China is a country that offers a wealth of unique and unforgettable experiences for travelers.
With 10 days to spare, you could explore 3 or 4 cities. In this article, we'll provide you with five of the best options for a 10-day itinerary in China, including popular combinations and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
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- A Classic Itinerary
- An Itinerary with Pandas
- An Itinerary with Holy Tibet
- An Itinerary including Hong Kong
- An Itinerary including Silk Road
- Costs
- How to Travel Around China
1. A Classic 10-Day China Itinerary for Couples and Families
For first-time visitors, we recommend visiting Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai. These four cities offer the best opportunities to explore China's top attractions, rich culture, and stunning natural scenery:
- Days 1‒3: Beijing
- Days 4‒5: Xi'an
- Days 6‒8: Guilin
- Days 9‒10: Shanghai
The map of a classic 10-day China itinerary for couples and familiesIn Beijing, explore the most authentically-restored section of the Great Wall — the Mutianyu Great Wall. For a special experience, pay a night visit to the Simatai section, which is the only part open at night. If you love hiking, we can also arrange a Great Wall hike for you — Jinshanling to Simatai is best for hiking.
If you're traveling with kids and want to give them some cultural experience, we can arrange a family tai chi exercise in the morning with a master or you could learn Chinese calligraphy together.
In Xi'an, visit the Terracotta Warriors and try to make your own clay warrior with local artisans. You'll learn about how the Terracotta Warriors were made 2,000 years ago and create your own unique warrior to take home as a souvenir. Enjoy a food tour of the Muslim Quarter and bike around the old city on the ancient city wall.
In Guilin, relax on a Li River Cruise and enjoy its stunning karst landscapes, and the Li River cruise is the best way to enjoy the spectacular limestone peaks. Go to Yangshuo, the tourism-magnet town near Guilin.
There you could go bamboo rafting, cycle around the village, and meet the local people. If you're celebrating a special occasion, we could arrange a romantic riverside candlelit dinner for you.
In Shanghai, enjoy an in-depth culture discovery tour of the Bund. Step into the Bund's old buildings, where you could touch and feel their charm and learn about the history behind them.
The rest of your time in Shanghai is flexible according to your preferences, whether it's shopping malls, spa treatments, or a visit to some of Shanghai's iconic skyscrapers…
Our tours are ready to be personalized. We can craft a trip based on your interests and needs. Just contact us.
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
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Thank you
We were in Xian only one day but enjoyed a perfect trip to the Terracotta Army and an excellent lunch together with our lovely guide Susan. Thank you very much for the time together. more
Apr 2025, Marco
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Day trip to Xi’an
I came to Xi’an for two days and booked a day-tour with China Highlights. The experience was great and Ken, my guide, was friendly, informative, and great provider of historical context. The day went by fast. Highly recommended to make the most of the visit. more
Apr 2025, Sergio A
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Two-week trip to China
Our guide in Xi’an, Mervyn, was very friendly and welcoming. She talked with us throughout the visit to make sure the trip was everything we wanted it to be, and suggested activities based on our interests. Mervyn was an excellent guide for the Terra cotta warrior museum, and we appreciated the opportunity to meet and share lunch with a local family. Mervyn went above and beyond the planned itinerary to add to the overall enjoyment of our visit. We also appreciated Mervyn’s extra efforts after we departed to mail a memento accidentally left behind. more
Apr 2025, SusanN
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2. A 10-Day China Itinerary with Pandas
If pandas are a must-see for you, and you want to get the most out of your 10-day first China trip, you should check out this itinerary:
- Days 1‒3: Beijing
- Days 4‒5: Xi'an
- Days 6‒7: Chengdu
- Days 8‒9: Guilin
- Day 10: Shanghai
The map of a 10-day China itinerary with pandasThis itinerary is more varied and adds a trip to Chengdu to see pandas.
We can arrange a Panda Keeper Program to let you observe them closer. In the program, you will clean the glass of their enclosures, see them being fed, and make their favorite cakes.
If you want to experience the laid-back lifestyle of Chengdu, go to People's Park, where you can relax in a teahouse, see local people dancing and singing, and explore its interesting "marriage market".
If you are interested in this itinerary, check out our 12-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Chengdu–Guilin/Yangshuo–Shanghai Tour.
3. A 10-Day China Itinerary with Holy Tibet
If you have a passion to see Tibet on your first trip to China, then this itinerary is recommended for you. This itinerary covers China's top cities (Beijing and Shanghai) and the heart of Tibet — Lhasa:
- Days 1‒3: Beijing
- Days 4‒8: Lhasa
- Day 9‒10: Shanghai
In this itinerary, besides visiting the top famous cities, you would go to Tibet. The four days in Tibet will allow you to visit its essential highlights.
There, you could visit the famous Potala Palace, the emblem of Tibet. Go to Barkhor Street, where you can watch pilgrims doing their prostrating obeisances. And appreciate a different way of life in a Tibetan folk house.
If you want to explore more unique places in Tibet, you may need 2 or 3 weeks. See our 2-Week China Itineraries for Couples and Families and How to Plan a 3-Week Itinerary in China (Best 3 Options & Costs).
4. 10 Days in China, including Hong Kong, for Families
If you want a more relaxed pace of travel, you could consider this combination. This itinerary is especially suitable for families with kids:
- Days 1‒4: Beijing
- Days 5‒8: Guilin
- Days 9‒10: Hong Kong
The map of a 10-day China itinerary including Hong Kong, for familiesAll these three destinations are kid-friendly. It not only covers the cultural experience like visiting China's top attractions — the Forbidden City and the Great Wall in Beijing, but the itinerary also offers more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors with children in Guilin.
Hong Kong, an international transit hub, besides having many kid-friendly attractions, can also facilitate greater flight choices.
5. 10 Days on the Silk Road — Explore West China
If you have been to first-tier cities like Beijing and Shanghai and want an off-the-beaten-track route this time, you could consider exploring the Silk Road:
- Days 1‒2: Lanzhou
- Day 3: Xiahe
- Days 4‒5: Zhangye
- Day 6: Dunhuang
- Days 7‒10: Xinjiang (Turpan & Urumqi)
In this itinerary, you will explore deeper into West China to see its ancient caves, and various landscapes, and learn about its minority culture.
In Lanzhou, you could visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes, which can only be accessed by boat. In Xiahe, the less-visited destination along the Silk Road, you could enjoy the stunning grassland view. In Zhangye, you would enjoy its unique danxia ('red-cloud') landforms.
In Dunhuang, you could see a section of the Great Wall built in the Han Dynasty era (206 BC – 220 AD), which is as old as today's extant Great Wall gets, and visit the most famous Mogao Caves.
For something a bit special, we could arrange a practical experience for gaining greater insight into the celebrated Buddhist cave art: recreating a Mogao mural on a mud slab with your own hands.
In Xinjiang, you could see the pure mountain views and learn about Uyghur culture and the architectural features of West China by visiting its old towns and bazaars.
Costs for 10 Days in China
For a private tour in China, the average cost per day is about US$220–350 per person, including flights/trains within China, 4- or 5-star hotels, lunches, attractions, guides, and private transport.
Thus, a 10-day tour for two people would cost about US$4,500–7,000. A tour for a family of four may cost US$8,000–10,000 (kids under 10 get 30–50% off). These prices do not include international flights.
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Excelente
Alejandria. Me encantó y me encanta compartir esta experiencia por Beijing. Tu trabaja ha sido excelente y todos estamos muy contentos de haber tenido y tenerte como guía. Ha sido un placer conocerte y te felicito por tu desempe?o del mismo. Un fuerte abrazo , muchos logros te deseo en lo que te propongas Beatriz (Uruguay) more
May 2025, Beatriz U
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Amazing visit of the capital city of China
My wife and I spent a wonderful time in Beijing with our local tour guide Tom. We saw many beautiful landscapes including the Great Wall, experienced the local cuisine at its best, and walked to vibrant Hutongs during rush hour. It was a beautiful experience that we will never forget. As for our guide, Tom, it was a pleasure to meet him: such an intelligent and inspiring person who not only did prepare excellent information on the landmarks we saw, but also introduced us into the fascinating Chinese culture. He always answered exhaustively to our questions, adapted our itinerary to the situation (Tomb Sweeping Holiday) and gave us good tips on how to spend our free time after the guided tours. We will always recommend Tom as a guide and China Highlights as a trustworthy company for taking a tour around Beijing. more
Apr 2025, Christian
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Beijing tour with Tom
Tom was an excellent guide for our days in Beijing, from helping us to navigate the busy city, and giving us information on The Forbidden City and Temples. Our day at The Great Wall was so enjoyable and finished off with a lovely meal. Tom also gave us great suggestions for our free day in Beijing, including great restaurant choices, thank you Tom more
Apr 2025, Victoria
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How to Travel Around China
Air travel and high-speed rail are the main modes of travel and also the most convenient options for intercity connections. Almost every major city is connected by high-speed rail and an airport.
When booking with us, let us know your travel preferences, and we will arrange the best travel routes for you, seamlessly booking the flight/train tickets you need.
Tour China with Us
Whether you're interested in history, culture, or natural beauty, there's something for everyone in China. Let's create your dream trip! All our tours can be customized. Just contact us.
- 11-Day Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, and Shanghai — the TOP itinerary for first-timers
- 12-Day Panda Keeper and Classic Wonders — the above plus pandas
- 8-Day Beijing–Xi'an–Shanghai Highlights Tour — the classic Golden Triangle itinerary