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Itineraries/Asia/China

14 Days in China

The Great Wall at sunrise, the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, giant pandas in Chengdu, and the Bund skyline in Shanghai. Fourteen nights across China's canonical first-timer loop — connected entirely by bullet train, visa-free for Australians, and landing squarely in April school holidays when the weather is perfect.

14 nights
Family of 4
~A$12,100
4 stops
Beijing5n
Xi'an3n
Chengdu2n
Shanghai4n
Start with this itinerarySwap hotels, adjust dates, change stops any time

Your stop-by-stop itinerary

4 stops across 14 nights. Each one chosen so you experience a different side of China.

1

Beijing

5 nights
Fly direct Sydney (SYD) or Melbourne (MEL) to Beijing Capital (PEK) on China Southern, Air China, or Qantas codeshare — 11-12 hours. Airport Express train to Dongzhimen (CNY 25/pp, 20 min) then metro or DiDi to hotel. Open-jaw recommended: fly into Beijing, out of Shanghai.

Highlights

  • Great Wall of China at Badaling — CNY 40/adult, free under 18. Go at 7am to beat tour groups. 1.5 hours from city by bus or private car (CNY 500 return)
  • Forbidden City — CNY 60/adult April-Oct, free under 12. Book timed tickets 10 days ahead (19,000 daily cap). Audio guide CNY 20
  • Summer Palace — CNY 30/adult, CNY 15/child. Royal gardens, pagoda, lake boat rides (CNY 30 extra). Half-day visit
  • Beijing Zoo giant pandas + aquarium — CNY 15/adult. Quick panda preview before the Chengdu deep-dive
  • Hutong rickshaw tour — 2-hour private tour through the old alley neighbourhoods, CNY 250/family
  • Temple of Heaven — CNY 15/adult April-Oct. Watch tai chi practitioners at dawn, then explore the circular prayer hall
  • National Museum of China — free with timed ticket. World-class collection, 2-3 hours

Local tips

  • 💡Set up AliPay or WeChat Pay before arrival — many attractions and shops don't accept foreign cards. International versions work with Visa/Mastercard linked.
  • 💡Book Forbidden City tickets the moment the 10-day window opens. Peak season (April school holidays) sells out. No walk-up tickets.
  • 💡Extra night in Beijing vs other cities is for jet lag recovery. Don't schedule the Great Wall on Day 1 — Day 2 or 3 when the family has adjusted.
Suggested stay: 4-star family suite in Dongcheng or Chaoyang district
2

Xi'an

3 nights
Beijing-Xi'an bullet train (G-series), 4.5 hours, 2nd class CNY 553/adult, ~CNY 276/child (6-12). Family of 4: ~CNY 1,660. Book via Trip.com or 12306.cn 30 days ahead.

Highlights

  • Terracotta Army — CNY 120/adult, CNY 60/child (6-18), free under 6. 8,000+ life-size warriors across 3 pits. Allow 2-3 hours, go early before tour buses
  • Xi'an City Wall bike ride — CNY 54/adult, CNY 27/child entry, then tandem bike rental CNY 100/2hrs. 13km circuit, flat, family-friendly
  • Muslim Quarter street food — lamb skewers, biang biang noodles, roujiamo (Chinese burger). Budget CNY 150/family for a full meal crawl
  • Big Wild Goose Pagoda — CNY 50/adult, CNY 25/child. Ancient Buddhist temple with city views from the top
  • Tang Dynasty dinner show — CNY 320/adult, CNY 160/child. Traditional music, dance, and Shaanxi cuisine. Book 3 days ahead
  • Shaanxi History Museum — free with timed ticket. World-class Silk Road and Tang Dynasty collection

Local tips

  • 💡Terracotta Army is 1 hour east of the city. Hire a private driver (CNY 400 return) rather than the tourist bus — you control the timing and avoid the gift-shop gauntlet.
  • 💡The Muslim Quarter is best visited at dusk (5-8pm) when the food stalls are firing and the lanterns are lit. It's safe and family-friendly despite the crowds.
  • 💡Xi'an metro is CNY 2-3 per ride and covers the main tourist zone. Buy a rechargeable Changan Tong card at any station.
Suggested stay: 4-star family room near the Bell Tower or inside the City Wall
3

Chengdu

2 nights
Xi'an-Chengdu bullet train (D-series), 3.5-4 hours, 2nd class CNY 263/adult, ~CNY 132/child. Family of 4: ~CNY 790. Alternative: 1-hour flight on Sichuan Airlines (~CNY 400/pp).

Highlights

  • Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding — CNY 55/adult, CNY 27/child (6-18), free under 6. Arrive at 7:30am opening for active pandas. Morning is essential — they sleep by 10am in warm weather
  • Wenshu Monastery + teahouse — CNY 5 entry, then traditional tea ceremony in the courtyard (CNY 50-80/pp). Peaceful cultural counterpoint to the panda frenzy
  • Jinli Ancient Street — free entry pedestrian street with Sichuan snacks, shadow puppets, face-changing opera performances. Evening visit best
  • Sichuan cooking class — half-day family class CNY 400-500/family. Learn to make kung pao chicken and mapo tofu with proper Sichuan peppercorns
  • People's Park — free. Watch locals play mahjong, practice tai chi, and visit the matchmaking corner. The most authentic Chengdu morning experience

Local tips

  • 💡Book panda base morning tickets online the night before — they cap entries and April holidays sell out. The 7:30am slot is non-negotiable for seeing active pandas.
  • 💡Sichuan food is genuinely spicy. Order 'wei la' (mild) for kids. Most restaurants have a non-spicy section on the menu — ask for 'bu la de' (not spicy).
  • 💡Two nights is enough for Chengdu. Pandas + one cultural activity + a cooking class = perfect pacing without rushing.
Suggested stay: 4-star family room near Chunxi Road or the Panda Base
4

Shanghai

4 nights
Chengdu-Shanghai bullet train (G-series), 8-9 hours, 2nd class CNY 950/adult, ~CNY 475/child. Family of 4: ~CNY 2,850. Long day — consider the 1.5-hour Sichuan Airlines flight (~CNY 600/pp) if the family is train-fatigued.

Highlights

  • The Bund + Pudong skyline — free. 1.5km riverside promenade, best at sunset. Huangpu River cruise CNY 120/adult for the full skyline panorama
  • Shanghai Disneyland — CNY 475/adult regular day, CNY 357/child (3-11). Full-day commitment. Book 2 weeks ahead for April holidays
  • Yu Garden + Old City bazaar — CNY 40/adult, CNY 20/child. Classical Ming Dynasty garden in the heart of the old city. Lunch at the bazaar food court
  • Oriental Pearl Tower — CNY 120/adult, CNY 60/child for 2 observation decks. 468m high, glass floor section. Or skip for the free Bund views
  • French Concession walk — free. Tree-lined avenues, art deco architecture, boutique coffee shops. The best neighbourhood for a slow family morning
  • Shanghai Museum — free with timed booking. Bronze, ceramics, calligraphy. 2 hours well spent
  • Nanjing Road pedestrian street — free. Shopping, street performers, neon signs. The Times Square of Shanghai

Local tips

  • 💡Shanghai Disneyland is optional but expensive (CNY 2,000/day for a family). If budget-conscious, skip it and spend the day on the Bund + Yu Garden + French Concession — equally memorable and essentially free.
  • 💡Shanghai is the most expensive city on this route. Hotel rates run 40-60% higher than Xi'an/Chengdu. Book early for April school holidays.
  • 💡Fly home from Shanghai Pudong (PVG) — direct flights to Sydney on China Eastern or Qantas. The open-jaw routing (in Beijing, out Shanghai) saves a full backtrack day.
Suggested stay: 4-star family suite in Pudong, Jing'an or the French Concession

Good to know

Estimated cost

The ~A$12,100 estimate covers accommodation across all 4 stops. Flights, daily spending, activities, and transport are additional — use SaveToRoam’s savings planner to track it all.

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