2 weeks in China itinerary for first time visitors

China is a fascinating country with a diverse landscape, rich history and a truly unique culture.  As one of the largest and most populous countries in the world, China offers endless travel experiences, from ancient temples and UNESCO World Heritage sites to modern megacities and stunning natural scenery.

This 2-week China itinerary is ideal for first-time visitors who want to see the highlights in a limited amount of time.  Our route covers some of China’s most famous destinations and five UNESCO World Heritage sites, making it perfect for anyone planning a first trip to China.

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Our two-week China itinerary starts in Beijing, the capital of China and a fantastic gateway city for international travellers.  We flew directly from the UK, which took about 10 hours.

Beijing is one of the most popular tourist destinations in China, and for a good reason.  The city is packed with ancient history, imperial architecture, and seven UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Forbidden City and Great Wall of China.

Three to four days is just enough time to explore the main attractions.

The ornate details and sheer scale make it easy to see why it’s considered the most valuable complex in the world.

Book your guided tour the Forbidden City here.

Other must-see attractions in Beijing include:

• The Temple of Heaven – a sacrificial alter where the Emperors prayed for good harvests
• The Lama Monastery (Yonghe Temple) – the largest Tibetan Buddhist Temple in China
• The Summer Palace – a stunning royal garden with lakes, temples and pavillions.

The Summer Palace is perfect for a peaceful stroll after a busy day of city sightseeing.

We are not huge opera fans, but a Peking Opera Show was a fun way to experience traditional Chinese culture.  Expect colourful costumes, dramatic singing, and theatrical performances.  It’s a unique cultural experience that everyone should do at least once.

No trip to Beijing is complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.  Stretching over13,000 miles (21,000 km), it’s one of the most impressive man-made structures on Earth.

You can reach several sections of the wall from Beijing, but the two most popular stretches are Badaling and Mutianyu.

• Badaling – easiest to access, but gets very busy
• Mutianyu – slightly quieter and beautifully restored

For fewer crowds, consider visiting an unrestored section.  Bring water and wear good shoes – the steps are steep.

Tip – Avoid weekends and Chinese public holidays.

• Book your Great Wall of China Private Trip
• Book a group tour to the Great Wall of China

Next on our 2-week China travel itinerary was Xi’an, one of China’s oldest cities and a former capital.  It is large, busy city, but has a rich heritage and is home to the Terracotta Army.

You can reach Xi’an from Beijing via a 2-hour flight or high-speed train in under 5 hours.

Xi’an is best known for the Terracotta Warriors, a must-see attraction in China.  The museum is 28 miles east of Xi’an and takes about an hour by car.  It’s easy to book a guided tour with lunch.

The Terracotta Army is an enormous burial tomb, built for the First Emperor of China.  It consists of over 8,000 life-size soldiers, horses, and chariots buried with Emperor Qin Shi Huang over 2,000 years ago.

They were accidentally discovered by a farmer in 1974 and are now one of China’s most famous archaeological sites.  Each warrior has unique facial features, hairstyles, and clothing – incredible details for such an ancient creation.

I’d wanted to see them for ages and they really were incredible.

There are plenty of things to do in Xi’an other than the Terracotta Warriors.

• Xi’an City Walls – hire bikes and cycle round the ancient walls
• Bell and Drum Towers – beautiful historic landmarks
• Wild Goose Pagoda – a famous Buddhist pagoda built in 704
• Muslim Quarter – fantastic street food and Shannxi cuisine

We hired our bikes at the South Gate Tower and spent two hours happily cycling the cobblestones of the walls.

After the cities, we headed south to Yangshuo, near Guilin.  This area is famous for its Karst formations, stunning mountains, rivers and caves, one of the most scenic regions in China.

Yangshuo was one of my favourite places in China, as there are so many outdoor activities to enjoy.  One of the highlights was cycling through the villages and rice paddies with a local farmer’s wife, then floating back down the river on a bamboo raft.  This is a fantastic way to explore the local countryside.

In the evenings, you can enjoy the Sanjie Lui Show, an illuminated performance on the River Li.

Remember to keep a look out for Moon Hill, a natural rock arch in the Guilin Mountains, just outside Yangshuo.

On our second day in Yangshuo we explored on foot and stopped to enjoy the local speciality, Yangshuo Beer Fish.

If you have more time, visit the nearby city of Guilin.  This is known for its

• Reed Flute Cave –  a stunning limestone cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites.
• Longji Rice Terraces
• Elephant Trunk Hill

The final stop on our two-week China itinerary was Hong Kong, a vibrant city with a blend of Chinese and British influences.  Hong Kong is a bustling city with large skyscrapers, bright lights and a buzzing nightlife.

Highlights of Hong Kong:

• Victoria Peak –  we took a ride on the historic tram up for a tasty lunch and amazing views over the skyline.
• Mongkok shopping district
• Temple Street night market
• Victoria Harbour and Star Ferry – take a ride across the harbour

After two weeks of temples and historical sites, Hong Kong was a great place to relax, browse the shops, and enjoy a few cocktails! If you’re staying for longer, you can take a day trip to the Big Buddha on Lantau Island, which includes a dolphin spotting cruise.

If you have more than two weeks, I would consider adding the following to your itinerary.

If we were to change our two-week China itinerary, it would be to include a visit to Chengdu.

Famous for the Giant Panda Research Centre, Chengdu is the best place in China to see pandas close up.  It’s also known for its spicy Sichuan cuisine.

China’s largest city offers a mix of colonial architecture, futuristic skyscrapers, shopping, and nightlife.  It would be another fantastic place to visit in China, if you have more time.

• Fourth largest country in the world (covers 9.6 million km²)
• Population: over 1.4 billion people
• Only one time zone, despite its massive size

Many travellers no longer need a visa for China, if they are visiting for less than 30 days. (until December 2026).  If you’re visiting from the USA, you will need one.

Mandarin is the official language of China.  Cantonese is spoken in some regions, and English is widely spoken in Hong Kong and tourist areas.

China is huge, so flying or using high-speed trains is the best way to travel between cities on a short itinerary.  Trains are comfortable, efficient, and fast.

Two weeks is just enough to see the highlights of China, especially if you follow our itinerary.  You’ll experience ancient history, iconic landmarks, stunning landscapes, and modern cities all in one trip.

That said, China is vast and you could easily spend 3-4 weeks exploring more widely.

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