We spent 4 weeks exploring China and had an incredible time, on this trip we got off the beaten path and explored some lesser visited but stunning locations. It is one of the best trips we have ever done!
This is the perfect 4-week China itinerary for those who are looking to delve deeper into China’s incredible landscapes and traditional towns. Couples, solo travel and families can follow this itinerary, it manages to cover a lot of area but at a pace that can be slowed down or sped up.
Here we avoid the usual Beijing – Xi’An – Shanghai trap and explore the culture of China, visiting some of the lesser (but very easy to visit) locations. 2026 is the perfect time to do this with the new free 30 day visas available for many countries!
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Check out our China series on You Tube to see more of our adventures and recommendations.
Why This 4-Week China Itinerary Works So Well
This 4 week China Itinerary works so well because it flows really nicely! Looking at a map you will see that there is barely any backtracking and it is easy to move between locations.
You get a great mix of both city and rural landscapes as well as an interesting combination of cultural and natural experiences.
If you need to you can also cut it down to 2 or 3 weeks by trimming up the number of days in locations and moving more quickly.
Quick Overview – 4 Weeks in China at a Glance
China Itinerary Day-by-Day Snapshot Table
| Days | Destination |
|---|---|
| 1 | Guangzhou |
| 2 | Xingping |
| 3–7 | Yangshuo |
| 8 | Guilin |
| 9 | Fenghuang (Phoneix) Ancient Town |
| 10 | Furong Ancient Town |
| 11–14 | Zhangjiajie National Park |
| 15 | Changsha (Transit) |
| 16–19 | Lijiang |
| 20 | Tiger Leaping Gorge & Shangri-La Day Trip |
| 21-24 | Dali |
| 25 | Kunming |
| 26–30 | Shanghai |
Week 1 – Southern China & Karst Landscapes
Week one starts out in one of the prettiest places in China! We will explore the stunning karst mountains and beautiful lush Li and Yulong Rivers.
Day 1: Guangzhou (Arrival City)
Flying Cathay Pacific arriving late into Guangzhou and straight to this Hampton by Hilton. The hotel was clean, comfortable and perfectly located to the train station. Buffet breakfast was included and excellent with so much variety as well as being fresh and very clean. Our room included a free shuttle to the South Guangzhou station which was ready for us when we checked out.
South Guangzhou Railway station is big, clean and organised. We booked everything on Trip.com all our trains, planes and hotels. It’s the absolute best way to book for China. They connect to your passport and you just scan your passport as your ticket. The trip order will have your gate number, train number, carriage and seat number for reference when showing staff.
If you arrive in Guangzhou early in the day you can spend it checking out the excellent foodie scene. The specialty here is dumplings so make sure to try some!
Day 2: Xingping
The train to Yangshuo Train Station is actually located in Xingping so we will spend a day here before moving on. There’s lots to see, beautiful hikes, viewpoints, river cruises and traditional cormorant fishermen. Check out our detailed blog on what to do in Xingping to plan your day here.
Day 3-7: Best Things to Do in Yangshuo
We adored our time in Yangshuo, this is one of our favourite places in China! Falling in love with the cute countryside vibe, stunning rivers and majestic mountains was easy. We have allocated more time here to really soak it up. Spend one day in the main Yangshuo town then the other 3 in the countryside. Stay at a hotel with mountain views and spend your days riding an e scooter along the river with the locals! Check out what you need to do here in our dedicated Yangshuo blog so you don’t miss out on anything!
Guilin vs Yangshuo – Where Should You Stay?
We stayed in Guilin for one night before travelling from Guilin – Fenghuang (Phoenix) Ancient Town. While Guilin is the better known city and there are nice things here to see, I would priortise my time in Yangshuo as it is a stunning natural area and being in the countryside there was one of my favourite places in China. Check out our Yanshuo blog to see where to stay, what to do and why we fell in love with Yangshuo!
How to Get There from Guangzhou
Taking the train from Guangzhou to Yangshuo is incredibly easy, fast and the best way to travel between the 2 cities in China. The trains are clean, comfortable and affordable. They run very much on time, if not a few minutes early so make sure to be on board ready!
Week 2 – National Parks & Central China
This is one of the most awe inspiring weeks in the itinerary, taking you to some incredibly special places. We love
Day 8 Guilin
Guilin has a big reputation but for us it was a nice transit stop. You can see the main sights in the city in a day easily. We stayed at the Eeril Hotel which was awesome, very well located and extremely comfortable.
Day 9 Fenghuang (Phoenix) Ancient Town
Fenghuang (Phoenix) Ancient Town was such a surprise for us, we loved walking along the river, discovering all the bridges and eating to our hearts content. A spending the night here on the river is a must, check out our blog for our hotel which had the most stunning river view!
Day 10 Furong
Furong Town is so cute, it is really tiny and you can see it in a couple of hours or spend the night and experience it light up in the evening. Our tip would be to put your luggage in storage at one of the homestays (just write to them before arriving to arrange) check out the town and spend the first part of the evening here watching the shows. Head off afterwards on the train and arrive ready in Zhangjiajie for the next day! (we actually stayed the night but really didn’t need to. We chose to pay a taxi driver to drive us to Wulingyuan where we stayed for the Zhangjiajie National Park – all info in our Zhangjiajie National Park blog which contains details of everything we wished we knew before we went.)
Days 11–14: Zhangjiajie National Park
This was one of the highlights of our time in China, it was so much better than we expected. You will be amazed by the incredible mountains and the feat of engineering that has allowed us all to visit them! I loved seeing them from the top and the bottom, read about how best to plan for your Zhangjiajie trip at our blog which details everything from start to finish.
How Many Days in Zhangjiajie?
The ticket you purchase for the Zhangjiajie National Park will be for 4 days standard, you can’t choose less or more that is how it comes. You can definitely do the park in 2 days following our blog as a guide to plan your time. Many people like to keep a third day spare to revisit your favourite places and in case of a rainy day you can return when hopefully the weather clears. If you are pushed for time you can definitely do it in 2 days-alternatively you can spend up to 4 here to soak it up. We had three perfectly sunny days and three was enough for me. I would keep one day for Tianmen Mountain spare as this is in a different town and you will need a day to see it as well if you choose to go there.
Best Viewpoints & Avatar Mountains
My favourite parts of Zhangjiajie National Park is the Golden Whip Stream walk, the Avatar Mountains and Bailong Elevator. Another totally underrated location is Huangshi Village which is often quieter especially in the morning.
Where to Stay (Wulingyuan vs City)
For the national park I would choose to stay in Wulingyuan which is actually 40 minutes from Zhangjiajie City. You can stay a 2 minute walk from the best entry which is what we did, making the time in the park so much easier.
To visit Tianmen Mountain I would stay here in Zhangjiajie, it is a minutes walk from the entry to the chairlift.
Day 15: Changsha (Transit Stop Worth It?)
Changsha makes a great transit stop to fly to Lijiang as it offers a strategic location, regular flights and is a nice city to spend a day in. We stayed at the best Changsha airport hotel ready for our early morning flight and highly recommend it.
Day 15 (Alternative) Fly Zhangjiajie to Chengdu
Flying domestically in China is quite affordable and often a great way to save time between cities, allowing you to fit more in. If you are keen to see Chengdu and the cutest pandas ever (why wouldn’t you?) then fly to Chengdu straight from Zhangjiajie.
Spend the day in Chengdu, see the panda research centre, eat some amazing spicy sischan food and soak up the pretty city! Our Chengdu itinerary has everything you need to see in it so you can plan your time. You can even bypass the night in Guilin, saving a day to add to Chengdu to slow it down a little! (that is what I would recommend)
Week 3 – Yunnan Province (China’s Cultural Heartland)
This is where our itinerary really gets exciting. Take a walk off the beaten path and explore the incredible Yunnan province of China. This region is now firmly one of my favourite places, I fell for its rural snowcapped landscapes, magical towns and laid back vibes. We even head up to the southern border of Tibet and get a taste of the culture that has us keen to return and delve in deeper.
Days 16–19: Lijiang Old Town
My favourite town in the Yunnan! Lijiang is beautiful and somewhere I could have stayed much longer. It also makes a great hub to see other towns from.
Old Town vs Shuhe
Both the Lijiang Old Town and Shuhe are beautiful but we decided to stay in Lijiang Old Town. It is a larger area with more on offer and Shuhe is so easy to get to from here.
Best Day Trips from Lijiang
There are loads of day trips you can do from Lijiang some of the must dos are:
Snow Jade Dragon Mountain – this is the best tour, you will get to customise it for your preference of activity and getting there is easy!
Hike TIger Leaping Gorge – this is such a popular activity! If you are keen to do it with a group, this is the best tour.
Combined Shangri-La & Tiger Leaping Gorge – read about our day trip and book it for yourself. It was the perfect way to see both. This is the day trip we would do if we went back!
Tiger leaping gorge + White water terraces + Haba viewpoint shuttle – an alternative to the tiger leaping gorge tour and instead of Shangri-La visit the water terraces that look incredible!
The Romantic Show of Lijiang – the shows in China are pretty amazing, this one is really well liked.
All the ancient towns (Shuhe, Baisha, Shaxi) – grab a Didi and head to these towns to soak up the atmosphere.
Lijiang Cooking Class & Market Visit – guided by a Naxi local you will learn about and make local dishes.
Lijiang Lashihai Tea Horse Road one-day tour – go horseback riding and visit a lake
Day 20: Tiger Leaping Gorge Day Trip
A day trip combining Tiger Leaping Gorge and Shangri-La is the perfect way to experience both in a convenient time and format. The trip is totally planned out and you will leave from and return to Lijiang.
Is Tiger Leaping Gorge Worth It?
Yes! Tiger Leaping Gorge was awesome, it was such a rush to see how much water is pumping down the river. Honestly so much better than I was expecting.
Hiking vs Viewpoints
On this day trip you will visit the main viewpoint area which is great. On the hike you will see it from many more angles as well as the surrounding landscapes. I have heard it is a great hike, if a little challenging. There is a great day trip that takes you on the hike, might be helpful as I have read of a few people taking the wrong route.
How to Visit Without a Tour
You can catch a bus or a Didi to the start of the Tiger Leaping Gorge Hike point, it is a pretty full on hike. Take water and snacks, although being China you will definitely find little stalls to purchasing things from along the way (at a higher cost of course). There are some stunning accommodations along the hike, the one I want to stay at is Halfway Guesthouse or my top picks if this is booked out are Judys or Half Day. Always check through the room options as some of them have stunning views!
Day 20 (Alternative) Shangri-La (Tibetan Culture Lite)
Visiting Shangri-La is a must in my opinion. If you want to actually visit and spend a night here then you can catch the train on your own or alternatively do the day trip above and choose to just stay in Shangri-La (let them know you wont be heading back with them though!).
Shangri-La is a beautiful town with a more rustic, Tibetan vibe. I really enjoyed the change in atmosphere, clothing and buildings. The cuisine was different and ultimately it was a great way to shake up the trip and experience something new again….just when China starts to feel like home. Check out this hotel to stay overnight as it is very central to town and double check the train times as they were leaving starting from 12pm when we were there. You can also grab a Didi or a taxi back to your next location but it could be costly.
Days 21–24: Dali (Lakes & Bai Culture)
Another very popular place is Dali and we totally understand why. There is a lot to see here, Erhai Lake is massive and a beautiful place to stroll while taking in the vibes. We walked around it, grabbed a coffee while people watching and in general just really relaxed and enjoyed it.
There are lots of little towns to visit around the lake as well, we spent a day on an e-scooter driving between them and loved every minute. Each town is known for a particular craft or trade such as leather work, tie dye or art. It is so interesting watching and learning about this. Dali itself has temples, cute streets and lots of shopping on offer!
Week 4 – Shanghai & Modern China
In week 4 you will move back in to the big cities and let me tell you that after a few weeks in rural China it really will feel big! Kunming is really the gateway and capital of the Yunnan and so worth a day. Shanghai is massive and full of things to do and see!
Day 25: Kunming (Yunnan’s Gateway)
We weren’t expecting much from Kunming but ended up loving it! It was the perfect place to spend a day before flying to Shanghai. In town there is a lot to see, from stunning gardens, temples, flower market and old towns. A day trip to the famous Stone Forest and Jiuxiang Cave is super popular, and you have to try the local duck speciality! It is the Peking Duck of the South. We wrote our must do in Kunming travel guide tips so you can see what we fit into one day.
Days 26–30: Shanghai
Shanghai is an incredible city, bursting with things to see and do. From tiny restaurants, local villages, water towns, dazzling night lights along the river and modern skyscrapers there is everything from history, shopping and modern attractions to keep you entertained.
How Many Days in Shanghai?
While you could spend a week here easily and not be bored, 4 days will give you a full Shanghai experience with a day trip to visit other towns.
Best Day Trips (Suzhou, Hangzhou)
There are loads of day trips you can do from Shanghai, we visited Suzhou and Qingpu. We will come back to visit Hangzhou and Zhujiajiao, Wuzhen Water Town, Tongli Water Town. It is really easy to visit towns close by, the train systems run regularly, you do have to return to Shanghai as getting from one to the other is a little time consuming, so I would plan to spend half a day at one and then return to Shanghai and do another the following day etc.
Best midrange stay in Shanghai
Shanghai has a huge array of options when it comes to accommodation. I have detailed this in our Shanghai itinerary page but to give one choice it would be where we stayed in Shanghai-the only caveat is that it is a little out of the centre. It was very easy to reach by train, only about 15 minutes and we were in the centre. Clean, comfortable and a great breakfast provided you can’t go wrong! There are some excellent options in the centre for a higher price point (although booking ahead, as early as possible, will bring this down immensely)
Optional Add-On: Chongqing – Is the Cyberpunk City Of China Worth It?
We visited Chongqing on a separate trip and enjoyed our time there. It is a huge city (often reffered to as 8D!) with lots of skyscrapers but also old towns nearby and the really incredible Hongya Cave. If you are looking for a futuristic city escape then this is the perfect add on for you. Honestly if you are happy with Shanghai as your ‘big’ city then it’s fine to leave for another trip. This is definitely a choose your own adventure moment but it is easy to add on especially if you are doing the Chengdu add on I offer earlier in the itinerary as they are pretty close and a train could take you from Zhangjiajie to Chongqing then to Chengdu.
Transportation Breakdown for This Route
You will be using lots of different transport during this 4-week China itinerary route but it is actually pretty easy once you get used to it. There are a couple of domestic flights which will really help to get across the country longer distance (saving yourself a 14 hour train ride) but otherwise most of it is trains and Didis. We booked all our flights and trains on Trip (change at the very top tab to look at flights/trains/ hotels and even buses) as it is the national booking system for China and everything was linked to our passport making the actual checking in and taking the transport, a very easy and simple affair. Didis are ordered from the Didi China app or you can also access it through AliPay.
Trains vs Flights – What to Choose
Choose a flight where it saves you long hours-for example a train from Zhangjiajie to Chengdu is 14 hours or you can fly there in 1.5 hours. Same for Changsha to Lijiang etc.
Take a train between towns where they are around 5 hours or under. The trains are excellent and my personally prefered way to travel.
Estimated Travel Times Between Stops
Using both of these transport options you shouldn’t be more than a few hours travel time between locations. We have tried to minimise the down time in getting around so that we can fit in more actual exploring time!
Budget – How Much Does 4 Weeks in China Cost?
During our 4 weeks in China we spent approximately $70 USD per day as a midrange travel couple. Breaking it up we spent about:
- $35 USD accommodation
- $17 USD food
- $7 USD attractions entry fees
- $7 USD transport
Practical Tips for This 4-Week China Itinerary
These are the most important tips that you need for your trip to China, check out our extensive list of travel tips for China for more details.
Visas & Entry Rules (2026)
Visa information can fluctuate and changes are possible, make sure to keep yourself up to date with your countries advisory.
Currently, as of early 2026, China has made some changes to their visa system recently and now it is possible for many countries to visit visa free! Australians can visit for up to 30 days for the purpose of tourism, family, business and transit. Other countries that are included in this can be found at their website. Check out the details there to confirm your eligibility. This is how we visited on our recent trip.
As of early 2026 USA citizens are eligible for a 10-day stay if transiting through China to a third country or region. (NOTE: not a USA-China-USA trip). Must have a valid passport, a confirmed connecting ticket to a third country, and complete the landing card. Check out the details at their website to stay up to date.
Internet, SIM Cards & VPNs
We found internet access quite easy to naviagte with the use of an Esim and a VPN. This is the ESim we used and it worked perfectly. You will need a VPN – we always use Surf Shark VPN which worked perfectly in China.
We didn’t get a Chinese sim card and really didn’t need one, we found a work around usually through AliPay which has all the essential apps built in like food delivery and coffee ordering!
Language & Apps You Need
We used Google Translate which worked perfectly. Try to use it to teach you the basics as locals really appreciate your effort!
Is This the Best 4-Week China Itinerary for First-Timers?
This is an awesome 4-week China itinerary for your first time visit. It gives you a taste of everything from the cities to the country. If it is your first time in China make sure to check out our other China blogs, particularly the travel tips as they will help you be ready. Follow this itinerary exactly for your first time or if you are returning to China you could play around and modify it to suit your schedule. I have also written up a condensed 2-week China itinerary version if you are shorter on time. Lots of people often compare China vs Japan when looking at travelling to Asia, our Japan pages may help to make your decision.
Core Itinerary FAQs
- Is 4 weeks enough time to travel China – Yes, 4 weeks in China can give you enough time to move between different areas of China which will showcase the varied landscapes, different foods and cultural expereinces.
- What is the best 4 week China itinerary for first-time visitors? This itinerary really gives you a taste of the various sides of China. You will experience the big cities and the peaceful rural areas. It really is diverse and gives the opportunity to appreciate the culture of China.
- Is China easy to travel independently for foreigners? Yes absolutely! Using some apps that are essential will help and we always use Surf Shark VPN which worked perfectly in China. Make sure to download AliPay, WeChat, AMaps, Didi China, Google Translate and Trip! They are the apps that got us around independently.
- How much does 4 weeks in China cost? On average we spent about $70 USD (together) which would be approx $2000 USD over 4 weeks.
- What is the best month to do a 4-week China itinerary? November in China is our perfect time of year. The weather is a little chilly but with blue sunny skies!
- Is this China itinerary suitable for couples? Absolutely! We travelled this itinerary together and loved every minute.
- Is Zhangjiajie worth visiting on a China itinerary? Yes! Zhangjiajie is amazing and so worth visiting. Honestly I didn’t want to go and Mike convinced me we should-he was so right!
- Is Tiger Leaping Gorge worth it as a day trip? Absolutely, it is better than it sounds. The gorge is huge and doing a day trip there makes it so much easier than trying to visit on your own…unless you are hiking.
- How many days should you spend in Yangshuo? Yangshuo is amazing, 3 days there is enough but I would happily spend 5 days just soaking up the countryside.
- Do you need a guide to travel Yunnan Province? No you don’t need a guide to travel in the Yunnan province, the area is lovely and quite easy to manoeuvre. There are lots of guided options available if you are concerned, reach out and I can send out picks.
- Is Shangri-La safe for tourists? We didn’t feel concerned at all being in Shangri-La. The town itself had a lot of tourists in it and in general China felt very safe to travel in.
Planning Your China Trip Further?
This 4-week China itinerary is designed for travellers who want more than a highlights reel — combining iconic landscapes, cultural depth, and destinations that still feel genuinely local. With minimal backtracking and a balance of cities, nature, and slow travel, it’s one of the most rewarding ways to experience China for the first time.
If you’re still fine-tuning your plans, these guides will help you go deeper:
- Short on time? → 2-Week China Itinerary for First-Time Visitors
- Comparing destinations? → China vs Japan: Which Is Better for Your Travel Style?
- Logistics & apps? → Essential Apps & Travel Tips for China
