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China · 16-20 days

China Extended: Beijing, Xi'an, Yunnan & Zhangjiajie

39.9°N · 116.4°E
At a glanceBeyond the classic three cities: the Terracotta Army, the floating peaks of Zhangjiajie and Yunnan's old towns and mountains, finishing in futuristic Shanghai.
~11.5h flight estimate16 to 20 days£25 to £220+ per dayEasy going
Before bookingEntry rules, health advice and local conditions change. Always check current official advice.Check current FCDO advice

The itinerary

  1. Beijing & the Great Wall3 nights
  2. Xi'an2 nights
  3. Zhangjiajie3 nights
  4. Lijiang, Yunnan4 nights
  5. Shanghai3 nights

Why this trip works

This itinerary combines history and culture, natural landscapes, and food and drink across Beijing & the Great Wall, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Lijiang, Yunnan, and Shanghai. Bringing the stops together gives the holiday a clearer progression and makes better use of the outward journey than booking each place separately.

How flexible is it? This itinerary can credibly be planned with a relaxed to active daytime pace, quiet to lively evenings and off-beat to popular crowd settings within its fixed route. The typical version has balanced days, balanced evenings and a mixed setting. The quiz selects the closest credible version rather than treating it as one fixed product.

Best time to go

The strongest travel period is March to May and September to October. June and November are good quieter alternatives. Getting around is mainly by trains and internal flights.

Jan6°COther
Feb8°COther
Mar13°CBest
Apr19°CBest
May23°CBest
Jun27°CShoulder
Jul28°COther
Aug27°COther
Sep24°CBest
Oct19°CBest
Nov12°CShoulder
Dec7°COther

Cost

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £25 a day at the budget end, around £65 a day mid-range, and £220+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1570 to £2200 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes. Available accommodation spans cheap & cheerful, simple, comfortable, premium and luxury. The quiz prices the highest available tier that fits your selected minimum and total budget.

Places on this trip

Frequently asked questions

How long do you need for China Extended: Beijing, Xi'an, Yunnan & Zhangjiajie?

This itinerary works best over 16 to 20 days across 5 stops: Beijing & the Great Wall, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Lijiang, Yunnan, and Shanghai.

When is the best time for this trip?

The strongest travel period is March to May and September to October. June and November are useful quieter alternatives.

How much does it cost?

On the ground, including accommodation and everyday spending, allow roughly £25 a day at the budget end, around £65 a day mid-range, and £220+ for high-end travel. Including estimated return travel from London, a typical version of this itinerary is best treated as a planning range of £1570 to £2200 per person. These are planning estimates rather than live quotes.

Other multi-stop trips

China Scenic: Chengdu-Guilin-Yangshuo China · 8-12 days ~11h flight estimate£35+/day3 stops China Classic: Beijing-Xi'an-Shanghai China · 8-12 days ~11h flight estimate£40+/day3 stops Japan with the Alps: Tokyo, Nagano, Kanazawa & Kyoto Japan · 15-18 days ~12h flight estimate£70+/day5 stops Japan Extended: Hokkaido to Kyushu Japan · 21-24 days ~12h flight estimate£70+/day7 stops Peru Classic: Lima-Cusco-Sacred Valley-Machu Picchu Peru · 7-12 days ~14h flight estimate£30+/day4 stops South Korea: Seoul-Busan-Jeju South Korea · 7-11 days ~11h flight estimate£45+/day3 stops
Torn between ten tabs?Two minutes of questions, up to seven strong matches, realistic cost ranges and every trade-off spelled out.
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