13 Days in China: Best 4 Itinerary Ideas

13 days are enough for a colorful China trip. The pace of your trip depends on your interests and the depth of your experiences. You can explore deeper if visiting 4-5 cities, or choose fewer or more cities to visit. We have sorted out 4 different 13-day itineraries in China for you: the classic must-see route, the leisurely family route, the natural scenery route, and the ancient capital culture route. It will help you save a lot of time and easily find the travel plan that suits you best.

Itinerary 1: Classic Route for First-Timers

Day	Highlights	Overnight
1-4	The Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Hutongs	Beijing
5	Terracotta Warriors, Muslim Quarter	Xi'an
6-7	Li River Cruise, Reed Flute Cave	Guilin
8-11	Three Gorges Dam, Shibaozhai, Shennv Stream	Yangtze River Cruise
12-13	The Bund, Yu Garden, Shanghai Museum	Shanghai

This classic 13-day itinerary of China is suitable for first-time visitors, covering China's representative historical, cultural, and natural sites, including Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin, the Yangtze River, and Shanghai.

As the capital of China, Beijing is a must-visit destination for any trip to China and an indispensable starting point to know the country. The Forbidden City near Tiananmen Square allows you to experience the grandeur of the royal political center, and you can enjoy the leisure of a resort in the Summer Palace. Then, spend one day visiting the Great Wall, this magnificent structure spanning almost 15 municipalities, provinces, and autonomous regions in northern China, which is a precious cultural heritage of China. In Beijing, we will take you to Mutianyu Great Wall, where you can take the cable car to save effort and avoid crowds. If you want to learn about Beijing's traditional architecture and the local people's lives, taking a rickshaw through the alleys in the Hutong is a good way.

Xi'an is a famous tourist city and the capital of the 13 dynasties in China. By visiting many of its preserved historical sites, you can witness the changes in Chinese history and culture, like the "Eighth Wonder of the World" Terracotta Warriors. Don't forget to savor the delicious food of Xi'an, such as Roujiamo (meat sandwiches) and biangbiang noodles.

Guilin is a model of Chinese landscape scenery. You'll see world-class mountains and water, as well as typical karst landforms. Taking a Li River cruise to Yangshuo is the most classic and relaxing way, with a journey of approximately 3.5 to 4.5 hours. You can enjoy a leisurely boat ride, admiring the unique scenery of karst peaks, dense bamboo forests, and rice fields.

Then you'll be taking a cruise along the Yangtze River, China's mother river. Boarding the ship in Chongqing, you can visit the world's largest hydroelectric power station, the Three Gorges Dam.

The trip ends in Shanghai, a modern international city with frequent flights that is an ideal departure point. The foreign-style buildings on the Bund, the classical gardens of Yu Garden, and the leisure streets of the French Concession showcase the unique charm of the blending of Eastern and Western cultures.

Itinerary 2: Family Trip to China

Day	Highlights	Overnight
1-4	Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven, Chinese Calligraphy Experience	Beijing
5-6	Terracotta Warriors, Local Family Visit & Cooking, Ancient City Wall, Muslim Quarter	Xi'an
7-9	Li River Cruise, Reed Flute Cave, Rural Life Experience	Guilin
10-13	Victoria Peak with Cable Car, Harbor Light Cruise, Wong Tai Sin Temple	Hong Kong

This route takes into account the children's physical strength and interests, allowing them to experience the culture in a relaxed manner and at a gentle pace. It also enables parents to relax and enjoy the trip, making it an ideal choice for families with children.

In Beijing, taking a rickshaw to explore the hutongs is a relaxing and classic way. Children can try Beijing street snacks, like Tanghulu (Candied Hawthorn Skewers), and also experience calligraphy and enjoy the fun of traditional Chinese culture. For visiting the Great Wall, it is recommended to take the cable car up and down, which saves energy and makes it convenient for children to take a moderate walk. To get a comfortable experience, we suggest wearing anti-slip shoes as some steps are quite steep. If you're interested in local life, try Tai Chi together with the whole family in the park.

The itinerary in Xi'an focuses on handicrafts and cuisine. After visiting the Terracotta Warriors, we will arrange for you to make mini terracotta figures, allowing children to experience the joy of creation. The finished products can also be taken home as souvenirs. Not only tasting the local specialties, if interested, you can also participate in a cooking class to learn how to make dumplings or noodles.

The trip to Guilin offers an opportunity for children to get close to nature and enjoy rural leisure. Odynovo can arrange a gentle Li River cruise for your whole family to relax. Different from the hustle and bustle of Beijing and Xi'an, in Yangshuo, you can experience leisurely activities such as taking a bamboo raft, doing farm work, and learning to make simple farm dishes with your children.

After passing through the simplicity and bustle of inland cities, Hong Kong brings the vitality of blending Chinese and Western cultures. When strolling along Victoria Harbor with children at night, you can appreciate the splendid light show and enjoy simple happiness. The interesting fortune-telling at the Wong Tai Sin Temple adds cultural experience to your visit. Or you can go to Hong Kong Disneyland Park to enjoy revelry. Want to get more options? Feel free to contact us, we'll offer you more 13-day itineraries in China based on professional advice and create a comfortable trip.

Itinerary 3: Explore Nature in China

Day	Highlights	Overnight
1-3	Victoria Peak Tram, Hong Kong Central, Tsim Sha Tsui, Extension tour to Macau	Hong Kong
4-5	Stone Forest, Jingxing Bird and Flower Market	Kunming
6	Cycling around Erhai Lake, Xizhou Ancient Town	Dali
7-8	Old Town of Lijiang, Naxi Villages, and Family Visit	Lijiang
9-11	Tiger Leaping Gorge, Pudacuo National Park, Gedan Songzanlin Monastery with Lama Chat	Shangri-La
12-13	Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, Wenshu Temple with Tea Tasting	Chengdu

For those who prefer nature views, this route can't be missed. It will take you to appreciate China's natural landscapes, including oceans, plateaus, snow-capped mountains, canyons, and forests. You will start from a bustling international city and then enter the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and western Sichuan.

Starting from Hong Kong and Macau, where you'll find great viewpoints for city and sea views, such as viewing Victoria Harbor from the Peak, taking the Star Ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui, or visiting the Macau Tower to overlook the distant scenery.

Arriving in Kunming, your journey enters the Chinese mainland. You will first see the Stone Forest, where the rocks have peculiar shapes and were formed over hundreds of millions of years. Then take the high-speed train to Dali, where you can easily enjoy the mountains and terraces of Yunnan along the way. Cycling around Erhai Lake is the best way to experience this plateau lake; the gentle wind and vast farmland bring you a peaceful experience.

Tiger Leaping Gorge is particularly recommended. Walking between Haba Snow Mountain and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, listening to the roar of the Jinsha River, is one of the most unforgettable canyon experiences in China. You can also take a challenging 3 to 4-hour hike.

The Pudacuo National Park in Shangri-La is the essence of the plateau scenery. Unlike the thrillingness of Tiger Leaping Gorge, the pastures and primitive forests show you the quiet and magnificent scenery.

Finally, in Chengdu, you can get closer to nature in another way and end this journey. At the base, you can see pandas and learn about the forest ecosystem in Sichuan, where they live.

These are just a part of China's beautiful natural scenery. You can also visit Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Tibet, Hainan, etc., all of which have different landscapes. If you prefer more scenery, contact Odynovo to customize a suitable 13-day itinerary of China. We can connect the destinations you're interested in to provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable experience.

Itinerary 4: Discover Ancient Capitals

Day	Highlights	Overnight
1-2	The Bund, Shanghai Museum, Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai Tower	Shanghai
3	Lingering Garden, Grand Canal Boating, Old Town with Rickshaw	Suzhou
4-5	Terracotta Warriors, Shadow Puppet Show, Muslim Quarter, Great Mosque	Xi'an
6-7	Wang Family Compound, Pingyao Ancient City	Pingyao
8-9	Nine Dragon Screen, Huayan Temple, Yungang Grottoes, Hanging Temple	Datong
10-13	Great Wall, Forbidden City, Walking Tour in the Hutongs, Temple of Heaven	Beijing

Connecting multiple historical cities from the Jiangnan water towns to the northern capital in China, this 13-day itinerary is particularly suitable for those who are interested in history and traditional Chinese culture. Visiting these ancient capitals allows you to experience the grandeur of ancient dynasties, and is also an important way to understand the continuity and diversity of Chinese civilization.

The journey begins in the modern city of Shanghai, where the museum's collections can provide you with a preliminary historical impression for subsequent visits. Then drive 1.5 hours to the neighboring city of Suzhou, which does not have the grand imperial buildings of Beijing. Instead, it features exquisite and elegant Chinese classical gardens.

Xi'an, as the capital of 13 dynasties and the starting point of the Silk Road, is the core of this entire route, allowing you to understand the origin of China as a unified country. Each soldier in the Terracotta Warriors has a different face and expression, and you even have the opportunity to see archaeologists conducting on-site excavations in the pits.

The neighboring Shanxi Province, although not known for its ancient capitals, preserves a rich picture of ancient society. Pingyao retains the complete city walls, marketplaces, and old-style businesses. In Datong, you'll visit the Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temples, which showcase the Chineseization of Buddhism. Game enthusiasts may be pleasantly surprised because there are scenes in the "Black Myth: Wukong".

The final stop of this ancient capital tour is Beijing, the current capital and the capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties. You will see magnificent royal buildings located along the central axis, for example, the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. Then head to the north and walk on the Great Wall, whose ancient and steep steps allow you to deeply feel Chinese history.

Plan Your China Tour With Odynovo

Travel is not just about reaching the destination. It's about gaining the depth of the experience and the uniqueness of the memories. The above 4 itineraries for a 13-day trip to China showcase its diverse beauty. Have you already found your preferred itinerary? Or do you want to integrate multiple themes to create an exclusive experience? Write to [email protected] and let Odynovo become your travel companion. We will create a smooth and unforgettable journey based on your interests that exceeds your expectations.