Itinerary & city combinations

One complete itinerary. More cities to compare.

Start with the two-week Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai itinerary below, or compare other city combinations. Each combination is inspiration; only the complete itinerary includes a daily outline and overnight stays.

Explore destinations

City combinations: 11
Featured from these combinations: 3
Starting regions: 3

Featured combinations

Why these cities might belong in the same trip.

These editorial examples compare city character, priority sights, geographic context and reviewed transport. They are starting points for research, not schedules to follow.

Pudong skyline across the Huangpu River, with the Oriental Pearl Tower and Shanghai Tower — Pudong skyline from the Bund, ShanghaiPxfuel contributor · photo credit

Editorial city combination3 citiesReviewed transport · 2/2 legsReviewed Aug 21, 2026

Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou: Departing from Hangzhou

Compare these three cities with arrival through Shanghai and departure from Hangzhou (an open-jaw flight option). Check transport evidence and choose your own order and stay length.

ShanghaiCity guide
Shanghai → Suzhou · ≈85 km straight-line · About 25–35 minutes on a direct fast train
SuzhouCity guide
Suzhou → Hangzhou · ≈120 km straight-line · Roughly 1 hour 10 minutes–2 hours on a direct fast train
HangzhouCity guide

See why these cities work together

Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests at Beijing’s Temple of Heaven, with visitors in the courtyard — Temple of Heaven, BeijingMikhail Lazarev · photo credit

Editorial city combination2 citiesReviewed transport · 1/1 legsReviewed Aug 21, 2026

Beijing, Chengde city combination

Compare why these cities complement one another, which sights define each stop and what the reviewed transfers involve. The order is an editorial example, not a prescribed schedule.

BeijingCity guide
Beijing → Chengde · ≈180 km straight-line · About 45–75 minutes on a direct high-speed train
ChengdeCity guide

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Blue-tiled octagonal Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall framed by trees and gardens in Guangzhou — Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, GuangzhouShujianyang · photo credit

Editorial city combination2 citiesReviewed transport · 1/1 legsReviewed Aug 21, 2026

Guangzhou, Guilin & Yangshuo city combination

Compare why these cities complement one another, which sights define each stop and what the reviewed transfers involve. The order is an editorial example, not a prescribed schedule.

GuangzhouCity guide
Guangzhou → Guilin & Yangshuo · ≈380 km straight-line · About 2–3 hours between Guangzhou South and a Guilin rail station
Guilin & YangshuoCity guide

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01 / More city combinations

Shanghai

Possible starting pointPVG

Lower Yangtze city breaks and longer one-way journeys across China.

City combination idea4 citiesStarts from Shanghai
Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi’an, Beijing city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Shanghai → Chengdu → Xi’an → Beijing. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsShanghai → Chengdu → Xi’an → Beijing
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Detailed city combination3 citiesStarts from Shanghai
Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou: Returning to Shanghai
Compare these three cities with a return to Shanghai for departure. Explore city tradeoffs, transport and practical evidence, and choose your own order and stay length.
Route stopsShanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou → Shanghai (return)
Compare cities and practical detail
City combination idea3 citiesStarts from Shanghai
Shanghai, Suzhou & Hangzhou: City Idea with Transit Context
Explore a city combination with Shanghai arrival and transit context. This is not a complete itinerary or an eligibility result; check entry rules separately.
Route stopsShanghai → Suzhou → Hangzhou
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City combination idea4 citiesStarts from Shanghai
Shanghai, Huangshan, Xi’an, Beijing city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Shanghai → Huangshan → Xi’an → Beijing. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsShanghai → Huangshan → Xi’an → Beijing
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02 / More city combinations

Guangzhou

Possible starting pointCAN

South China routes built around straightforward rail links and big landscapes.

City combination idea4 citiesStarts from Guangzhou
Guangzhou, Guilin & Yangshuo, Zhangjiajie, Shanghai city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Guangzhou → Guilin & Yangshuo → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsGuangzhou → Guilin & Yangshuo → Zhangjiajie → Shanghai
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City combination idea3 citiesStarts from Guangzhou
Guangzhou, Guilin & Yangshuo, Shenzhen city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Guangzhou → Guilin & Yangshuo → Shenzhen. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsGuangzhou → Guilin & Yangshuo → Shenzhen
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03 / More city combinations

Beijing

Possible starting pointPEK

Northern history routes and classic journeys that continue south.

City combination idea3 citiesStarts from Beijing
Beijing, Chengde, Tianjin city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Beijing → Chengde → Tianjin. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsBeijing → Chengde → Tianjin
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City combination idea4 citiesStarts from Beijing
Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu, Shanghai city combination
Compare what each stop contributes to Beijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Shanghai. Keep only the destinations that appeal to you, and decide the stay length yourself.
Route stopsBeijing → Xi’an → Chengdu → Shanghai
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