is one of those vast, layered destinations that rewrites your idea of travel with every city you reach.

Here's a relaxed 12-day route that threads together China's biggest icons with time to slow down and wander — plus the little things that make travel smooth, including staying online from the moment you land. (Our China product covers Hong Kong & Macau too, if you want to tack them on.)

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Day 1–3: Beijing — Emperors & Hutongs

Start in the capital. Walk a quiet stretch of the Great Wall at Mutianyu, lose yourself in the halls of the Forbidden City, and watch kites drift over Tiananmen Square before getting lost in the grey-brick hutong lanes for street snacks and tucked-away teahouses.

Tip: book Great Wall tickets and a cable car online a day ahead — Mutianyu is far less crowded than Badaling.

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Day 4–6: Xi'an — Warriors & the Old Silk Road

Take the high-speed train south to Xi'an, where row upon row of the Terracotta Army still stands guard. Cycle the lamp-lit City Wall at dusk, then dive into the Muslim Quarter for hand-pulled noodles, roujiamo and the smell of cumin and charcoal.

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Day 7–9: Chengdu & Guilin — Pandas & Karst Peaks

Fly to Chengdu for a morning with the giant pandas and a fiery hotpot dinner, then continue to Guilin. Cruise the Li River past the dreamlike karst peaks, and end the day among the green terraces and old riverside lanes of Yangshuo.

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Day 10–12: Shanghai — Neon, the Bund & Beyond

Wrap up in Shanghai: stroll the riverfront Bund as the Pudong skyline lights up, sip tea in the classical Yu Garden, browse the boutiques of the French Concession, and take an easy day trip to the canal town of Zhujiajiao.

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Quick Tips for China

• Best time to visit: April–May and September–October for mild weather and clear skies.
• Getting around: the high-speed rail network is fast, cheap and easy — book seats early; use metro apps in the big cities.
• Navigation: Google Maps is very inaccurate in mainland China — use Baidu Maps or Amap (Gaode) instead for reliable directions.
• Plugs & power: Types A, C and I, 220V — bring a universal adapter.
• Budget & currency: the yuan (CNY) is king and daily life runs on mobile pay — link a card to Alipay or WeChat Pay before you go.

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Staying Connected in China

From scanning the Terracotta Army to navigating Shanghai's metro and tapping to pay everywhere, you'll want data that just works — and works for your everyday apps and maps right out of the box. With Happy Travel SIM you have two easy options:

Best of all — no VPN needed. With our China eSIM and SIM card you can use Google, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Gmail as normal, right out of the box — the connection handles the usual mainland-China restrictions for you.

• Travel eSIM — delivered instantly by email. Scan the QR code and you're online the second you land, with no VPN needed for everyday browsing and maps. Ideal if your phone supports eSIM. China Travel eSIM →
• Physical SIM card — prefer a real card, or your phone doesn't support eSIM? We post your China (plus Hong Kong & Macau) SIM to your door with free shipping in Malaysia and Thailand, ready to pop in before you fly. China Travel SIM Card →

Both give you fast 4G/5G coverage across China, Hong Kong and Macau — no roaming bill shock, and no hunting for an airport SIM kiosk after a long flight.

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Ready for China?

Pack your sense of adventure, sort your data before you go, and let the journey begin.

👉 Get your China eSIM, or order a physical SIM (free shipping in Malaysia & Thailand).