Plan your perfect China trip with these optimized itineraries.
## Best Time to Visit
| Season | Months | Pros | Cons |
|——–|——–|——|——|
| Spring | Mar-May | Pleasant weather | Crowded |
| Fall | Sep-Nov | Best weather | Crowded |
| Summer | Jun-Aug | Long days | Hot humid |
| Winter | Dec-Feb | Fewer tourists | Cold |
## 7-Day Express Route
**Beijing (3 days)**: Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven
**Xi an (2 days)**: Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter
**Shanghai (2 days)**: The Bund, Yu Garden, Nanjing Road
**Budget**: 8,500-12,000 RMB
## 14-Day Classic Route
**Beijing (4 days)**: Imperial history
**Xi an (2 days)**: Ancient civilization
**Guilin (2 days)**: Li River, Yangshuo
**Chengdu (3 days)**: Pandas, Sichuan cuisine
**Shanghai (3 days)**: Modern city
**Budget**: 17,000-24,500 RMB
## 21-Day Comprehensive
Add: Datong (grottoes), Luoyang (grottoes), Longji (rice terraces), Chongqing, Hangzhou
**Budget**: 27,000-38,000 RMB
## 30-Day Ultimate
Add: Zhangjiajie (Avatar mountains), Lijiang (ancient town), Tibet (Lhasa)
**Budget**: 40,500-57,000 RMB
## Transportation
### High-Speed Rail
| Route | Duration | Price |
|——-|———-|——-|
| Beijing-Shanghai | 4.5h | 550 RMB |
| Beijing-Xi an | 4h | 515 RMB |
| Shanghai-Guilin | 9h | 520 RMB |
### Domestic Flights
– Beijing-Xi an: 2h, 600-1,200 RMB
– Xi an-Guilin: 2h, 700-1,400 RMB
## Money Saving Tips
– Book trains 30 days ahead
– Use Trip.com for English
– Eat at local restaurants
– Stay mid-range hotels
– Travel off-season
## Essential Apps
– WeChat: Messaging and payment
– Alipay: Payment
– Didi: Ride-hailing
– Baidu Maps: Navigation
– Trip.com: Booking
Start with 7-14 day routes for first visit, extend for return trips.