Feedback on 1-month China itinerary

Hello everyone, Like Cedric13600, I’ve booked a flight ticket for 30 days / 29 nights in September 2026, from Beijing to Shanghai. We’re a couple in our sixties who love independent road trips. I’d like to draw inspiration from the following private itinerary suggested by a travel agency:

Day 1: Arrival in Beijing Day 2 to 4: Beijing Day 5: Datong Day 6 & 7: Pingyao Day 8 to 10: Xi'an Day 11: Luoyang Day 12: Dengfeng flight Day 13 & 14: Chongqing flight Day 15 & 16: Lijiang Day 17: Dali Day 18: Kunming Day 19: Jianshui Day 20 & 21: Yuanyang Day 22: Travel via Guilin Day 23 & 24: Yangshuo Day 25: Guilin Day 26 & 27: Zhangjiajie flight Day 28 & 29: Shanghai Day 30: Departure from Shanghai

But to do this itinerary independently: 1. This schedule seems very ambitious to me—what do you think? 2. If it’s too packed, what would you remove as a priority? Thanks so much in advance for your help.

Hi there,

26 days for 17 stops? To me, that’s way too much, but everyone travels how they like. How do you plan to get from Yuanyang to Guilin in a single day? Didi + bus + train + train? (I’m genuinely asking—I’m curious!) You’ll spend half the trip in transit and won’t actually see much. I’d cut half the stops. You’ll come back anyway, so make the most of each trip.

Hi Vilabel, Thanks for your clear feedback—it matches how I feel. So my question is: what would you cut first? Thanks in advance.

I’ve been to China for work before, but at my age, I’m not sure I’ll go back again... To answer your question about Yuanyang to Guilin, the travel agency lists: Day 21 Yuanyang to Kunming by private car (5h), Day 22 Kunming to Guilin by high-speed train (4.5h)

What would you remove as a priority?

If it were up to me, I’d choose either the part up to Dengfeng + Shanghai, or the section starting in Lijiang while cutting Zhangjiajie—it’s too out of the way.

From Yuanyang to Guilin, the travel agency says: Day 21 Yuanyang to Kunming by private car (5h), Day 22 Kunming to Guilin by high-speed train (4.5h)

That setup only works with an agency—you won’t find a Didi or taxi willing to do a 5-hour drive. Since you mentioned wanting to travel independently, I assumed you’d take public transport. And your marathon itinerary won’t hold up with public transport either.

Hi, I'm now considering flying directly from Xi'an to Lijiang, skipping Luoyang, Dengfeng, and Chongqing... To get from Yuanyang to Kunming, it also seems possible to take the train from Honghe... But I'm still struggling to give up on Zhangjiajie!

If I were you, I’d skip the Yunnan part and redistribute the "saved" days across the rest of the trip without adding anything. Yunnan and Sichuan really deserve their own separate trip.

A huge thanks for your advice. I’ve cut some stops but kept Yunnan (at my age, not sure I’ll be back):

Day 1: arrival in Beijing 3 days: Beijing 2 days: Xi'an flight 2 days: Lijiang 3 days: Tiger Leaping Gorge & Shangri-La 2 days: Shaxi & Dali 2 days: Kunming 3 days: Jianshui & Yuanyang 1 day: travel & Guilin 5 days: Yangshuo 1 day: Guilin & travel 2 days: Zhangjiajie Overnight train or flight 2 days: Shanghai Day 30: departure from Shanghai

Does this seem more doable? Do the lengths of each stop feel balanced to you?

This seems doable, but you're going to be really tired. For the Yuanyang to Guilin route, you'll need to start early. Not sure if there are many trains from Kunming to Guilin.

I see you’ve removed Pingyao. That’s a shame, but choices have to be made. Like others, I agree that Zhangjiajie seems problematic because the distances are long and you’re targeting very different places—maybe too much.

Personally, I did a route through northern China: Beijing, Pingyao, Xi'an, Xiahe, Zhangye, Xining, and Lanzhou. Then I took the Silk Road before catching the train to Lhasa, followed by a flight to Chengdu. I spent 2–3 weeks in Sichuan: Leshan, Ya'an, Kangding, Garzê (Ganzi), Yarchen Gar, Litang, then back to Chengdu for a flight to Guilin. From there, I visited Longsheng Rice Terraces, Xingping, and Yangshuo (I rented a scooter) before heading back to France.

It seems like you need to refine your itinerary because you might run into surprises with transportation. It’ll take longer than you think.

Good luck and safe travels!

Pingyao

Guilin



Longsheng rice terraces





Yangshuo:

Thanks a bunch, Sab! I’ll get back to my dear studies now...