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m planning - visit these
Start your 29-day China loop in the most vertical city on earth. We're hitting the mountains, the history, and the gardens.
29days
55stops
DAY01
Chongqing Jiangbei Airport → Hongya Cave
Overnight in Hongya Cave
- 14:00Chongqing Jiangbei Airport· start
- 19:00Hongya Cave· overnight
First Bites
- Chongqing Hot Pot · The real deal. Spicy, numbing, and totally addictive.
Today's Budget
- Airport Transfer
- $15
DAY02
Liziba Station → Yangtze River Cableway
Overnight in Yangtze River Cableway
- 10:00Liziba Station· start
- 15:00Yangtze River Cableway· overnight
Local Eats
- Xiao Mian · Spicy breakfast noodles that will wake you right up.
Daily Spend
- Cableway Ticket
- $5
DAY03
Ciqikou Ancient Town → Huangjueping Graffiti Street
Overnight in Huangjueping Graffiti Street
- 10:00Ciqikou Ancient Town· start
- 15:00Huangjueping Graffiti Street· overnight
Dinner Picks
- Mao Xuewang · A spicy stew of duck blood and tripe. For the brave!
Budget
- Snacks & Tea
- $20
DAY04
Chongqing North Station → Zhangjiajie West Station
Overnight in Zhangjiajie West Station
- 09:00Chongqing North Station· start
- 15:00Zhangjiajie West Station· overnight
Mountain Food
- Sanxiaguo · A local Tujia specialty dry pot. Hearty and spicy.
Transport
- Train Ticket
- $45
DAY05
Bailong Elevator → Yuanjiajie
Overnight in Yuanjiajie
- 09:00Bailong Elevator· start
- 11:00Yuanjiajie· overnight
Local Flavor
- Smoked Pork · Local cured meats are a staple in the mountains.
Park Fees
- Park Entry (4 days)
- $35
DAY06
Tianzi Mountain → Ten-Mile Gallery
Overnight in Ten-Mile Gallery
- 09:30Tianzi Mountain· start
- 15:00Ten-Mile Gallery· overnight
Mountain Eats
- Wild Mushroom Soup · Freshly foraged from the surrounding forests.
Daily Budget
- Cable Car
- $12
DAY07
Tianmen Mountain Cableway → Heaven's Gate Cave
Overnight in Heaven's Gate Cave
- 08:30Tianmen Mountain Cableway· start
- 13:00Heaven's Gate Cave· overnight
Quick Bites
- Tujia Pancakes · Crispy, savory, and perfect for a quick snack.
Tickets
- Tianmen Cableway
- $40
DAY08
Guilin Railway Station → Sun and Moon Pagodas
Overnight in Sun and Moon Pagodas
- 16:00Guilin Railway Station· start
- 19:30Sun and Moon Pagodas· overnight
Dinner
- Guilin Rice Noodles · The local obsession. Cheap, fast, and delicious.
Transport
- Train to Guilin
- $55
DAY09
Mopanshan Pier → West Street
Overnight in West Street
- 09:00Mopanshan Pier· start
- 15:00West Street· overnight
Yangshuo Eats
- Beer Fish · Yangshuo's signature dish. Fresh river fish in a savory sauce.
Daily Spend
- Cruise Ticket
- $60
DAY10
Yulong River → Moon Hill
Overnight in Moon Hill
- 10:00Yulong River· start
- 15:00Moon Hill· overnight
Local Snacks
- Stuffed Snail Shells · Pork and mint stuffed into snail shells. Unique!
Activities
- Rafting
- $25
DAY11
Longji Rice Terraces
Overnight in Longji Rice Terraces
- 10:30Longji Rice Terraces
Village Food
- Bamboo Rice · Rice cooked inside a bamboo stalk over an open fire.
Budget
- Terrace Entry
- $15
DAY12
Reed Flute Cave → Elephant Trunk Hill
Overnight in Elephant Trunk Hill
- 10:00Reed Flute Cave· start
- 14:30Elephant Trunk Hill· overnight
Dinner
- Lipu Taro Pork · Steamed pork belly with creamy taro slices.
Daily Spend
- Cave Entry
- $15
DAY13
Guilin Liangjiang Airport → Pingjiang Road
Overnight in Pingjiang Road
- 10:00Guilin Liangjiang Airport· start
- 18:00Pingjiang Road· overnight
First Bites
- Shengjian Bao · Pan-fried pork buns with a crispy bottom. So good.
Transport
- Flight to Wuxi/Suzhou
- $120
DAY14
Humble Administrator's Garden → Suzhou Museum
Overnight in Suzhou Museum
- 09:00Humble Administrator's Garden· start
- 14:00Suzhou Museum· overnight
Suzhou Cuisine
- Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish · Sweet and sour fish, a Suzhou masterpiece.
Daily Spend
- Garden Entry
- $12
DAY15
Tiger Hill → Panmen Gate
Overnight in Panmen Gate
- 10:00Tiger Hill· start
- 15:00Panmen Gate· overnight
Local Snacks
- Suzhou Mooncakes · Savory meat-filled flaky pastries. Totally worth it.
Budget
- Tiger Hill Entry
- $10
DAY16
Tongli Ancient Town
Overnight in Tongli Ancient Town
- 10:00Tongli Ancient Town
Water Town Eats
- Zhuangyuan Ti · Braised pork knuckle. Meltingly tender.
Daily Spend
- Tongli Entry
- $15
DAY17
Suzhou Silk Museum → Shantang Street
Overnight in Shantang Street
- 10:00Suzhou Silk Museum· start
- 18:00Shantang Street· overnight
Light Bites
- Wonton Soup · Suzhou style wontons are delicate and light.
Budget
- Silk Museum
- $0
DAY18
Suzhou Railway Station → Shichahai Hutongs
Overnight in Shichahai Hutongs
- 09:00Suzhou Railway Station· start
- 17:00Shichahai Hutongs· overnight
Beijing Eats
- Zhajiangmian · Beijing's famous noodles with soybean paste.
Transport
- Bullet Train
- $85
DAY19
Tiananmen Square → Jingshan Park
Overnight in Jingshan Park
- 08:30Tiananmen Square· start
- 10:00Forbidden City
- 16:00Jingshan Park· overnight
Must-Try
- Peking Duck · The ultimate Beijing feast. Crispy skin, tender meat.
Daily Spend
- Palace Entry
- $10
DAY20
Mutianyu Great Wall → Olympic Park
Overnight in Olympic Park
- 09:00Mutianyu Great Wall· start
- 17:00Olympic Park· overnight
Lunch
- Farmhouse Lunch · Simple, fresh dishes near the wall. Very satisfying.
Budget
- Wall Entry & Cable Car
- $30
DAY21
Summer Palace → Temple of Heaven
Overnight in Temple of Heaven
- 09:00Summer Palace· start
- 14:30Temple of Heaven· overnight
Dinner
- Mongolian Hot Pot · Traditional copper pot with thin slices of lamb.
Daily Spend
- Temple Entry
- $5
DAY22
Beijing West Station → Xi'an Muslim Quarter
Overnight in Xi'an Muslim Quarter
- 09:00Beijing West Station· start
- 18:00Xi'an Muslim Quarter· overnight
Xi'an Snacks
- Roujiamo · The 'Chinese Hamburger'. Savory pork in a crispy bun.
Transport
- Train to Xi'an
- $75
DAY23
Terracotta Army → Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
Overnight in Giant Wild Goose Pagoda
- 09:00Terracotta Army· start
- 16:00Giant Wild Goose Pagoda· overnight
Local Eats
- Biang Biang Noodles · Thick, hand-pulled noodles with lots of garlic and chili.
Daily Spend
- Army Entry
- $20
DAY24
Xi'an City Wall → Great Mosque of Xi'an
Overnight in Great Mosque of Xi'an
- 09:30Xi'an City Wall· start
- 14:00Great Mosque of Xi'an· overnight
Dinner
- Yangrou Paomo · Lamb soup with crumbled bread. A Xi'an classic.
Budget
- Wall Bike Rental
- $8
DAY25
Xi'an North Station → Jinli Ancient Street
Overnight in Jinli Ancient Street
- 10:00Xi'an North Station· start
- 17:00Jinli Ancient Street· overnight
Chengdu Eats
- Mapo Tofu · The spicy, numbing dish that made Chengdu famous.
Transport
- Train to Chengdu
- $40
DAY26
Chengdu Panda Base → Wuhou Shrine
Overnight in Wuhou Shrine
- 08:00Chengdu Panda Base· start
- 14:00Wuhou Shrine· overnight
Local Snacks
- Dan Dan Noodles · Spicy, nutty noodles. A classic street snack.
Daily Spend
- Panda Base Entry
- $8
DAY27
Leshan Giant Buddha
Overnight in Leshan Giant Buddha
- 10:00Leshan Giant Buddha
Leshan Eats
- Leshan Sweet Duck · Crispy, sweet, and savory. A local specialty.
Budget
- Buddha Entry
- $12
DAY28
People's Park → Wide and Narrow Alleys
Overnight in Wide and Narrow Alleys
- 10:00People's Park· start
- 15:00Wide and Narrow Alleys· overnight
Final Feast
- Kung Pao Chicken · The real Sichuan version. Spicy and tangy.
Daily Spend
- Tea House
- $5
DAY29
Chengdu East Station → Chongqing Jiangbei Airport
- 09:00Chengdu East Station· start
- 14:00Chongqing Jiangbei Airport
Last Bites
- Airport Snacks · Grab some spicy jerky for the flight.
Final Costs
- Train to Chongqing
- $25
Heads Up
- Book Suzhou Museum and Forbidden City days in advance
- Bring your passport everywhere for security checks
- Download a VPN before you arrive